Molson Coors Brewing Co. last week said federal regulators have asked for documents and other information about its merger in the wake of a series of lawsuits

Food & Drink Weekly, June 20, 2005

Molson Coors Brewing Co. last week said federal regulators have asked for documents and other information about its merger in the wake of a series of lawsuits. Several lawsuits filed in the United States and Canada have alleged the world's fifth-largest brewer and some of its officers and directors misled shareholders by not disclosing first-quarter business trends before shareholders voted on the merger, the company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Molson Coors said it "believes that the lawsuits are without merit and will vigorously" defend against them. The company said it is cooperating with the request, also from the SEC, and that the documents sought are related primarily to corporate and financial information and communications about the merger, which was finalized in February. "The SEC has advised the company that this inquiry should not be construed as an indication by the SEC or its staff that any violations of law have occurred, nor should it be considered a reflection upon any person, entity or security," Molson Coors said in the filing with the agency.