Review of the Slovene Economy from 13 to 19 July

Ljubljana, 21 July - The news that made all the headlines last week was the renewed round of what has been dubbed the "brewers' war", as Slovenia's largest brewer Pivovarna Lasko and Belgian Interbrew battle it out for control of the second-largest Slovene brewer Pivovarna Union. Lasko made the first move, which in effect signaled the start of the fresh round of the battle, when it bought a little under 22 percent of Union to raise its stake in the rival brewer to over 46 percent. A day later, both Lasko and Interbrew announced that they would file rival takeover bids for Union. Also in the headlines this week was the news that the senate of Agency for Insurance Supervision turned down the appeal of Slovenia's largest insurer Zavarovalnica Triglav, meaning that the agency's demand that Triglav chairwoman and a member of the board will have to been dismissed.