HONDA MOTOR CO.

Its cars might not be as American as apple pie, but American Honda Motor Co. keeps the US appetite for Hondas sated. A subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Japan), American Honda makes Accord, Civic, and Acura cars, and Gold Wing, Shadow, and Valkyrie motorcycles. American Honda's best-selling cars include the Odyssey minivan and the CR-V sport utility vehicle (SUV). American Honda has also rolled out hybrid versions of its Accord and Civic sedans. The company, started in 1959 as a small motorcycle store in Los Angeles, has grown to include car, motorcycle, and lawn mower manufacturing plants that export throughout the Americas.

Long associated with quality and durability, Honda's 11 consecutive years of US sales growth stand as evidence of America's affinity for its Hondas. The company's Acura brand has enjoyed similar growth. Acura has announced it is developing a successor to the high-performance NSX which was discontinued at the end of 2005. Recent additions to the Honda lineup include the Ridgeline pickup and the Fit, a sporty sub-compact.

In order to keep up with North American demand Honda is building a new assembly plant in Indiana. The Indiana plant will eventually build 200,000 cars per year and is expected to open in 2008. The newest plant will join Honda's existing American operations in Ohio and Alabama.

ANHEUSER-BUSCH

Anheuser-Busch Companies (A-B) wants to be the life of the party, whether with its brews or its theme parks. One of the world's largest brewers, the company is best known for its Budweiser and Bud Light brands, as well as such labels as Busch and Michelob. Its brands lead the US with a market share of just about 50%. A-B also owns a 50% stake in Mexico's top brewer, Grupo Modelo, which makes Corona and Negra Modelo among many other brands. In addition to beer, the company produces energy drinks and non-alcoholic malt beverages. A-B has several operations outside of brewing as well, including its Busch Entertainment theme park business and Metal Container Corporation aluminum can manufacturing arm.

To tap the premium and specialty beer sector, A-B owns several malt and specialty brews (Tequiza, ZiegenBock Amber) and has minority stakes in various small breweries, including a 33% stake in Redhook Ale Brewery. The company also has a licensing agreement with Japanese brewer Kirin Brewery to brew its beers in the US. Domestic wholesalers purchase more than 100 million barrels of beer from A-B. It has expanded its Kirin agreement to include marketing of the Kirin brands in the US.

The company's market share outside the US, however, is rather anemic, even though it sells its products in more than 80 countries. A-B has its sights set on Latin America and Asia to improve international growth. The firm is also seeking to increase its sales through investments in top brewers. In China, the world's largest beer market, the company owns more than 25% of that country's leading brewer Tsingtao, as well as Harbin Brewery Group.

Vying for female beer drinkers, in 2005 the company introduced Bud Select, a low-carb and low-calorie beer. A-B is also test-marketing a carbonated malt beverage, Bistro 8, and 9th Street Market, a flavored pilsner beer. With the leveling off of beer sales, A-B began moving into the spirits market, with the creation of a wholly-owned subsidiary, Long Tail Libations in 2005. Long Tail is test marketing a liqueur called Jekyll & Hyde. That year A-B also created a new division to market specifically to Hispanics.

In 2006 the company began test marketing Peel, a fruit juice and alcohol beverage, aimed at women. It acquired the Rolling Rock brands from InBev USA for $82 million and agreed to distribute Hansen's energy drinks, including Monster Energy, Lost Energy, and Rumba. Jumping into the food arena, A-B and Vita Food Products are collaborating to produce Budweiser-branded grilling/barbecue sauces.

A-B launched a new energy drink in 2006 called 180 Blue, featuring the acai berry as an ingredient. The company will sell the drinks in bars as well as convenience and grocery stores.

A-B is launching Bud.TV in 2006, an online video entertainment network aimed at the 21-34-year-old male audience.

The company announced August A. Busch IV will take over as president and CEO in December 2006, replacing Patrick Stokes. Stokes will take over as chairman when he leaves the CEO role. Busch IV, great great grandchild of company co-founder Adolphus Busch, will become the fifth generation of the family to run the company.

Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway owns more than 5% of A-B.