Central de Cervejas - History

History

Sociedade Central de Cervejas was established in 1934, with the aim of selling the beers produced by the former breweries, Companhia Produtora de Malte e Cerveja Portugália, Companhia de Cervejas Estrela, Companhia de Cervejas Coimbra and Companhia da Fábrica de Cerveja Jansen. In 1935, and after 99 years of activity, Fábrica de Cervejas Trindade was integrated by Sociedade Central de Cervejas (SCC).

Centralcer – Central de Cervejas, E.P. is incorporated in 1977 as a result of the merger of Sociedade Central de Cervejas, S.A.R.L. (incorporated in 1934) with Cergal - Cervejas de Portugal, S.A.R.L. (incorporated in 1972).

Centralcer – Central de Cervejas, S.A. was therefore created as a result of the above-mentioned company’s conversion into a joint stock company, regulated according to Decree-Law no. 300/90 of the 24th September. The Company’s total share capital is privatised in 1990, and it is the first operation of this kind to be undertaken in Portugal. The Bavaria Group purchases a shareholding in Centralcer - Central de Cervejas, S.A., and becomes one of its main shareholders.

In 2000, there is a further alteration to the company’s shareholding structure, as a result of its sale to VTR-SGPS, S.A., a group of Portuguese investors (Parfil, BES, Fundação Byssaia Barreto, Olinveste and Fundação Oriente), amongst whom are the inheritors of SCC’s founding shareholders. In its turn and in the summer of the same year, this group assigned a 49% share to the international brewing group Scottish & Newcastle.

In terms of the Group’s organisation restructuring, the merger of Centralcer – Central de Cervejas, S.A. in Centralcontrol S.G.P.S., S.A. (merging company) was concluded in December 2001. The new merged entity changed its corporate denomination to SCC - Sociedade Central de Cervejas, S.A., as well as its head office, which is now located at the factory premises.

In 2003, Scottish & Newcastle purchases Parfil’s total shareholding, assuming total control of Sociedade Central de Cervejas and Sociedade da Água de Luso.

In December 2004, the Company became known as SCC - Sociedade Central de Cervejas e Bebidas, S.A., a name that reflects in a better way, the scope of its activity, which not only includes beer, but also other drinks, such as water and soft drinks.

In 2007, after a consortium was set up between Carlsberg and Heineken a takeover bid was made for the acquisition of the Scottish & Newcastle Group. As a result of the negotiations, the acquisition was accomplished, with Heineken taking over the control of Sociedade Central de Cervejas e Bebidas (SCC) on the 29th April 2008, following the conclusion of the Consortium’s acquisition of Scottish & Newcastle (S&N). This consortium was dissolved after the deal was completed and the traditional healthy relationship between both groups remained untouched.