Major Japanese brewers had mixed earnings results in 2006, with their performance largely determined by the sales of low-cost, beerlike drinks.
While Kirin Brewery Co. and Suntory Ltd. saw their profits rise on brisk sales of beerlike drinks, Asahi Breweries Ltd. had a decline in operating profit due to an increase in marketing costs.
Sapporo Holdings Ltd., facing a takeover bid from U.S. investment fund Steel Partners Japan Strategic Fund (Offshore) L.P., was the only firm of the four major brewers to report a drop in both sales and profits as it struggles with falling sales of its beer and beerlike alcoholic drinks.