UK brewer Fullers is set to sell off its business to Japanese largest beermaker Asahi in a £250m deal in a bid to preserve the Chiswick-based Griffen Brewery in West London, where the company has operated since 1654, a press statement released on Friday said.
British multinational investment company Rothschild & Co will be the sponsor and sole financial advisor to Fuller's in the deal. Following the deal, Fuller's shares spiked 21 percent due to "structural changes to the beer industry", the company said. The company also blamed its merger on competition between global breweries and the 2,000 smaller breweries in the UK.
Important news today. Fuller’s announces the proposed sale of its Beer Business to Asahi Europe Ltd. Click the link for more information. https://t.co/gw3RM3hDJn pic.twitter.com/R06QzD5qZP
— Fuller's (@Fullers) January 25, 2019
Fuller's — or Fuller, Smith & Turner — was officially founded in 1845, although the Griffen Brewery dates back to the English Civil War.
Fuller's CEO Simon Emeny said that staff remained "incredibly proud" of the business as well as "its history and the high-quality" beers and ciders.
"Brewing has formed an integral part of our history and brand identity, however the core of Fuller's and the driver of our future growth is now our premium pubs and hotels business," Mr. Emeny said.
"Asahi, as a company recognised for brewing excellence, is an appropriate custodian of our rich brewing history and the Griffin Brewery, and will ensure the Fuller's Beer Business brands will reach an even wider global audience," he continued.
Completely dumbfounded to learn this morning that @Fullers is selling the Griffin brewery and all its brands to Japanese brewer Asahi, but keeping the pubs.
— Roger Protz (@RogerProtzBeer) January 25, 2019
Unable to report more as off to @MancBeerFest but will follow up.
Well, that’s a hell of a way to end the week, @Fullers to sell its brewing arm to Asahi, I’ll be honest and say I did not see this coming and I am extremely conflicted about it.
— Melissa Cole (@MelissaCole) January 25, 2019
Asahi Group Holdings Ltd CEO Akiyoshi Koji said that his company has long admired Fuller's "exceptional beer brands" as one of the "few brewers that show the same genuine commitment to brewing excellence".
"We strongly believe that the brands of the Beer Business, including London Pride, Frontier and Cornish Orchards among others, complement our premium portfolio in the UK market, READ MORE: France Demands Japan Accept Renault-Nissan Merger After Ghosn Scandal — Reports "In particular, London Pride is a fantastic brand with an illustrious heritage dating back to the 1950s and we are excited about its untapped international potential which Asahi has the scale and global network to unlock."
