When announcing the half-year results of Heineken N.V. on 12 September 2001, the dramatic events in the United States of the previous day, prevented Heineken from issuing a concrete profit forecast for the full year 2001.
The Executive Board now announces that Heineken N.V. expects an increase in net profit before extraordinary results of at least 12% for the year 2001, provided that no major deterioration in international affairs occurs. As already reported, Heineken has realised an extraordinary profit after tax of EUR 52 million in the first half year 2001. For the year 2000, net profit amounted to EUR 621 million.
The expected profit increase is based on a modest autonomous growth in sales volume, an improvement in the sales mix as well as a positive effect of exchange rates, mainly the US dollar (versus the Euro), and the positive results of first time consolidation of certain subsidiaries.