Competition Authority to embark on full investigation into Beamish takeover

THE Competition Authority is to move to a full investigation (Phase 2) into the takeover of Beamish & Crawford by Heineken.

While the European Commission passed the €10.4 billion takeover of Beamish’s parent company, Scottish & Newcastle, by the Heineken/Carlsberg consortium earlier this year, it sent the Irish element of the deal to the Competition Authority for further scrutiny over fears that a &duopoly could emerge in the Irish beer and stout markets.

Having initiated an initial review, the Competition Authority announced yesterday it was mounting a full investigation (Phase 2) into Heineken’s proposed takeover of Beamish & Crawford.