BREWING
Craft Brew Alliance “disappointed” as Anheuser-Busch InBev declines option to buy Portland, OR: Craft Brew Alliance, Inc. (CBA) has con rmed that Anheuser-Busch (A-B) has not made a qualifying offer to purchase the remaining shares of the Company as indicated in the 2016 International Distribution Agreement. With the expiration of the qualifying offer deadline de ned in that agreement, A-B has con rmed it will be making a $20 million one-time incentive payment. CBA’s existing Master Distribution Agreement remains intact through 2028,
Carson, began in 2014 as a homebrew-in- spired brewery devoted to community outreach and education. Still carrying com- munity values at the core of their business today, Platform is known throughout Ohio for their taproom customer experiences and vast beverage portfolio of award-winning innovative products – creating more than 200 unique beers per year. The brewery’s unparalleled creativity and experimentation has resulted in more than 600
and the existing Contract Brewing Agreement and International Distribution Agreement remain intact through 2026. Chief Executive Of cer
Andy Thomas said, “While disappointing, with this decision made, management can turn its attention to re ning strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value. Over the past several years, we have built a sustainable infrastructure, optimized our footprint, and amassed a diversi ed portfolio of brands to support future pro table growth anchored by robust growth in the Kona brand and the addition of our three newly acquired brands. Looking to the future, we are optimistic ➤➤
recipes that include a vari- ety of unique seasonals, sours, ciders and fruit ales, barrel-aged beers, and a line of hard seltzer. “In speaking with the other craft brewery founders
in Brewers Collective, we know partnering with Anheuser-Busch means we will have the resources and the autonomy to bring our vision for Platform Beer Co. to life,” said Platform co-founder Paul Benner. “Being able to continue leading the day-to-day operations was an important factor in our decision and we have no doubt that this partnership will bene t our loyal staff and passionate customer base”. Platform owns and operates four facilities in Ohio: their agship Cleveland tasting room, a 60 barrel Cleveland-based brewhouse, a tasting room in Columbus which doubles as a distribution center and warehouse, and their Cincinnati Tasting Room and coffee shop concept “LOCOBA”. More growth is in store for Platform’s community footprint, including Platform’s rst dedicated sour beer brewing facility and on-site tasting room – “Phunkenship” – opening soon in Cleveland, and a 10 barrel brewery and tasting room in Pittsburgh to open in the near future. “We are excited to invest even more into our local economy through capital improve- ments and job creation,” added co-founder Justin Carson. “We will be able to provide our staff with resources like robust health- care bene ts including parental leave, 401K and growth opportunities that we currently don’t have and will make Platform an even better place to work and grow.” “We are thrilled to welcome Paul, Justin and the entire Platform team to Brewers Collective,” said Marcelo “Mika” Michaelis, president, Brewers Collective. “We are inspired by their experiential mindset, and we look forward to supporting their growth plans as they continue to push boundaries through their intrinsic craft values of education, connection and collaboration. It’s this growth that will give beer drinkers access to even more choices in today’s competitive and dynamic beer market.” In the last three years alone, Anheuser- Busch has invested more than $130 million post-partnerships in its craft partners to hire new employees, open new facilities and brew more great beer. Our craft partners have expanded their production volume and created nearly 1,000 new jobs to support their growing breweries.
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