Heineken Unhappy With $1.6 Billion Bid on Tiger Beer

Heineken, the world’s third-largest brewer, warned it would act to protect its interests in Asia, after the founder of Thailand’s leading beer and spirits group bid for a stake worth $1.6 billion in its partner in the region.

The Asia Pacific region is a fast-growing one for Heineken, where it brews Tiger Beer with Singaporean partner Fraser and Neave.

Billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, wants to buy a 19.2 percent stake in Heineken’s Asian partner, from Overseas-Chinese Banking Corp (OCBC) (OCBC.SI) and its insurance unit, sources said.

If Sirivadhanabhakdi is successful, his entity will emerge as Fraser and Neave’s (F&N) biggest shareholder, followed by Japanese brewer Kirin Holdings Co.