InBev bids for Anheiser-Busch

[tuqueboy]

AP Business Writer
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Anheuser-Busch Cos., the nation’s biggest brewery, received a $46 billion buyout offer Wednesday from a Belgian brewer that might be too good to refuse.
The maker of Budweiser beer disclosed late Wednesday that InBev SA, whose brands include Beck’s and Stella Artois, delivered an unsolicited all-cash bid of $65 a share. It’s unclear whether senior Anheuser-Busch executives think the deal makes sense, but shareholders may be drawn to the offer that represents a sizable premium over the company’s closing price of $58.35 Wednesday.
If the deal goes through, it would create the world’s largest beer company and mark just the latest phase of consolidation in a global brewing industry that is facing rising ingredient costs and stale demand in the United States.
“Anheuser-Busch said that its board of directors will evaluate the proposal carefully and in the context of all relevant factors, including Anheuser-Busch’s long-term strategic plan,” the company said in a statement. “The board will pursue the course of action that is in the best interests of Anheuser-Busch’s stockholders.’’
A spokeswoman said the company would not comment beyond the statement.
InBev Chief Executive Carlos Brito said the deal would boost both companies, giving InBev access to the U.S. market while expanding Anheuser-Busch’s reach overseas.
“We have the highest respect for Anheuser-Busch, its employees and its leadership, who have built the leading brewer in the U.S. and grown the iconic Budweiser brand. Together, we would draw on the collective expertise of both companies’ management and employees.’’
Shares of Anheuser-Busch soared 7.6 percent to $62.80 after hours, when the announcement was made. They had risen 2 percent in late-afternoon trading, when rumors of the deal were reported on CNBC. Speculation has been rife in recent weeks that the deal might occur.
Opposition to a potential takeover has already been fierce in Anheuser-Busch’s hometown of St. Louis, and elsewhere in the U.S. The brewer employs 6,000 people in St. Louis, and many workers are worried InBev would cut jobs as the companies consolidate.
Web sites have sprung up opposing the deal on patriotic grounds, arguing that such an iconic U.S. firm shouldn’t be handed over to foreign ownership. Republican Gov. Matt Blunt said Wednesday he opposes the deal, and directed the Missouri Department of Economic Development to see if there was a way to stop it.
“I am strongly opposed to the sale of Anheuser-Busch, and today’s offer to purchase the company is deeply troubling to me,’’ Blunt said in a statement.
InBev was formed in 2004 when Belgium’s Interbrew merged with South America’s biggest brewer AmBev. Since then, the company has cut jobs in several European countries while its sales were boosted by strong demand in Latin American countries.
Worries about job cuts at Anheuser-Busch could be justified. InBev has a reputation for squeezing costs out of the companies it acquires, said Benj Steinman, editor of the Beer Marketer’s Insights trade publication. Because of its size — and control of nearly half the U.S. beer market — Anheuser-Busch could be a ripe target for cost-cutting.
“One theory is that their own cost reductions are winding down in Europe and Asia and around the world, and they need somewhere to sort of implement what they’re best at,” Steinman said.
InBev tried to allay those fears Wednesday, saying it would not close any Anheuser-Busch breweries and would make St. Louis the headquarters for its North American division. The company also said it would invite some Anheuser-Busch directors to join InBev’s board.
Anheuser-Busch executives have made cost-cutting a goal over the last two years. Sales in the United States have been stagnant as consumers turn toward wine and cocktails, and the rising costs of ingredients have bitten into profit margins.
Last year, Anheuser-Busch turned a profit of $2.12 billion, up nearly 8 percent from $1.97 billion in 2006. But its core brands of Budweiser and Bud Light continued to lag as sales of craft beers and imports rose.
While the InBev deal looks sweet on paper, it’s far from a sure thing. InBev said it plans to pay for the deal with $40 billion in debt, and raising so much capital could be tough as banks tighten their standards during a global credit crunch.
InBev’s statement said the company has “strong support” from a number of financial institutions, including Barclays Capital, Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan. The company would pay for part of the deal by divesting some “noncore assets” along with equity financing.
Opposition to the deal is sure to be stiff in St. Louis. A new Web site called SaveAB.com offers visitors yard signs and bumper stickers to express their distaste for the purchase.
“Like baseball, apple pie and ice cold beer (wrapped in a red, white and blue label), Anheuser-Busch is an American original,’’ the site says.
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On the Net: Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc.: www.anheuser-busch.com
AP-ES-06-11-08 2048EDT

[JerCraigs]

If this happens, who would that leave as the largest American owned brewery? Right now Moosehead is the largest Canadian brewery right?

[Asst. Grain Shoveller]

Just to allay any fears:
Inbev has not made a $46 billion offer for Black Oak

[Olde School]

Would Yuengling be the largest, maybe Sam Adams?

[GregClow]

If this happens, who would that leave as the largest American owned brewery?

Here's the Top Ten for 2007:

1 Anheuser- Busch Inc., St. Louis, MO
2 Miller Brewing Co., Milwaukee, WI
3 Coors Brewing Co., Golden, CO
4 Pabst Brewing Co., Woodridge, IL
5 Boston Beer Co., Boston, MA
6 D.G. Yuengling and Son Inc., Pottsville, PA
7 Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, CA
8 New Belgium Brewing Co. Inc., Fort Collins, CO
9 High Falls Brewing Co., NY
10 Spoetzl Brewery, Shiner, TX

So it depends on how you view the Miller-Coors partnership. If you consider that to disqualify Coors, then I guess it would be Pabst.

Although IIRC, Pabst doesn't actually own any brewing facilities, they contract everything out. So if you consider actually owning a brewery to be a factor, that would make it Boston/Sam Adams, who contract some of their brewing, but also own at least one brewery that I know of.

[Tapsucker]

Just to allay any fears:
Inbev has not made a $46 billion offer for Black Oak

Damn, I was hoping someone would buy you a canning line.

[velovampire]

Just to allay any fears:
Inbev has not made a $46 billion offer for Black Oak

If $46 bil is what it takes to bottle/can the Hop Bomb - take the money!!!!