V&S Group, the Swedish based international wine and spirits company, has today announced the acquisition of the majority of shares in Cruzan International Inc.

Cruzan International Inc. is the owner of the brand Cruzan Rum, the fastest growing brand in the rapidly increasing rum segment. V&S Group is the exclusive distributor for Cruzan Rum in Northern Europe, Canada and in the Global Duty Free Market.

Cruzan Rum has been produced on the island of St Croix in the US Virgin Islands since 1760. Cruzan Rum offers both light and dark rum and has a wide range of flavoured rums.

Cruzan International Inc. is listed on the AMEX stock exchange.  V&S Group is acquiring 67.8 % of the outstanding shares of Cruzan International Inc. from Angostura Ltd. for USD 122 million. V&S intends to offer the minority shareholders equitable treatment.

"We are very excited to add this growth brand to our portfolio of international spirits brands", says Bengt Baron, Chief Executive Officer of V&S Group. "Rum is a hot segment and the international potential of the Cruzan brand is tremendous. We have carried it successfully in some markets as a distributor and are pleased to increase our active involvement in Cruzan Rum and to continue its rapid expansion globally."

For further information, please contact

Margareta Nyström, Senior Vice President Communications,
V&S Group, phone: +46 70 698 7198

Peeter Luksep, Director Corporate Affairs,
V&S Group, phone: +46 70 723 4128