Kirin Comments on Possible Suntory Merger
After much industry speculation, Kirin Holdings Company Limited confirms that the company and Suntory Holdings Limited are currently in the initial stage of business merger discussions.
According to its Web site, Kirin will make an immediate announcement once anything that needs to be disclosed is resolved, but at this point the possible terms of a deal have yet to be agreed upon.
An article from the Associated Press* speculates that if the Japanese beer maker merges with its rival, the outcome is expected to create one of the world's largest food and drinks companies. The combined entity would also give Japan its first brewery capable of competing globally with the likes of Anheuser-Busch InBev NV. In 2008, Kirin and Suntory posted combined sales of beer, soft drinks and food of about $41 billion -- higher than Anheuser-Busch InBev or The Coca-Cola Company.
"The two would be able to forge a complementary relationship over a broad range of areas, including alcoholic beverages and soft drinks in the domestic market, food products in Asia and business expansion in China," Credit Suisse analyst Yoshiyasu Okihira reported in a note to clients.
According to its Web site, Kirin will make an immediate announcement once anything that needs to be disclosed is resolved, but at this point the possible terms of a deal have yet to be agreed upon.
An article from the Associated Press* speculates that if the Japanese beer maker merges with its rival, the outcome is expected to create one of the world's largest food and drinks companies. The combined entity would also give Japan its first brewery capable of competing globally with the likes of Anheuser-Busch InBev NV. In 2008, Kirin and Suntory posted combined sales of beer, soft drinks and food of about $41 billion -- higher than Anheuser-Busch InBev or The Coca-Cola Company.
"The two would be able to forge a complementary relationship over a broad range of areas, including alcoholic beverages and soft drinks in the domestic market, food products in Asia and business expansion in China," Credit Suisse analyst Yoshiyasu Okihira reported in a note to clients.