Beer drinkers sue to stop InBev-Bud merger

AP/MSNBC ^ | 9/10/08 54 minutes ago

[DBCJR]

Ten angry beer drinkers are trying to derail the largest brewery takeover in history. The group filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday claiming Belgium-based InBev’s $52 billion purchase of Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. would violate U.S. antitrust law if completed as planned in the coming months. The suit, filed in Anheuser-Busch’s hometown of St. Louis, does not seek financial damages but asks a judge to block the deal. The Department of Justice often reviews large acquisitions to determine if they are legal under U.S. law. But attorneys behind the lawsuit said they want to halt the deal regardless of the verdict in Washington. ... Anheuser-Busch said it will fight the suit. ... Justice Department spokeswoman Gina Talamona would not ... The suit filed Tuesday challenges the deal’s legality on different grounds. It says the merged brewery, to be called Anheuser-Busch InBev, would have a monopoly over beer production in the United States. The lawsuit argues that combining two of the world’s biggest breweries will reduce competition. “If InBev is allowed to purchase Anheuser-Busch, there no longer would be any significant major potential competitor to influence pricing and marketing practices in the United States.” the suit says... “We all have a pretty good idea what happens when people have a monopoly, and when it’s a foreign company that has a monopoly.” Alioto is also suing to stop the proposed acquisition by Delta Air Lines Inc. of Northwest Airlines Corp. In that case, he represents a group of passengers who claim the deal would violate antitrust law.

[353FMG]

Mehr Hoppes, bitte.

[Vision]

Hope it works. As a Bud lite drinker I’m not happy with this at all.

[GOP_Raider]

(This is going to be a real time of confliction for one of my city's fine establishments)

Beer Ping!

A low to medium ping list aimed at all of us who, well, love our beer…

FReepmail rzeznikj at stout or GOP_Raider to be added or struck from the list…

[aberfoyle]

Let free enterprise reign! This is a good deal for shareholders. Good enough for Buffett = good enough for me.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Countdown to the beer snobs 5 - 4 - 3 - 2....

[alarm rider]

Yep, they will be along directly.

[Buck W.]

If they can make Bud taste like Stella Artois, I’m in.

[B Knotts]

Beer snob checking in.

I look down on all store-bought beer, so I’m pretty high on the beer snobbery scale.

[Grizzled Bear]

Please add me to your Beer Ping list!

[B Knotts]

Let me amend that...there can be some minor exceptions for things like Cuvee Mystique.

[Poser]

I hear Schlitz is coming back from the same people who brought back PBR!

[Revolting cat!]

Countdown to the Beer Slummers: -5, -4, -3...

Oh, wait, they're here!

[advertising guy]

cartoon, mid 70’s
Frank and Ernest

Hey Frank ,what are your 3 favorite beers?

Ernest, bottle, can , and keg

[DBCJR]

makes me want to cry in my soda.

[griffin]

As I sit here drinking my Spaten......this story really makes me sad. ....well, ok. not really.

Hey, look at the bright side! Maybe they can get a better price on those nice Belgian horsies!

[griffin]

If they can make bud taste like Guiness I’ll buy some....until then....it’s only water and preservatives. :(

[hunter112]

Countdown to the beer snobs 5 - 4 - 3 - 2....

OK, chiming in here.

This is like standing up to protest at the wedding of two ugly people, when the preacher says, "Does anyone here have any cause...." and the bride is already pregnant.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

ROFL

[EricT.]

Beer ping?

Budweiser is a malt beverage.