Blimey, yes, that's pretty sizeable -- rather like (the former) Scottish & Newcastle over here, now owned by Carlsberg and Heineken. In fact, I believe they hold the license for Fosters (the brand) in the UK... That certainly explains why people would be a little upset. (See also Kraft buying Cadbury, but don't get me started on that; public in ignorant knee-jerk reaction, film at 11.)

As for Murdoch, fair enough -- and I suppose technically he is, of course -- but I also had in mind the huge chunks of British broadcast infrastructure which are now owned in large part by Macquarie (through Arqiva and Red Bee). But it wasn't a serious criticism, by any means :)