Germany: Heineken N.V. announced on November 16 that Brau Holding International AG, the joint-venture between Heineken (49.9%) and Schörghuber Corporate Group (50.1%), has come to an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Brewery Hoepfner. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.

Commenting on the deal, Jean Francois van Boxmeer, member of the Executive Board of Heineken N.V. said: "Brewery Hoepfner together with the recent acquisition of the Fürstlich Fürstenbergische Brewery strengthens BHI's position in the key Baden Wurttemberg region in Southern Germany."

As agreed by both parties the acquisition price will not be published. The deal will be partly financed by debt and partly from available cash resources.

Hoepfner is a well-known, traditional beer brand in south-west Germany, with a particularly strong position in the Baden region and is also exported into France. The brewery, located in Karlsruhe, had a sales volume of 200,000 hectolitres in 2003 and employs 86 people.

Heineken has the widest global presence of all the international brewing groups, operating in over 170 countries. In 2003 Heineken brewed a total of 109 million hectolitres of beer at over 115 breweries in more than 65 countries. Net turnover amounted to EUR 9.2 billion and net profit to EUR 798 million. Heineken employs 60,000 people. 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.

For 50 years, the Schörghuber Corporate Group has been involved in the business divisions hotel, aircraft leasing, beverages, real estate and construction with great success. Numerous companies with approximately 5000 employees are part of this corporate group, whose field of activities has been expanding onto international terrain since the 1980's. The Brau Holding International AG is the main holding for the beverage business division and is one of Germany's leading beverage enterprises. Its holdings include Munich's traditional brewery group, "Paulaner Brauerei Gruppe", the Kulmbacher Group and Karlsberg.. In the beer sector alone, the company is represented by such well-known brands as Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Thurn und Taxis, Auerbräu, Kulmbacher, EKU, Mönchshof, Kapuziner, Sternquell,Braustolz, Karlsberg and Königsbacher.

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