aramation

If the latest insider rumors are to be believed, InBev has finally acquired Anheuser-Busch, making Stella Artois as American as Budweiser. Anheuser-Busch has agreed to a $50 billion takeover by the Belgian brewer InBev, and the combined company to be named Anheuser-Busch InBev will be the largest brewer in the world. Last week, InBev raised its offer for Anheuser-Busch to $70 per share, making it a 27% premium over the record stock price set in October 2002.

Anheuser owns 50% of Grupo Modelo, maker of Corona as well as 27% of Tsingtao Brewery based in China.

The airline industry continues to make headlines this week as Delta and Northwest announced it will finally merge as both boards of directors authorized it. The new airline to be called Delta will be the world’s biggest airline based in Atlanta with a combined annual revenue of $31.7 billion, much bigger than American Airlines.

This long rumored merger won’t be without hitch, as Northwest pilots union already voiced concern and announced they will try to stop the deal. That may be too little too late as the soaring fuel price is what ultimately pushed for this deal. Expect to see more airline mergers to be announced in the next few weeks.

[Read full story at New York Times]