The nation's competition watchdog has approved Japanese liquor giant Lion's proposed acquisition of independent brewer Fermentum, owner of Byron Bay-based Stone & Wood.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) investigation found that the sale, which had been labelled a "bombshell" for the independent brewing sector when it was announced in September, would not substantially lessen competition in the supply of beer.
ACCC Commissioner Stephen Ridgeway said while it was initially concerned about the removal of a large popular independent craft brewer from the market, it found there was a wide range of alternatives on offer.
"There were a range of alternative suppliers of independent craft beer that have the geographic footprint and capacity capable of servicing Stone & Wood's current customers," he said.
"There is growing consumer demand for independent beer both on pubs and clubs and off premises in bottles, and there's been a big response to this demand and I think there are over 600 independent brewers."
More opportunities for indie brewers
Rather than stopping the growth of independent brewers, Mr Ridgeway said the ACCC's investigations indicated the sale may lead to increased opportunities for independent brewers.
"It seems quite a few premises save some taps for independent brewers, and that Stone & Wood, after the acquisition by Lion, would not be regarded as an independent brewer and would free up those taps for independent brewers," he said.
While the ACCC has given Lion the tick of approval to purchase one of the country's largest independent brewers, it is still concerned about large companies acquiring small, independent competitors.
"You can look at the beer market in different ways and there's mainstream and then there's independent beer, and craft beer but there have been a number of the craft beers acquired by majors," he said.
Lion and Asahi, also Japanese owned, holds more than 90 per cent of the overall beer market in Australia.
Carbon neutral future for Fermentum
Lion has welcomed the ACCC approval and said that it remains business as usual for the company with no change to its operation.
"Lion is Australia's first large-scale carbon neutral brewer and we will be backing the Stone & Wood, Two Birds and Fixation breweries to go carbon neutral as well."
The Fermentum sale includes Lion's $50 commitment to Stone & Wood's new brewery at Murwillumbah, $5 million donation to the inGrained Foundation and $1 million to Big Scrub Landcare.
The proposed acquisition is still subject to approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB).
