Heineken has signed “a binding agreement” with a consortium of shareholders to acquire more than 51% of the Slovenian beermaker Pivovarna Laško.
The group will pay €25.56 per share for more than 4.47m shares in Slovenia’s leading brewer, representing a total investment of €114.3m. The acquisition remains subject to regulatory approval and will be followed by a mandatory takeover offer extended to all remaining shareholders, Heineken said.
The move will allow Heineken to enhance its position in Slovenia, which is strategically located between other markets where it has operations. Pivovarna Laško “operates two modern and well-invested breweries and owns and brews the renowned Laško and Union beers, with strong heritage across the Adria region,” the Amsterdam-based company added.
Heineken chairman and CEO Jean-François van Boxmeer said: “This acquisition strengthens our position within the region and will bring two complementary strong local brands into our existing portfolio. We are very much looking forward to welcoming Pivovarna Laško as a successful member of our group.”
Pivovarna Laško CEO Dušan Zorko added: “The acquisition by Heineken as a strategic investor allows Pivovarna Laško to continue building our historic local brands and to develop our position in regional export markets, as well as give an opportunity to better utilise our production capacities. We are excited about being part of one of the most successful brewery groups in the world. This will enable Pivovarna Laško to focus on and grow its core business.”
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