Carlsberg Cuts Russia Licenses, Escalating Fight With Government

Danish brewer Carlsberg A/S is terminating all license agreements to sell its beer brands in Russia and said it sees no path to a negotiated exit from the country after its assets were seized by the government.

The Copenhagen-based company said it will stop allowing the Russian Baltika business to produce, market and sell Carlsberg group products.

“We refuse to be forced into a deal on unacceptable terms,” the company said, calling the takeover of its Russian business illegitimate.

Shortly after Carlsberg said it had struck a deal to sell the assets in July, Russia seized its Baltika business, transferring ...