Japanese brewer Kirin has agreed to buy Australian vitamins maker Blackmores for A$1.88bn ($1.24bn; £999.4m). The move comes as Kirin expands into healthcare in the face of shrinking beer sales in its home country and increasing regulation of alcohol. "The acquisition of Blackmores is highly complementary to our existing Health Science business," it said. The deal also gives Blackmores an exit as it has been struggling to recover sales since the pandemic. For Kirin, the deal is the latest in its efforts to diversify away from the alcohol business. Beer sales in Japan have been falling for many years because of lifestyle changes among young people. Last year, the Japanese government launched a nationwide competition calling for ideas to encourage people to drink more alcohol. Kirin, which is known around the world for its beers, has a wider product range in its home country, including non-alcoholic, sugar-free drinks.
