Brussels, 17/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has cleared the proposed acquisition of the German brewery Holsten by Carlsberg of Denmark. Holsten produces beer under various brand names ('Holsten', 'Lübzer', 'Astra', 'Feldschlösschen', 'Duckstein', 'Landskron', 'König', 'Licher' and 'Kelts'), with a focus on regional markets in the Northern and Western parts of Germany. Carlsberg is an international brewing company, marketing and distributing beer (e.g. 'Carlsberg', 'Tuborg' and 'Tetley's') on a world-wide basis. The parties' activities only slightly overlap in Germany, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. The deal will create fewer problems given that Carlsberg has already announced in January that it intends to sell on parts of Holsten (namely the businesses related to the brands 'König' and 'Licher') to the German brewer Bitburger. At the beginning of the year Carlsberg launched a friendly take-over bid of EUR 522.5 million (EUR 38 per share) for Holsten (2003 turnover estimated at EUR 441 million).