Germany: Heineken N.V., the world's fourth-biggest brewer, announced on January 21 that Kulmbacher Brauerei AG, a subsidiary of Brau Holding International AG (the joint-venture between Heineken (49.9%) and Schörghuber Corporate Group (50.1%), has made a binding offer to acquire 90.7 % of the shares of Würzburger Hofbräu AG. The acquisition price is EUR 34 million. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.

Jean Francois van Boxmeer, member of the Executive Board of Heineken N.V. commented: "With this acquisition we further expand our presence in one of the world's biggest beer markets, by forming a strong chain of leading regional breweries in Southern Germany, offering regional premium beer brands."

The Würzburger Hofbräu, founded in 1643, is located in the northern Bavarian region of Franconia Germany. The company owns two breweries, in Würzburg and in Poppenhausen, and is the main brewer in the region with a sales volume of 360,000 hectolitres. The brand portfolio includes the company's leading brand Würzburger Hofbräu and the brands Werner Bräu, Lohrer Bier and Wächtersbacher.

Brau Holding International, a joint-venture in which the Dutch brewer holds 49.9 percent, already bought German brewers Hoepfner and Fuerstliche Fuerstenbergische Brauerei last year.

The German market, like many other western European markets, is saturated, and sales growth has to be achieved through consolidation and price rises. The Dutch firm's main growth efforts are in Russia and China.

Heineken, one of the biggest brewers in the world, produces 106 million hectoliters of beer per year. It employs 60,000 people at 115 production sites in 65 countries.