Japanese beverage giant Kirin said Friday it has taken full control of brewer Schincariol after legal complaints brought by some of the family of the Brazilian company's founder.

Kirin Holdings, which previously held 50.45 percent of the company, said it bought the remaining stake from Jadangil Participacoes e Representacoes Ltd. for 2.35 billion real ($1.35 billion).

Schincariol is Brazil's second-largest beer producer and third-largest carbonated soft drinks maker, known for its Nova Schin, Devassa Bem Loura, Glacial, Baden Baden and Eisenbahn brands.

The transaction was completed after Kirin settled a lawsuit brought by some members of the company's founder who held the remaining 49.55 percent share.

Kirin took a majority stake in Schincariol in August to gain a significant foothold in the Brazilian market.

The deal is the latest step among Japanese food and beverage makers to expand into growing markets such as Brazil to make up for the slowdown at home where a shrinking population and a sluggish economy are hampering growth.

"The Brazilian beer and soft drink markets are large and are expected to maintain stable growth," Kirin said in a statement.

"Kirin will seek to further enhance Schincariol Group's operating platform and accelerate its growth by leveraging the Kirin Group's technologies, product development, research and marketing capabilities," it said.

Kirin also said it managed to increase profits in nine months to September.

Net profit for the period rose 11.2 percent to 26.9 billion yen ($344.6 million). Operating profit rose 7.6 percent to 115.6 billion yen.

But sales fell 3.3 percent to 1.55 trillion yen in part due to severe damage done to a factory in the northern Tohoku region by the March earthquake and tsunami.

For the year to December, it downgraded its net profit forecast to 27 billion yen from an earlier projection of 52 billion yen.

But the company kept forecasts for operating profit at 144 billion yen and sales at 2.11 trillion yen.