Anheuser-Busch InBev continues with its craft buying frenzy with the announcement this afternoon of the purchase of Craft Brew Alliance for $16.50 a share. CBA closed today’s trading session at $7.33 a share.
ABInBev, which currently owns 31% of CBA will now pay $68.8 billion for the balance of the company. The deal will make ABInBev the largest brewer of “craft” beers in the country, easily outpacing Boston Beer with this acquisition.
ABInBev owned just two craft brands as little as five years ago with the acquisition of Goose Island in 2011 and Blue Point Brewing in 2014. Since then they have purchased 10 Barrel, Elysian Brewing Company, Golden Road Brewing, Four Peaks Brewery, Breckenridge Brewery and Devils Backbone Brewing Company. With the outright purchase of CBA, ABInBev will now also fully own and control Kona Brewing, Widmer Brothers, Omission Brewery and Redhook Brewery among others.