Lion (Kirin Holdings subsidiary) → Fermentum Group (Stone & Wood, Two Birds Brewing, Fixation Brewing)
completedLion, the Australian brewing subsidiary of Japan's Kirin Holdings, agreed to acquire 100% of Fermentum Group, owner of independent craft brewers Stone & Wood, Two Birds Brewing and Fixation Brewing, for a reported price in excess of A$500 million. The deal was announced in September 2021 and required ACCC clearance before it could complete.
Lion has been steadily building a global craft beer portfolio under Kirin's ownership (alongside brands like Little Creatures, White Rabbit and Panhead, plus Kirin's contemporaneous US purchase of Bell's Brewery). Acquiring Fermentum gave Lion a leading position in the premium independent craft segment, where Stone & Wood in particular had built strong brand equity, without materially overlapping its existing mainstream craft-style portfolio.
Fermentum's founders and investors used the sale to realise value after building Stone & Wood into one of Australia's largest independent craft breweries, while Lion's scale, distribution and capital were seen as supporting further national and export expansion of the brands.
Not applicable — both Lion (a Kirin subsidiary) and Fermentum Group were privately held and not separately listed.
Industry press framed the deal as part of a broader wave of major brewers acquiring leading independent craft breweries in Australia, and noted the ACCC's scrutiny reflected concern about consolidation in the growing craft beer category even though the regulator ultimately cleared it.
Deal mechanics
All-cash acquisition of 100% of Fermentum Group's share capital.
Subject to ACCC review. The ACCC announced on 4 November 2021 that it would not oppose the acquisition, finding Fermentum's craft beer brands sit in a higher price bracket and do not compete closely with Lion's more mainstream craft-style products, and that a wide range of independent craft beer alternatives would remain in the market.