Suntory’s Beam deal a big win for Bill Ackman

Bill Ackman got a reput𝓀ation booster shot Monday when Japanese distiller Suntory agreed to buy bourbon m🧸aker Beam Inc. for $16 billion.

The hedge-fund mogul and shareholder activist is the biggest Beam shareholder, and the sale means his haul from pressuring Fortune Brands in 2010 to split into three pieces — including🎐 Beam — is $1.4 billion, according to a source close to Ackman.

His renown as a top-shelf investor is bolstered, changing the narrative from huge losses 🦂last year in JCPenney and Herbalife.

(On Mꦛonday, Herbali🧸fe shares dropped 2.41 percent on the Beam news.)

“He’s 🐲very focused on the reputation of his business,” the source close to Ackman said.

Ackman kept a low profile Monday.

The value of Ackman’s Beam investment itself rose 25 percent on the n🌌ews, earning him roughly $370 millio𝓰n.

Ackman told investors in 2011 that a Beam competitor would acquir🐼e the maker of Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark and Knob Creek bourbons, when Fortune Brands spun off the division, a source said.

“🐈He was not sure who the buyer would be,” a source said to The Post, but Ackman was convinced that a peer would pay a much higher multiple for Beam if it were a stand-alone company.

Suntory’s agreement to pay $83.50 per share in ca💫sh — a multiple of more than 20 times Beam’s EBITDA for the 12-month🔯 period ended Sept. 30 — is expected to close in the second quarter.

The Japanese buyer and Beam, which are already linked by the fact that they distribute each other’s products in 🤪their home markets, have been keeping this a very good secret.

“I think this deal came as a complete surprise to everyone — including rivals Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Brown-Forman and Bacardi,” an industry 🍰source said.

“People thought Suntory would be more of a partner with a company li൩ke Constellation Brands in bidding for Beam,” the source said.

“I would say Diageo♋ and Pernod now need to figure out what to do next.”

Making a counter-bid is likely not on the agenda due 🥃to the ric🌼h price, sources said.

Suntory can pay more than peers because it is borrowing money from Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ at close tꦦo a 0 percent interest rate.

There is a relatively low break-up fee for six weeks, which will then ratchet up if t🐓here are 🐬no rival offers, the source said.

Sꦐu𒁃ntory will likely make few changes to the Beam business itself, the industry source said.