AB InBev brews $350m bonus for top bosses if the company hits ambitious 2020 revenue targets
Senior managers at Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) will share a bonus pool of $350m (£246m) if the company hits ambitious revenue targets by 2020.
AB InBev, the world’s largest brewer, will pay out the bonus pool to 65 of its top managers if revenues reach $100bn in four years’ time, under its “2020 Dream Incentive Plan”, the company announced in its annual report. Revenue at the Belgium-based brewer was $43.6bn last year.
The incentive scheme, which will be paid out through stock options, excludes the 16-member executive board headed by chief executive Carlos Brito.
The plan is linked to an internal “stretch target” that “reflects the company’s long-term goals”, rather than official policy.
“This plan was specifically developed for these 65 senior managers that were identified by our senior leaders to help them work towards the internal stretch target and future growth,” an AB InBev spokeswoman said.
The company would not comment on whether a separate incentive scheme would be in place for the executive committee.
AB InBev’s revenue will receive a boost from its yet to be approved “megabrew” merger with British drinks giant SABMiller.
Agreed in November for £71bn, it will be the largest ever takeover of a British company.
When the merger is complete, the combined companies will own more than 30 per cent of the world’s major beer brands, including Stella Artois and Budweiser.
In mid-March, AB InBev announced it will launch a jumbo euro bond deal to pave the way for the megabrew merger to complete. It will issue a six-tranche, euro-dominated deal with maturities ranging from four to 20 years in length, with each tranche expected to be at least £1bn in size.
To ease concerns that the merger will result in a too-dominant beer giant, SABMiller is selling its Millers Coors' stake to co-owner Molson Coors and is looking to offload its premium brands Peroni and Grolsch.