Vietnam: Carlsberg eyes at least 51% stake in Habeco

 

Carlsberg eyes at least a 51% stake in Habeco, in Vietnam’s second largest domestic brewer, as Reuters reported on Friday. Carlsberg is said to be the frontrunner in the privatization of the 7.2 million hl (6.1m barrel) brewery because it already holds a 17.51% share in Habeco.

Carlsberg Chief Executive Cees ’t Hart said at a conference call on August 16 that Carlsberg sees “good progress in these meetings, and will continue these discussions with the Vietnamese government for the next steps.”

Habeco’s deputy chief Vuong Toan now confirmed that Habeco is still in talks with the Danish company on the stake sale. However, Toan also said that foreign companies are not allowed to own more than 49 percent of Habeco due to foreign ownership limits as already earlier reported (inside.beer, 1.8.2017). Vietnam’s Steering Committee for Enterprise Innovation and Development wants to resolve all problems with Carlsberg in the coming two months and inform the prime minister about the results by November 15.

Carlsberg said on Friday it would not comment on “rumours.”

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