Dive Brief:
- The Carlsberg Foundation, the majority shareholder in Danish brewer Carlsberg, is softening its control of the company. The move frees Carlsberg to acquire other companies.
- The foundation would maintain majority voting rights and promised to keep the company, which is the world's fourth-largest brewer, based in Copenhagen.
- Carlsberg executives have been clear that they wish to acquire properties in Asia. The ownership structure imposed by the foundation was a barrier.
Dive Insight:
The move by the foundation comes as welcome news to the beer drinkers of Asia. Carlsberg has built a substantial following among young adults in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea. If nothing else, some acquisitions in Asia would ensure that there will be enough to drink the next time Carlsberg hosts a "Where's the Party?" event in Malaysia, complete with K-pop stars and house-music DJs.