Anheuser-Busch discloses 2008 salaries of top execs, other details

St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch Cos. on Friday morning released an annual report disclosing financial details. A couple of items caught our eye.

The country’s biggest brewer said its advertising costs totaled about $783 million in 2007, up from $771 million in 2006 but down nearly 8 percent from 2005’s total of $850 million. 
 
Similarly, sales promotion costs were up from the year before, totaling $689 million in 2007 compared to $675 million in 2006. But that spending was down about 4 percent from 2005, according to the report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The brewer is looking to boost its media spending this year behind big brands such as Michelob, Bud Light and Budweiser to increase its U.S. business, the source of the large majority of its sales and profits. Its total media spending is slated to increase 10 percent this year.

A-B also said the 2008 base salary of August A. Busch IV, president and chief executive, had been set at $1.38 million.  The base salary of W. Randolph Baker, chief financial officer, is $678,038 this year. 

Douglas J. Muhleman, vice president of brewing operations and technology at the company’s U.S. beer subsidiary, is set to make $633,663 in base pay. Michael Owens, vice president of business operations at that unit, has a $553,500 base salary this year.