ST. LOUIS -- Following news today that Anheuser-Busch Cos. andInBev have agreed to merge creating a $52 billion global brewery,Anheuser-Busch Employees' Credit Union is reassuring its 99,000members that the financial institution will remain independent.

The combined company, to be called Anheuser-Busch InBev, willbecome the fifth largest consumer products company in the world,according to both companies. Worldwide, Anheuser-Busch has morethan 30,000 employees while InBev has 89,000 employees. Allbreweries are scheduled to remain open.

"Anheuser-Busch Employees' Credit Union is not a subsidiary ofAnheuser-Busch Companies, however we have been fortunate to expressour common bond by the use of the Anheuser-Busch name," said J.David Osborn, CEO of the $991 million CU. "Our relationship --spanning nearly 70 years -- has been in serving Anheuser-BuschCompanies employees and retirees, as well as their family membersand we plan to continue doing so in the future"