Berkshire Hathaway & Buffett, The True Anheuser-Busch Winners (BRK.A, BRK.B, BUD)

Everyone has reported on the huge acquisition offer from InBev for Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. (NYSE: BUD).  What is interesting above and beyond the global beer initiatives and consolidation is that Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. (NYSE: BRK.A, BRK.B) owns a fairly massive slug of the company stock.  As Budweiser is an easy brand to recognize it easily fits within Buffett’s "hold forever" strategy.

According to the most recent filings, Warren Buffett’s holding and operating company owns a combined amount of 35,563,200 shares as of March 31, 2008, which is roughly a 4.99% stake.

With a $62.00 share price this morning this represents a stake worth some $2.2 Billion.  That ought to allow Buffett and friends to recapture some cash to either make more acquisitions or to add to the cash arsenal for future deals.

You can see the full list of Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway holdings.

This was one of our "brands that could disappear" as far as US ownership is concerned.  Recently we ran "Top US Brands Foreigners Could Buy With Cheap Dollars (SKS, HSY, WFMI, STZ, BUD, ETFC, S, LEAP, X, AA, LAMR)" which you can see.

Jon C. Ogg
June 12, 2008