In a special session today in New Jersey, a majority of Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. shareholders voted to approve the proposed combination of InBev and Anheuser-Busch.
Closing of the transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals. A closing date has not yet been announced, but both InBev and Anheuser-Busch continue to expect that they will complete the transaction by the end of the year.
Upon close of the transaction, all shares of Anheuser-Busch will be purchased for $70 per share in cash, and Anheuser-Busch will become a wholly owned subsidiary of InBev.
InBev shareholders approved the combination on September 29.
In July, InBev and Anheuser-Busch reported they reached a deal to combine their two companies and form the world’s leading global brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev.
Boards of directors from both companies quickly and unanimously approved the transaction. The Anheuser-Busch and InBev combination will create a global leader in the beer industry and usher in the formation of one of the top five consumer-product companies worldwide.
St. Louis, Mo., will be the headquarters for the new company’s North American region and the global home of the flagship Budweiser brand. With about 40% of the company’s combined revenues being generated in the U.S., the company will draw on the collective expertise of A-B’s dedicated and experienced employees and its culture of quality.
Given the limited geographical overlap between the two businesses and the efficiency of A-B’s brewery footprint in the U.S., all of A-B’s U.S. breweries will remain open, the companies said.
InBev CEO Carlos Brito will be CEO of the combined company, while the new A-B InBev Board of Directors will be comprised of the existing directors of the InBev Board, as well as A-B President and CEO August Busch IV and one other current or former director from the A-B Board.
Budweiser and Bud Light are the largest selling beers in the world. The combined company will have an unmatched portfolio of imports, local premiums and local core brands, and it’ll be a powerhouse in numerous world markets.
