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More big news in what is fast becoming a year defined by multinational craft beer acquisitions.
Kirin Holdings, The parent company to Japan’s Kirin Brewery announced late Wednesday that they had purchased a 24.5 percent stake in Brooklyn Brewery.
As is normally the case with these multinational purchases, financial terms of this deal were not disclosed. But in a world where San Diego-based Green Flash can command a billion dollars – we gotta think that Brooklyn Brewery is now flush with yen.
Brooklyn Brewery has long shown interest in their international market. They’ve been selling beer in Japan since just after they started in 1988…and clearly see this move as an opportunity to expand upon that.
And selling less than 25 percent of the company to Kirin, was also a smart and no doubt tactical move on Brooklyn Brewery’s part – allowing them to remain safely within the Brewers Association’s definition of what an independent craft brewer is – and a cash infusion for future growth at the same time.
Photo credits: Brooklyn Brewery
