AB InBev sticks to Belgium as HQ

The head of the Anheuser-Busch InBev beer giant said Tuesday the global headquarters will stay in Belgium instead of moving to the United States, a choice of the power of tradition over the power of markets.

InBev's $52 billion takeover of Anheuser-Busch last year raised fears in Belgium a centuries old tradition would die if the headquarters moved to the United States, the biggest market for the world's biggest brewer.

After the annual shareholders meeting Tuesday, CEO Carlos Brito said the logic to stay in Leuven close to Brussels was based on heritage and the appeal of such traditions that spawned iconic beers like Stella Artois.

"Our …