Kirin's Lion Nathan year profit jumps 13 pct

Wed Nov 4, 2009 6:12pm EST
 
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MELBOURNE, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Lion Nathan, Australia's second-largest brewer, reported a 13 percent rise in full year profit as promised, bolstered by its premium beers, in its final year before being taken over by Japan's Kirin Holdings (2503.T).

Net profit before one-offs rose to A$313 million ($286 million) for the year to Sept. 30 from A$278 million a year earlier.

The group had forecast a net profit between A$305 million and A$315 million.

It said the beer market remained in good health while its wine business, which makes up less than 1 percent of earnings before interest and tax, was struggling as wine drinkers offshore, hit by the economic slump, had switched to cheap wines.

Kirin completed its buy-out of Lion Nathan in October and is reviewing how best to combine the business with dairy and juice group National Foods. (Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by Mark Bendeich)

 

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