Baker & McKenzie advised The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. on its USD12.5 billion loan facility to Suntory Holdings Limited ("Suntory") for the buyout of Beam Inc. ("Beam"), a NYSE-listed premium spirits company. On 30 April 2014 (US Central Time/1 May 2014 Japan Standard Time), Suntory completed its acquisition of Beam for approximately USD15.8 billion.

The acquisition by Suntory creates the world's third largest premium spirits company. As a result of the transaction, Beam was renamed Beam Suntory Inc. The new company plans to integrate the spirits business of Japan's Suntory Liquors before the end of this year.

Baker & McKenzie's team was led by Tokyo partners, Gavin Raftery and Shinichiro Kitamura, and supported by associates Yasuhisa Takatori and Takuya Wada.

“We are privileged to have advised The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ on this matter and help facilitate one of the largest overseas acquisitions by a Japanese company,” Raftery commented.

“Our strong cross-border acquisition finance experience helped us successfully close this transaction,” added Kitamura.