CZECH REPUBLIC: Budvar privatisation "unlikely"

CZECH REPUBLIC: Budvar privatisation “unlikely”

The Czech finance minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, has said that the current government would probably not privatise the state-owned Czech brewer, Budejovicky Budvar. Sobotka said the trademark disputes ongoing with US brewer, Anheuser-Busch, made the possible privatisation of Budvar, which was mooted earlier this year, problematic. He said the government had reviewed the potential for privatisation in light of the trademark dispute and that process militated against privatisation.

September 8, 2003

The Czech finance minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, has said that the current government would probably not privatise the state-owned Czech brewer, Budejovicky Budvar.

Sobotka said the trademark disputes ongoing with US brewer, Anheuser-Busch, made the possible privatisation of Budvar, which was mooted earlier this year, problematic. He said the government had reviewed the potential for privatisation in light of the trademark dispute and that process militated against privatisation.

“The legal position of Budvar and the [trademark] disputes that are going on in my opinion do not make possible privatisation in this government’s term of office,” Sobotka said. However, he added that discussions about Budvar’s future would continue in cabinet.