Buffett backs InBev bid, Belgian newspaper says

I know this has been said before, but I’m still amazed at the enthocentricity of Americans. How many times has A-B pushed around other breweries? How many times have American companies bought out other companies in other countries? So, now, A-B is staring down a bigger fish and they’re likely to lose this one. I hope there aren’t any so-called conservatives in St. Louis bitching about this. What’s that they say? If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the ‘market’?

Conversely, there is something to be said for the heritage and pride that comes with a locally-based industry…. But, please, let’s not let hypocrisy play into this.

Personally, I don’t want A-B to leave. It would be devastating. It would be like the Mississippi River being moved to Europe, economically, sentimentally and from a heritage standpoint.

It’s impossible to tell what will happen if AB is purcahed by Inbev. Inbev may very well maintain AB in St. Louis as North Ameican headquarters, uphold the traditions, philanthropy, etc. St. Louis may escape with little more than a bruised ego from the company not being locally owned.

That said, these deals can often be a wolf in sheeps clothing. Nothing will change at first, but five or seven years down the road, InBev will announce that to “stay competitive” and because of “the reality of the marketplace” they need to move production somewhere else and St. Louis ends up getting royally screwed, as it has many times before. That would be a disaster. And don’t say it can’t happen.

The problem is that since the dollar is so undervalued against a lot of major currencies right now, US corporations are ripe to sold off to the highest bidder. There’s just no defense against it. The officers of these corporations will make millions and really have no legit reason to prevent the sale, except for maybe a few who care about more than the bottom line.

But, as usual, there will be public outcries, political and business pandering to the outcries, and then us Americans will run back to McDonald’s and Best Buy to buy more stuff, bury our heads in the sand, and repeat that we’re the greatest country on earth and that’s never going to change.

Don’t get me wrong, we are a great country. But, the days of unilateral hegemonic military and economic power are over. And, if we don’t play court cards right, our fortunes will decline. Hell, they already have.

billiecircus, at least john went to college. lay off the weed. you make no sense

Jan, Berkshire Hathaway has plenty of cash in the bank to buy ab and inbev. 208 billion according to their last annual report. they also would never ever do a stock deal because they don’t want to dilute their stock. the only reason they would not be interested in ab is because of the crappy management. buffett pays cash for good businesses with good managament and then lets them alone

Also, people should keep in mind that just because InBev says it will keep things intact here, doesn’t necessarily mean anything. The Rams football franchise claimed it would definitely remain in St. Louis when it moved here, but there is that little clause in the contract, if I’m not mistaken? People were led to believe when the Missouri state lottery came in that all the profit outside of contest winnings would go toward education, despite the newspapers working to note otherwise. When casinos want to go into an area they lead people to believe that the area’s poor will reap an economic windfall, but do they? I’d rather not take InBev at its word. It’s probably a much more healthier approach, ultimately. If they speaketh the truth, then fine, what’s lost, except a bit of St. Louis’ ego?

Sorry, but where someone went to college, whether it be a community college, has nothing to do with ‘the person,’ who ultimately determines what they learn and what they do with their education. I’m sorry, but I’ve met people who have gone to Ivy League schools (read ‘Harvard,’ if you wish) who haven’t learned what they should have learned. Ultimately, it comes down to the person. A lot of people stop educating themselves after college anyway — even Ivy League types — unless it adds to their bottom line. A college education is but a peephole into the world of knowledge, anyway. You have to continue the work yourself.

I think this hostile takeover by InBev probably is going to take some time considering the very strong anger and resentment that is ever present in this nation. I really believe this one is the last straw! It’s time to make a stand!! I drink Bud products and will never ever ever drink it again if they move the HQ out of St. Louis. I live in another state, not Missouri. Far far away… This is not just a St. Louis thing. This is an American thing! I don’t think InBev understands this. They are betting that Americans will keep buying AB products. There is going to be such a backlash that InBev is not going to believe what hit them when their market share goes down to the teens in the USA. I read Warren Buffett’s book, and it said he was a long term investor. Now he’s going to sell out for a short term gain? I believe his legacy will be greatly tarnished if he sells out. I’m going to buy a 12 pack of Bud Light Lime tonight, which apparently is apparently so popular that bars and liquor stores are having a hard time keeping up with the demand. I might buy a hundred or more shares also. I encourage you to do the same. The next quarterly report is going to be big. I believe that sales will skyrocket in the next two years if Bud stays American. It’s going to be the return of Coke Classic. Meanwhile InBev needs to keep buying out more companies because they are losing so many customers everywhere they go. Another question. Is InBev cooking their books? Can we look into this before a sale is approved.

as a grant’s farm employee and supporter of anheuser-busch as it is, i feel that a great tragedy is unfolding before our very eyes. almost everyone knows or has heard of the charitable aspects of our brewery. our brewery and all a/b employees have always been generous and caring good neighbors. i have read all the info and heard all the rhetoric concerning a possible takeover by in-bev and have read about the in-bev mentality or lack thereof and see that when they, in-bev, gets a/b all will be lost–by that i mean –grant’s farm, busch gardens, charitable gift giving etc., the clydesdales==the list goes on and on. so many people–24 million and counting–have visited grant’s farm. gussie opened it to the public for our enjoyment and enlightenment–many happy faces on children and parents alike will be gone. yes, perhaps it was a management error, perhaps it will be corrected before the brewery and all else is gone—-but what part do our elected officials bear in the loss of another great american heritage. NAFTA, oilexports etc.–thanks for allowing me to blow off some steam. frank