Statement With the Intent to Clarify From Diageo re: the 30-Year Public-Private Initiative Between the Government of the USVI and Diageo, Which Allows Diageo to Construct and Operate an Environmentally Sound, High-Capacity Rum Distillery in St. Croix That Will Produce Captain Morgan Rum Beginning in 2012

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Sep 08, 2010, 12:18 ET

NORWALK, Conn., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The 30-year public-private initiative between Diageo and the government of the US Virgin Islands is a local agreement. No member of the United States Congress played a role in negotiating or approving it. The agreement was created and executed in a fully transparent manner and was debated and voted on by elected representatives in the legislature of the US Virgin Islands. Any assertion or implication to the contrary is inaccurate and erroneous.

The landmark agreement will generate new local revenue for public needs, benefitting the economy and the people of the territory for at least the next 30 years.

ABOUT DIAGEO

Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.

Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE).

For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

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SOURCE Diageo