Danish brewer Carlsberg and British pubs and cask ale firm Marston’s have announced a joint venture, prompting concern among small brewers who fear being squeezed out of the market.
Shares in Marston’s surged by 36%, recovering some of the value lost since Covid-19 lockdown shut pubs across the country, as investors applauded the tie-up.
Under the terms of the deal, the Danish firm will own 60% of the new Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company with Marston’s holding 40% and receiving a cash payment of up to £273m.
The new business will offer a mix of Carlsberg’s mass-market lagers and Marston’s cask ale brands such as Hobgoblin and Pedigree, and will also be able to feed Carlsberg beers into Marston’s estate of around 1,400 UK pubs.
Read more on msn.com