Kirin Beverage announced that it will acquire the intellectual property rights to the brand and manufacturing method of Healthia, the first green tea soft drink to become FOSHU (Food for Specified Health Use), from Kao. This type of acquisition is rare in the beverage business.
According to the announcement, the two companies have entered into an agreement under which Kirin Beverage will acquire from Kao the ``Healthia'' brand, which is the first green tea soft drink that claims to have body fat-reducing properties and has become a Food for Specified Health Use (FOS).
The acquisition targets include the brand, intellectual property rights such as manufacturing methods, and documents related to permission and notification of foods for specified health uses and foods with functional claims. This means manufacturing and selling one product.
According to the company, there are cases in the beverage business where manufacturing and sales are carried out through licensing agreements, but this type of acquisition is rare.
Although the acquisition price has not been disclosed, the company said that since it was launched in 2003, it has become a long-selling brand, and that it has judged it to be of high value as a business as part of strengthening its health field.
The company plans to start manufacturing and selling the product in August this year, after completing the necessary approvals and other procedures.