A Kirin source said the company sees India as a growth market and that it has looked at Bira, but that it was part of a broader study into global markets.One of the Indian industry sources said that Bira and Kirin had discussed a deal which would also allow the Japanese brewer to offer its brands directly - which include Kirin Lager and Ichiban Shibori - in India's estimated $7 billion beer market. Kirin has in the past shown interest in independent breweries and owns a minority stake in New York's Brooklyn Brewery. Bira, launched in 2015, is one of the smallest players in India, but its craft beer offerings have become increasingly popular. Jain said Bira had a 5-10% share of the beer market in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. India's beer market is dominated by companies like United Breweries, Anheuser-Busch InBev and Carlsberg, according to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.

FINANCIAL LOSSES, IPO

An investment from Kirin or other investors would help Bira which has made losses in recent years and been hit by the coronavirus pandemic, just like the rest of the beer industry. It has said it aims eventually to list on the stock market."Bira is really struggling financially at the moment and they badly need a lifeline. A deal with Kirin or any of the other global strategic companies would give them that," said one of the Indian industry sources.Bira clocked $24.5 million in sales in the fiscal year ending March 2019, 15 percent higher than the previous year, but its net loss for the period doubled to $27 million.Results for the year through March 2020 have not yet been released but CEO Jain said sales grew by 40 percent in that fiscal year and that the company's results in recent years were in line with its growth plans.In 2018 the CEO said the company would target a stock market listing in 3-5 years, but the timelines have stretched since then.Source: moneycontrol.com