August 2/Tokyo/Reuters -- Japan's Kirin Holdings Co. is buying a controlling stake in major Brazilian beer and soft drinks maker Schincariol for 3.95 billion reals ($2.6 billion), making its first foray in the fast-growing South American economy.
A highly competitive and shrinking home market has forced Kirin and rival Asahi Group Holdings to look abroad for profit growth, but a lack of targets in consolidating global beer markets has made expansion tough for Japanese brewers.