The State-Owned National Rums of Jamaica Ltd, (NRJ), the holding Company of Clarendon Distillers Ltd, Long Pond Distillers Ltd and Innswood Distillery Ltd (collectively the NRJ Group) signed an agreement with Demerara Distillers Ltd of Guyana, The West Indies Rum Distillery Ltd (a subsidiary of Goddard Enterprises Ltd of Barbados) and Diageo North America Inc (a subsidiary of Diageo PLC, the world's largest Spirits Company) the three Investors bringing new equity investments totalling US$5.368 million to the NRJ Group.

With the injection of this new capital, Demerara Distillers Ltd, The West Indies Rum Distillery Ltd and the State-Owned National Sugar Company Ltd now own 33.3% of the shares in NRJ.  NRJ in turn holds 73% of the shares in Clarendon Distillers Ltd at Monymusk with 27% held by Diego North America Inc through its subsidiary Trelawny Estates Ltd.  Long Pond Distillers Ltd and Inswood Distillery Ltd will continue to be wholly owned subsidiaries of NRJ.

NRJ which is a leading supplier of Jamaican bulk rum is looking to develop a Brand Portfolio in order to facilitate its entry into the value added market and will be conducting a major modernisation and expansion programme.

This venture represents a significant step towards increasing the output of the Jamaican and therefore Caribbean Rum Industry while ensuring that quality, competitiveness and the highest international standards are maintained.  This also represents a significant movement towards the consolidation of the Caribbean Rum Industry and totally accords with the objectives of the Caricom Single Market and Economy.