Foster's, an official sponsor of Grand Prix around the globe, has moved into pole position in the world's fastest-growing spectator sport, with a 10-year multi-million dollar sponsorship of Grand Prix worldwide.

As part of an expanded deal which recognises the dynamic global growth profile of the Australian beer brand in tandem with Formula 1 racing, Foster's announced today that it would dramatically increase its involvement with Grand Prix around the world.

Under the terms of the agreement, Foster's will expand its signage and pouring rights coverage at Grands Prix around the world. In addition, Foster's will take over naming rights for the British Grand Prix from this year, adding the world's most-watched Formula 1 event to its current and continuing title sponsorship of the Foster's Belgian Grand Prix.

"There is no sport in the world today which can claim to be more truly global than Formula 1 Grand Prix Racing," President and CEO of Foster's, Ted Kunkel, said. "Foster's, which is the world's fastest-growing, international beer brand, has always been a great partner for this sport. With this new agreement, we are acknowledging that the Grand Prix relationship also delivers the magnitude of global audiences and positive brand associations we expect from a sponsorship investment."

During a long association with Foster's, the popularity of Grand Prix has increased exponentially. In the past two years alone, global audience awareness of Grand Prix has increased by 30%, while awareness of Foster's as the brand behind the chequered flag has grown 42%.

The expanded sponsorship builds on this energy - about 600 million viewers will watch the Foster's British Grand Prix, in addition to Foster's current portfolio of European races. In North America, Foster's presence at the maiden race of the U.S. Grand Prix as well as a debut at the Canadian Grand Prix will bring large new audiences. Combined with the continuing commitment to Asia's increasingly popular races in Malaysia and Japan, this sponsorship expansion will take the brand to a new level of global partnership with Formula One.

"The compelling combination of Foster's and Grand Prix, in markets as diverse as Britain, Europe, North America, South America and Asia, is almost unstoppable," Mr Kunkel said. "The values of the Foster's brand - which emphasise youthful exuberance, spectator excitement and enjoyment, and our own special Australian approach to living life - have made it a brand which is at home in more than 140 countries and on the grid at Grand Prix circuits around the world."

Foster's substantially increased commitment to Formula One was also welcomed by Patrick S. McNally, President of Allsport Management S.A.. "The growing popularity of Formula One Grand Prix racing, one of the world's great sporting spectaculars, reflects the enjoyment it brings to people all over the world," he said. "This agreement takes Foster's long-standing sponsorship agreement with Formula One to a new level, and I am sure that we will continue to prosper together in the promotion of sporting excellence and spectator enjoyment."

Foster's, the third most widely-distributed beer in the world, has grown 60% in the past six years and recently passed the milestone of 100 million cases worldwide. In Britain, where Foster's will partner with Grand Prix in the homeland of the sport, the brand is number one in London and number two nationally, with two and a half million pints consumed every day. Foster's is also performing strongly in the US import market, where its six years of double digit growth in a competitive marketplace have earned it the perfect credentials to be a sponsor and the official beer of the U.S. Grand Prix, to be held for the first time on the world famous Indianapolis Speedway in September.

Foster's in the global marketplace:

• Fastest-growing international beer brand;
• Recently achieved sales of more than 100 million cases worldwide;
• International growth of 60% since 1995;
• Annual retail sales of more than $8 billion;
• Market leader in London; number two overall in Britain and fastest-growing beer brand. The leading brand for Scottish Courage in Britain and S&N International in continental Europe;
• Number 5 in the US import market, with six years of double digit growth: now a top priority brand for Miller Brewing in the US;
• Available in more than 140 countries; the world's third most widely-distributed lager brand. Brewed in nine countries.

Further information:

Gayle Austen
Tel: +61 3 9633 2233
Mob: 0418 457 702
Email: gayle.austen@fostersgroup.com