Comments on: Help Wanted: Selling Budvar http://www.beerculture.org/2007/12/17/help-wanted-selling-budvar/ Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:50:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Evan Rail http://www.beerculture.org/2007/12/17/help-wanted-selling-budvar/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Evan Rail Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:35:31 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/2007/12/17/help-wanted-selling-budvar/#comment-9 That's an interesting thought, but I can't imagine that InBev would end up owning both Staropramen (and Ostravar, etc.) and Budvar here. In other words, if InBev buys AB, it might make it harder for them (or for their AB subsidiary) to then buy Budvar when it is finally privatized, as that would give InBev some 32% or more of the local market. The Czech anti-monopoly office appears to be fairly toothless and quite business-friendly, but that still might be a bridge too far. Of course, InBev can always point out that SABMiller already has 49% of the local market, so why shouldn't they team up? It'll be interesting to watch this story develop... That’s an interesting thought, but I can’t imagine that InBev would end up owning both Staropramen (and Ostravar, etc.) and Budvar here.

In other words, if InBev buys AB, it might make it harder for them (or for their AB subsidiary) to then buy Budvar when it is finally privatized, as that would give InBev some 32% or more of the local market.

The Czech anti-monopoly office appears to be fairly toothless and quite business-friendly, but that still might be a bridge too far. Of course, InBev can always point out that SABMiller already has 49% of the local market, so why shouldn’t they team up?

It’ll be interesting to watch this story develop…

]]> By: Mark Kahnt http://www.beerculture.org/2007/12/17/help-wanted-selling-budvar/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Mark Kahnt Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:28:56 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/2007/12/17/help-wanted-selling-budvar/#comment-8 The news of InBev seeking to buy Anheuser-Busch raises an interesting twist on this story - on a certain level, InBev are more beer fans compared to the marketing driven AB corporation. They are still corporate, as well, but if they were to come to own both Budweiser brandings, they would recognise that both have their worldwide markets, and likely within ten years, the American edition would be known strictly as Bud, which is how American marketers have been moving the brand, while Budějovický Budvar might gain an "Urquell" type denotation, until the time has past for any confusion. The news of InBev seeking to buy Anheuser-Busch raises an interesting twist on this story – on a certain level, InBev are more beer fans compared to the marketing driven AB corporation. They are still corporate, as well, but if they were to come to own both Budweiser brandings, they would recognise that both have their worldwide markets, and likely within ten years, the American edition would be known strictly as Bud, which is how American marketers have been moving the brand, while Budějovický Budvar might gain an “Urquell” type denotation, until the time has past for any confusion.

]]> By: Appellation Beer: Beer From a Good Home » Blog Archive » Budvar staying Czech-owned … for now http://www.beerculture.org/2007/12/17/help-wanted-selling-budvar/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Appellation Beer: Beer From a Good Home » Blog Archive » Budvar staying Czech-owned … for now Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:34:26 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/2007/12/17/help-wanted-selling-budvar/#comment-7 [...] news for a different reason. As Rail suggested in one of his first post at the appropriately named Beer Culture blog were Budvar privatized then Anheuser-Busch might be the best [...] [...] news for a different reason. As Rail suggested in one of his first post at the appropriately named Beer Culture blog were Budvar privatized then Anheuser-Busch might be the best [...]

]]> By: Evan Rail http://www.beerculture.org/2007/12/17/help-wanted-selling-budvar/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Evan Rail Sun, 30 Dec 2007 13:09:50 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/2007/12/17/help-wanted-selling-budvar/#comment-6 Max, I overlooked your comment here! You bring up a good point. It does seem a pity it can't remain national property — I mean, how many countries actually own their own breweries? But the government seems committed to selling off Budvar as well as the airport. And if I'm not mistaken, Budvar was originally founded as a joint-stock company. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust... Max, I overlooked your comment here! You bring up a good point. It does seem a pity it can’t remain national property — I mean, how many countries actually own their own breweries? But the government seems committed to selling off Budvar as well as the airport.

And if I’m not mistaken, Budvar was originally founded as a joint-stock company. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust…

]]> By: Pivero http://www.beerculture.org/2007/12/17/help-wanted-selling-budvar/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Pivero Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:53:53 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/2007/12/17/help-wanted-selling-budvar/#comment-5 I've been thinking about the sale of Budvar to AB and I agree with what Aleš Dočkal said the other day, that it is not a good thing, that AB wants the brewery to be able to enter those markets that are closed to that liquid they make that they dare call beer, and that Budvar will become some sort of provincial brand. Of course Budvar has a much much better image than The King of Piss among beer lovers, but then, since when have large corporations cared much about a little thing like that? I hope he is wrong. As for what advice I would give the government. Don't sell it, make it a joint stock company a bit like CEZ with the state as the main shareholder. Budějovický Budvar is a profitable company with a well recognised and appreciated product both in the local and the foreign markets. It would be silly to sell it just for a short term profit, but then, since when has the Czech government (or most governments at that) cared much about a thing like that? I’ve been thinking about the sale of Budvar to AB and I agree with what Aleš Dočkal said the other day, that it is not a good thing, that AB wants the brewery to be able to enter those markets that are closed to that liquid they make that they dare call beer, and that Budvar will become some sort of provincial brand. Of course Budvar has a much much better image than The King of Piss among beer lovers, but then, since when have large corporations cared much about a little thing like that? I hope he is wrong.
As for what advice I would give the government. Don’t sell it, make it a joint stock company a bit like CEZ with the state as the main shareholder. Budějovický Budvar is a profitable company with a well recognised and appreciated product both in the local and the foreign markets. It would be silly to sell it just for a short term profit, but then, since when has the Czech government (or most governments at that) cared much about a thing like that?

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