Japanese brewery Asahi buys Czech beer maker

Japanese brewery Asahi Group has striken a big takeover deal to buy beer assets from Anheuser-Busch InBev in five eastern European nations, Czech media reported on Tuesday.

The price of the deal was worth 7.3 billion euros (8 billion U.S. dollars).

Anheuser-Busch InBev is the current owner of Czech Pilsner Urquell brewery, the makers of one of the Czech Republic's most celebrated beers.

The deal is waiting for the approval of the European Commission and European antitrust authority, the spokesperson of Pilsner Urquell brewery was quoted as saying.

The process is expected to be completed by the middle of next year, according to the spokesperson.

The market believed it was a good news for Pilsner Urquell brewery.

Jan Vesely, former director of the Czech Beer and Malt Association, said the new owners would bring the Czech beers outside the country and sell it in Asian market, which is more prospective than the European market as it is almost saturated.

According to Pavla Borowiece, editor of the magazine Pivo, Bier & Ale, Asahi may offer a good distribution network to Pilsner Urquell brewery in Asia. It is interesting to export beers to Asian and African markets.

Pilsner Urquell is the biggest brewery and the most famous beer brands in the Czech Republic. Endit