E-Malt.com News article: 2758

Kazakhstan: The Netherlands’ brewing force, Heineken N.V., announced on June 8 that it has reached an agreement with its Kazakhstan co-shareholders to increase its stake in Kazakhstan based Dinal LLP from 51% to 97%. Heineken has financed the transaction from its available cash resources.

The acquisition represents a further strengthening of Heineken’s position in fast growing beer markets. The enlarged position in Kazakhstan will make a further development of the brewery possible and create a platform for growth of the Heineken brand, imported from Russia.

Heineken acquired its initial 28% stake in 1999, the year in which the Dinal brewery commenced production, and raised its stake to a controlling stake of 51% in 2002.

Dinal LLP has a market share of 8.8% with the local brand Tian Shan and the international brand Amstel. It is the number 4 brewery in the country. The sales capacity of the brewery is 300,000 hectolitres and the estimated sales volume for 2004 is 225,000 hectolitres. In 2003 the net turnover amounted to EUR 7 million. The brewery employs 200 people.

Kazakhstan has extensive oil deposits and other natural resources. The country has a growing economy and a growing beer market. The local beer market of Kazakhstan had a total volume of about 2.3 million hectolitres in 2003.


09 June, 2004