EU approves Heineken purchase of some Scottish and Newcastle assets

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

BRUSSELS (AFP) — The European Commission approved on Thursday Dutch brewer Heineken's purchase of Scottish and Newcastle's businesses in Belgium, Britain, Finland and Portugal.

However, it referred Heineken's purchase of Scottish and Newcastle's assets in Ireland to competition authorities in the country following a request from them to review the deal.

Although Europe's top antitrust watchdog saw no threat from the deal to competition in Belgium, Britain, Finland and Portugal, the commission said there was a risk in Ireland.

Scottish and Newcastle accepted in January a 7.8 billion pound (9.9 billion euro, 15.5 billion dollar) takeover bid by Carlsberg of Denmark and Heineken of the Netherlands.

Under the deal, Carlsberg and Heineken are to split the...