InBev moves to remove A-B board InBev announced its intention yesterday to file a preliminary consent solicitation statement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission seeking to remove the board of directors of Anheuser-Busch Cos. The move comes in response to A-B’s rejection of InBev’s $65-per-share bid for the company. Belgium-based InBev said its proposal is to replace the board with a group that includes Marjorie L. Bowen, Adolphus A. Busch IV, G. Peter D'Aloia, Ronald W. Dollens, James E. Healey, John N. Lilly, Allan Z. Loren, Ernest Mario, Henry A. McKinnell, Paul M. Meister, William T. Vinson, Lawrence Keith Wimbush and Larry D. Yost.

 

“To date, Anheuser-Busch has been unwilling to engage with InBev in a dialogue to achieve a friendly combination,” InBev said in a statement. “As such, InBev believes it is time to take action to ensure Anheuser-Busch shareholders are provided the opportunity to have a direct voice in the process and a say in the future direction of the company.”

 

In response to the move, Anheuser-Busch said, “InBev’s announced attempt to seek to replace Anheuser-Busch’s existing board of directors with InBev’s hand-picked nominees is a self serving effort by InBev to try to purchase Anheuser Busch for a price Anheuser Busch’s independent board already has determined to be financially inadequate and not in the best interest of shareholders.”

 

Anheuser-Busch said it has “urged its shareholders to take no action and not sign or return any consent they may receive in the future from InBev.” The company said it will file a consent revocation statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission that will contain additional information. See InBev’s announcement and Read A-B’s response.

 

 

 

Heineken USA, White Plains, N.Y., has named Christian McMahan chief marketing officer, and says he plans to join the company on July 14. He succeeds Ken Kunze, who has decided to leave the company after 11 years. McMahan previously served as vice president of marketing for Diageo North America and was responsible for Diageo’s U.S. beer portfolio.

 

Of his decision to leave the company, Kunze said, “My next opportunity with Heineken would have been outside the U.S. and I prefer to stay stateside for the time being.” See the full announcement.

 

 

 

The Corn Refiners Association launched a multi-media advertising and public relations campaign to address the growing backlash against high fructose corn syrup. The group highlighted the campaign at last week’s Institute of Food Technologists show in New Orleans.

 

“There are so many myths, inaccuracies and untruths associated with this sweetener that we felt it was necessary to set the record straight,” said Audrae Erickson, president of the Corn Refiners Association, in a statement about the campaign. “We hope to provide balanced information about high fructose corn syrup to allow consumers to make informed decisions based on science.” The campaign includes newspaper, magazine and television advertisements, as well as a consumer Web site at sweetsurprise.com.

 

 

Lee to head Juice Products Association

 

Raymond K. Lee, chief executive officer at Country Pure Foods, Akron, Ohio, has been elected chairman of the Juice Products Association (JPA). He will begin his term as chairman after the November 2008 meeting. The JPA is a trade association representing the fruit and juice products industry, focusing on product safety and good manufacturing and inspection practices. Lee previously served the JPA as vice chairman and secretary, and has been on the JPA board of directors for the past three years.

 

 

 

Pernod Ricard USA, Purchase, N.Y., named Paul Duffy chairman and chief executive officer, replacing Alain Barbet, who has become chairman and chief executive officer of Pernod Ricard Americas. Barbet, in turn, replaces Michel Bord, who has been named deputy managing director at Pernod Ricard SA, in charge of the company’s global distribution network.

 

Other appointments at Pernod Ricard include Laurent Lacassagne as chairman and chief executive officer of Pernod Ricard Europe; Jean-Christophe Coutures as chairman and chief executive officer of Pernod Ricard Pacific; Franck Lapeyre as president of Jinro Ballantines Co. in Korea; Paul-Robert Bouhier as managing director Pernod Ricard Singapore; Franck Lapeyre as president Jinro Ballantine’s Co.; Alexandre Ricard as chairman and chief executive officer of Irish Distillers; and Thibault de Poutier as managing director of Pernod Ricard Asia Duty Free.