DLA Piper has advised Meantime Brewing Company on its sale to SABMiller, which marks the latter's entry into the UK craft beer market.

The transaction includes Meantime’s retail sites, including the Tasting Rooms and the brewery shop in Greenwich, the Greenwich Union pub, pop-up Beerbox pub, and the Brewery Fresh tank beer concept, which is now in 26 pubs across London.

Founded in 2000, Meantime is an award-winning brewery based in London. The brewer is considered to be at the forefront of the modern craft beer movement in the UK.

Through its acquisition, SABMiller plans to increase Meantime’s sales in the UK, whilst looking at export opportunities in Europe, complementing its imported super-premium lagers such as Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Pilsner Urquell.

The acquisition is expected to complete in early June 2015 and Meantime will be incorporated into SABMiller Europe’s accounts.

The DLA Piper team was led by Corporate partner Tim Wright, assisted by associate Sam Jaffray and solicitor Matt Blunt. Partner Paul Rutherford and legal director Lynda Finan advises on tax aspects.

Nick Miller, chief executive at Meantime Brewing Company, said: "Tim and his team have been a pleasure to work with. They gave good pragmatic counsel and dealt with the inevitable deal challenges professionally and diligently. They were instrumental in getting the deal completed in the condensed timetable we set ourselves. "

Tim said: "This acquisition benefits both parties that hold a shared ideology. It gives SABMiller a foothold in a rapid growth area of the beer market, whilst also supporting Meantime's growth ambitions. We were delighted to help Meantime move to the next stage in their development."