ApexNews
Return to Main
Book

Dethroning the King: The Hostile Takeover of Anheuser-Busch, an American Icon

2011

Purchase on Amazon

Synopsis

How the King of Beers collapsed without a fight and what it means for America's place in the post-Recession world
How did InBev, a Belgian company controlled by Brazilians, take over one of America's most beloved brands with scarcely a whimper of opposition? Chalk it up to perfect timing―and some unexpected help from powerful members of the Busch dynasty, the very family that had run the company for more than a century. In Dethroning the King, Julie MacIntosh, the award-winning financial journalist who led coverage of the takeover for the Financial Times, details how the drama that unfolded at Anheuser-Busch in 2008 went largely unreported as the world tumbled into a global economic crisis second only to the Great Depression. Today, as the dust settles, questions are being asked about how the "King of Beers" was so easily captured by a foreign corporation, and whether the company's fall mirrors America's dwindling financial and political dominance as a nation.

Discusses how the takeover of Anheuser-Busch will be seen as a defining moment in U.S. business history.

Reveals the critical missteps taken by the Busch family and the Anheuser-Busch board.

Argues that Anheuser-Busch had a chance to save itself from InBev's clutches, but infighting and dysfunctionality behind the scenes forced it to capitulate.

From America's heartland to the European continent to Brazil, Dethroning the King is the ultimate corporate caper and a fascinating case study that's both wide reaching and profound.

Suggested Reading

Family Reins: The Extraordinary Rise and Epic Fall of an American Dynasty

As an heir to the Anheuser-Busch company and fortune, Billy Busch was raised on the real stories of how his family built one of America's oldest and most iconic brands. Since the company was formed almost 150 years ago, the Busch family, their beer, the famous Clydesdales in their advertising, and e...

Purchase on Amazon View Details

Bitter Brew: The Rise and Fall of Anheuser-Busch and America's Kings of Beer

The creators of Budweiser and Michelob beers, the Anheuser-Busch company is one of the wealthiest, most colorful and enduring family dynasties in the history of American commerce. In Bitter Brew, critically acclaimed journalist William Knoedelseder tells the riveting, often scandalous saga of the ri...

Purchase on Amazon View Details

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you accept our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.