Exceptions to prohibition on financial connection between wholesaler and retailer.

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(2)(a) The prohibitions of ORS 471.394 (2) and (3) do not apply to a person who wholesales alcoholic liquor and who is not required to be licensed under the provisions of this chapter if the retail licensee does not sell any brand of alcoholic liquor sold or distributed by the person and does not sell any brand of alcoholic liquor produced by any manufacturer doing business with the person selling at wholesale.

(b) The prohibitions of ORS 471.394 (2) and (3) do not apply to a manufacturer of alcoholic liquor if the retail licensee does not sell any brand of alcoholic liquor sold, distributed or produced by the manufacturer and does not sell any brand of alcoholic liquor sold, distributed or produced by any subsidiary or other business entity that the manufacturer owns or manages, or that the manufacturer exercises control over.

(3) The prohibitions of ORS 471.394 do not apply solely by reason of the family relationship of a spouse or family member to a manufacturer or wholesaler if:

(a) The manufacturer or wholesaler is licensed by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission to sell alcoholic liquor at wholesale;

(b) The license authorizing sale of alcoholic liquor at wholesale was first issued before January 1, 1965, and has been held continuously since that date;

(c) The spouse or family member holds or seeks a license that authorizes the retail sale of alcoholic liquor for off-premises consumption only; and

(d) The manufacturer or wholesaler does not directly or indirectly sell alcoholic liquor to the spouse or family member.

(4) The prohibitions of ORS 471.394 do not apply solely by reason of the family relationship of a spouse or family member to the retail licensee if the manufacturer or wholesaler is licensed by the commission to sell alcoholic liquor at wholesale and does not directly or indirectly sell alcoholic liquor to the spouse or family member.

(5) Notwithstanding ORS 471.394, a manufacturer or wholesaler, and any officer, director or substantial stockholder of any corporate manufacturer or wholesaler, may hold, directly or indirectly, an interest in a full or limited on-premises sales licensee, provided that the interest does not result in exercise of control over, or participation in the management of, the licensee’s business or business decisions, and does not result in exclusion of any competitor’s brand of alcoholic liquor.

(6) Notwithstanding ORS 471.394, a full or limited on-premises sales licensee, and any officer, director or substantial stockholder of any corporate full or limited on-premises sales licensee, may hold, directly or indirectly, an interest in a manufacturer or wholesaler, provided that the interest does not result in exercise of control over, or participation in the management of, the manufacturer’s or wholesaler’s business or business decisions, and does not result in exclusion of any competitor’s brand of alcoholic liquor.

(7) Notwithstanding ORS 471.394, an institutional investor with a financial interest in a wholesaler or manufacturer may hold, directly or indirectly, an interest in a retail licensee unless the institutional investor controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, a wholesaler or manufacturer. Notwithstanding ORS 471.394, an institutional investor with a financial interest in a retail licensee may hold, directly or indirectly, an interest in a wholesaler or manufacturer unless the institutional investor controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, a retail licensee. The provisions of this subsection apply only to an institutional investor that is a state or federally chartered bank, a state or federally chartered mutual savings bank, a mutual fund or pension fund, or a private investment firm. The principal business activity of the institutional investor must be the investment of capital provided by depositors, participants or investors. The institutional investor must maintain a diversified portfolio of investments. The majority of the institutional investor’s investments may not be in businesses that manufacture, distribute or otherwise sell alcoholic beverages. The institutional investor, and the officers, directors, substantial shareholders, partners, employees and agents of the institutional investor, may not participate in management decisions relating to the sale or purchase of alcoholic beverages made by a licensee in which the institutional investor holds an interest.

(8) Notwithstanding ORS 471.394, a member of the board of directors of a parent company of a corporation that is a manufacturer may serve on the board of directors of a parent company of a corporation that is a retail licensee if:

(a) The manufacturer or parent company of a manufacturer is listed on a national security exchange;

(b) All purchases of alcoholic beverages by the retail licensee are made from holders of wholesale malt beverage and wine licenses, brewery licenses or winery licenses in this state;

(c) The interest of the member of the board of directors does not result in the exclusion of any competitor’s brand of alcoholic beverages on the licensed premises of the retail licensee; and

(d) The sale of goods and services other than alcoholic beverages by the retail licensee exceeds 50 percent of the gross receipts of the business conducted by the retail licensee on the licensed premises. [1995 c.301 §78; 1997 c.257 §2; 1997 c.803 §4; 1999 c.351 §32; 1999 c.442 §1; 2007 c.134 §2; 2021 c.351 §95]


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