It seems that $70 a share was enough for Anheuser-Busch — the brewer agreed to sell itself to Belgian beer giant InBev over the weekend. The new company will be called Anheuser-Busch InBev, and its board will have room for two former A-B executives, including A-B CEO, August A. Busch IV.

The joint press release stated that the company’s headquarters will remain in St. Louis and that no A-B breweries will close as a result of the buy-out.

The NYT says:

The deal marked a sharp reversal for Anheuser, based since it was founded in St. Louis. When InBev announced its initial $46.3 billion offer last month, Anheuser mounted a fierce defense. It drew upon its heritage and its history as a major benefactor of its hometown, and argued that it could increase its profits alone.

A new offer of $52 billion changed their minds, however.

Oddly, this sale means that Rolling Rock, formerly owned by InBev and sold to A-B in 2006, will now be part of InBev again.

Anheuser-Busch Agrees to Be Sold for $52 Billion [NYT]
(Photo: davidbivins )

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