Patrick T. Stokes Named President and Chief Executive Officer of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.; August A. Busch IV Succeeds Stokes As President of Brewing Subsidiary.

Business Editors

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 24, 2002

The Board of Directors of Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. (NYSE:BUD) has named Patrick T. Stokes as President and Chief Executive Officer of the corporation, it was announced today. Stokes succeeds August A. Busch III, who continues as Chairman of the Board. The changes, announced today at the company's annual shareholders meeting in St. Charles, Mo., are effective July 1, 2002.

"Pat Stokes is the right person to lead this corporation," said Busch III in making the announcement. "He has been a member of senior management for more than 25 years, demonstrating vision, leadership and analytical skills in each assignment. Since 1990 he has led our beer company to record performance. Pat has earned the Board of Directors' respect and confidence."

Stokes, 59, joined Anheuser-Busch in 1969 in the Corporate Planning Department. He became an officer of the company when he was named Vice President-Raw Materials and Transportation in 1974. During the 1980s he served as Chairman of the Board and President of Campbell-Taggart, Inc., a baked goods company that at that time was an Anheuser-Busch subsidiary.

In 1990, he succeeded Busch III as President and later as Chief Executive Officer of Anheuser-Busch, Inc., the company's U.S. beer subsidiary, the largest contributor to corporate revenues.

In 1999, Stokes was named Chairman of the Board of Anheuser-Busch International, Inc., giving him worldwide responsibility for the corporation's beer business. In 2000, he was promoted to Senior Executive Vice President of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. Stokes also was elected to the Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. Board of Directors that year.

Stokes holds a B.A. in mathematics from Boston College, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He earned a Masters degree in Business Administration from Columbia University.

Succeeding Stokes as President of the beer company, Anheuser-Busch, Inc., is August A. Busch IV.

"August IV has played a critical role in the success of our beer company for the last five years, most recently as Group Vice President- Marketing and Wholesale Operations," Stokes noted. "He has led the creation of one of the world's most-recognized marketing programs. His knowledge of every aspect of the beer business will help ensure that the growth of Anheuser-Busch, Inc. will continue."

Busch IV has been with the company full time for 17 years. During that period he has held a variety of positions in brewing, operations and marketing.

Busch, 38, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Finance from St. Louis University. He also holds a Brewmaster's Degree from the International Brewing Institute in Berlin and a Master's in Business Administration from St. Louis University.

Busch IV, who will continue to report to Stokes, will also continue as a member of the Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. Strategy Committee, the group composed of the company's most senior managers that is responsible for decisions on all major business matters.

"This new management team will not radically change the company's operations or its philosophy," Stokes said. "We are a simple, straightforward company that has built its reputation and its sales through dedication to principles like quality, integrity, innovation, communication and superior stockholder returns. That's what our customers and shareholders expect and that's what they'll continue to get."

The changes have been planned for some time, according to Busch III. "I have said for many years that I planned to reduce my role with the company at age 65," Busch said. "The Board of Directors regularly reviews succession planning. We have worked over the years to ensure that our key managers have the experience necessary to move to the next level."

Busch III, who was named President of Anheuser-Busch in 1974, will be 65 in June.

"I plan to be an active Chairman of the Board for the foreseeable future," he said. "But this is the right time to make this transition to new leadership. We've got a great team here that will continue the growth and tradition of Anheuser-Busch."

In other changes announced by Busch III today, John E. Jacob assumes the new position of Executive Vice President-Global Communications, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.

Jacob, 67, the former head of the National Urban League, has served on the Anheuser-Busch Board of Directors since 1990, a role in which he'll continue to serve. He joined the company as Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer in 1994. In that role he oversaw all of the company's communications functions, including public relations, employee communications and Consumer Awareness, the company's division devoted to promoting responsible alcohol beverage consumption.

In his new role, Jacob will develop strategies and undertake initiatives to grow the company's communications efforts around the world. His efforts will involve needs assessment and communication program development for both internal and external communications.

"Jake's promotion to his new duties demonstrates the importance we place on clear communications at all levels of our company," Busch III said. "He will also undertake a number of special projects for company senior management."

Assuming Jacob's former duties will be Francine I. Katz, who is promoted to Vice President, Corporate Communications, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. Katz, 44, has overseen the company's efforts to promote responsible alcohol consumption since being named Vice President- Consumer Awareness and Education in 1994. In 1999, she became Vice President-Consumer Affairs, taking on added responsibility for environmental, legal and government affairs communications.

Katz joined Anheuser-Busch as associate general counsel in the company's legal department in 1988. She had previously practiced law for five years with the St. Louis law firm of Armstrong, Teasdale, Schlafly & Davis.

Katz, who will report to Stokes, will become a member of the corporation's Strategy Committee. Jacob remains a member of the Strategy Committee.

Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. is a diversified corporation. Its Anheuser-Busch, Inc. subsidiary is the world's largest brewing organization, leading the U.S. beer industry for 40 years. The company has more than 30 beer brands. Its Budweiser and Bud Light brands are the world's top-selling beers.

Metal Container Corporation, the principal packaging subsidiary, is one of the nation's top manufacturers of aluminum beverage containers for beer and soft drink companies. Other packaging subsidiaries manufacture glass bottles, recycle aluminum beverage containers and produce labels for food, beverage and consumer product containers.

Busch Entertainment Corporation operates nine adventure parks, including Busch Gardens in Tampa, Fla. and Williamsburg, Va., three Sea World Parks and Discovery Cove.

Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. also has interests in malt production, rice milling, real estate development, turf farming, creative services, railcar repair and transportation services.