The Belgian brewing group, Interbrew, made an announcement about a counter-bid against Pivorvarna Lasko, Slovenian leading brewer, which on July 17 advertised in a Slovenian daily newspaper about the made acquisition of 21.94% in the Pivovarna Union, country’s second largest beer company, thereby increasing its participation in the company to 46.18%. Meanwhile, Interbrew is already an owner of 41% stake of Pivovarna Union.

Interbrew said that it expected the country’s anti-monopoly regulators to interfere and stop a Lasko takeover. Lasko has around 50% of market share, while Union has a 40% stake.

An earlier attempt by Lasko to outbid Interbrew for Union had collapsed due to the Slovenian regulatory authorities’ intervention. Analysts are predicting a bidding war to develop between the two companies while Union shares are rising.

22 July, 2002