Columbia Distributing to Sell to Private Equity Firm

Dear Client:If you needed proof that beer distribution has hit the big time, today's news is it. Blue-silver mega-distributor Columbia Distributing will be selling to the Meritage Group, a firm that manages capital primarily for the affluent Simons family whose patriarch James ran one of the world's largest hedge funds, Renaissance. (He's a Berkeley-trained mathematician who used sophisticated mathematical models to invest in markets). CoHo's day-to-day operations, management, staffing levels, go-to-market structure and operating standards will not change, said Columbia