Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. Reaffirms Confidence in Maxxium

23/11/2006 - 11:25

Following Remy Cointreau's announcement today that it will leave
the Maxxium distribution joint venture as of March 30, 2009, Beam
Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. (Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO))
reaffirmed its confidence in Maxxium.

"We do not expect Remy Cointreau's eventual departure from Maxxium
to have a material adverse impact on our results or those of our
parent company, Fortune Brands," said Tom Flocco, president and CEO of
Beam Global Spirits & Wine.

"As Maxxium has indicated, the Maxxium partners have plenty of
time to successfully manage the transition. It's important to
recognize that Remy Cointreau's brands account for only about 15% of
Maxxium's case volume, and their volume is even smaller in Beam
Global's most important global markets. Even without Remy Cointreau's
brands, Maxxium will be significantly larger than it was when the
alliance was created with three partners in 1999."

"Given the combined strengths of our recently enhanced portfolio
and the brands of V&S Group and The Edrington Group, we're confident
Maxxium will continue to be an important asset in providing both
effective and efficient market access for our brands in many key
markets around the world," Flocco concluded.

Maxxium Worldwide is the premium spirits and fine wines
distribution joint venture among Remy Cointreau, Beam Global Spirits &
Wine, The Edrington Group and V&S Group. It was established in 1999
and expanded to include V&S Group in 2001, and operates in most major
spirits markets outside the United States.

About Beam Global Spirits & Wine

Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. is the fourth largest spirits
company in the world. With nine of the world's top-100 premium spirits
in its portfolio, the company's brands hold global and national
leadership positions in key categories, including Jim Beam(R) bourbon;
Canadian Club(R) Canadian whisky; Courvoisier(R) cognac; Laphroaig(R)
Scotch; Sauza(R) tequila; Larios(R) gin; Whisky DYC(R); Teacher's(R)
Scotch; and DeKuyper(R) cordials. The portfolio also includes Maker's
Mark(R) bourbon, Knob Creek(R) bourbon and The Small Batch Bourbon
Collection(R), and Starbucks(TM) Liqueurs. Beam Wine Estates is a
top-five super-premium wine company in the U.S., featuring Clos du
Bois(R), the number two super-premium U.S. wine brand, and the
award-winning Geyser Peak(R) wines. Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc.
is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO), a $8 billion leading
consumer brands company. For more information on Beam Global Spirits &
Wine and the company's sales and distribution partners, please visit
www.beamglobal.com.