Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • November 2020 (Revised February 2021)
  • Case
  • HBS Case Collection

Integrating Beam Suntory (A)

By: David G. Fubini, Rawi Abdelal and David Lane
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:22
ShareBar

Abstract

The spring 2014 acquisition of U.S. alcoholic spirits maker Beam Inc. by Japan’s Suntory Holdings vaulted Suntory from 15th to third-largest international spirits company in the world. Yet Suntory had borrowed nearly the entire $16 billion purchase price, and relied on Beam to fund repayment of that debt. In October 2014, Takeshi Niinami became Suntory’s president and CEO, the first outsider to run the family business since its 1899 founding. Niinami immediately faced governance issues—not least relating to his relationship with Beam CEO Matt Shattock—and sought to enhance Beam’s production quality and consumer focus without alienating either Beam management and staff or the family that had placed their trust in him to run Suntory.

Keywords

Family Business; Communication; Borrowing and Debt; Globalization; Corporate Governance; Governing and Advisory Boards; Retention; Leadership; Supply Chain; Organizational Structure; Ownership; Relationships; Conflict and Resolution; Integration; Value Creation; Food and Beverage Industry; Japan; United States; Chicago

Citation

Fubini, David G., Rawi Abdelal, and David Lane. "Integrating Beam Suntory (A)." Harvard Business School Case 421-003, November 2020. (Revised February 2021.)
  • Educators
  • Purchase

About The Authors

David G. Fubini

Organizational Behavior
→More Publications

Rawi E. Abdelal

Business, Government and the International Economy
→More Publications

Related Work

    • November 2020
    • Faculty Research

    Integrating Beam Suntory (B)

    By: David G. Fubini, Rawi Abdelal and David Lane
    • November 2020 (Revised February 2021)
    • Faculty Research

    Integrating Beam Suntory (A)

    By: David G. Fubini, Rawi Abdelal and David Lane
Related Work
  • Integrating Beam Suntory (B) By: David G. Fubini, Rawi Abdelal and David Lane
  • Integrating Beam Suntory (A) By: David G. Fubini, Rawi Abdelal and David Lane
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College