SABMiller plc, the owner of Milwaukee-based Miller Brewing Co., said Monday that it has agreed to buy an 81.1 percent interest in Aurora S.A., a brewery based in Brasov, Romania, for US$16.2 million

SABMiller plc, the owner of Milwaukee-based Miller Brewing Co., said Monday that it has agreed to buy an 81.1 percent interest in Aurora S.A., a brewery based in Brasov, Romania, for US$16.2 million. London-based SABMiller said additional share purchases prior to closing are expected to increase its ownership in the brewery to at least 90 percent. The deal is subject to Romanian regulatory approval and other technical requirements. Aurora has one brewery and holds a national market share of 5.2 percent, SABMiller said. It has an annual capacity of 680,000 hectoliters and annual sales of 659,000 hectoliters. Aurora will become SABMiller's fourth brewer in Romania, giving it a market share in the Eastern European country of about 20 percent and a number two ranking in the market. Aurora produces the Ciucas beer brand, which a strong regional presence, SABMiller said. SABMiller has been operating in Romania since 1996 and now owns three breweries -- in Cluj-Napoca, Buzau and Timisoara -- employing 1,100 workers. The breweries have a total capacity of 2.1 million hectoliters. SABMiller's primary brands in Romania include Ursus Premium, Timisoreana Lux, Miller Genuine Draft and Pilsner Urquell.