The Japanese brewery, Kirin, said on February 16 that it would raise its annual dividend payout to 13 yen per share this year, an increase from the planned 12 yen for 2003. The increase is expected to be approved at a shareholders' general meeting slated for March 2005, the officials said. Last month, the company announced a rise in sales during last year of 9% to 170.3m cases. Kirin expects operating profit for calendar 2003 to hit a record 100 billion yen (US$948.3m).

The brewer is due to announce its full-year results on February 19. In 2002, Kirin posted an operating profit of Y15.29 billion on sales of Y319.2 billion.

18 February, 2004