Looks like bad news for Shamu and the rest of the people holding out for an American Budweiser.
An extra $5 apparently goes a long way in buying a beer company. Budweiser would barely acknowledge InBev’s buyout offer when it was $65 a share, but it’s a deal at $70. The King of beers is now a Belgian beer. Best of luck.
One of the reasons people tolerated the beer was because it was American. It wasn’t an especially a flavorful beer and they weren’t the nicest of companies to the craft brew industry, but they were an American beer. Will Budweiser hold the same loyalty as a Belgian company?
I was really hoping the new company would be named “InBusch”, but they decided on the verbose “Anheuser-Busch InBev” name.
No word on the Busch parks
InBev says all American breweries will remain open, but again there is no mention of Busch Entertainment Corporation. InBev is only interested in the beer, so it is likely the parks and Shamu will be sold to the highest bidder. The CEO of InBev said it was too early to comment about the amusement parks’ fate, but one would expect something soon. The parks only account for about 6% of the company’s value.
Sudden change of heart?
It is interesting, the press release from InBev says the management team of the new company will draw from both companies. Just a week ago, InBev was calling for the removal of all Anheuser-Busch board members. One has to wonder if the threat of removal had as much to do with the deal acceptance as the $5 increase. According to the press release however, only August Busch IV and one other unnamed person will serve on the board.
The buyout of Anheuser Busch will create one of the top five consumer companies in the world. If you thought Budweiser was big before, they are massive now.
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