Anheuser-Busch Sells Columbus Packaging Plant
NBC 4
UPDATE: NBC 4 talks with an Anheuser-Busch representative about the divested can plants, including one on Columbus’ East Side.
BRUSSELS—Anheuser-Busch InBev said it has entered an agreement to sell four U.S. packaging plants to Ball Corporation for $577 million to help pay off debt.
NBC 4 GOT ANSWERS after the announcement Wednesday.
Ball has promised to offer employment to each active employee of the plants, including the Columbus, Ohio, packaging division.
The Columbus packaging division is off of McCormick Boulevard on the city’s East Side.
NBC 4’s Tom Brockman spoke with an Anheuser-Busch representative Wednesday who said the brewery will remain under the same ownership, only the packaging division would be sold.
AB InBev has recently been selling businesses to repay the massive debt burden it built up last year to pay for the $52 billion takeover that formed it.
The divested can plants are located in Columbus, Fort Atkinson, Wisc., and Rome, Ga., and the divested lid plant is in Gainesville, Fla.
About 175 people are employed in Columbus’ packaging division.
NBC 4’s Tom Brockman talked to Scott McCarty with Ball Corp. Wednesday morning.
McCarty said only 635 total employees were to be affected at the four plants Ball Corp. hopes to acquire.
Ball Corp. wants to acquire canning operations only, he said. Ball Corp. is a supplier of plastic and metal packaging to the beverage and food industry.
The Columbus plant manufactures 2.7 billion metal cans per year.
McCarty said all affect employees will be offered employment.
He said it was too early to say whether relocation for some of them would be necessary.
The plants will continue to supply Anheuser-Busch with metal drink cans and lids.
AB InBev said the plants make soft drinks cans and lids and that selling them will allow its remaining packaging business to focus on beer cans.
AB InBev Chief executive Carlos Brito said the sale was “another step in our deleveraging program, allowing us to rationalize capital while retaining those facilities that remain most relevant to our beer business.“
AB InBev expects the deal to close at the end of the year or early in the first quarter of 2010.
NBC 4 was told the agreement does not affect Anheuser-Busch’s Columbus’ brewery operations at all.
The Associated Press contributed information to this story.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
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Reader Reactions
I have spent the last twenty years investing my money into Busch, granted it was 12 packs of beer.
I agree that facts need to be straight - I’m not arguing that. My point is there is a way to tactfully report it without resorting to scolding remarks.
Put yourself in Donna’s shoes and re-read what you posted. Do you think she actually feels grateful for your advice and the implications that she can’t do her job (from a stranger, no less)?
“There are some incorrect items in the story, can you please confirm…“ would have come off a lot less harsh than “You need to use…basic fact checking skills.“
It serves no purpose to attack the reporter for making a mistake. A simple correction would have sufficed.
At least NBC4 made a correction.
10TV.com still has the headline “Anheuser-Busch InBev To Sell Columbus Plant” and it still shows a picture of the brewery.
BobjustBob, cest la vie. Reporting either here, in print or broadcast HAS to be checked out FIRST before posting. With that said…..done
C’mon people, give the girl a break. There were errors, so what? Mistakes do happen on occasion, believe it or not.
A simple correction would do without resorting to personal attacks - and make no mistake, comments like “You should get your facts straight” and “use basic…fact checking skills” are an attack on how she does her job. That’s personal in nature.
Thank you for the apology.But please, as with ANY story, check your facts before posting them. You are a quality news site and as such should have and use basic journalism and fact checking skills.
NBC 4 apologizes for the error about the packaging plant’s location. No, it’s not at the Bud plant. It’s on the East Side. Please understand this is a developing story and information may change. The updates have been constant as we get in touch with officials who can answer our questions. Thank you for your corrections.
You should get your facts straight. The “..1,306,800-square-foot Columbus plant opened in 1968 and covers 221 acres. The plant employs approximately 665 full-time employees”. This is the BREWERY, not the packaging plant. The packaging plant is what is for sale. It is owned by a subsidiary, Metal Container Corp. You would think “..McCarty said only 635 total employees were to be affected at the four plants..“ would tip you off. The brewery employs 665 in ONE location.
Tell me people if A-B is selling their can plant why is NBC4 showing a picture of the brewery??? They are NOT one and the same and not even on the same side of town. If NBC4 does not have a photo of the can plant….get one or not post any at all. Truth in news also goes with photos.
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