Tokyo, July 3 - Japanese brewer Kirin Holdings is considering teaming up with New Zealand dairy company Fonterra to acquire Australian food producer Dairy Farmers, the Nikkei business daily reported on Thursday.
A Kirin spokesman denied the report, saying the companies had talked about the possibility of working together if a bid is successful, but they have not discussed bidding for Dairy Farmers together.
But Dairy Farmers earlier this week said Fonterra and National Foods, which is owned by Kirin, were working together on a possible joint bid for the dairy producer.
Dairy Farmers makes Dairy Farmers brand milk, Coon cheese, and Ski yoghurt and put itself up for sale in April.
Initial bidders had been Fonterra, Italian food firm Parmalat and National Foods in partnership with Warrnambool Cheese and Butter , but Fonterra has withdrawn a solo bid.