An American, St.-Louis-based icon ... Anheuser-Busch -- may soon be owned by a foreign brewer. KSMU's Megan Keathley toured downtown bars and restaurants to see how Springfield residents feel about the potential sale. Belgian brewer InBev is offering to buy Anheuser-Busch for roughly 46 billion dollars. August Busch the IV has told the Associated Press that his company is considering the offer. Although the Anheuser Busch corporation has yet to give an official response, there are many more who have responded, and loudly.
Only two people we interviewed approved of the sale: one said he didn't like the taste of Budweiser and thought a buyout would improve the product; another said the deal just made good business sense.
The chief executive of InBev met with Senator Claire McCaskill yesterday. McCaskill told reporters afterward that InBev officials tried to sway her to supporting the purchase. But the U.S. Senator said that won't happen. Also, Gov. Matt Blunt has sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission, requesting them to review InBev's offer. Blunt is concerned the merger would create a monopoly in the U.S. beer market, in addition to a loss of Missouri jobs.
InBev is the maker of popular beers such as Beck's and Stella Artois.