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Fluent Beverage Company (“Fluent”), a joint venture between Anheuser-Busch InBev (“AB InBev”), the world’s leading brewer, and Tilray, a global pioneer in cannabis, announced its plans to commercialize non-alcohol CBD-infused beverages in Canada , once regulations allow. AB InBev participates in the partnership through its subsidiary Labatt Breweries of Canada , one of the country’s founding businesses and its leading brewer. Tilray participates through its Canadian adult-use cannabis subsidiary High Park Company, which develops, sells, and distributes a portfolio of best-in-class cannabis brands and products in Canada .

The joint venture was first announced in December 2018 , in which High Park and Labatt partnered to research non-alcohol beverages containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), leveraging the collective market-leading expertise of both companies. The plan to commercialize non-alcohol CBD-infused beverages across Canada is an exciting evolution of the partnership. Fluent intends to have CBD-infused beverages available for sale to adult consumers in Canada as early as December 2019 , subject to regulatory timelines implemented by Health Canada and provincial regulators. Fluent will continue its ongoing research on non-alcohol beverages containing THC.

Leveraging Labatt and High Park’s strong track records of responsible product development and marketing in their respective industries, Fluent believes that the legal market for cannabis-infused beverages will only thrive if the industry embraces appropriate regulation of adult-use cannabis, including responsible production, marketing, sale and consumption.

Jorn Socquet is leading Fluent as its Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Socquet is an AB InBev veteran with 14 years of experience in a variety of international roles, most recently as the Global Vice President of Marketing Strategy. He also served as the Vice President of Marketing at Labatt from 2011-2014. In his role as Fluent CEO, Socquet has cultivated a team of top talent, including experts from High Park and Labatt.

“Leading Fluent in my return to Canada has been very exciting. To be Fluent means to have mastery of a subject or skill. We have assembled a team with best-in-class expertise from the beverage and cannabis industries and together we are reaching higher for our consumers, with a shared commitment to setting the standard for product quality and responsible marketing,” said Mr. Socquet. “We look forward to building the future of CBD-infused beverages at Fluent.”

About Labatt Breweries of Canada
Established by John Kinder Labatt in London, Ontario in 1847, Labatt Breweries is one of Canada’s founding businesses and its leading brewer. The company today has more than 3,500 employees, six breweries, three stand-alone craft brewers, and a portfolio of 60 quality beers, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Alexander Keith’s , Labatt Blue, Kokanee, Stella Artois and Corona. Brands also include ready-to-drink beverages such as Palm Bay and Mike’s Hard Lemonade. As part of the Anheuser-Busch InBev family, Labatt is committed to Bring People Together for a Better World, making a positive contribution through multiple programs that support its communities, promote responsible drinking and protect the environment.