Bulgaria’s competition authorities have passed plans by the Danish brewer Carlsberg to buy a 67% stake in the country’s local brewery Pirinsko Pivo, the local press reported. The deal will now be closed by October 25, 2002.

According to the decision of the Commission for the Protection of Competition Carlsberg will be allowed a 20% share of the local beer market. Thus Carlsberg will take the third place on Bulgaria’s beer market, after Greek Brewinvest and Belgian Interbrew, which hold 26% and 23% respectively.

Carlsberg already owns 59.4% stake in Bulgaria’s Shumensko Pivo from July 2002.

23 October, 2002