FACTBOX-Japan drinks firms in M&A spotlight

Sept 11 (Reuters) - Japanese brewer Suntory Holdings, seeking overseas growth as Japan's population ages, is in talks to buy soft drinks maker Orangina, while Asahi Breweries has denied a report it was also chasing Orangina. [ID:nT365781]

Following are details of the companies involved as Japan's drinks sector hits the M&A headlines. SUNTORY [SUNTH.UL]

* Sales (2008) - 1.5 trillion yen ($16.4 billion)

* Suntory is ranked 10th worldwide by volume of "off-trade" sales (drinks bought for home consumption) by Euromonitor. Coca-Cola Co (KO.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) ranks top and PepsiCo Inc (PEP.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) 2nd.

* Brands - Suntory Oloong Tea, Suntory Premium Malt's beer, Suntory whiskies, Boss canned coffee

* Staff - 21,845

* Markets - largely domestic; also sells soft drinks in China, other Asian markets; no non-alcohol drinks business in Europe.

* Takeover in progress: Suntory is sizing up a bid for private equity owned soft drinks maker Orangina. In merger/takeover talks with larger rival Kirin. ORANGINA

* Sales (2008) - $1.46 billion

* Ranked 7th in Western European soft drinks market

* 22 brands include Schweppes, Orangina, Snapple, La Casera

* Staffing - 2,500

* Markets - 70 percent in Western Europe, limited sales in Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific

* Takeover appeal to Suntory: geographic expansion. Would help Suntory fill gap in Europe where it has no market share in soft drinks. Combined global share will take it to 0.9 percent of market. Move Suntory up two places to 7th. (Euromonitor) KIRIN (2503.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)

* Sales (2008) - 2.3 trillion yen ($25.2 billion)

* Japan's No.1 beer maker

* Brands - Kirin Lager, stake in San Miguel beers (Philippines), Lion Nathan Tooheys (Australia).

* Staffing - 36,554

* Markets - 37.5 pct of Japan's beer market in Jan-June 2009

* Takeover in progress: Kirin and Suntory could agree as early as this year to a merger to create one of the world's largest F&B firms, with about $40 billion in annual sales. Larger Kirin widely expected to take over smaller Suntory to give the two a better shot at pushing into overseas markets. ASAHI (2502.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)

* Sales (2008) - 1.46 trillion yen ($16 billion)

* Japan's No.2 beer maker

* Brands - Asahi Super Dry beer (sold 100 million cases for 20th consecutive year in 2008), WONDA coffee drinks

* Staffing - 16,360

* Markets - Domestic beer sales make up more than 50 pct of total

* Takeover pressure: Now under pressure to build scale and diversify outside Japan. [ID:nT127059] (Sources: company websites, Reuters, Euromonitor International)