Netherlands-based Nimbus Investments has bought United Dutch Breweries from Belgian brewer InBev SA, Thomson Financial reported December 7.

No financial details were disclosed.

A spokesman from Nimbus confirmed press reports of the sale in Dutch newspaper Het Financieel Dagblad to Thomson Financial News.

A spokeswoman from InBev also confirmed the sale, telling TFN: 'This transaction is in line with our strategic focus, both internationally and in the Netherlands.'

“The private labels of United Dutch Breweries don't belong to our strategic focus, which is centred around growing our key brands,” she added.

United Dutch Breweries' brands include Oranjeboom, De Drie Hoefijzers, Royal Dutch, 3 Horses, Breda and Trio Stout.

Broker KBC Securities said earlier in a note to clients: “The UDB brands are quite small and a greater focus in the brand portfolio seems a logical step for InBev.”

Heineken N.V. announced that it is to acquire the Rodic Brewery, in Novi Sad, Serbia, according to Heineken’s press release, December 5.

The acquisition is subject to the necessary regulatory approvals. The acquisition price is not disclosed. The transaction will be funded from existing cash resources and will be earnings enhancing in 2010 and value enhancing in 2011.

The company was established in 2003 and employs 282 staff. The Rodic Brewery facility is a state-of-the-art, 1.5 million hectolitre brewery, located in Novi Sad, northern Serbia. The company’s portfolio consists of the beer brands MB Premium, MB Pils and Master. It is estimated that total 2007 sales volume will be 500,000 hectolitres.

Nico Nusmeier, Regional President Central and Eastern Europe, Heineken N.V., commented: "This transaction further expands our leadership position across the fast growing Central and Eastern European region. The domestic and emerging export business of Rodic will make us the number 3 player in the Serbian market and with the modern facilities and brand portfolio we are well positioned to build a strong platform for the Heineken brand as well as an increasingly profitable business."

In 2007, it is estimated that the Serbian beer market will grow between 3-5%. The market’s estimated total annual ...More Info

Coors Brewing Company announced its plans to reduce total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 12 percent, indexed to its production level, by 2010, CSRwire reported December 5. The Company committed to the greenhouse reduction goal as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Climate Leaders program - an EPA industry-government partnership that works with companies to develop comprehensive climate change strategies.

"At Molson Coors and Coors, our commitment to corporate responsibility is integral to how we run our businesses," said Gregory Wade, global chief supply chain officer for Molson Coors Brewing Company. "Reducing Coors' greenhouse gas emissions through the Climate Leaders program is both good for the environment and good for the company."

Climate Leaders partner companies are committed to reducing their impact on the global environment by completing a corporate-wide inventory of greenhouse gas emissions based on a quality management system, setting aggressive reduction goals, and annually reporting their progress to the EPA. Through program participation, companies create a credible record of their accomplishments and receive EPA recognition as corporate environmental leaders.

"By setting a long-term greenhouse gas reduction goal and committing to reducing its carbon footprint, Coors Brewing Company is demonstrating corporate climate change leadership," said Robert J. Meyers, principal ...More Info

Following the demise of the `big six' domestic brewers, multinationals took control of the UK market, although the two largest UK-based brewers -- Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) and Diageo (the brewer of Guinness) are, themselves, multinational forces in a globalised beer market, Business Wire reported December 7.

The other brewers making up a new `big six' in the UK are: InBev of Belgium; Molson Coors and Anheuser-Busch (of Budweiser fame), both US-based; and Carlsberg of Denmark. InBev brews the top-selling UK brand, Stella Artois, and Molson Coors owns Carling, the leading standard-strength lager. Foreign control of more than 50% of the market has deepened the long trend towards international lager brands, such as Kronenbourg and Carlsberg, and has decreased the previously diverse range of dark beers, which characterise indigenous brewing.

However, regional brewers have merged to offer support for the mild and brown ales, stouts, bitters and regional specialities still on offer in pubs and supermarkets. The three outstanding merged groups are Greene King, Marston's and Wells & Young's, the last of which was only created in 2006 and gained the rights to the famous Courage range (from S&N) in 2007.

The total UK beer market ...More Info

Lawmakers are considering a tax increase on beer, and proponents say the mental health and substance abuse treatment that would benefit are good causes, according to Associated Press, December 6.

Wyoming currently taxes beer at 2 cents per gallon. A draft bill before the Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse would raise that to 6.5 cents per gallon.

By volume, the tax on beer is low. Wine is taxed at 28 cents per gallon. The tax on hard alcohol is 24 cents per gallon. But Wyomingites drink enough beer that the increase would raise an additional $607,500 a year, based on the $270,000 raised by the current 2 cent tax each year.

The additional revenue would be part of $14.5 million the bill would add to the state's substance abuse account. Proponents say the Legislature likely would find that approach more palatable than a bill just to increase the beer tax.

"I think people are going to be real leery about a beer tax," said Rep. Keith Gingery, co-chairman of the Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

At least one lobbyist already opposes the bill. Mike Moser, of the Wyoming Liquor Association, said higher taxes on alcohol aren't necessary.

"You're charging ...More Info

Promoting it as a good party drink, Sapporo Breweries Ltd. said it is set to launch a new beerlike alcoholic beverage featuring a fruity aroma, The Japan Times reported December 5.

Draft One Sparkling Aroma, which hits store shelves Wednesday, is made from aroma-rich hops and tastes like a cross between beer and sparkling wine, the company said.

Sapporo is targeting sales of 350,000 cases of the new drink this winter. One case contains 20 bottles.

The company also said it has retuned its Draft One beerlike alcoholic beverage, making the taste lighter and sharper.

UK winter barley area is estimated to increase by 3% and spring barley by 7% for harvest 2008, according to ADAS report, December 4. The higher area estimates follow the removal of set-aside, with an estimated 40% of the uncropped set aside/bare fallow coming back into production, as well as an expected increase of grassland coming into production following poor prices in the livestock sector. The increases also come at the expense of break crops, with rapeseed area seen down around 3%. However, at this stage much still depends on the severity of the winter and spring growing weather conditions.

Prices for 2007 crop had only one direction for 6-7 weeks lacking buying interest and driven by quite some long holders for October-December positions, according to H. Abildstrøm & Co ApS, December 5. Lately these positions have been extended, shipped and washed out and do no longer play an important role and when the level came close to the € 300 mark for January buying interest reappeared. Feed barley trading at 230/235 € cif January 2008.

Crop 2008

This has been much more exciting to follow, vulnerable to all sorts of impacts but slowly drifting downwards during 5-7 weeks. Lacking buyers and weakening $ the bearish mood was withstanding bullish information about intended areas to be sown in EU 2008, the difficulties in Australia and brisk malt sales as from around 10th November and after BRAU in Nuremberg. But when rumors of frost damages in Argentine became more concretely confirmed at the 22nd-24th November, prices jumped and have been firmer ever since. The industry again performing their “kilo/kilo coverage strategy”. Just now (as expected) sellers absent here while French barley goes firm. Grain merchants in U.K., France, Germany, Denmark and Sweden all awaiting fresh farmer sales which might only turn up in ...More Info

The CWB has boosted its export target to 3 Mill. tons of barley, according to analysts, December 3. The figure includes approx. 1,0 – 1,1 Mill. tons of selected malting barley, of which about half are or will be sold to the United States. It also includes about 800.000 tons of feed barley sold by private companies before courts decided that the CWB would maintain its export monopoly.

Export shipments from August 1 till November 25 were 838.000 tons. Meantime MIAC, the Malting Industry Assn. of Canada, sided with the government, asking for a complete deregulation of Canadian barley markets. Talks with the CWB to develop alternative mechanisms for marketing barley had failed. According to MIAC, the CWB marketing system does not provide market-driven price signals to farmers and end-users. The members of MIAC are malting 1.1 Mill. tons of barley per year.

Exports of barley from the Black Sea region will be negligible for a few months to come, according to analysts, December 3. Russia imposed an export tax of 30 % resp. min. EUR 70,- per ton, virtually prohibiting any export shipments. The Ukraine is still working with an export quota of 400.000 tons, valid from January 1 till April 30. However, the quota quantities have not been awarded to shippers, and work on the export regulations will only start after the Orthodox Christmas holidays. Export shipments may start in February.

Kazakhstan has sold 85.000 tons of barley to Iran, but will concentrate on wheat exports through the Black and Baltic Seas; therefore barley sales are likely to remain very small. Exports to-date were virtually zero from the Ukraine, but 781.000 tons from Russia from July till November 12, when the export tax came into force.