just the round-up - The week in drinks

The top ten stories published on just-drinks this week:

Kirin Holdings and Lion Nathan

JAPAN: Kirin Holdings agrees Lion Nathan takeover

Japanese brewer Kirin Holdings has agreed to buy up the remaining shares in Australia's Lion Nathan for A$3.3bn.

Cobra Beer

UK: Cobra Beer CEO leaves as sale draws close

Cobra Beer chief executive Adrian McKeon has left his position as a sale of the brewer enters its final stages.

Oriental Brewery sale

S KOREA: KKR wins battle for Oriental Brewery - report

Private equity group Kohlberg, Kravis Roberts has won the bidding battle for Anheuser-Busch InBev's Oriental Brewery in South Korea, according to a report.

UK beer sales

UK: Beer sales slump to worst quarter for a decade - BBPA

UK beer sales have fallen by 8% in the first quarter of 2009, the biggest quarterly fall for more than a decade, according to new industry figures.

Coca-Cola Enterprises Q1

US: Coca-Cola Enterprises Q1 profits, sales rise

Coca-Cola Enterprises has raised its profits guidance for 2009 after reporting a sales rise and a jump in net profits for the first quarter of the year.

Brown-Forman and Bacardi

US: Brown-Forman downgraded as Bacardi speculation subsides

Investment bank UBS has downgraded Brown-Forman shares from neutral to sell, saying that it does not expect the drinks firm to strike a deal with Bacardi in the near future.

Diageo and Guinness Red

UK: Diageo hangs fire on Guinness Red roll-out

Diageo is looking to continue to trial its Guinness Red beer brand in the UK, but has no current time-scale for a wider roll-out.

Anheuser-Busch InBev, Asahi and Tsingtao

CHINA: A-B InBev completes Tsingtao stake sale to Asahi

Anheuser-Busch InBev has completed the sale of a 19.9% stake in Chinese brewer Tsingtao to Japan's Asahi for US$667m.

Bernard Magrez wants to shop

FRANCE: Bernard Magrez eyeing wine acquisitions

French wine magnate Bernard Magrez intends to buy a Bordeaux chateau producing grand cru classé wine within the next two years, with Château Latour one possible option.

Fortune Brands in Q1

US: Fortune Brands Q1 profits plummet

Fortune Brands has reported a 93% dive in first quarter net profits, with sales at Beam Global Spirits & Wine down by more than 5%.