AB InBev does not own Coors. As part of the acquisition of SABMiller in 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice required AB InBev to divest SABMiller's entire U.S. business and sell its ownership stake in MillerCoors to Molson Coors.
AB InBev, a multinational beverage and brewing company, completed the acquisition of SABMiller to create one of the largest beer companies in the world. However, in order to comply with antitrust regulations and prevent a monopoly in the U.S. beer market, the U.S. Department of Justice imposed certain conditions on the acquisition.
One of these conditions was that AB InBev had to divest SABMiller's entire U.S. business. This meant that AB InBev had to sell off all of SABMiller's assets and operations in the United States. As a result, AB InBev no longer owns SABMiller's U.S. business, including the ownership stake in MillerCoors.
MillerCoors is a joint venture between SABMiller and Molson Coors, with each company holding a 50% ownership stake. As part of the divestiture requirement, AB InBev had to sell its 50% ownership stake in MillerCoors to Molson Coors. This transaction allowed Molson Coors to become the sole owner of MillerCoors.
It is important to note that the divestiture and sale of MillerCoors was a necessary step to ensure fair competition in the U.S. beer market. The U.S. Department of Justice aims to prevent any one company from having too much control or influence over the industry, as it could potentially limit consumer choice and stifle competition.
In my personal experience as a sommelier and brewer, I have seen the beer industry undergo significant changes due to mergers and acquisitions. These transactions are often driven by strategic goals, market dynamics, and regulatory requirements. The divestiture of SABMiller's U.S. business and the sale of AB InBev's ownership stake in MillerCoors is just one example of how companies in the beer industry need to adapt to meet regulatory standards and maintain a competitive market.
AB InBev does not own Coors. The ownership of Coors is now solely held by Molson Coors as a result of the divestiture and sale required by the U.S. Department of Justice.