Louis Susman
Last Thursday, I opened the paper to read that President Barack Obama had named “Chicago businessman Louis B. Susman” as the new U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Suddenly, I was hit by a wave of nostalgia.
There…
Beechwood chips in a brewing tank: Where the magic happens.
Tom Urani said that early in life, he’d memorized the words on the Budweiser label. I told him I had, too. Together we recited it:
“This is the famous Budweiser beer. We…
AP Photo/Anheuser-Busch Inc.
In March, Anheuser-Busch will launch new cans and bottles dominated by a vibrant blue, pulling away from a blue and red combination. The new packaging also includes an image of a splash on the side, like a wave,…
The Belgian-Brazilian beer giant InBev borrowed $45 billion to acquire Anheuser-Busch and the King of Beers, and it is wasting no time starting to work on its payback.
The St. Louis community had been holding its collective breath ever since the buyout…
©Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr.
InBev completed the purchase of Anheuser-Busch last week, paying shareholders $70 per share of stock — a tidy sum and a handsome premium. The iconic Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis, Missouri, now is a subsidiary of a company called…
“Grant’s Farm and the Clydesdales are all-important elements of the heritage of Budweiser, Anheuser-Busch and the city of St. Louis, and those, of course, would be retained.”
So wrote InBev CEO Carlos Brito on the Post-Dispatch Commentary Page on June 17. Four weeks…
In a follow-up to Kevin’s “In defense of Budweiser” post last week, I offer this video from the Wall Street Journal.
Belgian beer expert Joris Pattyn — who has sampled over 8,300 different beers in his lifetime — tried out the flagship…
A colleague here brought me an excerpt from an Anheuser-Busch filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It indicates that as of December 31, 2007, the company’s “equity compensation plans” had outstanding options for 100,491,526 shares of common stock, with a…
Fallout from the Anheuser-Busch deal with InBev:
A colleague (who shall remain unnamed) suggested in an editorial board meeting Monday that “Budweiser is (crummy) beer.”
This particular colleague does not drink beer. His defense was that “everyone I know who knows anything…
We suppose it’s just coincidence that Schlafly’s Tap Room, the upstart microbrewery in a macrobrewery town, will celebrate “mussel-mania” next Friday and Saturday. The downtown brew pub will be featuring “mussels and frites,” the national dish of Belgium, along with a selection…
Oh, to be a fly on the wall of the Anheuser-Busch board room. Then we’d know if board members seriously believe they can fend off a hostile takeover by InBev, or if they’re simply angling for a higher price.
If they really…
Like Budweiser poured into a tall glass, reports swirled tonight that the board of directors of Anheuser-Busch Cos. has decided to reject the $46 billion takeover offer made last month by InBev, the Belgian-Brazilian brewing giant.
The online edition of the…
TO:
Senhor Carlos Brito
InBev N.V./S.A.
Rua Renato Paes de Barros
1017, 4th Fl.
04530-001 São Paulo, Brazil
Exelentissimo senhor:
As chief executive officer of InBev, you are no doubt well aware that your company’s offer to purchase Anheuser-Busch Cos. has been met with a great deal…
Our friends at The Onion have conducted a quick-but-imaginary man in the street poll about growing opposition to the sale of Anheuser-Busch. It may not reflect the opinion of actual men and women on the streets of St. Louis, but…
On Tuesday’s Post-Dispatch commentary page — read it here — InBev Chief Executive Carlos Brito lays out his Belgian company’s reasons for wanting to buy Anheuser-Busch. He assures St. Louisans that the flagship A-B brewery would stay open, that InBev would maintain…
InBev’s marriage proposal to Anheuser-Busch, backed by a $47 billion dowry payable to the shareholders, likely will be followed by a stormy courtship. Should A-B shun its suitor, its shareholders may go looking for their shotguns.
A wedding between these two…
I’m in Dayton, Ohio, this evening — where for more than six years and until April I wrote for the editorial page of the Dayton Daily News. My kids are just finishing up school, readying their move to St. Louis…
InBev’s pursuit of Anheuser-Busch Cos. is looking more like the prelude to a marriage from hell. This match, if it happens, could produce the corporate culture clash of the decade.
AB makes good beer, but its real talent lies in selling it.…
Six days ago the Financial Times’ Alphaville blog first reported that InBev, the Belgian-Brazilian brewing conglomerate, was preparing a $46 billion takeover bid for Anheuser-Busch Cos. Since then, to borrow a line from any number of war movies, it’s been quiet…
