3rd UPDATE: Kirin, Suntory In Merger Talks - Source
July 13 2009 - 1:42AM
Dow Jones News
Japan's Kirin Holdings Co. (2503.TO) and Suntory Holdings Ltd.
are in merger talks in a move that could create a formidable
competitor to the world's leading brewer Anhesuer-Busch Inbev
N.V.
Kirin and privately held Suntory have posted relatively strong
earnings in recent years in spite of the sluggishness of the
domestic beer and beverage market, which has been hurt by a
shrinking population and a weak economy. But the two companies have
been pushing hard to increase their overseas presence in the face
of a gloomy Japanese outlook, making various foreign acquisitions
recently. Analysts say a merger could give them more funds in their
future international M&A efforts.
If the merger goes through, it would create a new food and
beverage giant with combined sales in 2008 of Y3.8 trillion, or
about $40.9 billion. That includes about Y1.2 trillion worth ($12.9
billion) of beer sales.
Anheuser-Busch Inbev, which manages a portfolio of nearly 300
brands that includes three global flagship brands - Budweiser,
Stella Artois and Beck's - had 2008 sales of $22.5 billion.
A person familiar with the matter said Monday a merger would
face a number of hurdles, but didn't elaborate. Such a huge
consolidation would likely require clearance from antitrust
authorities; the merged entity would grab about 50% of Japan's beer
market, leaving Kirin's archrival Asahi Breweries Ltd. (2502.TO)
with a 37% market share.
The Nikkei reported that Kirin and Suntory are likely to contact
Japan's Fair Trade Commission this week to explore measures to
ensure that they avoid violating antimonopoly law due to the
enormous market presence that the new firm would have in Japan's
beverage market.
An antirust lawyer based in Tokyo, who asked not to be named,
said a combination of the two would likely get the green light from
Japan's antimonopoly watchdog in Japan, but the two firms would
have to tailor their alliance to comply with regulations. In
judging whether to approve large mergers, Japanese authorities look
at the size of the firms in relation to the industry and amount of
competition amongst them, the lawyer said.
The talks could also be complicated by the need to sort out how
to merge a listed and privately held firm, some analysts said.
In official statements, both Kirin and Suntory said nothing has
been decided. Whether it is a merger of equals or which company
would take over the other also remains unclear. However, analysts
said Kirin is larger than Suntory in terms of sales and market
share so it would likely acquire Suntory, though those details will
need to be worked out.
In trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Kirin's share price
jumped on the possibility of the merger, and closed up 7.8% at
Y1,392.
A merger would be positive for both firms and would be "a huge
threat" to other players in sector, said Tokai Tokyo Research
Center analyst Tomonobu Tsunoyama. "This would trigger further
realignment."
Though their home market is deteriorating, Japan's beer makers
have resisted the consolidation trend until now. Because buying a
company within the same industry often requires layoffs and
closures, Japanese companies have historically been resistant to
mergers. Instead, the nation's big beer makers tend to seek ways to
diversify into far-flung areas, from baby food to flowers, in
orderto increase revenue.
Both companies have been busy increasing their international
businesses.
Kirin, which holds a 46% stake in Australia's Lion Nathan Ltd.
and 48% of the Philippines San Miguel Brewery Inc., is stepping up
efforts to increase its presence in Asia and the South Pacific. It
aims to generate about 30% of its revenue outside of Japan by
2015.
Suntory, which currently bottles and distributes PepsiCo Inc.
products in Japan, has already established a presence in China,
obtaining the biggest beer market share in Shanghai and neighboring
areas. Earlier this year, the company paid more than EUR600 million
for Groupe Danone SA's Australian and New Zealand drinks business
Frucor.
The two companies have also joined hands in the area of
procurement, allowing Kirin to join Suntory's system to procure
cardboard for use in soft drinks and other products.
A merger would bring together two companies that each has more
than a century of history primarily in the brewing business. The
Nikkei reported Monday that the two firms are considering initially
forming a holding company this year, but the person declined to
comment on that.
Kirin, best known as the maker of beer brands such as "Kirin
Lager" and "Kirin Ichiban," was established in 1907. The
Tokyo-based company operates beer maker Kirin Brewery, soft drink
maker Kirin Beverage and pharmaceutical company Kyowa Hakko Kirin.
It generated sales of Y2.3 trillion for the business year ended
Dec. 31 2008.
Established in 1899, Osaka-based Suntory produces well-known
whisky brands such as "Yamazaki" but it has been diversifying into
food and health-related fields to expand its sources of revenue. It
had 2008 sales of Y1.5 trillion.
Last week, beer shipment data for the January-June period showed
Kirin regained the top spot in the domestic beer market for the
first time in three years. Suntory is ranked the third after Asahi
Breweries.
-By Hiroyuki Kachi, Dow Jones Newswires; 813-6895-7562;
hiroyuki.kachi@dowjones.com
(Tor Ching Li contributed to this article.)