Mid-Michigan Dining

UGH!  I can’t even express in words how disgusted I am that an American institution or my second choice of beers sold out to a Belgian company. 

Anheuser-Busch Cos. and InBev late Sunday announced an agreement to combine the two companies, in a deal that would create the world’s largest brewer and one of the largest consumer products companies.

In a joint press release, the companies said Anheuser-Busch shareholders would receive $70 a share in cash and that the combined companies would be called Anheuser-Busch InBev.

The deal, which totals $52 billion, must still be approved by shareholders of both companies. The companies expect little regulatory opposition and expect the deal to close by the end of this year.

St. Louis will be the North American headquarters for the combined companies and will be the global home for the flagship Budweiser brand.

The companies said that because Anheuser-Busch and InBev have limited geographical overlap, all of the A-B’s breweries in the U.S. will remain open. The companies also said they remain commited to A-B’s wholesalers.

St. Louis media is going nuts.  What happens to Busch Stadium?  What about the brewery?  How will St. Louis change?

I’ve visited St. Louis a few times and the Budweiser brewery three times.  The town revolves around what happens at the A-B brewery.  This is sad.  Why does Budweiser need a global market?  The rest of the world thinks American beers are inferior anyway.  Let them have their Guinness and Heineken…they don’t need Budweiser.

Think about all the history that is going to be lost.  Control of Anheuser-Busch has been in the Busch family since the beginning.  Current Chief Executive August Busch IV and one other person will be on the board of the new company…but come on!  Budweiser will never be the same. 

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has really good coverage of this including how it effects the rest of the country.  I’m just totally at a loss for words.  I hope the board of trustees votes it down.  It’s almost making me sick

R.I.P. to one of the last great American Companies!

Anheuser-Busch Brewery in St. Louis, MO