The Czech brewer Budvar, owned by state, may be caught up in a new wave of privatisation in the Czech Republic, the Mlada Fronta Dnes newspaper reported. According to the statement, the Czech Finance Minister is apparently pushing for further privatisation to raise badly needed funds for the state budget.

The Czech brewer and its US rival Anheuser-Busch are currently waging a long legal battle over the rights for the Budweiser and Bud trade names in different countries.

25 June, 2003