iconic brands shifting offshore with the proposed takeover of Foster's

Group by the UK's SABMiller. But overseas ownership of big

Aussie-originated brands – think Holden, Vegemite, Arnott's, Speedo and

Victa Lawncare – does not necessarily affect consumers' perceptions.

Undoubtedly, new international proprietors would keep the marketing

cachet that comes with providing a taste of the desirable Australian

lifestyle in a glass, bottle or straight from the can, says Dean Wilkie,

a marketing expert at the Australian School of Business. It's more than

likely that lager drinkers across the globe would remain oblivious to

an ownership change.