Synergy Between J. BOUTARI & SON WINERY S.A. and W.S. KAROULIAS S.A.in the formation of new company IMA Beverages S.A.

6/4/2009

J. BOUTARI & SON WINERY S.A., which celebrates 130 years of operation this year and W.S. KAROULIAS S.A., one of the most important wine and alcohol distributors of Greece, decided to co-operate commercially through IMA BEVERAGES S.A. with the purpose of offering consumers throughout Greece a wider range of quality products at affordable prices.

Mr. Constantine S. Boutaris, President & Managing Director BOUTARI & SON WINERY S.A. stated:

“With this agreement, we are joining forces with one of the best trading and distribution companies of wine and alcohol in Greece. We believe that with this new organization, we will have the joint opportunity to offer better services to our clients and to reach our product consumers in the more secluded selling points of our country. In the meantime, through this synergy, we will mutually promote new innovative selling methods. The dynamic of this cooperation will strengthen both companies in the facing of new challenges of the market today.”

Mr. Christos Argyrou, Managing Director of W. S. KAROULIAS S.A.. stated:

“Greece has many worthy wineries of which KAROULIAS is already a distributor. It is a great honor for us to co-operate with the Boutari Company through the synergy of IMA BEVERAGES S.A. The Boutari Winery, which is synonymous with Greek wine, was declared “European Winery of the Year 2008” by the acknowledged international wine magazine Wine Enthusiast. This distinction was given to Boutari Winery for its long-lasting contribution to Greek wine and to the Greek vineyard. This co-operation gives us great satisfaction and we hope it will be in the benefit of our consumers, clients, employees and shareholders of the three companies.

COMPANIES PRESENTATION

BOUTARI WINERY S.A.

The Boutari Winery was founded in 1879. Today, 130 years later, it was declared the “Best Winery of Europe” by one of the most acknowledged wine magazines “Wine Enthusiast”, in the yearly contest Wine Star Awards. The Boutari Company is one of the most important Greek wineries, with an active exports activity to over 40 countries and has contributed significantly to the consolidation of Greek bottled wine in Greece and abroad. Its extensive series of products, with over 40 labels, covers a wide range of modern day consumer demands. The foundation of the company’s path are based on its wineries and privately owned vineyards at key locations for vines and their growth dynamic, with the purpose of producing high quality wines and cultivating vine and oenological research. It is the only winery in Greece to have 6 wineries in the main wine producing locations of the country and a winery in Southern France. The Boutari Winery isn’t just a wine production space, but a destination; it represents the contact with Greek culture and quality, a unique experience that the company shares with over 50,000 visitors per year.

W.S. KAROULIAS S.A.
W. S. Karoulias is one of the largest import and distribution company of wine and alcohol in Greece. The company distributes to the Greek market a range of the top, international brands such as: CUTTY SARK, FAMOUS GROUSE, METAXA, OUZO PLOMARI, ISIDOROU ARVANITOU, STOLICHNAYA, JACK DANIEL’S, SOUTHERN COMFORT, FINLANDIA, EL JIMADOR, HERRADURA, SIERRA TEQUILLA, COINTREAU, REMY MARTIN, MATEUS, FREIXENET,   K. TSILILIS as well as wine products KYR GIANNI, SPIROPOULO ESTATE, KATOGI-STROFILIA, SIGALA ESTATE, UNITED ALCOHOLIC PARTNERSHIP OF SAMOS, GENTILINI.