Czech PM: No sale of Budvar brewery planned

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek has denied speculation that the government is soon going to privatise the state-owned Budvar brewery in Ceske Budejovice. Speaking in parliament on Thursday Mr Topolanek said that the government intended to transform the beer maker into a joint-stock company, but that there were no plans to sell it off just yet. The Prime Minister also denied reports that it was in discussions with American brewing giant Anheuser Busch over the sale of Budvar.

Budvar is the third largest brewery in the Czech Republic and it is one of the country's biggest exporters of beer, distributing the drink to over 50 countries. It has been involved in a number of trademark disputes with the American Anheuser-Busch brewery in various states over the use of the Budweiser brand, a name Budvar also uses for some of its products.