Jump to content

Could Busch Parks Be in Play?


Recommended Posts

  • Replies 75
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Politicians and activists are already lining up against the deal, saying it could cost jobs in the United States and send ownership of an iconic American company overseas. Missouri Republican Gov. Matt Blunt said he opposes the deal, and he directed the Missouri Department of Economic Development to see if there was a way to stop it.

Yeah, election year.

I can see this one going down pretty fast.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

See...

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articl...92_FORTUNE5.htm

So with the thinking that Cedar Fair or Six Flags could neither buy the parks if indeed they are sold off. Then who would buy them?

Disney has wanted to get into the VA market and their a natural fit in Florida and they both like alcahol sales.

Herschend has been growing very rapidly and have already began ventures into aquariums and animal theme parks, they bid on the sale of the several six flags park so any possibility Busch Gardens could become a beerless garden?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, I suspect the parks WILL be bought, if offered for sale. But look a bit further afield, too....Who is buying large chunks of New York City? Who bought Kennywood? Who, for that matter, would have bought A-B? Answers: Foreigners with cheap dollars, and lots of them. Not saying Herschend or Disney aren't options, but I am saying that with the dollar the way it is, exchange rates give people with foreign assets a huge asset in buying ours.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

^ Hmmm...like maybe Parques Reunidos? They're already shown to have a real interest in American Parks with the purchase of Kennywood Entertainment, plus it looks like they already have some experience with animal attraction parks.

http://www.parquesreunidos.com/#

Hmmmm, that actually could be a good match.

I really don't think there would be as much as an uproar about foreign acquisition of the parks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

O.K., I'm putting in my 2 cents:

1. I took a Tour of the Anheuser-Busch Factory last year, and even though Alcohol is not something I plan to try, it was very interesting and a great part of the history and heritage of St. Louis. I would be dissapointed to see it go.

2. Busch Parks are great. I am even going to BGA this summer. And the value of the parks is great, so I would not be surprised that IF the sale goes through those parks are history.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Horse lovers bridle at InBev offer...Clydesdales could be among first to go:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jun/22/fooddrinks1

The parks are one thing, but getting rid of the Clydesdales would be a HUGE mistake. Part of the value of the AB brand is its strong image and presence in the US--the Clydesdales are an important part of that. One of the best commercials in the history of advertising was the Clydesdales at the WTC at the first post-911 Super Bowl. That's the kind of brand image that makes AB so strong in the minds of US consumers.

InBev wants AB because of its US market share, but by fundamentally altering the company's image they risk losing the very value that they want to acquire! (And, let's face it...in the big scheme of a $46B acquisition, how much are you really going to save on expenses by the cutting the horse team?)

The bad thing is that these types of deals never work out well for the company being pursued...even if they can fight off the takeover attempt, there's still going to be casualities, share holder suits, etc. This type of thing is extremeley disruptive for a company.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Horse lovers bridle at InBev offer...Clydesdales could be among first to go:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jun/22/fooddrinks1

The parks are one thing, but getting rid of the Clydesdales would be a HUGE mistake. Part of the value of the AB brand is its strong image and presence in the US--the Clydesdales are an important part of that. One of the best commercials in the history of advertising was the Clydesdales at the WTC at the first post-911 Super Bowl. That's the kind of brand image that makes AB so strong in the minds of US consumers.

InBev wants AB because of its US market share, but by fundamentally altering the company's image they risk using the very value that they want to acquire! (And, let's face it...in the big scheme of a $46B acquisition, how much are you really going to save on expenses by the cutting the horse team?)

The bad thing is that these types of deals never work out well for the company being pursued...even if they can fight off the takeover attempt, there's still going to be casualities, share holder suits, etc. This type of thing is extremeley disruptive for a company.

It's simply an example that foreign investors do not truly understand the American Market.

I still think that it's a good thing for AB that this is occuring during an election year.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.



×
×
  • Create New...