Five years after buying Schincariol, Japanese group Kirin, has seen its shares in Brazil become the target of international brewers. Since taking over the company for more than R$6 billion, Kirin has seen its position weaken amidst a crumbling economy and changing consumer behaviors. The company's capacity is significantly larger than its sales. Among the company's options include the total sale of shares or a large portion of them, according to sources.
According to the newspaper Estado de S. Paulo, Dutch brewer, Heineken would be interested in buying all of the company's shares. Negotiations have not yet been formalized. One source, however, has confirmed that representatives of Heineken have held a meeting with Kirin in Japan at the end of June to try to define the bases for formal negotiations.
Heineken's appetite is large as the company has seen its global position weakened after the fusion of AB InBev and SAB Miller, which today own approximately 30% of the global market of beers.
Within Kirin's global portfolio of beverages, Heineken's main interest is in Brazil. The Dutch company, which entered the country via the purchase of Femsa has been able to grow and solidify its brand as premium and has been able to beat out Kirin with 9.4% sales of the sector.
Among the other competitors, Carlsberg, would use Kirin to establish some type of relevance in the country. For Ambev, the purchase would represent a low cost acquisition of Kirin's factories. The purchase would also help protect the company's two-thirds dominance of the sector.
Kirin has publicly denied all speculation about its strategic position.
Read more at Supermercado Moderno (in Portuguese) Rivals Looks to Buy Kirin
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