Kirin Holdings purchases majority stake in Myanmar Brewery Limited

Japanese beverage maker Kirin Holdings has bought a majority stake in state-backed Myanmar Brewery Limited for $560m from Fraser & Neave.

The transaction sees Kirin take control of 55% of the Japan’s largest brewer with Myanmar Economic Holdings claiming the remaining 45%.

Myanmar Brewery which produces Myanmar Beer, Myanmar Double Strong and Andaman Gold is the country’s biggest brewer with an 80 per cent share in the local beer market and sales of $201m.

Kirin joins other international brands such as Heineken and Carlsberg which have set up local brewing facilities to prepare for further opening of the previously closed Southeast Asian economy.