Heineken will increase its stake in Kazakhstan based Dinal LLP from 28% to 51%, according to the agreement concluded on October the 18. Heineken will use its available cash resources to effect the transaction. Thus Heineken is strengthening its position in fast growing beer markets.

“Dinal has a market share of 8% with the local brand Tian Shan and the international brand Amstel. The sales capacity of the brewery is 300,000 hectolitres and the estimated sales volume for 2002 is 180,000 hectolitres. In 2001 the net turnover amounted to EUR 8 million. The brewery employs 150 people. Heineken acquired its initial 28% stake in 1999, the year in which the Dinal brewery commenced production.

The beer market of Kazakhstan has a total volume of about 2.4 million hectolitres in 2002 and is growing by double digits annually,” Heineken said.

21 October, 2002