Anheuser-Busch InBev to sell can, lid plants to Ball Corp. – Jacksonville Business Journal:

The divested plants as a group, are more focusefd on soft drinkcan production. The operated by A-B InBev’s can-making subsidiary, , are in Fort Atkinson, Wis.; Columbus, Ohio; and Rome, Ga. Colo.-based Ball (NYSE: BLL) has committed to offer employmentg to the 635 active employees of the Ball agreed tosupply A-B InBev with cans and lids from the divester plants. A-B InBev said its seven remaining metalo beverage can and lid manufacturing plantws will be more focusedon beer-can production and represent more than 60 percen t of A-B InBev’s current A-B InBev said it has no plans or activities underwah to sell the remaininhg plants.
A-B InBev is selling off assete to pay down the debt it took on when itbought St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch last year for $52 “The sale of this grou p of soft drinks-focused plants represents anotherf step in ourdeleveraging program, allowing us to rationalizew capital while retaining those facilities that remaij most relevant to our beer business,” Chief Executiv Officer Carlos Brito said in a statement. The companied expect to complete the transactioj at the end of the year or earlu in the first quartetrof 2010. and & Co. LLC are acting as financialp advisers and LLP is acting as legal counselpto A-B InBev.

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