Tilray Brands has completed the acquisition of BrewDog Brewing Australia, including the Scottish company’s brewing operations and “flagship” bars in the country.
The deal includes a production facility in Brisbane, Queensland, two owned BrewDog bars in Brisbane – DogTap Brisbane and BrewDog Fortitude Valley – and three franchised venues in Pentridge (Victoria), South Eveleigh (New South Wales), and Perth (Western Australia). The move follows Tilray’s announcement last week of its acquisition of BrewDog in a pre-pack administration transaction for just GBP33m (US$44.5m).
Financial details of this second deal were not disclosed.
“Australia is a highly attractive craft beer market with a strong beer culture and serves as a strategic gateway to the rapidly growing Asia Pacific region,” said Tilray CEO Irwin Simon. “BrewDog’s brewing capabilities, production infrastructure and hospitality locations in Australia provide a strong operational base to invest in the brand’s next chapter, while also creating a strategic hub to introduce Tilray’s portfolio of leading US beverage brands across the Asia Pacific region.”
The initial deal included the global rights to the BrewDog brand name, UK brewing operations and 11 ‘BrewPub’ on-premise outlets. Tilray said it was “separately negotiating to acquire certain BrewDog assets in the US”, including bars in Las Vegas and Ohio.
The remaining UK bars will be sold or closed, which, according to trade union Unite, “would result in 38 bars closing and the loss of 484 jobs, some with immediate effect”.
Last month, Carlsberg handed Tilray the brewing rights for several of its brands in the US.
