OFT to look at Tennent's lager deal

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is to look at ABInbev's sale of Tennent's lager to Magners producer C&C Group.

The £180m deal includes the Glasgow Wellpark Brewery in Scotland and the rights to Tennent's Ales and assets located in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which currently belong to ABInbev.

As part of the agreement, ABInbev will appoint C&C as distributor of certain brands in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In return, C&C will grant ABInbev the right to use the Tennent's Super and Tennent's Pilsner brands in certain worldwide geographies. The deal is due to be completed by the end of the year.

The OFT said it would consider whether the deal will result in a "substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services that warrants reference to the Competition Commission for investigation and report".

Written representations can be made to the OFT.