Baltika completing deal on brewery purchase in Azerbaijan

The deal between Braesseries Internationales Holding Eastern Ltd and Baltika brewery about the latter's purchase of the Baku-Castel brewery (Hirdalan brewery) in Azerbaijan is nearing it end, said chief of the State anti-monopoly service under Azerbaijan's Ministry of Economic Development Samir Dadashev.

He said Baltika appealed to the antimonopoly bodies of Azerbaijan for permission to strike the deal and had already received it under provisions of adherence to competition principles.

As was previously reported, president of Baltik brewery Anton Artemyev said in Baku on May 15 that the deal on purchase of the brewery will come in effect after approval of Azerbaijan's antimonopoly bodies.

The new owner is ready to assimilate production of its own beer brands (Baltika No0 Bezalkoqolnoye, Baltika No 5 Zolotoye, Baltika No 7, Baltika LITE) by summer of 2009 under preservation of existing assortment (Castel, Hirdalan, 33 Export, Bizim Pive and Efsane).

Moreover, Baltika intends to arrange production of licensed brands (Kronenbourg and Nevskoye) and growing of brewer's barley.

Baltika plans to invest about $20,000,000 to the producing capacities of Hirdalan brewery.

/Regnum/