Unexpected Twist in the Sale of Second Largest Brewer; Lasko Holds 37% Stake in Union

Ljubljana, 21 December - The Slovene Reimbursement Company (SOD), a state-owned fund, sold its 12.2 percent share in Pivovarna Union, Slovenia's second-largest brewery, to another Slovene brewer and Belgium's Interbrew's rival, namely Pivovarna Lasko on Friday. The shares were sold at the price of 86,000 tolars per share (EUR 389), the entire deal totalling 4.7 billion tolars (21.24 million euros). Pivovarna Lasko, the leading brewer in Slovenia and an advocate of a group of Slovene drinks producers, thus holds on over 37-percent stake in Pivovarna Union.