I-Team has exclusive A-B/InBev merger details

By Cordell Whitlock

KSDK -- The NewsChannel 5 I-Team has obtained exclusive information from a town hall meeting held this week for Anheuser-Busch employees. That meeting, held on Wednesday, gave A-B employees a chance to ask InBev CEO Carlos Brito questions.

NewsChannel 5 obtained information from an employee in that meeting. Here is some of what was said.

InBev's multi-billion dollar takeover of Anheuser-Busch is pending. On Wednesday Brito said the deal could be done by november. When asked about InBev's plans to pursue other markets Brito said for the next few years we already have a whole lot on our plate. We should stay where we are and not venture into new areas. We need to take care of what we have now.

When asked about the future of high level management at A-B, Brito said this was not the military -- seniority doesn't matter. It will be about an employee's track record, motivation, and willingness to continue to learn. They need to learn by trying different jobs and continuing to set the bar higher.

As for the role technology will play at InBev, Brito said if the company has programs that are off the shelf applications, then their development will be outsourced. If it has proprietary technologies, then they would stay in house.

"We sell beer, not technology," Brito said.

Brito also complemented A-B saying, "I have learned I would rather be with you than against you."

A-B owns the U.S. beer market. Since A-B has been able to take numerous price increases, there were opportunities that did not seem to be evident in other markets.

A-B would not comment on the meeting but they did tell NewsChannel 5 employees eligible to except early retirement have until November 14 to make a decision.