BEAM Inc : 01 27 12 BEAM INCREASES DIVIDEND 8%

January 27, 2012

Company Boosts Indicated Annual Rate to $0.82 from $0.76, Declares Regular Dividend

Deerfield, Illinois, January 27, 2012 - Beam Inc. (NYSE: BEAM), a leading global premium spirits company, today announced that its board of directors approved an 8% increase in the dividend on the company's common stock.  The dividend will increase 6 cents per share to an annual rate of $0.82 (payable 20.5 cents per quarter) from $0.76 per share (19 cents per quarter).  The company also declared the next quarterly dividend of 20.5 cents per share, which will be payable on March 1, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business February 8, 2012.

"Beam retained the entire Fortune Brands dividend,we're pleased to boost our payoutcreate immediate value for shareholders so soon after becoming a pure-play spirits company," said Matt Shattock, presidentchief executive officer of Beam.   "This dividend increase reflects several inherent strengths in Beam, including our cash flow generationbalance sheet, our excellent prospects for profitable long-term growth,our strong stewardship of capital focused on maximizing long-term shareholder value."

The company also declared a regular dividend of 66.75 cents per share on the $2.67 Convertible Preferred Stock, payable in cash on March 10, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business February 8, 2012.

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About Beam Inc.

As one of the world's leading premium spirits companies, Beam is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company's brands, including Jim Beam Bourbon, Maker's Mark Bourbon, Sauza Tequila, Canadian Club Whisky, Courvoisier Cognac, Teacher's Scotch Whisky, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, Laphroaig Scotch Whisky, Cruzan Rum, Hornitos Tequila, Knob Creek Bourbon, EFFEN Vodka, Pucker Flavored Vodka, Larios Gin, Whisky DYC, DeKuyper Cordials,Skinnygirl Cocktails.  The Beam portfolio includes 10 of the world's top 100 premium spirits brandssome of the industry's fastest growing innovations.  Beam is focused on delivering superior performance with its unique combination of scale with agilitya strategy of Creating Famous Brands, Building Winning MarketsFueling Our Growth.  Beamits 3,200 passionate associates worldwide generated 2010 sales of $2.7 billion on volume of 33 million 9-liter cases.

Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BEAMis included in the S&P 500 Indexthe MSCI World Index.  For more information on Beam, its brands,its commitment to social responsibility, please visit .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof,the company does not assume any obligation to update, amend or clarify them to reflect events, new information or circumstances occurring after the date of this release. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risksuncertainties, including but not limited to: general economic conditionscredit market instability; customer defaultsrelated bad debt expense; competitive market pressures (including pricing pressures); changes in customer preferencestrends; risks pertaining to strategic acquisitionsjoint ventures, particularly financialintegration risks; any possible downgrades of the company's credit ratings; commodityenergy price volatility; risks associated with doing business outside the United States, including currency exchange rate risks; inability to attractretain qualified personnel; the impact of excise tax increasescustoms duties on distilled spirits; the status of the U.S. rum excise tax cover-over program; dependence on performance of distributorsother marketing arrangements; costs of certain employeeretiree benefitsreturns on pension assets; tax law changes and/or interpretation of existing tax laws; potential liabilities, costsuncertainties of litigation; ability to securemaintain rights to trademarkstrade names; impairment in the carrying value of goodwill or other acquired intangible assets; disruptions at production facilities; risks related to the Home & Security spin-off;other risksuncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's SecuritiesExchange Commission filings.

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