E-Malt.com News article: Denmark: Properties may provide Carlsberg with 1 billion EUR fast money

An expedited sale of the Valby site may secure Carlsberg up to approximately EUR 1 billion and reduce the necessity of borrowing money and issuing new shares in connection with an acquisition of S&N, Copenhagen Capacity reported October 31.

The executive board in Carlsberg may gain between EUR 1/2 - 1 billion which can be put down as part of the financing of the spectacular raid against Scottish & Newcastle.

This is the evaluation from a number of real estate experts that in spite of the hard Copenhagen real estate market see very good chances for selling the Valby site with a short notice, writes Børsen Business Daily.

“It is an obvious chance and the market will be full of interested buyers due to the attractive location,” says Lars Wismann from the consulting company Wismann Property Consult who points at Sjælsø Gruppen, NCC and Keops as some of the potential buyers whereas Schaumann A/S is considered a potential outsider.

Presently Carlsberg is working on a long-term development of “our town” on the site where approximately 16 hectares close to downtown Copenhagen will be vacant in continuation of the decision to join almost Carlsberg’s entire Danish brewing in a giant brewery in Fredericia.

Partner Kurt Albæk from the real estate company Sadolin & Albæk also points out the environmental clean-up as a joker which in other cases have cost up to DKK 2-3000 per square metre. And although he does not want to announce his bid for a quick sales price he has no doubt that a diversification of the sale on several buyers will give the highest price.

Last May, industry experts and share analysts at the stock exchange evaluated that Carlsberg may score up to EUR 1 billion after tax by handling the development and sale of the properties for EUR 2½-3½ billion for the Valby site.


31 October, 2007