£780m brewery merger completes

The £780m merger between Marston’s and Carlsberg has completed.

The deal sees the two companies come together to create a “best-in-class, brand led brewer of scale”.

The new company, called Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC), will have a combined value of £780m.

The two struck the deal to merge their brewing businesses back in May. The joint venture will value Wolverhampton-based Marston’s brewing business at up to £580m and Carlsberg’s at £200m.

Marston’s will hold a 40% stake in CMBC and a cash equalisation payment of up to £273m. Carlsberg will hold the remaining 60% stake.

Tomasz Blawat, Carlsberg’s managing director, said: “The joint venture between Carlsberg UK and Marston’s PLC to form the Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company, unites two historic brewers with shared values, history and heritage, to create a company with a sustainable future in UK brewing.”

Ralph Findlay, chief executive of Marston’s, said: “Marston’s strong heritage, extensive distribution platform and established reputation for brewing and logistics excellence, together with Carlsberg UK’s values, long history in beer, brand portfolio and scale, combine the best attributes of both to create a compelling beer business with an outstanding portfolio of global and local beer brands, proven brewing expertise, strong distribution network and wholesale opportunity.”