Foster’s announces takeover offer unconditional

12/05/05 Foster’s Group Limited (Foster’s) announces that its wholly owned subsidiary Beringer Blass Wines Pty Ltd (BBW) has freed its takeover offer (Offer) for Southcorp Limited (Southcorp) from the 90% Condition contained in section 2.12(a) of its bidder’s statement and, accordingly, declares that the Offer is now unconditional. Foster’s also confirms that it has accelerated payment to within 3 business days of the later of the offer becoming unconditional and processing of a valid acceptance.

Foster’s further announces that BBW has delivered the confirmation notice to Credit Suisse First Boston Australia Limited in accordance with the terms of the Institutional Acceptance Facility and that BBW now has a voting power in Southcorp of 50.9%. Immediately prior to issuing the confirmation notice, BBW’s interest in Southcorp through acceptances into the Offer and acceptance instructions held in the Institutional Acceptance Facility was as follows:

Percentage of Southcorp shares in which Foster’s had a relevant interest prior to the Offer- 18.8%
Percentage of Southcorp shares the subject of acceptances under the Offer- 15.1%
Percentage of Southcorp shares subject to the Institutional Acceptance Facility- 17.0%
Total interest in Southcorp shares- 50.9%

Foster’s notes that the offer is scheduled to close at 5pm (Melbourne time) on Thursday 26 May 2005.