Anheuser-Busch Wins the Regulatory Go-Ahead to Acquire Craft Brew Alliance

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 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." The DOJ made the Kona spinoff an official condition of its approval on Sept. 18, publishing a notice saying the divestiture is required to "maintain competition in the beer industry in Hawaii."