Labatt's buys discount brewer?

Over on the Beer Blog, Stephen Beaumont reports that Labatt's Brewing, owned by InBev, is trying to buy Canadian discount brewer Lakeport Brewing Company, whose discount prices have propelled it to the third largest Ontario brewery. InBev generally buys and and then closes breweries to reduce costs, laying off thousands of people worldwide.

Stephen speculates that instead of closing or discontinuing the Lakeport discount line, Labatt's will stop promoting the line, hoping to lure the Lakeport drinkers to the more profitable Labatt's line. This is how Miller handled Celis beers in the 90s.