John Smith’s Renews Grand National Deal

Scottish & Newcastle has renewed its sponsorship deal with Aintree
Racecourse meaning the John Smith’s brand will continue to hold the naming
rights for the Grand National until 2010.

The new contract extends the existing relationship, which was due to expire
in 2007, by a further three years. The renewal deal will also see a spike in the
total prize money for horse racing’s biggest event in the calendar.

Charles Barnett, Managing Director, Aintree Racecourse, commented: ‘It
remains an ambition of Aintree Racecourse and Scottish & Newcastle to
increase the total prize fund of the John Smith’s Grand National to £1m during
the course of the sponsorship agreement and this announcement takes us a step
nearer to realising that aim.’

Nigel Pollard, Head of Sponsorship & PR, Scottish & Newcastle UK,
said: ‘Pairing The People’s Pint with The People’s Race has produced a major
force in beer marketing and we are delighted with the multi-layered contribution
the sponsorship has made to the John Smith’s marketing programme.’

The 2007 John Smith’s Grand National meeting will take place from 12-14 April
in front of 150,000 spectators and a worldwide television audience spanning more
than 140 countries and 600 million people.