Japan: Asahi Breweries announced an increase in dividend for the year ended December 2006

At the boad of Directors meeting of Asahi Breweries, Ltd. ("the Company"), held on February 6, 2007, it was resolved that the Company would revise and increase its year-end dividend.

1. Reason for revision
The Company's one of the most important policy is return to shareholders to maintain stable, continuous dividend payments. To carry out this policy, we consider various factor together, such as performance and strengthen financial condition.

The Company planned to pay a year-end dividend of 8.50 yen per share for the current fiscal year. Considering financial conditions and annual earnings forecast based on the management plan and the importance of returning profits to shareholders, however, the Company has revised dividend forecast upward, so that the year-end dividend per share will be increased from 8.5 yen to 10.5 yen, and the annual dividend per share from 17 yen to 19 yen.

The proposal for appropriation of retained earnings involved in the dividend amounts above will be submitted to the 83rd Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for late March 2007.

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