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Japan's Asahi Has Bought Carlton, Victoria Bitter And Others For $16 Billion

Japan's Asahi Has Bought Carlton, Victoria Bitter And Others For $16 Billion

Carlton & United Breweries also owns Pure Blonde, Bulmers, Great Northern Brewing Co, Strongbow, Crown and many other labels.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

What do you think when you hear these brands: Carlton Draught, Victoria Bitter, Pure Blonde, Bulmers, Great Northern Brewing Co, Strongbow, Crown and Melbourne Bitter?

Pretty bloody Aussie if you ask us.

In fact, knocking back an ice-cold VB or Carlton at the pub is about as Aussie as you can get.

Cartlon & United Breweries

So, it might interest you that Carlton & United Breweries, which owns all those delicious brews and a couple more, has been sold to a Japanese company for a whopping $16 billion.

The deal was announced on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Friday afternoon, meaning the brands will soon be in the hands of Asahi - which is also a pretty delicious beer.

Anheuser-Busch InBev, who previously owned the Carlton & United Breweries, has been weighed down with debt after buying out its closest competitor, SABMiller, in 2016.

Talentless Clown/Creative Commons

Selling off CUB was aimed at alleviating some of that debt.

Before you get your pitchforks and torches over Aussie beer being sold to an overseas company, it's worth noting that Anheuser-Busch InBev is a Belgian company.

Chief Executive Officer of AB InBev Carlos Brito said in a statement: "We continue to see great potential for our business in APAC and the region remains a growth engine within our company."

It's still an incredible chunk of change to be spending to acquire the beer brands, but hopefully Asahi will keep the good times rolling and not discontinue anyone's favourite brew.

Featured Image Credit: Cartlon & United Breweries

Topics: News, Australia