Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has advised longstanding client Carlsberg on its acquisition of Marston plc’s minority stake in Carlsberg Marston’s Limited (CMBC) thereby becoming the sole owner of CMBC.

CMBC has a leading portfolio of beer and ale brands and a strong distribution and logistics network. Carlsberg and Marston’s will continue their commercial co-operation via a long-term brand distribution and logistics agreement.

Norton Rose Fulbright has a strong history of supporting Carlsberg including having previously advised on the formation of the joint venture with Marston’s in 2020.

The London-based Norton Rose Fulbright team advising Carlsberg on this transaction was led by partner Claire O’Donnell and included partners Dominic Stuttaford (tax), Mike Knapper (IP), Mark Tricker (competition) and Lesley Browning (pensions), with support from associate Tayo Hagger-David, counsel Sarah Tonks and trainee solicitor Medina Rahman. The Norton Rose Fulbright team again worked closely with Carlsberg’s in-house legal team including Andreas Bernhard-Kirk and Jeremy Brown.

Claire O’Donnell said:

“We are pleased to have supported our client on this key acquisition, which completes its 100 percent shareholding of CMBC. This transaction is of significant strategic and commercial value to Carlsberg. We are very proud of our longstanding relationship with Carlsberg and are delighted to have worked with their in-house team on both the creation of the joint venture and this exciting next step.”

Nomura acted as financial advisers to Carlsberg, Slaughter & May acted as legal counsel to Marston’s, and JP Morgan acted as financial advisers to Marston’s.