Colombia okays local Heineken brewing by Postobon, Chile's CCU
11/02/2015 20:45
BOGOTA, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Colombia's financial regulator
has approved a deal under which local soft drinks maker Postobon
will produce and sell Heineken beer in the Andean country
through a partnership with Heineken's affiliate in Chile, the
Compania Cervecerias Unidas.
The move by the two companies, including construction of a
factory to brew and bottle the Dutch lager, will increase
competition in Colombia's beer sector, the regulator said,
especially considering Postobon's large distribution network.
Postobon, Colombia's biggest non-alcoholic distributor and
Chilean brewer and bottler Compania Cervecerias Unidas (CCU)
CCU.SN controlled by Heineken HEIN.AS and holding company
Quinenco SA QNN.SN will invest $400 million in equal shares in
the venture over three to four years. ID:nL2N0T0253
It will operate under the name Central Cervecera de
Colombia.
Colombia's beer market is majority controlled by Bavaria, a
subsidiary of SABMiller. Its brands include Aguila and Club
Colombia.
(Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Peter Murphy and
David Gregorio)
((julia.cobb@thomsonreuters.com; +571-634-4140;))
Keywords: COLOMBIA HEINEKEN/