defa14a
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
(Rule 14A-101)
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
o Preliminary Proxy Statement
o Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
o Definitive Proxy Statement
o Definitive Additional Materials
þ Soliciting Materials Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
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statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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On September 29, 2008, the following item was posted on the employee intranet of
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
INBEV
SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE
COMBINATION WITH A-B
September 29, 2008
InBev has announced that its shareholders voted to approve the combination with Anheuser-Busch at
the companys Extraordinary General Meeting held earlier today. Shareholders voted overwhelmingly
in favor of the combination. InBev shareholders also approved the name change of InBev to
Anheuser-Busch InBev and the appointment of August A. Busch IV as a director of the company, both
effective upon closing of the transaction.
According to news reports, InBev CEO Carlos Brito also repeated his commitment not to close any of
A-Bs 12 breweries, provided there are no new or increased taxes or unforeseen events that would
negatively impact A-Bs business. Brito added that A-Bs footprint in the U.S is very efficient.
Click here to download a PDF of InBevs press release about the shareholder vote.
Press
Release
Brussels, 29 September 2008 -1/3
The enclosed information constitutes regulated information as defined in the Royal Decree of
14 November 2007 regarding the duties of issuers of financial instruments which have been
admitted for trading on a regulated market.
InBev Shareholders Approve Combination with Anheuser-
Busch and Related Matters
Shareholders Vote in Favor of All Resolutions Put Forth at
Shareholders Meeting
InBev (Euronext: INB) shareholders voted to approve the acquisition
of all the shares of
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. for USD 70 per share at the Companys Extraordinary General Meeting
held today. Shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favor of the combination.
Carlos Brito, Chief Executive Officer of InBev, said, This vote demonstrates the confidence
our shareholders have in the strategic and financial benefits of the combination with
Anheuser-Busch. We are very pleased to complete this important milestone and we remain on
track to close the transaction by the end of the year.
Shareholders also approved the name change of InBev to Anheuser-Busch InBev and the appointment of
August A. Busch IV as a director of the company, both effective upon closing of the transaction.
Finally, the shareholders also authorized the Board to proceed with the capital increase required
to finance 9.8 billion USD of the transaction.
The transaction remains subject to approval by Anheuser-Busch shareholders and regulatory clearance
in a number of jurisdictions. InBev continues to expect that it will complete the transaction by
the end of 2008. In light of the limited overlap between the InBev and Anheuser-Busch businesses,
the company does not anticipate any significant regulatory issues. Anheuser-Busch has set a
record date of 3rd October for its shareholders meeting and expects to set the date of
such shareholders meeting in the near future.
Press
Release
Brussels, 29 September 2008 -2/3
About InBev
InBev is a publicly traded company (Euronext: INB) based in Leuven,
Belgium. The companys origins
date back to 1366, and today, it is the leading global brewer. As a true consumer-centric, sales
driven company, InBev manages a carefully segmented portfolio of more than 200 brands. This
includes true beer icons with global reach like Stella Artois® and Becks®, fast
growing multicountry brands like Leffe® and Hoegaarden®, and many consumer loved
local champions like Skol®, Quilmes®, Sibirskaya Korona®,
Chemigivske®, Sedrin®, Cass® and Jupiler®, InBev employs close to 89 000 people,
running operations in over 30 countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. In 2007,
InBev realized 14.4 billion euro of revenue. For further information visit www.InBev.com
InBev Contacts:
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Marianne Amssoms
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Fabio Spina |
Vice President Global External Communications
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Vice President Investor Relations |
Tel: +32-16-27-67-11
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Tel: + 32 16 27 62 43 |
E-mail:
marianne.amssoms@inbev.com
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E-mail: fabio.spina@inbev.com |
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Steven Lipin/Nina Devlin
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Rebecca Shelley/Laura Cummings |
Brunswick Group
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Brunswick Group |
+1-212-333-3810
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+44 20 7404 5959 |
This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or
subscribe for, any securities and cannot be relied on for any investment contract or decision.
Forward Looking Statements:
Certain statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact
constitute forward-looking statements, notwithstanding that such statements are not specifically
identified. Forward-looking statements are identified by words or phrases such as anticipates,
estimates, projects, believes, intends and similar words and phrases. Forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and
assumptions which are difficult to predict and outside of the control of the management of InBev
and Anheuser-Busch. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or
forecasted in such forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, the risk that the businesses of InBev and
Anheuser-Busch will not be integrated successfully or such integration may be more difficult,
time-consuming or costly than expected; expected revenue, synergies and cost savings from the
merger may not be fully realized or realized within the expected timeframe and may be lower than
expected; operating costs, customer loss and business disruption following the merger, including,
without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, may be greater than
expected; the ability to obtain governmental or regulatory approvals of the merger on the proposed
terms and schedule; the failure of shareholders of InBev or Anheuser-Busch to approve the merger;
local, regional, national and international economic conditions and the impact they may have on
InBev and Anheuser-Busch and their customers and InBev and Anheuser-Buschs assessment of that
impact; rapid technology developments and changes; containing costs and expenses; governmental and
public policy changes; the outcome of pending and future litigation and governmental proceedings;
continued availability of financing and financial resources in the amounts, at the time and on the
terms required to support future businesses of the combined company.
All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the proposed transaction or
other matters and attributable to InBev or Anheuser-Busch or any person acting on their behalf are
expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements referenced above.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made. InBev and
Anheuser-Busch undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or
circumstances after the date on which such statement is made, or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events.
Press
Release
Brussels, 29 September 2008 -3/3
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the proposed acquisition
of Anheuser-Busch by InBev. In connection with the proposed acquisition, InBev and Anheuser-Busch
intend to file relevant materials with the SEC, including Anheuser-Buschs proxy statement on
Schedule 14A.
INVESTORS
OF ANHEUSER-BUSCH ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH
THE SEC, INCLUDING ANHEUSER-BUSCHS PROXY STATEMENT, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT
THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.
Investors and security holders will be able to obtain the documents free of charge through the
website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov, and Anheuser-Busch stockholders will receive
information at an appropriate time on how to obtain transaction-related documents for free from
Anheuser-Busch. Such documents are not currently available.
InBev and
certain of its directors and executive officers and other persons, and Anheuser-Busch and
its directors and certain executive officers, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation
of proxies from the holders of Anheuser-Busch common stock in respect of the proposed transaction.
Information regarding InBevs directors and executive officers is available in its Annual Report
for the year ended December 31, 2007, available at www.InBev.com/annualreport2007.
Information about the directors and executive officers of Anheuser-Busch and their respective
interests in Anheuser-Busch by security holdings or otherwise is set forth in its proxy statement
relating to the 2008 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 10,
2008. Investors may obtain additional information regarding the interest of the participants by
reading the proxy statement regarding the acquisition when it becomes available.
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This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the proposed
acquisition of Anheuser-Busch by InBev. In connection with the proposed acquisition, Anheuser-Busch
intends to file relevant materials with the SEC. Anheuser-Busch filed amendment number one to its
preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A with the SEC on September 19, 2008.
INVESTORS OF ANHEUSER-BUSCH ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC,
INCLUDING ANHEUSER-BUSCHS PROXY STATEMENT, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT
THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.
Investors and security holders will be able to obtain the documents free of charge through the
website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov, and Anheuser-Busch stockholders will receive
information at an appropriate time on how to obtain transaction-related documents for free from
Anheuser-Busch. Such documents are not currently available.
InBev and certain of its directors and executive officers and other persons, and
Anheuser-Busch and its directors and certain executive officers, may be deemed to be participants
in the solicitation of proxies from the holders of Anheuser-Busch common stock in respect of the
proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Anheuser-Busch and
their respective interests in Anheuser-Busch by security holdings or otherwise is set forth in its
proxy statement relating to the 2008 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC
on March 10, 2008. Investors may obtain additional information regarding the interest of the
participants by reading the preliminary proxy statement.