Heineken announces reorganisation and invests in breweries in France
Amsterdam, 30 May 2008 - Heineken N.V. announced today an investment
in its breweries in France and a reorganisation of its production
units in order to drive efficiency improvements. The reorganisation
will further focus Heineken's business in France on the branded and
growing premium segments of the market.
The reorganisation includes:
- An investment of EUR 124 million over the next three years to
upgrade the breweries in Mons-en-Baroeul (North of France),
Schiltigheim (Alsace) and Marseille
- The closure of Brasserie Fischer in Schiltigheim by the end of 2009
and the gradual transfer of its production to the l'Espérance brewery
in Schiltigheim
- The sale of the Saint Omer brewery, the non-branded beer business
The exceptional restructuring costs associated to the reorganization
will be charged to the 2008 and 2009 consolidated profit and loss
accounts and will be recovered in 3 years after completion of the
program. For 2008, these restructuring costs are included in the F2F
program. For 2009, Heineken forecasts additional assets write-off of
approximately EUR 20 million, which will be treated as exceptional
items.
It is expected that the total reorganisation will lead to 126 job
losses in Alsace and 62 in Mons-en-Baroeul by the end of 2010.
Heineken will collaborate with the trade unions to offer impacted
staff a sound social support programme. Regarding the sale of the
Saint Omer brewery, negotiations are under way with its former owner
and current chairman. This transaction will not impact current jobs
or activities of the Saint Omer brewery.
Following the sale of the Saint Omer brewery and the closure of the
Fischer brewery, Heineken in France will own three breweries with a
capacity of over six million hectolitres.
Editorial information
Heineken N.V. is the most international brewer in the world. The
Heineken brand is sold in almost every country in the world and the
Company owns over 115 breweries in more than 65 countries. In 2007,
Group beer volume amounted to 139 million hectolitres and ranks
Heineken fourth in the world beer market by volume. Heineken strives
for an excellent sustainable financial performance through marketing
a portfolio of strong local and international brands with the
emphasis on the Heineken brand, through a carefully selected
combination of broad and segment leadership positions and through a
continuous focus on cost control. In 2007, revenue amounted to
EUR12.6 billion and Net Profit before exceptional items and
amortisation of brands amounted to EUR1.1 billion. Heineken employs
54,000 people. Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. shares are
listed on the Amsterdam stock exchange. Prices for the ordinary
shares may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbols HEIA NA and
HEIO NA and on the Reuter Equities 2000 Service under HEIN.AS and
HEIO.AS. Additional information is available on Heineken's home page:
http://www.heinekeninternational.com.
Press enquiries
Véronique Schyns
Tel: +31 (0)20 5239 355
veronique.schyns@heineken.com
Investor and analyst enquiries
Jan van de Merbel
Tel: +31 (0)20 5239 590
investors@heineken.com
