The purchase means that control of America's largest brewer, No. 1 worldwide in revenue, moves overseas. Anheuser-Busch controls more than 48 percent of the domestic American beer market from its base in St. Louis, Missouri, with brands including Budweiser, Michelob, Busch and O'Douls.
InBev is the world's second largest beer maker with brands including Becks, St. Pauli Girl, Stella Artois, Hoegaarten, Bass and Labatt.The deal is pending approval from shareholders and American and European anti-trust regulators. The merger will produce the fourth-largest consumer product company worldwide.
The Wall Street Journal said the deal was for $70 a share, a $5 increase over the offer Anheuser-Busch rejected in June.
It is unclear how long it will take for the merger to be approved. Several Missouri politicians have expressed their concern about the acquisition. Their main concern is how the merger would affect the approximately 6,000 employees of the St. Louis factory.
InBev has stated that it will use St. Louis as it's North American headquarters, and will keep the company's 12 breweries open. InBev has not said if layoffs will occur as a result of the merger.
Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. has not yet issued a statement.
In addition to protest from politicians at least two websites have sprung up with hopes of stopping the merger. SaveBudweiser.com claims to have more than 60,000 signatures
protesting the deal. SaveAB.com recently organized an anti-merger rally that drew hundreds to downtown St. Louis.InBev announced its intent to purchase the American beer giant on June 11th. The company initially rejected the offer of $65 per share, stating the offer was too low.
There was some surprise when reports surfaced that the companies were sitting down for negotiations when InBev raised their offer by $5 to $70 per share.
Eberhard Anheuser acquired the Bavarian brewery in 1860 and renamed it E. Anheuser & Co. His son-in-law, Adolphus Busch, joined the company in 1864 and it was eventually renamed Anheuser-Busch.
The company lasted through prohibition by selling products ranging from root beer to ice cream.
