West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Friday 16 February 1945, page 4


BIG BREWERY DEAL. ABOUT £200,000 INVOLVED Swan and Kalgoorlie Merger. The purchase of five-sixths of the shares of the Kalgoorlie Brewing and Ice Co, Ltd, was announced in a statement issued by the chairman of directors of the Swan Brewery Co, Ltd, (Brigadier Harold Cohen) in Melbourne yesterday. The price mentioned was "about £200,000." Brigadier Cohen's full statement was as follows: "The necessary consents having been given by the Federal Treasurer, the Swan Brewery Company, Ltd, has agreed to purchase five-sixths of the shares in the Kalgoorlie Brewing and Ice Co, Ltd. These shares have been purchased from the estate of the late Miss Alice Cummins, former managing-director of the company, and from her associates. Payment will be made in cash to Miss Cummins's estate, and other wise in fully-paid ordinary shares in the Swan company valued at the present maximum market price. The total consideration of all interests involved is about £200,000. "The existing management, staff and labour force of the Kalgoorlie company will remain, and its policy will be unaltered, but the Swan com pany will be represented on the board. The new interests will bring to the management of the breweries of the Kalgoorlie company situate in that city, and in Merredin, their own wide knowledge of the industry and will strengthen it in the organisation and expansion which is expected in the future." Miss Cummins died on June 27, 1943, aged 43 years. Probate value of her estate, the bulk of which was invested in the Kalgoorlie Brewing and Ice Co, Ltd, was £101/999/1/9.