Heineken in talks over Kirin Brazil business

Heineken has confirmed it is in discussions with Kirin Holdings to buy Brasil Kirin Holding SA. 

Brasil Kirin’s flagship brand is Schin beer, and other brands include Baden Baden, Devassa and Kirin Ichiban. Headquarted in Sao Paulo, it is a subsidiary of Japan’s Kirin Holdings Company Ltd.   

Brazil is the third largest beer consuming country in the world (by volume), after China and the US.

Heineken became the world’s second largest brewer after the combination of AB InBev and SABMiller late last year.

Responding to speculation over a deal with Kirin, the Dutch beer giant said in a statement on Friday that discussions are ongoing and that there can be no certainty that an agreement will be reached, with further announcements to be made as appropriate.