InBev launches a new buy-back program for an amount up to 300 million Euro of InBev shares, according to company’s press release, January 21.

Following the successful completion of its 300 million Euro buy-back program announced on 30 August 2007, InBev’s Board of Directors resolved to initiate a new share buy-back program for an amount of up to 300 million Euro.

The share buyback will be executed pursuant to the powers granted at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of 24 April 2007, and, in accordance with that mandate, may be conducted within 8 months of the date of the resolution.

InBev’s share buy-back programs are an integral component of its strategy to pro-actively manage its capital structure and return cash to shareholders, as well as to hedge the company’s share based compensation system.

About InBev

InBev is a publicly traded company based in Leuven, Belgium. The company's origins date back to 1366, and today it is the leading global brewer. InBev’s strategy is to strengthen its local platforms by building significant positions in the world's major beer markets through organic growth, world-class efficiency, targeted external growth, and by putting consumers first. InBev has a portfolio of more than 200 brands, including Stella Artois®, Brahma®, ...More Info

Yanjing Brewery Co Ltd, China's second-biggest beer maker, aims to raise between 1.2 billion yuan ($166 million) and 1.5 billion yuan ($207 million) by selling additional shares to fund expansion, two people familiar with the plan said, according to Reuters, January 21.

A spokeswoman for Beijing-based Yanjing declined to confirm the fund-raising target, but said the share sale plan was under discussion and would be announced towards the end of the week.

Trading in Yanjing shares, which has been suspended since Jan. 18 pending an announcement, would resume next week, she said. The stock had risen 79 percent over the past 12 months.

Guangfa Securities Co has been appointed the underwriter for the new share offer, the market sources, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters.

Chinese brewers are racing to boost their share of the world's largest beer market by volume.

Yanjing's larger rival, Tsingtao Brewery Co, unveiled a plan in November to sell domestic corporate bonds to raise up to 1.5 billion yuan to increase capacity.

"Yanjing needs capital to expand nationwide because of increasing pressure from Tsingtao," said Chen Gang, analyst at Sinolink Securities Co.

Yanjing, which dominates the Beijing market, has 10 percent of China's beer market, much lower than the 16 ...More Info

M. Váňová(1), S. Palík(1), J. Hajšlová(2), I. Burešová(1) (1) Agricultural Research Institute Kroměříž, Ltd., Czech Republic (2) Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract
Effects of the year, previous crop and control of leaf diseases on grain yield, test weight, protein and starch content, Fusarium head blight (FHB) and deoxynivalenol (DON) content in grain were investigated in four spring barley varieties. The trials were set up in 2001–2004 at Kroměříž (235 m above sea level, average annual temperature 8.7°C, annual precipitation sum 599 mm) in a five-course crop rotation, where spring barley followed the previous crops sugar beet, winter wheat, maize, and oilseed rape. The experimental years differed a lot in temperature and precipitation. The years 2001 and 2002 were dry and warm and grain yield was much lower as compared to that in the following years even though the other growing conditions were identical. The most stable quality parameters were obtained after the previous crop sugar beet. The average value of test weight was 661 g/l (ranging from 629 to 685 g/l), protein content 11.2% (10.3–11.7%) and starch content 61.5% (58.9–64.9%). Grain yield averaged 6.67 t/ha. Test weight after maize was on average 658 g/l (619–692 g/l), protein content 11.5% (10.1–12.4%), starch content 60.7% (59.2–63.8%), and grain yield 6.24 t/ha. Test weight and starch content were lower and protein content higher after oilseed rape and winter wheat. A higher FHB incidence and DON content were found after the previous crop maize. In 2001 and 2002 with strong water deficit during the growing seasons, more grains infected by Fusarium spp. were detected and DON content was higher too. The increase was due to a short rainy period at heading of spring barley. Problems of variable conditions for growing malting varieties of spring barley and current possibilities of producing both good grain yields and quality are discussed. Keywords: malting spring barley; yield; quality parameters; Fusarium spp.; deoxynivalenol
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