Heineken Acquires Majority Stake in Pivovarna Laško

17 Apr 2015 --- Dutch brewer Heineken N.V has announced that it has acquired a majority stake (51%) in Slovenia’s leading brewer Pivovarna Laško for EUR114.3m.

Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary regulatory approvals and will be followed by a mandatory takeover offer extended to all remaining shareholders.

Pivovarna Laško is Slovenia's leading brewer. Slovenia is centrally positioned between other markets where Heineken has operations. The company operates two modern and well-invested breweries and owns and brews the renowned Laško and Union beers, with strong heritage across the Adria region.

Commenting on the proposed transaction, Jean-François van Boxmeer, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Heineken, 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."

Dušan Zorko, CEO of Pivovarna Laško said, "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."