Suntory to purchase Jim Beam for $13.6 billion

[jsr]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/01/13/jim-beam-suntory-bourbon-whiskey/4454873/

First Take: Jim Beam is huge get for Suntory
Bruce Horovitz, USA TODAY

With news that the Japanese whiskey and beer giant Suntory Holdings has agreed to purchase the maker of the legendary Jim Beam bourbon for $13.6 billion, another chunk of Americana falls into foreign hands. But, in this case, perhaps, ably so.

Suntory — which makes Yamazaki whiskey and Premium Malt's beer — totally gets American shtick. It was, after all, among the earliest major Asian marketers to cozy-up to American celebrities to sell stuff in Japan. Way back in the "Rat Pack" heyday of the early 1970s, no less than Sammy Davis Jr., showed up in ads for Suntory brands in Japan.

Even folks who don't have the name Suntory at the tips of their tongues, probably are familiar with actor Bill Murray, whose character in the 2003 film Lost in Translation, so perfectly depicted the image of a fading American actor seeking redemption — and a few bucks — overseas. His most famous line from the film: "For relaxing times, make it Suntory time."

Clearly, with this move, it is Suntory's time. Never mind that this deal between Suntory and Beam ranks among the biggest of 2014 so far. So eager was Suntory Holdings to get its hands on Beam Inc., that the maker of Jim Beam and Canadian Club liquor walks off with a $83.50 cash per share -- which is about 25% above Beam's closing price on Friday. Competing bids could be on tap, too. The combined company is expected to have annual liquor sales of more than $4.3 billion.

[onehandle]

1. Will there be any American owned businesses in the future? nt

[SomethingFishy]

2. Yup. WEED!

Growers, sellers, manufacturers. The cat is out of the bag. The rollout in Colorado was so fucking smooth it's not even funny. Not a bunch of kids trying to party, but a bunch of grown ups(the average age in line was at least 40) finally allowed out of the "closet" so to speak Other countries are scared of it, you can bet your ass that until we do it first and make billions off of it the Japanese/Chinese/Europeans won't touch it with a 10 foot pole.

And I'm not kidding, people think it's a joke, but it's not. Weed can be used for food, fuel, clothing, paper, rope, not to mention medicine and FUN! It's not the be all end all solution to our problems but it could be a major step for us.

[Warpy]

3. They make decent beer

They'll probably learn the business and make decent hard likker, too.

[NuclearDem]

4. Hard likker? I don't even kn--

I'll behave.