Beam increases dividend by 6 cents to 82 cents

• Reprints

Bourbon maker Beam Inc. said Friday it would increase its annual dividend by 6 cents to 82 cents.

The first quarterly dividend of 20.5 cents is payable on March 1 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 8.

Fortune Brands Inc., the world’s fourth-largest premium spirits company, changed its name to Beam Inc. in October in a restructuring move that included splitting into three companies. It kept its renamed liquor business and shed golf and home and security units. .

Jim Beam is the world’s top selling bourbon.

Its shares rose 2 cents to $52.50 in morning trading Friday. They are near the upper end of their range of $39.33 to $52.99 per share.