Suntory Acquires Jim Beam

Suntory Holdings Ltd. (Osaka, Japan) has agreed to buy Beam Inc. (Deerfield, Ill.) for $16 billion.

Beam makes some of the most popular bourbon brands in the world, including Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark and Canadian Club.

Suntory, a household name in Japan, had previously failed to secure a merger with Kirin Holdings (Tokyo). After the collapse of the deal, according to Bloomberg News, Suntory head Nobutada Saji led the family-controlled business to expand vigorously outside Japan.

Since he took over as president in 2001, Saji has bought French soda maker Orangina and New Zealand’s Frucor for $3.64 billion.