Anheuser Busch

AB projected a $300-400 mln charge in Q4 from an early retirement program to support AB's fight with InBev (WSJ). The company also told employees it was going to cut pension and health benefits. Lump-sum pension payouts will be cut 5-6% in 2009 and 15% by 2012. Next year, employees will be on the hook for 25% of their healthcare costs, up from 21% currently. The company is planning on cutting 1000 jobs largely through attrition.