April 15, 2002
Asahi Breweries, Ltd.
Asahi Kasei Corporation
|
Transfer of shochu and low-alcohol beverage operations
from Asahi Kasei to Asahi Breweries and Nikka Whiskey |
The Boards of Directors of Asahi Breweries, Ltd., its subsidiary The Nikka Whiskey Distilling Co., Ltd., and Asahi Kasei Corporation today authorized the transfer of the shochu and low-alcohol beverage operations of Asahi Kasei to Asahi Breweries and Nikka Whiskey, and an agreement for the execution of the transfers has been concluded.
Shochu, a Japanese classification of distilled spirits, and low-alcohol beverages are two key product fields in Asahi Kasei’s liquors operations. The sales and marketing functions for these products are scheduled to be transferred to Asahi Breweries during 2002, whereupon Asahi Breweries will undertake sales and marketing for these products. Concurrently, the production and product development functions for these products, presently located at Asahi Kasei facilities in Ohito, Shizuoka, are scheduled to be transferred to Nikka Whiskey, whereupon Nikka Whiskey will undertake production and product development for these products at its plant facilities in Kashiwa, Chiba. The operations of Asahi Kasei’s subsidiary Fukumusume Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. are unaffected.
Upon the transfer of operations, personnel of Asahi Kasei engaged in the sales and marketing of these products will continue to perform their respective duties as employees of Asahi Breweries, and personnel of Asahi Kasei engaged in the production and product development of these products will continue to perform their respective duties as employees of Nikka Whiskey.
For Asahi Breweries, the shochu and low-alcohol beverage operations obtained from Asahi Kasei, with the valuable, established brands and rich experience and know-how for innovative product development they comprise, will serve to complement an extensive range of liquors products, and follows a succession of mergers, acquisitions, and alliances in accordance with a successful strategy for growth as a comprehensive liquors maker.
For Asahi Kasei, the transfer of these operations is based on the clear conviction that their management as a vital component of the dynamic, wide-ranging liquors operations of Asahi Breweries will afford the greatest opportunity for successful growth and market expansion.
Scale of Asahi Kasei liquors operations
| |
Liquors operations
of Asahi Kasei
(total) |
Operations to be
transferred
(approximate) |
|
| Sales (year ended March 2002) |
¥23.9 billion |
¥13.2 billion |
Total assets (as of September 2001)
|
¥13.2 billion |
¥6.0 billion |
| Employees (as of March 2002) |
252 |
150 |
|
|
