Suntory buys Beam for $16 bil.
![video in Japanese](http://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/japanese.png)
Japanese drinks giant Suntory has inked a deal to buy US bourbon maker Beam for about 16-billion dollars.
The new firm will bring together Suntory’s beers and scotches with Jim Beam bourbon and other brands like Maker’s Mark.
The combined company will be the world’s third-largest spirits maker in sales.
Suntory’s CEO Nobutada Saji said the deal marks the birth of a powerful new liquor firm.