BEAM INC.

Three top executives with Beam Inc., which is being acquired by Suntory Holdings Ltd., have announced their resignations.  Chief Financial Officer ROBERT PROBST and corporate controller LEO MIERZWICKI are pursuing other professional opportunities.  For both, their decisions were linked to the changes of their roles as a result of the takeover.  Probst will resign effective May 31, while Mierzwicki will resign effective July 1O.  In addition, Beam’s North America President WILLIAM NEWLANDS also decided to resign, effective May 31.  Family-owned Japanese drinks maker Suntory in early January agreed to buy Beam for about $13.6 billion in cash.