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Leading global beverage label supplier Spear has bought the Anheuser-Busch Packaging Group’s Precision Printing and Packaging (PPPI) unit.

PPPI prints 28 billion labels each year for Anheuser-Busch and other beverage, food and consumer products companies. In 2007, the Clarksville, Tennessee based company had annual sales of $70 million. Spear, which supplies labels to the beverage industry, has operations around the world with headquarters in Mason, Ohio.

“Anheuser-Busch and Spear have had an excellent working relationship for many years and we believe this is the right choice for PPPI,” said Mike Harding, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Anheuser-Busch Packaging Group. “We’re pleased to continue our relationship as a customer of Spear.”

“All of us at Spear welcome PPPI employees to our family,” said Spear President Randy Spear. “We’ve admired this team for many years, and believe they will be an excellent addition to our business. This sale will strengthen Spear and PPPI, and we look forward to continuing our long-term majority supply relationship with Anheuser-Busch.” * Leading companies* Spear has been the world’s leading innovator and supplier of pressure-sensitive labelling for the beverage industry since 1982. The company currently operates three facilities across North America as well as operations in the United Kingdom and South Africa. In addition to Anheuser-Busch key customers include Bacardi, Coca-Cola, Diageo, Grupo Modelo, Heineken, L’Oreal, Neutrogena, Pepsi, Proctor & Gamble and SABMiller.

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 48.5% share of US beer sales. The company brews the world’s largest selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Anheuser Busch also owns a 50% share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico’s leading brewer, and a 27% share in China brewer Tsingtao, whose namesake beer brand is the country’s best selling premium beer.