12-21-2011
AB has deal to buy near 11-mil-case Premium Beers of Okla LLC in Oklahoma City. Employees reportedly notified tho deal not yet closed. When that happens, AB, which already has branch in Tulsa, will sell 80-90% of AB volume in state or something like 17 mil cases. AB owns all its distribution in Hawaii, but other than HI, this is first state that AB will dominate distribution with company-owned branches. AB dropped 115,000 bbls, 7.4% in Okla 2008-10. It lost over 3 share in 2 yrs, down from 61.9 to 58.7. AB down another 1% thru Sep 2011, but it is holding share there this yr. AB and MillerCoors still almost 90% of state volume. This is 2d major branch deal for AB in fall 2011, following Eugene, Oreg, which still has not closed, INSIGHTS heard.
