Japanese company confirms search of partner for Brazil Kirin

The Japanese Kirin Holdings, parent company of Brazil Kirin, reported on Thursday (15/9) which remains focused on accelerating growth of Brazil operation Kirin in the country, but also consider alternatives, including a strategic partnership as an option for a sustainable growth of the company. The Group also reported that "there''s nothing specific at this point."
The Japanese company also reported that the news published by the newspaper "Nikkei", that would be negotiating with Heineken and other rivals a joint venture for the operation of Brazil Kirin was made without any information disclosed by the company.
The plan announced by Kirin for the period 2016 to 2018 provides for the strengthening of the operation of Brazil Kirin. The Kirin and the Kirin Brazil are fully focused on constant efforts in brand investment, improving the use of installed capacity and improving distribution.
The Japanese newspaper Nikkei reported that Kirin Holdings is negotiating with the Dutch brewery Heineken and other companies in the sector a possible society to make take off the Brazil business Kirin, which owns brands like Schin and wicked. For this, the company could turn the brazilian operation in a joint venture.
Potential business according to the newspaper, the Anheuser-Busch InBev, which through the Ambev controls 70% of the beer market in Brazil, and Grupo Petrópolis also would have been sought for negotiation. According to Japanese publishing companies will discuss a cooperation agreement for the production and distribution of beer, plus combined purchase of raw materials to reduce costs. The Kirin also considers selling a stake in Brazil Kirin to solidify the partnership.
Sought, Heineken reported that no comments on market speculation. Ambev reported that won''t rule on the subject. Grupo Petrópolis, in turn, denied the negotiation. "There is no interest in the acquisition of any beverage company in the brazilian market because growth [of the Grupo Petrópolis] is sustainable from their own assets," said in a statement.
In recent months, information circulated in the market that Brazil Kirin would be negotiating the sale of assets to Heineken, as part of its plans to reduce costs and save R$ this year''s 200,000,000. The talks, however, were denied by both companies. The company sold in April a soft drinks and beer factory installed in Rio for competitor Ambev.
In the first half, Brazil Kirin reported operating loss of 7 billion yen (R$ 225.2 million), compared with losses of 600,000,000 yen on the same range of 2015. Revenue shrank 21 percent in the period, reaching 50.7 billion yen (1.63 billion R$).
The company reported that it had growth in sales volume in Brazil, but due to the appreciation of the yen in relation to the real, the performance in value fell. For the year, the company projected fall of 21.3% in Brazil, Kirin''s recipe to 112.9 billion yen. In relation to operational performance, predicting a loss of 8.9 billion yen, compared with a loss of 11.7 billion yen last year.