Carlsberg strengthens its position in Vietnam by entering into a joint venture
to build a brewery in Southern Vietnam.
Carlsberg has entered into a joint venture with state-owned Hanoi Beer &
Beverage Corporation (Habeco) to build a brewery in Southern Vietnam. Carlsberg
and Habeco will hold each 29%, and other external investors will hold the
balance.
Earlier this year, the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry approved Habeco's choice
of Carlsberg as the strategic foreign investor to Habeco in connection with the
upcoming privatization of Habeco, and the new cooperation in Southern Vietnam
further strengthens this strategic alliance between Carlsberg and Habeco.
The Joint Venture will have a strong brand portfolio consisting of the
Carlsberg brand, one of the leading premium beer brands in Vietnam, as well as
Habeco's famous Hanoi Beer, the leading beer brand in Northern Vietnam.
The name of the joint venture will be Hanoi Vung Tau Joint Stock Company. The
Joint Venture brewery will be located in Vung Tau province, approximately 50 km
outside Ho Chi Minh City (“Saigon”). Vung Tau is one of the fastest growing
provinces in Vietnam due to among others the presence of large off-shore oil
fields. The brewery will have an initial capacity of 500,000 hl.
The beer consumption in Southern Vietnam is approx. 9 m hl, and thus accounting
for almost 60% of the Vietnamese beer consumption, and Southern Vietnam is a
high value region due to a large premium segment.
Carlsberg already holds a strong position in the Northern and Central Vietnam
through its investments in three joint venture breweries and the new Joint
Venture in South will therefore form an important stepping stone into the fast
growing South Vietnamese beer market.
Carlsberg in Vietnam:
Carlsberg entered Vietnam in 1993 through the formation of at joint venture
with Viet Ha Brewery owned by the Hanoi Peoples Committee. Carlsberg owns 60%
of South East Asia Brewery, which is the name of the operation. In 1994 the
second Carlsberg joint venture was founded through cooperation with the Hue
Peoples Committee in Hué Brewery, of which Carlsberg owns 50%. Earlier this
year, Carlsberg acquired a 30% shareholding in Halong Brewery, a market leader
in the North Eastern Quang Ning province with the famous tourist attraction
Halong Bay. Finally, in the beginning of this year the Vietnamese Ministry of
Industry approved state owned brewery Habeco's choice of Carlsberg as strategic
partner.
The Vietnamese beer market:
Similar to other countries in the region the beer market in Vietnam is rapidly
growing. The current consumption level amounts to 17 litres per capita. The
future annual growth is estimated to about 8% - like the Vietnamese GDP.
Contacts:
Media Relations: Jens Peter Skaarup +45 3327 1417
Investor Relations: Mikael Bo Larsen +45 3327 1223
