The Hindu Business Line : Carlsberg to look for more acquisitions in India

NEW DELHI: Danish beer company Carlsberg is looking for more acquisitions in India as part of its strategy to be in the top league of domestic premium beer market.

Carlsberg has already acquired Himneel Brewery in Himachal Pradesh and is in the process of buying Parag Brewery in Kolkata.

"We have filed the application for seeking Government approval for the acquisition of Parag Breweries," Mr Jesper B Madsen, Sr Vice-President - Asia, Carlsberg said.

He, however, declined to give details of the proposed acquisition citing confidentiality.

The Kolkata-based Parag is setting up a new brewery in the city with an initial production capacity of 1.5 to 2 lakh cases per month. Asked if the company was looking for similar acquisitions in India, Mr Madsen replied in positive.

"In India, we will follow both organic and inorganic route to expand our business and in the process we are certainly open for more acquisitions," he said.

The company is going for acquisitions through its subsidiary South Asia Breweries Pvt Ltd.

"We have not fixed any sales target as we have to create a separate segment for our product in India and it will be in the premium segment, which till now didn't exist in India," he said.

Carlsberg is already setting up two Greenfield plants, one each in Maharashtra and Rajsthan. Each plant will have the capacity of 5-lakh hectolitre per annum and would become operational by first quarter of 2008-09. - PTI

Prev: Daimler Chrysler doubles sales growth
Next: think3 to increase headcount in India

Business Line | NUS Index |