Acquisition closed
Suntory acquires Jim Beam and Maker's Mark
Suntory bought Beam Inc. for $83.50 a share in cash, creating Beam Suntory and making the Japanese family-controlled group one of the largest spirits companies in the world.
Who owns Jim Beam?
Jim Beam is owned by Suntory (Japan), which acquired the brand on 30 April 2014 from Beam, as part of a $16 billion deal that also included Maker's Mark.[1] Before Suntory, Jim Beam was owned by Beam from 2011 to 2014.[1]
This ownership is reported in official statements but has not yet been matched to a regulatory filing.
Evidence: Suntory Holdings — our brands, Suntory Holdings Limited. Last checked .
Key facts
- Current owner
- Suntory Holdings Limited reported
- Owned since
- · deal details
- Deal price (whole deal)
- $16 billion (enterprise value) for 2 brands
- Previous owner
- Beam (2011–2014)
- Owner HQ
- 🇯🇵 Japan, Osaka
- Origin
- 🇺🇸 United States, Kentucky
- Founded
- 1795
- Category
- Beverages › Spirits › Whisky & bourbon
- Last verified
- · 1 sources
About Jim Beam
Jim Beam is the best-selling bourbon in the world, distilled by seven generations of the Beam family since 1795 and named for James Beauregard Beam, who rebuilt the business after Prohibition. Suntory acquired Beam Inc. in 2014 for about $16 billion, creating Beam Suntory.
Ownership timeline of Jim Beam
- 2011 – 2014 Beam — sold 30 April 2014 [1] reported
- 2014 – present Suntory — acquired 30 April 2014 [1] reported
Where Jim Beam sits in Suntory
Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.
Open the full Suntory ownership tree →
See the full Suntory brand portfolio (8) →
Other brands owned by Suntory
Suntory controls 8 brands on Brandtree, 8 of them in beverages.
Also in beverages
Other brands in whisky & bourbon, and who owns them
The 71 brands in whisky & bourbon on Brandtree belong to 26 owners. The largest is Diageo, with 9; Suntory has 4.
| Brand | Owner | Owner based in |
|---|---|---|
| Buchanan's | Diageo | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
| Black Velvet | Heaven Hill | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Blood Oath | MGP | 🇺🇸 United States |
| anCnoc | ThaiBev | 🇹🇭 Thailand |
| Jura | Emperador | 🇵🇭 Philippines |
| Glenfiddich | William Grant & Sons | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
| Jack Daniel's | Brown-Forman | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Highland Park | Edrington | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
About the owner: Suntory
Suntory is a privately held company headquartered in Osaka, Japan, founded in 1899. Brandtree records 8 brands under its control.
Suntory was founded in Osaka in 1899 and pioneered Japanese whisky at the Yamazaki distillery from 1923. The holding company is unlisted and controlled by the Kotobuki foundation associated with the founding Torii family; its 2014 purchase of Beam made it one of the largest spirits groups in the world.
🇺🇸 Jim Beam and other American brands
Brandtree records a controlling owner for 2,550 brands that began in the United States. 479 of them (19%) are now controlled by a company headquartered in another country, Jim Beam among them.
- 7UP — PepsiCo 🇺🇸
- 7UP (United States) — Keurig Dr Pepper 🇺🇸
- Alani Nu — Celsius Holdings 🇺🇸
- André — Gallo 🇺🇸
- Angry Orchard — Boston Beer 🇺🇸
- Apple & Eve — Lassonde 🇨🇦
Deals involving Jim Beam
Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of Jim Beam?
The parent company of Jim Beam is Suntory, a privately held company headquartered in Japan.
Is Jim Beam American or Japanese?
Jim Beam originated in the United States in 1795, but it is owned today by Suntory, which is headquartered in Japan. So Jim Beam is an American-origin brand under Japanese ownership.
When did Suntory buy Jim Beam?
Suntory completed its acquisition of Jim Beam on 30 April 2014, after announcing the deal on 13 January 2014. The deal, which also included Maker's Mark, was valued at $16 billion (enterprise value).
Who owned Jim Beam before Suntory?
Before Suntory, Jim Beam was owned by Beam from 2011 until 2014.
Is Jim Beam still owned by Suntory?
Yes. As of 25 September 2026, Jim Beam is still owned by Suntory. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (1) & corrections
Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.
- [1] Suntory Holdings — our brands — Suntory Holdings Limited, Official document; retrieved 16 September 2026.
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