Japanese beverages giant, Suntory Holdings has acquired global spirits company Beam for $US16 billion ($A15 billion).
Suntory said the purchase would create a stronger global player in premium spirits with annual net sales of spirits products exceeding $4.3 billion.
President and chairman of Suntory’s Board, Nobutada Saji, said the combined entity would create a spirits business with an unmatched product portfolio.
“We are particularly excited about the prospect of working more closely with Beam’s excellent management and employees who will play an integral part in the growth of the business,” Saji said.
Beam’s president and CEO Matt Shattock and the current Beam management team would continue to lead the business, which will be managed from Beam’s headquarters outside Chicago, Illinois.
“With particular strength in Bourbon, Scotch, Canadian, Irish and Japanese whisky, the combined company will have unparalleled expertise and portfolio breadth in premium whisky, which is driving the fastest growth in Western spirits,” Shattock said.
The combined brand portfolio will include Beam’s Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark and Knob Creek bourbons, Teacher’s and Laphroaig Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, and Pinnacle vodka, and Suntory’s leading Japanese whiskies Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki, and Kakubin, Bowmore Scotch whisky and Midori liqueur.
The two companies were already close partners. Suntory currently distributes Beam products in Japan and Beam distributes Suntory’s products in Singapore and other Asian markets.
Coca Cola Amatil, which last year extended its deal to distribute Jim Beam bourbon and other spirits from the Beam portfolio in Australia, said it would not be affected by the sale.
"CCA wishes to inform the market that the proposed change of control of Beam will not have any adverse effect on CCA in light of the provisions of the long-term agreement between CCA and Beam which runs until December 2023," the company said in a statement.
