Suntory Time for Beam?

[MyOldKyDram]

Just saw this story on the local news. What say ye?

http://www.wkyt.com/news/headlines/Suntory-buying-spirits-maker-Beam-for-1362B-239897181.html?device=phone

[LCWoody]

Hate to see another American company go over seas, but that's business.

[squire]

Well if the deal goes through that will mean Beam, Four Roses and Buffalo Trace will all be either wholly or partly owned by Japanese companies. With Wild Turkey owned by the Italians the only majors still in American hands are Brown-Forman and Heaven Hill.

[Kyjd75]

It's on Bloomberg as well. Interesting to see how they handle Beam. Leave it alone or insert their own mgmt team.

[Kyjd75]

Of course Japanese ownership has been great for 4R.

[jvd99]

New York Times reports that the management team will remain. Of course, that's preliminary since the deal wont go through until the summer.

[Brisko]

Well if the deal goes through that will mean Beam, Four Roses and Buffalo Trace will all be either wholly or partly owned by Japanese companies. With Wild Turkey owned by the Italians the only majors still in American hands are Brown-Forman and Heaven Hill.

I hope they leave it alone. I've been really excited about what Beam has been doing for the last few years.

[dcbt]

With the 25% premium paid I guess they don't see the bourbon industry growth trend slowing down anytime soon.

[VAGentleman]

Well if the deal goes through that will mean Beam, Four Roses and Buffalo Trace will all be either wholly or partly owned by Japanese companies. With Wild Turkey owned by the Italians the only majors still in American hands are Brown-Forman and Heaven Hill.

I didn't realize Sazerac (BT)was partially owned by Japan. Whats the scoop with that?

[Gillman]

At this level of change of control, I doubt the palate of Beam bourbon will be altered. It will be similar to Wild Turkey's recent ownership changes., i.e., the product is left alone largely.

Gary

[wadewood]

I didn't realize Sazerac (BT)was partially owned by Japan. Whats the scoop with that?

This is pretty close to the scoop - It's a private Japanese company called Ancient Age International, they owned the BT distillery for short time and when they sold to Sazerac they kept ownership of the BT #2 mashbill brands which are Elmer T lee, AAA, Rock Hill, Hancocks, Blantons. In US (and some other countries) they let BT do all the marketing for these brands. Both Sazerac and Ancient Age International are private family owned so details beyond that have never been disclosed.

I think Chuck also blogged about it once before, so you might track that down.

[squire]

I expect they will leave it alone for the most part, for 16 billion they could've easily built their own distilleries.

Edited January 13, 2014 by squire

[Lost Pollito]

Another article on the subject.

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/13/3031681/beam-inc-to-be-acquired-by-japanese.html

[squire]

Adding to what Wade said. The company is Takara Shuzo who was the main customer for Ancient Age distillery (technically Blanton Distillery, referred to as Leestown but called by most Ancient Age because that was the name on the water tower) in the mid 1980s. It was for Takara that the single barrel Bourbons were created by then Master Distiller Elmer Lee. First Blantons, then Rock Hill Farms, Hancock and eventually Elmer T. Lee.

By the early 1990s Takara owned the whole show then sold the works to Sazerac while helping finance the deal. As I understand it Takara owns the SB brands with rights of international distribution and Saz owns the distillery with rights of U.S. distribution.

Both Takara and Sazerac are privately owned (family controlled) companies so details are not disclosed. We don't know what the deal is but the two have been working together for 22 years now and that has turned out pretty well.

[squire]

On the bright side if the Japs take over we might see some extra aged, 94 proof Black Label Makers in the US market.

[zillah]

Very interesting Squire, I wonder if this is the reason why Blanton's SR, Gold and STB are international only releases.

[VAGentleman]

Thanks everyone, I forgot about Ancient Age International owning those brands.

[Old Dusty]

On the bright side if the Japs take over we might see some extra aged, 94 proof Black Label Makers in the US market.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

[smokinjoe]

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

Forget it. He's rolling.

[Josh]

Some of the comments on the Maker's Mark Ambassadors Facebook page are already pretty ugly. One guy compared the sale to the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

[HighInTheMtns]

Some of the comments on the Maker's Mark Ambassadors Facebook page are already pretty ugly. One guy compared the sale to the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Now that's classy.

[MyOldKyDram]

Maybe they'll make a bottle to commemorate that day.

[dementedavenger]

Some of the comments on the Maker's Mark Ambassadors Facebook page are already pretty ugly. One guy compared the sale to the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

I guess some people are still stuck in 1983. Maybe all those nasty commenters will head over to Blockbuster and rent "Gung Ho" tonight.

[theglobalguy]

Now that's classy.

I'm waiting for someone to mention Four Roses, the world class products they're cranking out with their Japanese owners. Would be one thing if it had been bought by a country that isn't a HUGE market for the stuff...but really? they clearly have no interest in screwing it up.

[Shuboy]

Of course Japanese ownership has been great for 4R.

Which is why I'm not worried about this. Though I am going to bonkers if people start saying Suntory Time while pouring a Beam product....