CALGARY, AB – Wild Rose Brewery, one of the oldest and largest craft breweries in Alberta, has announced that it has accepted the takeover bid filed last week by Sleeman Breweries, the Guelph-based national brewer owned by Japan’s Sapporo Breweries.
Wild Rose shareholders approved the sale in a vote held yesterday (May 9th), and the deal is set to be finalized by May 31st.
“We know that this partnership will bring a wealth of opportunities for us to succeed together as we move forward with the support of Sleeman’s resources and industry insights,” says Bill McKenzie, CEO at Wild Rose Brewery, in a statement. “We feel there is a strong connection between the way we’ve crafted our culture and the way Sleeman does business, and we are excited about our new joint vision for taking the growth of the Wild Rose brand to the next level.”
“We recognize that Alberta is a province with high growth potential and see a number of synergies between Wild Rose and Sleeman that make this partnership extremely exciting for both organizations,” adds Jesse Hanazawa, President and CEO of Sleeman Breweries. “We look forward to working closely with the Wild Rose team to ensure both they and Sleeman are able to reap the many benefits of this strategic partnership.”
With this sale, Wild Rose joins a brewery and brand portfolio that includes the main Sleeman plant in Guelph, Okanagan Spring Brewery in British Columbia, Unibroue in Quebec, and brands from defunct breweries including Upper Canada and Maclays Pale Ale.
Source: Wild Rose Brewery press release