Jul 22, 2004 12:00 PM, from staff and wire reports

Adolph Coors Co and Molson Inc announced a definitive agreement to combine in a merger intended to help them take a leading role among their rivals in the global brewing industry.

With combined beer sales of 51 million United States barrels, Molson Coors Brewing Co will be the world’s fifth-largest brewing company by volume, with pro-forma combined net sales of US $6.0 billion.

This transaction brings together Golden CO-based Coors, the third-largest brewer in the United States with an 11% market share, with Montreal, Canada-based Molson, North America’s oldest beer company and Canada’s leading brewer with a 43% market share.

The combined company will have a beverage portfolio that includes Coors Light, Molson Canadian, and Carling. In addition, Coors Original, Keystone, Aspen Edge, Zima XXX, Worthington’s, Molson Ultra, Export, Molson Dry, Rickard’s, and Kaiser will be important brands in the portfolio. The companies also have distribution and/or licensing agreements with other international brewers including Heineken, Grupo Modelo, Grolsch, FEMSA, Foster’s, and SABMiller.