E-Malt.com News article: USA: Anheuser-Busch chief was paid $14.1 million in 2007

Anheuser-Busch Cos., whose shares rose 6.4 percent last year, increased Chief Executive Officer August Busch IV's pay 42 percent to $14.1 million, Bloomberg reported March 10.

Busch, who took over as chief in December 2006, received a salary last year of $1.23 million, a bonus of $2.5 million and stock options valued at $8.3 million, the St. Louis-based company said today in a regulatory filing.

Busch, 43, has increased Anheuser-Busch's import business while trying to reinvigorate slowing sales of domestic beers by expanding marketing to more than just young men. Fourth-quarter shipments to wholesalers rose the most in almost two years, with two-thirds of the gain coming from imports including InBev NV's Stella Artois, Beck's and Bass.

Anheuser-Busch, the world's second-largest brewer, also gave Busch a stock award of $869,228 and $1.23 million in other compensation. His pay increased from $9.94 million the previous year.

Anheuser-Busch rose 66 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $46.38 at 11:46 a.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading.

The brewer also said it received a shareholder proposal that would allow investors to advise on pay for the company's top five officers. Another proposal would allow holders of at least 10 percent of the company's outstanding shares to call a special meeting, down from the current threshold of 25 percent.

Anheuser-Busch opposes both proposals. The company plans to hold its annual meeting April 23 in Orlando, Florida.

Chief Financial Officer W. Randolph Baker was paid $3.93 million last year, the company said. Mark T. Bobak, the former chief legal officer who resigned in December, got $10.1 million, including $5.29 million in options.


12 March, 2008