Free Republic

OSAKA, Japan, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Japanese alcoholic-beverage-producer-turned-conglomerate Suntory said it had agreed to buy Beam, makers of Jim Beam whiskey, in a deal worth $16 billion. Suntory, which was founded in 1899 and produced Japan's first whiskey in 1923, controls vast holdings in Japan, including a multibrand beverage business, fitness spas, health clubs, Subway restaurants and golf ranges, the New York Times reported Monday.

OSAKA (Kyodo) – Suntory Holdings Ltd. acquired a U.S. PepsiCo Inc. unit Friday, company officials said, for an estimated ¥10 billion. Suntory’s acquisition of Conway-Myrtle Beach Inc., a franchise bottler based in South Carolina, comes as Suntory is holding merger talks with Kirin Holdings Co. that would create one of the world’s largest beverage and food firms. Suntory, which has the exclusive sales rights to PepsiCo products in Japan, bought the assets and exclusive marketing rights from Conway-Myrtle Beach through a joint venture with PepsiCo. The firm buys ingredients from PepsiCo and sells the products in South Carolina. The...