A-B TO BUY BACK 100MM SHARES

If you've ever harbored doubts that this is a blue chip company, this ought to allay those fears. A-B's board approved a new 100-million stock repurchase program to help drive up that stock price. The program follows a similar 100-million share repurchase program back in Feb 2000 which is nearly done. This means A-B will buy up and retire an astounding 12% of outstanding stock. SAYS PAT STOKES: "Share repurchasing is an integral part of Anheuser-Busch's long- standing program to