Carlsberg Foundation Loosens Grip to Give Takeover Room

The Carlsberg Foundation, which controls the world’s fourth-largest beermaker, will relax its grip to give the Danish brewer room to pursue takeovers and investments.

The foundation will drop the requirement that it hold at least 25 percent of the share capital in Carlsberg A/S, the company said today in a statement. It will continue to control at least 51 percent of the voting rights through preferred A-shares. The brewer also will adopt a dividend policy to pay at least 25 percent of adjusted net income back to shareholders.