'Anheuser-Busch InBev' is the world's largest brewery

It's done. Anheuser-Busch has been sold.

From Reuters on Sunday evening just before 9PM:

U.S. brewer Anheuser-Busch Cos Inc agreed to be acquired by Belgium-based InBev NV for $70 per share, a source familiar with the situation said on Sunday.

Anheuser would have representatives on the board of the combined company, which was slated to be called Anheuser-Busch InBev, the source said. An announcement was expected on Sunday night.

At $52 billion dollars, it's the biggest purely cash business purchase ever.

Now, let the games begin: distribution networks, brands, employees, those craft breweries partially owned by Anheuser-Busch, the Department of Justice, etc.

A man walks into a bar. Do you have any Belgian beers, he asks? The bartender replies: Sure do. How about a nice cold Bud Light?

Previous, related posts:

• Bye, Bye Bud? [13 July 2008]
• And so it may go, for Bud [6July 2008]
• MillerCoors (and BevBud?) [02 July 2008]
• Don't Cry For Me, Saint Louis. [29 June 2008]
  
• A-B vs. Interbrew: The battle is joined. [26 June 2008]
  
• Will InBev's Bud hurt craft brewers? [15 June 2008]
  
• It's now a matter of dollars and euros at Anheuser-Busch [12 June 2008]
• SaveBudweiser.com?
  
• A-B deathwatch: 1 June
• Bud to be sold? part3
  
• Bud to be sold? part2
• Budweiser for sale?
• InBev now world's largest brewer (over A-B) [2007]