The two companies have been working closely together since the early 1990s in a long-term strategic partnership.
Edrington is well known for its Scottish whiskies including The Macallan, Highland Park, The Glenrothes and The Famous Grouse.
Suntory already has a long-term shareholding in The Macallan, the leading brand in Edrington’s portfolio and the most valuable Single Malt Scotch Whisky in the world.
Suntory Holdings has also been a distributor of Edrington brands in several key international markets over the past four decades, including Japan, Germany, Canada and South Africa and through joint ventures in the UK, Spain and Russia.
The shareholding will provide an inflow of funds to Edrington’s principal shareholder, The Robertson Trust, which Edrington said will allow it to give more to good causes across Scotland. The trust is the largest independent grant-making Trust in Scotland. The deal will also provide funds for Edrington’s employee share scheme.
Scott McCroskie, Edrington ceo, said: “Edrington has a successful long-standing strategic partnership with Suntory. We share a similar ethos and the same passion for craftsmanship, innovation and quality in our brands. We look forward to cementing and building this deep relationship over the coming years.”
Edrington is an international business headquartered in Scotland and has more than two-thirds of its 3,500 employees based overseas.
It also has strategic partnerships with Tequila Partida and Wyoming Whiskey.
Edrington reported a strong financial performance for the year ending 31 March 2019, posting a 9% increase in core revenue and 6% rise in core contribution.
The company claimed that its leading brand, The Macallan consolidated its position as the world’s most valuable single malt Scotch Whisky, opening its new distillery and brand home. It also reported strong growth for Edrington’s other malt whiskies, Highland Park, The Glenrothes and Naked.