Hungary, Budapest: Brau Immobilien GmbH, an Austria-based unit of Heineken NV, has recently announced it has launched a higher bid to buy out the minority shareholders in its Hungarian unit. Brau Immobilien has taken over majority ownership of Hungarian brewery Brau Union Hungaria from Amstel Sorgyar, a Hungarian unit of Heineken, and announced a public purchase offer for the remaining Brau Hungaria shares.
Brau Immobilien already holds 93.2 pct of Brau Hungaria shares.

The company is offering 16,362 forint or 66.3 eur for both Brau Hungaria ordinary and preference shares. The offer still requires approval by market regulator PSZAF. The new purchase offer is higher than a previous offer, suspended after a summer court decision invalidated its approval by PSZAF. Last autumn, Amstel Sorgyar offered to purchase Brau ordinary shares at 12,297 forint each and preference shares at 12,806 forint.

Brau Union Hungaria Breweries Co., as a key actor of the domestic beer market, is a Hungarian company owned by the Austrian BBAG-group (Österreichische Brau-Beteiligungs Aktiengesellschaft) via majority of shares. With its quality beers produced in two brewing plants in Sopron and Martfû; Brau Union Hungária’s domestic market share reaches around 27 percent. Brau Union Hungaria Breweries Co.'s main goal is to meet the demands of its consumers and business partners through continuously improving its products and services, assuring high quality standards. The company’s brands are doing extremely well at international competitions. Kaiser, Gösser Spezial and Soproni Ászok have been awarded the gold medal for quality excellence several times at Monde Selection, the world’s most prestigious food and beverage contest.

27 October, 2004