(Thumbnail image: BBC News)

After months of an intended courtship that met with fierce resistance, the British chocolate company Cadbury is likely to accept Kraft’s final takeover offer of over 19 billion dollars. Media sources are examining the financial details behind the offer, as they debate the company’s cultural significance. 

We look at perspectives from the Wall Street Journal, FinancialTimes.com, France 24, BBC Radio, and FOX Business London. 

The Wall Street Journal looks at the offer in relation to similar deals made recently, and raises questions about Cadbury’s motives for selling.

“The deal values Cadbury at about 13 times its cash flow. Many deals in the recent past in the food sector were valued more highly, and Cadbury itself used to sport a higher valuation.  So even though Kraft raised its offer to 13 times its still below a number of these valuations.  And it makes you wonder, did Cadbury management really get the price they wanted, or did they fear that if they didn’t sell their shareholders were effectively going to sell the company right out from under them?”

But London’s Financial Times consumer industries correspondent Jenny Wiggins says the result is favorable for Cadbury because of the positive impact it has had on stock prices.

“It is a good result because before Kraft approached Cadbury in late August, Cadbury shares were trading around 568 pence, and so to have an offer on the table of nearly 300 pence more, I think shareholders will be pretty happy with that.”

Expressing sentiments shared by many British citizens, France 24 outlines worries over Cadbury’s future and attitudes towards the likely takeover.

“It’s the end of an era.  Cadbury has been British owned throughout its 186-year history, and the deal has been met with strong resistance in the UK.  Trade unions reckon Kraft will have to cut thousands of jobs to fund the takeover, while the British government also took a pretty dim view. If you think you can come here and make a fast buck you will find that you face huge opposition from the local population… and from the British government.”

Citing job distribution and changes in the way companies do business, BBC Radio’s Adam Shaw questions the real impact the buyout will have.

“Yet Cadbury doesn’t really have a huge amount of employees in the UK, most of its employees are outside the UK.  When it was first built it was important for social reasons because it brought a very enlightened, caring attitude towards its employees.  But the world has moved on, businesses have matched many of the things that Cadbury has designed in the first place.  Do you think there is anything different about the way Cadbury behaves that would be a loss to this country?”

But a guest on FOX Business London looks beyond the hard facts to explain why there has been such outrage among British citizens over the deal.

“The issue really here is that consumers and the British public at large know that Cadbury stands for a place, and people want to connect with something local.  And the fear is that this local brand is suddenly going to become an international, bland, no meaning connection for people.”

So what do you think? Was this a good deal for Cadbury?  And what effect will it have on the company’s future and how it is perceived?

Writer: David Goldstein

Producer: Nathan Giannini