Dutch brewer Grolsch says it has signed a long-term co-operation deal with US brewer Miller, a unit of consumer products giant Philip Morris.
Grolsch said in a statement it would brew Miller's premium brand, Miller Genuine Draft (MGD), in The Netherlands and distribute, market and sell MGD in The Netherlands and France. Those countries are the sixth- and fourth-largest beer markets in Europe, respectively.
No financial details were immediately available.
The licence agreement for The Netherlands and France enables Grolsch's sales organisations to provide consumers and retailers in these markets with a broader selection of beers, said Grolsch, maker of the distinctive flip-top bottled beer.
In February, the Dutch firm, one of The Netherlands's main brewers after market leader Heineken, reported an 11 per cent rise in full-year 2000 net profits to euro 27 million on sales of euro 225.4 million.
Miller Brewing is the second-largest US brewer behind Anheuser Busch.