Pacific Spirits (USA), Inc. announced today its plan to introduce Thailand's best selling Chang Beer to U.S. distributors and industry representatives at the upcoming National Beer Wholesalers Association Annual Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas (Booth #1009) on September 10-11, 2001. Pacific Spirits will also showcase other TCC Group products. These include: Mekhong Whisky, Thailand's finest liquor for over 200 years; Shinobu Sake, produced with the same exacting standards and traditions as Japanese sake; Similan Rum, a fine eight year old dark rum; and Jerng Kao Liang, a distilled liquor for the Chinese segment.

TCC Group Chairman Khun Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi noted "Chang Beer was launched in cooperation with Carlsberg Breweries of Denmark five years ago. We have since become the # 1 selling beer in Thailand. Our market share is now 75% -- while Singha, which formerly held the #1 slot -- has declined to about 20%. Following this extraordinary achievement, production capacity has been expanded to meet overseas demand. We are now aggressively moving to enter the U.S. -- the world's largest beverage market -- and have appointed Pacific Spirits the sole U.S. importer of Chang Beer and all other TCC Group products." * Chang Beer is a full-bodied alcoholic beverage. It was awarded a Gold Medal at the Australian International Beer Awards in 1998. To reach out to a wider market segment, a lighter version of Chang Beer will be launched in the U.S. next year. This will enable it to be marketed as a beer, rather than a malt liquor, as currently required by U.S. law.

Chang Beer was conceived through a joint venture between the TCC Group and Carlsberg, which was formed in 1991 to brew Carlsberg Beer in Thailand. To better utilize the capacity of the 300 million liter plant, Chang Beer was launched in 1994. It is brewed under Carlsberg's supervision with all natural ingredients.

The TCC Group is now the pre-eminent partner for Carlsberg Beer in Asia. This is evidenced by the establishment of Carlsberg Asia Limited in December 2000, an equal 50:50 joint venture partnership between the TCC Group and Carlsberg. In its first full year of operations Carlsberg Asia will have total revenues of US$770 million and a total production of 17 million hectoliters of beer.

The TCC Group is one of the largest business concerns in South-east Asia, with annual revenues in excess of US$2 billion. TCC, a privately-owned concern, is primarily focused on the production of beer and distilled liquor products. The group also has a large and diverse portfolio of additional holdings in Thailand and other locations around the world. The TCC Group currently holds a commanding 80% of the Thai liquor market and over 70% of the beer market with annual sales in excess of 100 million cases.

Pacific Spirits President Chulatip Nitibhon commented "We look forward to meeting with interested distributors and industry representatives at the NBWA show next month (Booth #1009). This will help us to expand our network of industry relationships as we finalize our distribution and marketing plans in anticipation of our launch into the U.S. market."

Journalists, distributors and industry representatives who wish to schedule an appointment at the NBWA Annual Convention and Trade Show or to receive additional information are invited to contact the individual noted below.

CONTACT: KWR International, Inc. Keith W. Rabin Tel: 212/532-3005 Fax: 212/799-0517 E-mail: krabin@kwrintl.com