Anheuser-Busch has entered into agreement with Hand Family, a US-based family-owned beer distributor, to sell its 30% interest in CITY Beverage–Illinois.
Based in the US, City Beverage is a retailer of craft beer, wine and home brewing supplies.
Hand Family has also partnered with BDT Capital Partners in its acquisition of River North Sales and Service.
River North is a privately held distributor of renowned beer brands. Its brewery partners include over 60 of importers and American craft breweries.
The transaction enables the distributor to sell approximately 23.5 million case equivalents annually in Illinois and the Chicago metropolitan area market.
River North will subsequently be combined with CITY. Both transactions are subject to supplier and regulatory approvals and are scheduled to close by the end of 2013.
Anheuser-Busch sales vice president David Almeida said: "With the sale of our stake, the CITY Beverage and River North operations will be combined, creating a strong, competitive and consolidated AB distributorship in the Chicago market."
