German brewery Bitburger has bought out Holsten's holdings in Licher Privatbrauerei and Konig-Brauerei, leaving rival Holsten to focus on its business in northern Germany. Holsten has sold its stakes in two German breweries. The sale is subject to agreement at Holsten's general meeting.

Earlier this month Holsten sold its water and soft drinks business when it sold its 65.1% stake in Hansa-Brunnen AG of Rellingen to Lange-HANSA-Holding GmbH of Wohltorf.

Holsten was founded on 24 May 1879 and built its brewery on its present site in the town of Altona, which then still belonged to Prussia. Holsten grew rapidly by steadily increasing sales of its beer and also by acquiring other breweries in and around Hamburg.

26 May, 2004