KATHMANDU: Carlsberg South Asia is the Khetan’s holding company for the businesses in India (100 percent) and Nepal (90 percent), in which Carlsberg owns two thirds of the shares.
In India, the firm ranks third, with a beer market share of about 17 percent. India’s brewers produced an estimated 15 million hl beer in 2021, according to hops supplier BarthHaas.
In Nepal, the local unit, the Gorkha brewery, is the leader (total market volume: 1.9 million hl in 2021), with a share in excess of 70 percent.
Over the past few years, Carlsberg and the privately-owned Khetan Group were engaged in a nasty boardroom battle, with serious accusations flying hither and thither, raising concerns from their auditor over financial irregularities, including incorrect payments, embezzlement and kickbacks from customers.
Unexpected ruling
Eventually, Khetan filed for arbitration in Singapore, seeking USD 1.5 billion from Carlsberg. However, the tribunal ruled in favour of Carlsberg, and gave the Danish brewer the right to buy out its partner.
The Khetan’s stake has since been valued at USD 744 million by an independent auditor. If the sale goes ahead, Khetan will retain a 10 percent stake in the Gorkha brewery.
Danish Carlsberg said the transaction could potentially be completed in 2023, provided no more disputes arise. The buyout also requires regulatory approval.