Beer

COMESA CC Approval of the BIH and Carlsberg Beer Merger

COMESA CC Approval of the BIH and Carlsberg Beer Merger

In April 2017, the COMESA Competition Commission (CCC) conditionally approved a large merger between Brasseries Internationales Holdings (BIH) Ltd and Carlsberg Malawi Ltd (Carlsberg). BIH is the holding company of Castel Group, a French beverages company. The second party to the merger, Carlsberg, is a beverages manufacturer participating solely in the Malawian market in Africa. The merger spans four countries: Ethiopia, Malawi, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Exclusive contracts in Kenya’s beer distribution

Exclusive contracts in Kenya’s beer distribution

Nicholas Nhundu

Efficient distribution is central to competitiveness in the beer industry. In several cases around the world, the proliferation of entrant firms in beer has been obstructed by hurdles in getting products to consumers through the distribution system.

The beer industry in Africa: a case of carving out geographic markets?

The beer industry in Africa: a case of carving out geographic markets?

Lauralyn Kaziboni and Reena Das Nair 

Competition investigations on abuse of dominance by near-monopoly beer producers have typically been limited to national boundaries and within the jurisdiction of single national competition authorities. However, it is increasingly recognised that viewing transgressions as neatly falling within political borders is restrictive, and often misses the ‘bigger picture’ of the firm’s overall strategy and conduct.