Buffett backs InBev bid, Belgian newspaper says
Belgian newspaper De Standard this morning is reporting that Warren Buffett is supporting InBev’s $47.5 billion takeover offer for Anheuser-Busch Cos.
Quoting sources, the paper says Buffett is willing to sell his A-B shares to the Belgian brewer. Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway owns a 5 percent stake in the St. Louis-based brewer.
A spokeswoman at Berkshire Hathaway would not provide comment to De Standard for its story.
Buffett’s support for the deal could smooth the way for InBev’s effort to buy the St. Louis-based brewer. InBev is offering $65 a share for A-B.
British newspaper The Observer reported Sunday that the billionaire plans to meet with A-B CEO August A. Busch IV this week to discuss the InBev offer.
Citing its anonymous sources, The Observer reported that Buffett believes the Busch family should consider discussions with InBev rather than reject the bid outright.
Alex, you really think giving 2 cases a month away free to employees is making this company bloated?? The few people I know that work there in various areas work 60 + hours a week and at a 40 hour salary UNDER 70K. No bloated salaries,stock options,bonuses. Just a good company, decent benefits and YES god forbid, 2 cases of beer a month!!! Those people we know feel good sharing their benefit of a 6 pack or so when the time arises.
SO what……this company is not made up of what you think (bloated overpaid, overcompensated etc). Most departments are made up of VERY hard working individuals that feel they are a part of something good. They work hard and AB gives to all employees a fair shake in the end.
What will Imbev give those same folks when they tell them their job is outsourced, sent to Belgium or just plain eliminated? My first thought is hopefully not just a sturdy box to place their items in as they are walking out the door.
Keep in mind that American corporations have been purchasing foreign companies for over 150 years. This is nothing more than good old fashioned capitalism. Don’t be upset if we are beaten at our own game now and then. We are still up many times over against the rest of the world.
InBev is going to take on roughly 57 billion dollars in debt to buy Anheuser Busch. 47.5 billion dollars to buy Busch and 9 billion of Busch’s debt. InBev market cap is around $50 billion. InBev has roughly 10 billion dollars in current debt according to Paul. This would be almost 70 billion dollars of debt compiled by InBev. What Bank in their right mind would make such a loan with grain, corn and oil prices going through the roof? Have we not learned anything from the mortgage crisis? Is Buffett the man behind the curtain enabling this to happen? This is insane. This is some risky gambling if you are investing with InBev? InBev stock is down almost 20% from a year ago.
Do you people know Warren Buffet at all? This is his new thing… investing in foreign companies. He just held private meetings in Europe with European companies… basically inviting them to become part of his empire. The man is a $$ genius.
I can see at least 6 companies on this list of Buffet companies I will no longer be doing business with and telling my friends and family as well.
There is more to America than money Mr Buffet Kiss My Ass
Lets see first the greedy corporations took our jobs and business overseas,and now the dollar is worthless. So now all the foreign companies can just buy us up with all the dollars they were supposed to spend on American goods.
I see we are now back to the greedy corporations and CEO’s…
KISS MY ASS WARREN BUFFET
from most of the comments I’ve read on message boards and my own bersonal feelings about this “Sell-out”, The Belgians will be buying a pile of sand because every American who loves their “Bud” is going to quit cold Turkey !
I’m not a Coors fan, but I’ll drink it because it’s American made !!
We should have a little pride, and buy back Mr. Buffetts stocks and send him to Belgium !
Not only is Warren Buffet a traitor what about the Carpenter’s Union and it’s lawsuit filed against AB I thought Union’s where for the working man and the preservation of jobs in the USA!! I never thought that I would thank a Democrat for anything, but THANK YOU SEN.Claire McCaskill for telling the InBev Pirate that this country IS NOT FOR SALE! When will we all stand together as Americans and beat back the forgein invasion taking place here?? Don’t get me wrong immagrants we all were at one time, but they came to start a new life not take over a country!!! INBEV GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY AND TAKE BUFFET AND HIS KIND WITH YOU!!!!
If Claire would stop supporting baby killing, higher taxes, banning off-shore drilling and about ten other things I might be willing to vote for her.
Buffet only has 5%. He is no sell out. That is not a significant stake in the company. There is another 95% out there. Do the math, then when placing blame: BLAME THE WEAK DOLLAR AND YOURSELF FOR BUYING CHEAP STUFF FROM CHINA!!!!!