Anheuser Tapped Out

摘要

When we went to press with our story about August Busch IVs efforts to revive faltering St. Louis brewer Anheuser-Busch, rumors were swirling of a possible merger with Belgian giant InBev. Busch, 44, told FORBES he wouldn't sell, instead vowing that he could revive the family business-and win his demanding fathers approval-by introducing microbrews and acquiring smaller brands like Rolling Rock. But Busch failed to boost the $17 billion (revenues) company's lagging profits. Battered by a weakening dollar and soaring raw material costs, in July he yielded to a $52 billion takeover by InBev. Busch will sit on the new Anheuser-Busch InBev's 14-member board but will not hold an executive position.