Beverage group Kirin Holdings Co. and trading house Mitsui & Co. are planning to jointly acquire an 80 percent stake in Thorne Research Inc., a U.S. developer and supplier of high-quality health supplements.
The two Japanese companies will own 40 percent each of New York-based Thorne through the investment expected to total over ¥5 billion each.
The move by Kirin is part of its efforts to strengthen health business. It has been working to develop the Lactococcus lactis strain Plasma, which is said to boost the body’s immunity.
Kirin plans to sell supplement materials in North America through cooperation with Mitsui, which operates hospitals and pharmacies overseas.
Thorne sells its products primarily through medical professionals. It is considering providing personalized nutrition service in Japan and other parts of Asia.
