Bermas Suceava is wooed only by investment funds

Only investment funds have displayed so far interest in the 25 percent in stock of Bermas Suceava brewery, though market rumours say that Danish company Tuborg might be interested in the stake still held by the State Ownership Fund (SOF).

“So far, it was only investment funds that were interested in the privatisation of Bermas. It is possible, and it would be even better if Tuborg were interested in the stake still owned by SOF, but I haven’t heard yet of such an intention of the Danish company,” Constantin G=tej, general director of Bermas Suceava, told Ziarul Financiar, declining however to offer any reference as to the name of the funds.

On the other hand, however, Isaac Sheps, Tuborg Romania chairman, said that “the company is not interested in any brewery of Romania, because none meets the quality standards of Tuborg.”

“Privatisation is discussed at present with SOF management board, but it is little likely that the effective sale of the stake owned by the fund should take place before autumn,” G=tej also said.

On the first six months of this year, Bermas registered net profit worth 15 billion lei, against gross profit of 24 billion lei. The main factor behind the drop in gross profit consisted, according to Bermas official, in interest rates for loans contracted by the company.

Bermas bought at the beginning of this year about 400 beer hoppers worth over 6 billion lei, initiating thus the technological updating programme announced at the beginning of the year. Technological update measures also stipulate the acquisition of an installation for the distribution of bottled beer, worth 3.80 billion lei.

The company is currently developing a promotion campaign in Costinesti sea resort, which took an investment of 120 million lei.

Bermas Suceava has a share capital worth 66.44 billion lei, divided into shares with a face value standing at 7,000 lei. Its significant shareholding structure includes Bermas Employee Association Programme- PAS, holding a stake of 20.8% in the capital, the State Ownership Fund (with a stake of 24.98%) and Lovers Romania company with a stake of 9.29%, the rest of stock being divided among small investors.