A source told Bloomberg that Carlsberg was looking at two Asian breweries as potential targets for a takeover. The person who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the firm was keen on buying two Chinese firms. These are Tsingtao Brewery Co and Beijing Yanjing Brewery Co. The two breweries makes the most popular beer brands in the mainland. The source added that Carlsberg was also studying the possibility of six potential candidates for a planned acquisition after its controlling shareholder signaled that it had given Carlsberg the latitude to enter into deals. China is the largest beer market in the world, according to the Bloomberg report.
Data gathered by Bloomberg showed that Carlsberg placed fourth in the worldwide beer market in terms of volume. Its rivals, Anheuser-Busch InBev, SABMiller and Heineken, had engaged in deals with a collective worth of about USD 110 billion. Now, the Danish brewer was looking to grow in Asia, one of the fastest-rising regions in the beer market.
According to Svenska Handelsbanken Analyst Casper Blom, Carlsberg aimed to grow in size while wanting to infuse growth into the business. Blom told Bloomberg in a phone interview, "Asia would be top of the agenda."
Carlsberg Foundation, the controlling stakeholder in the Tuborg beer maker, said it would no longer require itself to hold a 25% stake in the brewer's share capital. This would reportedly give Carlsberg the leeway to make deals. The foundation, however, would have to continue to hold a 51% of the voting rights in the brewer. Carlsberg Founder JC Jacobsen established the foundation to retain Carlsberg's independence.
When asked about Carlsberg's plans for the future, spokesman Ben Morton said through email, "Asia still remains an important part of our M&A agenda." In March, Carlsberg offered to purchase shares in Chongqing Brewery Co. The deal would allow the brewer to hold up to 60% ownership stake in Chongqing Brewery.
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