Unibroue To Be Sold?

the.brewer · Post by **the.brewer** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 9:35 am

Might we see La Marque Bavaria?

PRMason · Post by **PRMason** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 11:17 am

Blanche de Bavaria? Miller Genuine Draftsman, Moldite? Fringante Light XXX? Maybe even Black de Chambly!
In this scenario, Fin du Monde and Terrible would not have to change names, they would just take on a whole 'nother meaning.

Oops, my wife's in labour, gotta go.

Andicus · Post by **Andicus** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 5:28 pm

Very witty, Perry.

Best of luck with the delivery, if you're serious!

Maybe that means we'll be seeing you at the Judge on Saturday?

Lubiere · Post by **Lubiere** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 8:32 pm

Burgermeister wrote:
(Sleeman )...have been looking at breweries in Quebec for some time and haven't purchased one yet.

Sleeman bought Seigneuriale about 4-5 yrs to gain access to the Quebec marktet. As a result, they destroyed this fine Boucherville brewery, using it more as a storage facility for Sleeman products. I read on Bieropholie that they were liquidating their remaining Seigneuriale stock...Johannette and Grand Duc bought a lot of the remaindered cases . Buy it while you still have a chance...By buying Unibroue, they will probably burry Seigneuriale for good.

PRMason · Post by **PRMason** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 9:10 am

Have we any confirmation that it is Sleeman?
By the way, just got home from the hospital. I'm the extremely proud father of a 7 lb. baby girl. Katharina Elisabeth was born at 6:30 am, following 23 hrs of brutal labour ( and a nerve wracking overtime win by the Sens).
Off to Cambellford to do up casks of Dogsbody. If all goes to plan, I shall be at the Judge on Saturday.

Bobbyok · Post by **Bobbyok** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 9:25 am

burgermeister wrote: I wouldn't be at all surprised if Sleeman's bought them - them promptly move the brewing of Unibroue brands to the Maritimes like they did with Upper Canada.

Really, Upper Canada is brewed here in the Maritimes now? I find that odd considering it's not available here. Wouldn't it make more sense to brew closer to where it's being sold?

With that in mind, it would be quite odd if Sleeman is the buyer and they did move the Unibroue brands here to Dartmouth brewery (Maritime Brewing Co.), seeing as you can't get Unibroue in Nova Scotia. It is available in New Brunswick, but Sleeman doesn't own a brewery there as far as I know.

I'm still open to the potential buyer not being another brewery, and perhaps just a rich Quebec entrepreneur looking to add a new business to their portfolio.

burgermeister · Post by **burgermeister** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:03 am

Bobbyok wrote:
Really, Upper Canada is brewed here in the Maritimes now? I find that odd considering it's not available here. Wouldn't it make more sense to brew closer to where it's being sold?

That apparently was the plan although I haven't really been able to confirm it. Sleeman purchased Maritime brewing several years ago and had been looking to rationalize the use of the manufacturing capacity. Guelph is tapped out brewing Sleemans and Sapporo and the Guelph brewery is simply now to big to brew smaller runs of UC economically. The Maritime Brewery is more suited from a size perspective. However, you're right, doesn't make a whole lotta sense to brew in Nova Scotia when the only real market place for UC beers is Ontario. Makes one wonder how much longer UC will be around. Not really sure about Sleeman's buying Unibroue either as a previous poster indicated that Sleemans had already purchased a brewery in Quebec some time ago.

Andicus · Post by **Andicus** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:20 am

PRMason wrote: By the way, just got home from the hospital. I'm the extremely proud father of a 7 lb. baby girl. Katharina Elisabeth was born at 6:30 am, following 23 hrs of brutal labour ( and a nerve wracking overtime win by the Sens).

Congratulations, Perry! Except for the Sens win

Hope to see you Saturday.

Andrew

Rob Creighton · Post by **Rob Creighton** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:20 pm

Wife bears child one weekend and off to the judge for a tasting the next...you're a braver man than I Perry Mason.

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 11:18 pm

Congrats, Perry!

burgermeister · Post by **burgermeister** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 8:58 am

It would appear that Sleeman is indeed the suitor:

http://www.globeinvestor.com/servlet/Wi ... 1204202897

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 9:31 am

Hmm. I think this sucks. But Dion et al control the brewery pretty tightly - I wonder if they would agree to sell unless there were clauses to maintain (at least some) of their brands?

beanmedic · Post by **beanmedic** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 10:14 am

its a sad day...

PRMason · Post by **PRMason** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 11:00 am

According to Yahoo! news, its a done deal. As of today, Sleeman now controls the assets and brands of Unibroue. The deal is for $36.5 million, all cash, and Sleeman assumes Unibroue's debt of $5.5 million. The majority shareholders, Dion, Charlebois et al, control 71.5% of Unibroue's stock and the deal has their unanimous approval. Can Clear de Chambly be far behind?

Truly a sad end for a brewing pioneer in Canada.

Josh Oakes · Post by **Josh Oakes** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 11:43 am

PRMason wrote:According to Yahoo! news, its a done deal. As of today, Sleeman now controls the assets and brands of Unibroue. The deal is for $36.5 million, all cash, and Sleeman assumes Unibroue's debt of $5.5 million. The majority shareholders, Dion, Charlebois et al, control 71.5% of Unibroue's stock and the deal has their unanimous approval. Can Clear de Chambly be far behind? Truly a sad end for a brewing pioneer in Canada.

Yes, the press release calls it a tender of $5.25/share, but in this case they wouldn't bother announcing such a proposal if the majority shareholders weren't already on board. If history is any judge, we are now about to witness a slow, painful demise.

The Bar Towel

Unibroue To Be Sold?

interesting factoid-Sleeman and Seigneuriale