Asahi Breweries posts 0.5% net profit rise to 45 bil. yen in 2008.

TOKYO, Feb. 5 Kyodo

Asahi Breweries Ltd. said Thursday its group net profit rose 0.5 percent year-on-year to 45.01 billion yen in the year ended Dec. 31 due to popularity of its Super Dry beer brand.

In an earnings report for the 12-month period, Japan's biggest beer brewer said its pretax and operating profits increased 6.9 percent and 8.7 percent, respectively, to 96.47 billion yen and 94.52 billion yen.

Sales at the brewer, whose domestic market share exceeded the 50 percent line for the first time ever in 2008, dropped 0.1 percent to 1.46 trillion yen.

The company said it will raise its full-year dividend to 20 yen per share, including a 9.5 yen interim dividend already paid. The figure compares with the previous year's full-year payment of 19 yen.

On a quantity basis, annual sales of the Super Dry brand remained above the 100 million case line for the 20th straight year. One case is equivalent to 20 633-milliliter bottles.

For the current business year ending Dec. 31, the firm forecasts its net profit will rise 11.1 percent to 50 billion yen on a projected 1.9 percent increase in sales to 1.49 trillion yen.

Pretax profit is projected to decline 3.1 percent to 93.5 billion yen, it added.