Press Release: Mergers: Commission approves Heineken’s acquisition of Scottish & Newcastle assets in Belgium, Finland, Portugal and UK; refers acquisition of Irish assets to Irish Competition Authority

The European Commission approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition by the Dutch company Heineken of the businesses of UK-based brewer Scottish & Newcastle in Belgium, Finland, Portugal and the United Kingdom as it found that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition on these markets. At the same time, the Commission referred Heineken's proposed acquisition of Scottish & Newcastle's business in Ireland to the Irish Competition Authority following the latter’s request under the EU Merger Regulation. After a preliminary investigation, the Commission found that the proposed transaction threatens to significantly affect competition in the beer markets in Ireland. Those aspects of the transaction will now be examined by the Irish Competition Authority under national law.