The Department of Justice gave its approval on Friday, Sept. 18 for Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE: BUD) to move ahead with its acquisition of Craft Brew Alliance (NASDAQ: BREW) -- or what Craft Brew calls an "expanded partnership." The deal been in limbo since February, when an antitrust examination began , but has now cleared a major hurdle on the way to closing.
The approval is contingent on the two parties' agreement to sell the Hawaiian operations of Kona Brewing to PV Brewing Partners, LLC. Craft Brew Alliance and Anheuser-Busch suggested the divestiture back on June 10 as a way to "expedite the regulatory review process and alleviate potential regulatory concerns."
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Anheuser-Busch Wins the Regulatory Go-Ahead to Acquire Craft Brew Alliance