PRESS RELEASE
12 March 2026

Kirin Reshapes Global Portfolio With Sale Of Four Roses Bourbon

AO
A&O Shearman

Contributor

A&O Shearman was formed in 2024 via the merger of two historic firms, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling. With nearly 4,000 lawyers globally, we are equally fluent in English law, U.S. law and the laws of the world’s most dynamic markets. This combination creates a new kind of law firm, one built to achieve unparalleled outcomes for our clients on their most complex, multijurisdictional matters – everywhere in the world. A firm that advises at the forefront of the forces changing the current of global business and that is unrivalled in its global strength. Our clients benefit from the collective experience of teams who work with many of the world’s most influential companies and institutions, and have a history of precedent-setting innovations. Together our lawyers advise more than a third of NYSE-listed businesses, a fifth of the NASDAQ and a notable proportion of the London Stock Exchange, the Euronext, Euronext Paris and the Tokyo and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges.
A&O Shearman has advised Kirin Holdings Company, Limited on the sale of its U.S. bourbon business, Four Roses. This strategic carve-out marks a significant step for Kirin in optimizing its global portfolio...
United States

A&O Shearman has advised Kirin Holdings Company, Limited on the sale of its U.S. bourbon business, Four Roses. This strategic carve-out marks a significant step for Kirin in optimizing its global portfolio within the highly competitive food and beverage sector.

Leveraging deep sector knowledge and transactional expertise, A&O Shearman's cross-border M&A team provided strategic counsel on complex deal structuring, regulatory approvals, and timing challenges, ensuring Kirin achieved value maximization while facilitating a smooth transition for the business.

"This transaction underscores our ability to execute sophisticated cross-border mandates that deliver lasting value for clients,

Nick Wall

Partner

It also strengthens our longstanding relationship with Kirin, reflecting our shared commitment to driving strategic outcomes in a rapidly evolving global marketplace."

The A&O Shearman team was led by Nick Wall, supported by Tokyo M&A partner Taro Nakashima, U.S. senior associate Rena Katsuyama, U.S. associate Sabine Reusen and Tokyo associate Keeha Oh, with the support of the U.S. IP team's JB Betker and Alexander Davis-White; U.S. Employment team's Brian Jebb, Jason Rothschild, and Sydney Phipps; U.S. Tax team's Matthew Brown and Austin Jones; U.S. Antitrust team's Noah Brumfield and Ryan Leske, and numerous other lawyers across the firm's M&A, IP, Employment, Tax, Regulatory, Real Estate, Finance, Environmental and Sanction practices in Tokyo, New York, and other key offices.

Contributor

A&O Shearman was formed in 2024 via the merger of two historic firms, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling. With nearly 4,000 lawyers globally, we are equally fluent in English law, U.S. law and the laws of the world’s most dynamic markets. This combination creates a new kind of law firm, one built to achieve unparalleled outcomes for our clients on their most complex, multijurisdictional matters – everywhere in the world. A firm that advises at the forefront of the forces changing the current of global business and that is unrivalled in its global strength. Our clients benefit from the collective experience of teams who work with many of the world’s most influential companies and institutions, and have a history of precedent-setting innovations. Together our lawyers advise more than a third of NYSE-listed businesses, a fifth of the NASDAQ and a notable proportion of the London Stock Exchange, the Euronext, Euronext Paris and the Tokyo and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges.

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