Carlsberg to Take Full Control of Operations in India and Nepal

Danish brewer Carlsberg announced on Friday that it has agreed to take full control of its operations in India and Nepal.

The group will acquire a 33.33% stake in Carlsberg South Asia (CSAPL) from partner CSAPL (Singapore) Holdings, along with other stakes in underlying companies, for a total of $744 million. The deal is anticipated to be finalized in the fourth quarter of this year. Upon completion, Carlsberg will own 100% of its business in India and 99.94% of its business in Nepal.

“We can now accelerate investments to capture the long-term growth opportunities in this exciting beer market,” said Carlsberg CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen in a statement.

Last year, Carlsberg indicated its intention to exercise an option to buy out its partner in India and Nepal. This follows a 2022 arbitration case win against its Nepal-based partner, the Khetan Group, which had sought financial relief related to a dispute that emerged in 2019. The tribunal granted Carlsberg the right to acquire Khetan’s shares in the joint venture, which controls around 17% of the Indian beer market.