Beer maker Carlsberg hikes stake in China’s Chongqing

Danish brewer Carlsberg has increased its stake in China's Chongqing Brewery to 60 per cent, strengthening its foothold in the world's largest beer market by volume; and may increase its holding further, Chongquing said.

Asia has become the main battleground for the top four global brewers - Carlsberg, AB InBev, SABMiller and Heineken - which need the growing middle classes in emerging markets to compensate for sluggish sales in Europe and the United States, Reuters reports.

As majority shareholder it will be easier for Carlsberg to implement efficiency programmes to increase profitability and integrate the business with its existing breweries in China.

Carlsberg, which inherited a stake in Chongqing Brewery through its takeover of British brewer Scottish & Newcastle in 2007, raised it in 2010 to become the biggest shareholder in the Chinese company with a 29.7 per cent stake.

On Thursday it completed its purchase of an additional 30.3 per cent for 2.9 billion yuan ($476 million).

"With this purchase agreement Carlsberg is taking a step towards strengthening its strategic investment in Chongqing Brewery, based upon its positive outlook for the Chinese beer market," Chongqing Brewery said in a statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

"Carlsberg hopes to continue increasing its stake in Chongqing Brewery, and hopes this deal will deepen mutual cooperation between the two firms, lifting the value of Chongqing Brewery and the investment returns to the stockholders," the statement added.

The Chinese beer market was estimated to be worth around 451 billion yuan ($74 billion) in 2013 with a volume of 53 billion litres.

Carlsberg was the sixth-largest brewer in China in 2012 with a market share of 2.6 per cent. Chongqing Brewery had a market share of 2.3 per cent. Carlsberg has its strongholds in central and western parts of China.