Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc., St. Louis, will contribute $236 million to...

Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc., St. Louis, will contribute $236 million to its $1.2 billion pension plan early next year, said Randolph Baker, CFO. Because the plan was hurt by the declining equity market, plan officials had determined that the company should contribute $36 million this year and another $200 million through the end of 2005, and decided to make the entire contribution at once, Mr. Baker said. Also, plan officials lowered the return assumption to 9.25% from 10%, he said.