Marston's and Carlsberg UK forming a Joint Venture

[HockleyPete]

Announced on the stock market this afternoon....

Tomasz Blawat, Managing Director of Carlsberg UK, said:

"We are excited to move into the next phase of our growth strategy. After a successful relaunch of Carlsberg Danish Pilsner in the UK last year, we are now building a new beer company by combining two organisations with shared values and strong history and heritage in brewing.

"Our intent for the Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company is for it to become a platform for growth for all of our customers and suppliers, offering a bigger beer portfolio of complementary international, national and regional brands. We believe the new business will deliver even more value for employees, customers and consumers, thereby creating greater future growth potential."

 

[Graz]

I used to like some Marstons beers, also Wychwood before they got hold of them. Now being driven to minimise costs and maximise profits.

Crap beer, crap pubs, crap food (microwaved).

I'm sure this will further accelerate this.

 

[cushyno]

Nail in the coffin for all those brands that Marstons snapped up. There'll be some corporate realignment and no doubt some brands will be gone from the portfolio.

 

[Rodcx500z]

Just been reading they are going in with Carlsp=ss uk, there will be some some brews ruined there, Brewers Marston’s and Carlsberg UK to merge in £780m joint venture

 

[DavidHatton]

Do like their oyster stout, but not seen it in london. what could possible go wrong....

 

[Clint]

Carlsberg will shut Marstons...they've shut every other brewery they've bought out...or ruined what they sell.

 

[DavidHatton]

it starts with F and ends with uckers

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Thank goodness for micro breweries and home brewers. They've got their model wrong people don't want bland mass produced beers any more.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Posts moved to earlier thread.

 

[terrym]

If the announcement is to be believed it's a JV which is different from a take over or a full merger. That means the two companies are still independent but share common interests through a formal agreement, probably to target some economies of operation. There will be a board that run the JV made up of representatives from both companies. Marstons should still have its shares on the stock market, as well as its own board. However whether that means restructuring for Marstons who are to some extent the minor partner and who own several breweries up and down the UK remains to be seen. Carlsberg Pedigree anyone?

 

[Clint]

More draught sewage....

 

[Martin-68]

I’m from Burton on Trent so a shame to see Marstons selling out to Carlsberg , massive amount of heritage & history hopefully that won’t be lost after the merge

 

[Clint]

Crapsberg will erase all memory....look what they done with Wrexham Lager...

 

[DavidHatton]

Just read that adnams are doing a collaboration with camden to celebrate 10 yrs of ghostship, called camden on sea, india pale lager. Never been a better time to be a home brewer

 

[MyQul]

This kind of thing happens with all corporations in any area. The only thing that really stops them eventually is anti-competition legistation. I remember when pfizer was trying to buy astrazeneca but were told to piss off. For me it's just like a life cycle.

 

[Turbine-Tel]

I used to like some Marstons beers, also Wychwood before they got hold of them. Now being driven to minimise costs and maximise profits.

Crap beer, crap pubs, crap food (microwaved).

I'm sure this will further accelerate this.

Our daughter has a Marstons pub, I think she could have done better, she is experienced in the industry but new to the chain. She seems to have been completely deserted during the lockdown, just a premises security guard I suspect.
We'll see what comes out in the wash, but I suspect no job at the end of this lot.
I quite like the Pedigree though.
Cheers,
Terry

 

[Geoffinthewilds]

We had a Marstons pub, they never wanted the old pubs that made them the money wanted new pubs that sell their crap food, the one up was always empty pre lockdown, we took our pub from turning over £850 pw week to 4k record and averaged 2 to 3k a week and now its an accountants they dont deserve the loyal Publicans they have/had

 

[An Ankoù]

Never a great fan of Marstons except for their Old Empire, but loads of people loved Pedigree- guess it's a matter of taste. Nevertheless, you don't have to like them to recognise they're an old traditional brewery brewing classic English beers whose heritage will be lost when Carlsberg get hold of it. Carlsberg have even sold out their own heritage, it would appear. It's this sort of thing the Brexit gammon should be fighting and campaigning against, but I suspect it'll be another bit of England down the tubes without demure.

 

[terrym]

To reiterate it is a JV, not a take over or a merger. Marstons and Carlsberg UK are still independent companies. Marstons statement to the stock market is here.
https://www.marstons.co.uk/docs/jv/...s_JV_Partnership_with_Carlsberg_UK_220520.pdfHowever skimming through the document it appears to me that Marstons are sort of mortgaging their company to reduce their company debt, since although their business is worth significantly more on paper than the Carslberg chunk their JV holding is only 40% compared to Carsberg UK 60%, and this is because they are to receive £273M in lieu of this disparity. And that is likely to mean that Carslberg have the controlling rights on the JV board.
So what this means long term for the Marstons mini empire which covers Marstons, Banks, Jennings, Wychwood, Ringwood, Brakspear, Youngs, Wainwrights, McEwans, Mansfield and Charles Wells remains to be seen

 

[Burlyman]

Marstons was founded in 1834...

This is just sad.