As reported earlier today, A-B InBev has, after years of rumors, explicitly stated its intention to merge with SABMiller. Such a transaction would effectively consolidate one-third of the world’s beer supply under a single manufacturer’s umbrella.
Source: BA’s Gatza Responds to Mega Brewer Takeover News | Brewbound.com
Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) launched a bid for rival brewer SABMiller earlier today. While the union of the world’s two biggest brewers would create a colossus with a global market share as high as 35%, according to Impact Databank, the megadeal would likely have relatively little impact in the U.S. market, as antitrust concerns would prevent a merging of operations in the world’s second-largest beer market.
Even though both brewing giants have seen their shares shrink in the U.S. amid the craft beer boom, they still collectively dominate the market. ABI, led by the Budweiser franchise, controls just under half of the U.S. beer market, while MillerCoors—a joint venture between SABMiller and Molson Coors—accounts for more than 25%.
SABMiller has a 58% stake in MillerCoors, while Molson Coors owns the remaining 42%. If the ABI-SABMiller deal comes to fruition, the most likely scenario would involve Molson Coors—the world’s 7th largest brewer—buying out SABMiller’s interest in the venture.
The two brewers would also probably encounter regulatory issues in China, the world’s biggest beer market, as SABMiller owns a 49% stake in top brewer CR Snow, and ABI is the third-leading player.
— Shanken News Daily
This is interesting, particularly given the majority stake MillerCoors just took in Saint Archer Brewing: http://www.brewbound.com/news/2015/millercoors-to-close-north-carolina-brewery?
Atlanta, Georgia’s SweetWater Brewing Company is expanding its East Coast presence with entry into New York City, Connecticut and central Pennsylvania. Manhattan Beer Distributors will handle SweetWater’s craft beer lineup in New York City, while Star Distributors and A. Gallo & Company will distribute in western Connecticut and Wilsbach Distributors will service central Pennsylvania. In June, the fast-growing craft brewer partnered with Peerless Beverage for distribution in northern New Jersey, and with Muller Inc. for the Philadelphia area. SweetWater is continuing its geographic expansion following a $19 million investment that it says will allow it to keep up with demand.
— Shanken News Daily
Georgia Craft Beer Lawyer 