Singapore Corporate News - 10 Sep 2007

Heineken's regional tie-up with APB pays

HEINEKEN'S joint venture with Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) enables it to offer a range of beer brands which it says has made it the market leader here. A similar strategy throughout the region has led to success there as well, Heineken Asia Pacific president Siep Hiemstra said at a recent briefing.

Earnings at the Asia Pacific operations of the world's fourth largest brewer rose to 52 million euros (S$109 million) in the first half of this year from 47 million euros in H1 2006. Beer production increased by 33 per cent to 3.9 million hectolitres, along with an 0.8 percentage point increase in margins to 17.4 per cent.