USA: Anheuser – Busch Cos. reported increased sales and earnings for the third quarter and nine months of 2006

Led by strong domestic beer revenues and earnings, Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. reported October 25 that third quarter 2006 net sales increased 4.7 percent and diluted earnings per share (excluding a one-time litigation settlement in 2005) increased 7.9 percent. For the nine months of 2006, net sales increased 5.3 percent and diluted earnings per share (excluding one-time items in both years) improved 7.1 percent.

“We are pleased with our earnings results to date,” said Patrick Stokes, president and chief executive officer of the company. “Earnings growth for the company’s domestic beer business accelerated in the quarter, with pretax income up 7 percent. Beer shipments to wholesalers increased 1.1 percent in the third quarter while revenue per barrel 2/ was up 2.8 percent versus last year. Productivity improvement initiatives, along with somewhat lesser energy cost increases, have helped mitigate continuing cost pressures. In addition, our international beer segment, led by Grupo Modelo, and our entertainment segment are having outstanding years. We expect Anheuser-Busch’s positive performance to continue through the end of the year and our earnings to continue to improve in 2007.”

Consistent with the pattern for 2006 pricing actions, the company plans to implement increases on the majority of its beer volume in early 2007, with a few selective increases occurring in the fourth quarter 2006. As in the past, pricing initiatives will be tailored to selected markets, brands and packages.

Domestic beer shipments-to-wholesalers increased 1.1 percent for the third quarter while sales-to-retailers decreased 0.4 percent (on a selling day adjusted basis), with Rolling Rock, Grolsch and Tiger contributing 0.8 points of growth to both shipments and sales-to-retailers.

Year-to-date, shipments-to-wholesalers increased 2.6 percent and sales-to-retailers increased 0.9 percent, with Rolling Rock, Grolsch and Tiger contributing 0.4 points of growth to shipments and sales-to-retailers. The increase in year-to-date sales-to-retailers was led by Bud Light, which grew over 4 percent. Wholesaler inventories at the end of the third quarter were just under two days higher than at the end of the third quarter 2005.

The company’s estimated domestic market share (excluding exports) for the nine months of 2006 was 49.0 percent, compared with 2005 market share of 48.9 percent. Domestic market share is based on estimated U.S. beer industry shipment volume using information provided by the Beer Institute and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

International volume, consisting of Anheuser-Busch brands produced overseas by company-owned breweries and under license and contract brewing agreements, plus exports from the company’s U.S. breweries to markets around the world, increased 6 percent for the third quarter and 11 percent for the nine months of 2006. These increases are primarily due to increased volume in China and Canada in both periods plus an increase in Mexico year-to-date.

Worldwide Anheuser-Busch brands volume, comprised of domestic volume and international volume, increased 2 percent and 4 percent, respectively, for the third quarter and nine months of 2006 versus 2005, to 34 million and 97 million barrels, respectively.

Total brands volume, which combines worldwide Anheuser-Busch brand volume with equity partner volume (representing the company’s share of its equity partners’ volume on a one-month lag basis) was 43 million barrels in the third quarter 2006, up 1 million barrels, or 3 percent. Total brands volume was up 7 percent, to 121 million barrels for the nine months of 2006.

Equity partner brands volume grew 7 percent and 22 percent, respectively, for the third quarter and nine months of 2006 due to Modelo and Tsingtao volume growth. The company began equity accounting for Tsingtao in May 2005.

Third Quarter 2006 financial results

Effective in the first quarter 2006, Anheuser-Busch adopted FAS 123R, “Share-Based Payment.” FAS 123R requires the recognition of stock compensation expense for stock options and other forms of equity compensation, based on the fair value of the instruments on the date of grant.

In order to enhance the comparability of all periods presented and provide the fullest understanding of the impact that expensing stock compensation has on the company’s financial results, Anheuser- Busch elected to apply the modified retrospective method of adopting FAS 123R. The company has therefore recast 2005 results to incorporate the impact of previously disclosed pro forma stock compensation expense. For financial reporting purposes, stock compensation expense is included in cost of sales and marketing, distribution and administrative expenses, depending on where the recipient’s cash compensation is reported. Stock compensation expense is classified as a corporate item for segment reporting. Stock compensation expense was $.02 per share in the third quarters of both 2006 and 2005, and was $.05 per share for the nine months of both years.

Net sales increased 4.7 percent driven by increases from all operating segments. Domestic beer segment sales increased 3.9 percent due to 1.1 percent higher beer sales volume combined with a 2.8 percent increase in revenue per barrel, while international beer sales were up 4 percent on volume increases. Packaging segment sales increased 6 percent due to higher recycling sales. Entertainment revenues increased 9 percent due to higher attendance.

Income before income taxes 1/, excluding the 2005 litigation settlement discussed below, increased 8.7 percent versus the prior year, primarily due to increased profits from domestic and international beer and entertainment operations. Reported income before income taxes increased 27 percent compared to 2005.

In the third quarter 2005, Anheuser-Busch settled litigation involving one of its former independent wholesalers and incurred a one-time pretax charge of $105 million, or $.12 per share, which is reported as a separate line item in the consolidated income statement.

Pretax profits for the domestic beer segment increased 7 percent, primarily due to higher beer sales volume, increased revenue per barrel and lower marketing costs, partially offset by higher beer production costs.

International beer pretax income was up 22 percent versus prior year, primarily from increased earnings in China partially offset by lower profits in the United Kingdom.

Packaging segment pretax profits were down 3 percent, primarily from lower can manufacturing profits, partially offset by higher earnings in bottle manufacturing and recycling operations. Entertainment segment pretax income improved 10 percent due to higher attendance and increased in-park spending, partially offset by higher operating costs.

Equity income increased 6.4 percent reflecting Grupo Modelo volume growth, price increases taken in Mexico at the beginning of the year, and a lower Mexican income tax rate.

Excluding the impact of the 2005 litigation settlement, the effective income tax rate of 39.3 percent for the third quarter 2006 increased 100 basis points due to higher taxes on foreign earnings, while net income and diluted earnings per share increased 6.7 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively. On a reported basis, net income increased 26.3 percent, diluted earnings per share increased 26.2 percent, to $.82, and the effective income tax rate decreased 340 basis points.

Nine months of 2006 financial results

Net sales increased 5 percent due to contributions from all of the company’s business segments. Domestic beer net sales increased 3.8 percent due to 2.6 percent higher beer sales volume and 1.2 percent higher revenue per barrel. International beer segment net sales grew 8 percent on volume increases, packaging segment sales increased 10 percent due to higher recycling revenues, and entertainment sales increased 9 percent primarily from increased attendance.

Income before income taxes increased 5.6 percent, excluding both the litigation settlement previously discussed and the $15.4 million pretax gain in 2005 from the sale of the company’s equity interest in its Spanish theme park investment, Port Aventura. On a reported basis, pretax income increased 10.4 percent, due to higher profits in all business segments. Income before income taxes for domestic beer was up 3 percent due to higher volume, increased revenue per barrel and lower marketing costs, partially offset by higher beer production costs.

International beer pretax income increased 8 percent primarily due to increased profits in China, Canada and Mexico, partially offset by lower earnings in the United Kingdom.

Packaging segment pretax income increased 2 percent primarily due to higher can and bottle manufacturing profits, partially offset by higher costs for label manufacturing.

Entertainment segment pretax results improved 15 percent due to increased attendance and inpark spending, partially offset by higher park operating expenses.

Equity income increased 15 percent due to Grupo Modelo volume increases, pricing growth and a lower Mexican income tax rate.

Comparisons of net income, earnings per share and the effective income tax rate are all impacted by one-time income tax events in both years, as well as the 2005 litigation settlement and gain on the sale of the Spanish theme park investment. In 2006, Anheuser-Busch recognized a gain of $7.8 million from the reduction of deferred income taxes resulting from state income tax reform legislation in Texas, while in 2005 the company recognized a similar gain of $7.2 million due to tax reform legislation in Ohio and also reported a $6.8 million favorable settlement of certain Chilean taxes associated with the 2004 sale of the company’s equity stake in Compania Cervecerias Unidas S.A. (CCU).

Excluding these one-time items from both years, net income and diluted earnings per share for the nine months of 2006 would have increased 6.5 percent and 7.1 percent, respectively, 1/ and the 2006 effective income tax rate would have been 39.3 percent, an increase of 100 basis points versus 2005 due to higher taxes on foreign earnings. On a reported basis net income increased 11.0 percent, diluted earnings per share were up 11.8 percent, to $2.28 and the 2006 effective income tax rate was up 50 basis points to 39.0 percent.

Earnings per share benefited from the company’s repurchase of over 13 million shares during the nine months of 2006.

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