International merger could affect local beer market

There were reports on Wednesday that two of the world's biggest brewing companies, South African Breweries and Belgium's Interbrew, were planning a merger - news which could have an impact on the Czech beer market. South African Breweries owns Plzensky Prazdroj, makers of the world famous Pilsner Urquell, while Interbrew owns the Prague brewery Prazke pivovary, makers of Staropramen. If the two companies merged they would control sixty percent of the Czech beer market. The Czech Anti-monopoly Office has refused to comment but analysts say that the group would have to unload some assets in order to decrease its market share.