Danish brewer Carlsberg has received authorisation from China's regulator to increase its stake in Chongqing Brewery to 60 percent.

The Chinese brewer said on Thursday that China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) had given a green light for Carlsberg to raise its stake from the current 29.7 percent.

Carlsberg, the world's fourth-largest brewer, launched its partial takeover bid worth 2.65 billion Danish crowns ($489.28 million) in March.

The RMB 20 per share takeover bid is effective from Nov. 5 until Dec. 4, Chongqing Brewery said in the statement.

A Carlsberg spokesman said its offer now has to go through a tender process.

Last week, Carlsberg's main owner, the Carlsberg Foundation, said it wanted to drop a rule in its charter that it must own at least 25 percent of the brewer, a move that could open the door for a share issue and further acquisitions in Asia.

Flemming Besenbacher, chairman of the foundation and of the Carlsberg group, said at the time that the change would give the brewery more financial flexibility to act if acquisition opportunities arose.

Shares in Carlsberg traded 1.7 percent lower on Thursday at 11.37 GMT, while the Danish benchmark index is 0.4 percent lower.

Trade in Chongqing Brewery's shares was suspended on Thursday but would resume on Friday, Chongqing Brewery said.

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