Brewers Association Statement on Approval of AB InBev Acquisition of SABMiller
BOULDER, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Bob Pease, president & CEO of the Brewers
Association (BA)— the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small
and independent American brewers—released the following statement
regarding the approval of Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) to acquire
SABMiller:
“Today’s decision by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to approve the
acquisition of SABMiller by ABI stipulates many of the safeguards the
Brewers Association requested to preserve fair competition and access to
market for America’s small and independent craft brewers.
“While we continue to believe that the merger of the world’s two largest
brewers is bad for both the beer industry and consumers, the DOJ’s
significant requirements, including the termination of incentive
programs such as the Voluntary Anheuser Busch Incentive for Performance
Program (VAIP), a cap on ABI’s self-distribution volume and other
measures to protect distributor independence, appear to address some of
our major apprehensions with the merger. With effective enforcement of
these provisions, small brewers can rely on their independent
distributor partners to access the market. This will help ensure that
beer enthusiasts can continue to enjoy a vast variety of options from
the more than 4,600 breweries in the U.S.
“The Brewers Association will closely examine the consent decree and
compliance with its provisions, as well as monitor ABI’s actions,
specifically with regard to the acquisition of independent craft
brewers. We remain concerned about how past, pending and future
acquisitions may shift the dynamics of the current beer market. We will
continue to encourage the DOJ to monitor and, where necessary, take
action to remedy any anticompetitive effects of ABI’s behavior in the
U.S.”
About the Brewers Association
The Brewers Association is the not-for-profit trade association
dedicated to small
and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of
brewing enthusiasts. The Brewers Association (BA) represents more than
70 percent of the brewing industry, and its members make more than 99
percent of the beer brewed in the U.S. The BA organizes events including
the World
Beer CupSM, Great
American Beer Festival®, Craft
Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America®, SAVOR℠:
An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, Homebrew
Con, National
Homebrew Competition and American
Craft Beer Week®. The BA
publishes The
New Brewer magazine and its Brewers
Publications division is the largest publisher of contemporary and
relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.
Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft
beer at CraftBeer.com and
about homebrewing via the BA’s American
Homebrewers Association. Follow us on Twitter.
The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not
discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender,
religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or
marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive
Order 11246 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the
Secretary of Labor.
Contacts
on behalf of the Brewers Association
Abby Berman Cohen, 646-695-7044
abby@rosengrouppr.com
