American Vantage Companies Appoints New Board Member.

Business Editors

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2000

American Vantage Companies (Nasdaq:AVCS) announced today that James W. Davis has been appointed to the company's board of directors.

His appointment is subject to stockholders' approval at the company's annual stockholders meeting in July 2000.

Ronald J. Tassinari, American Vantage Companies president and CEO, said: "Mr. Davis has 30 years' experience in the technology industry, 25 of which were at IBM, where he was senior technical staff member.

"He was also a member of IBM's Academy of Science and Technology, and chief technical officer of the IBM PC Company Premium Brand, one of a small industry group that created the U.S. EPA Energy Star Program. He is a welcome addition to our board and we look forward to his participation and contributions."

Creator of IBM's "Green Machine," Davis is the recipient of several industry awards, including the Electric Power Research Institute Innovators Achievement Award. Design News recognized him as one of the Top 50 R&D scientists in the United States, in 1993.

Davis served as director of Intel's home computing laboratory, which was responsible for developing a consumer-focused Pentium platform strategy and "consumer vision" for Intel. This laboratory was responsible for conceiving of and evangelizing "Home Net," a wireless architecture for in-home appliance communications.

He served as president and CEO of MRT Micro ASA, a digital imaging company focused on digital camera network solutions for a range of vertical markets. He served as CEO of Interaxx Television Network, an interactive digital content aggregator and provider.

Davis is currently a senior partner at Key West Technologies, a business consulting firm, and is currently advising a number of firms with regard to technology, e-commerce and the Internet, and business management. He sits on the board of directors and technical advisory boards of a number of high-tech companies and e-commerce start-ups. Davis is heavily involved in next-generation Internet portal technologies and business strategies.

Davis was a visiting scholar at Florida Atlantic University, and holds a number of patents in a diversity of technologies.

American Vantage Companies is a diversified company which owns an 80 percent interest in Placement 2000.Com Inc., a New York company, developing web-based properties to enhance its traditional Information Technology recruiting business.

It also owns interests in two restaurants located in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and the Excalibur Hotel and Casino, which are located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas. The company also owns 60 acres of land in North Las Vegas, which is being held for resale or future development.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the lack of the company's experience in managing Internet businesses, the uncertain acceptance of the Internet, as well as the existing and potential competitors in the Internet business. The company's actual results may differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning potential risk factors that could affect the company's business and financial results are included in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. They can also be found on the company's Web site at www.americanvantage.com and on the Securities and Exchange Commission's Web site at www.sec.gov.