U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 16, 1997
ADOLPH COORS COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
COLORADO 0-8251 84-0178360
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission File No.) (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
Golden, Colorado 80401
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
303-279-6565
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not applicable
(Former name or address, if changed since last report)
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 5. Other Events
On April 16, 1997, Adolph Coors Company (ACC) issued a news
release announcing the settlement of all legal disputes between
its principal subsidiary, Coors Brewing Company (CBC), and Molson
Breweries and related parties (Molson Breweries). Plans for a new
partnership were also disclosed to manage Coors brands in Canada.
Under terms of the settlement, Molson Breweries has paid Coors
approximately US$72 million, which will be included in ACC's
second quarter results net of certain related legal expenses. The
settlement ends all legal proceedings involving Coors and Molson
Breweries, regarding Molson Breweries' breach of a 1985 license
agreement to produce and market Coors products in Canada, and
provides for the end of U.S. litigation with Molson Breweries and
Miller Brewing Company.
Also announced was the signing of a conditional agreement with
The Molson Companies Limited and Foster's Brewing Group Limited
to launch a partnership to manage Coors brands in Canada. The
name of the proposed venture is Coors Canada, and Coors'
ownership will be 50.1%, with the remainder to be split evenly
between the other two parties. The partnership's goals are to
market a fuller portfolio of Coors products and to strengthen the
presence of Coors brands throughout Canada. The proposed
partnership arrangement is expected to be more profitable to
Coors than the now-terminated license agreement by approximately
US$12 million annually, based on 1996 volume and pricing.
The condition to effectiveness of the agreement is approval by
all partners in Molson Breweries, which includes Miller Brewing Company.
ACC's April 16, 1997 news release is attached hereto as Exhibit 1.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits
1. News Release of Adolph Coors Company dated April 16, 1997.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
ADOLPH COORS COMPANY
By /s/ M. Caroline Turner
M. Caroline Turner
Vice President and
Assistant Secretary
April 30, 1997
