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Russia: PBR purchased amid talk of bigger beer merger

By  |  September 21, 2014

As the world’s beer market continues to discuss the possibility of top brewer AB InBev acquiring SABMiller, a smaller beer merger has emerged.

Russian brewer Oasis Beverages has reportedly acquired a majority stake in US-based Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer. The company announced Thursday that it struck deals to acquire Pabst Brewing Company, which makes PBR, Colt 45 and Old Milwaukee.

The company’s headquarters will remain in the US despite the foreign takeover, reports say.

The world’s beer industry has been in flux in recent weeks. Before the PBR deal, Heineken rejected a takeover offer from SABMiller, an effort reports said was part of SABMiller’s plans to thwart a takeover by AB InBev. Now, rumors are heating up that AB InBev could make its move and create a beer brewing behemoth.

Full content: Kiro TV

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