Heineken is set to release its fourth-quarter trading update on Wednesday (13 February). Below, we take a look at the highs and lows for the company in the three months to the end of December and performances in recent quarters.
- Heineken’s buyout of Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) rumbled on through the quarter, with Singapore granting the deal regulatory approval and the Dutch brewer sealing its SGD5.4bn (US$4.3bn) acquisition of Fraser & Neave’s stake in the Tiger brewer. But the company’s fourth quarter started with an analyst suggesting the deal will pay for itself in five years.
- There were analyst nerves in the quarter that Western Europe will continue to drag on Heineken’s profits this year. The region accounts for a third of the company’s profits.
- Heineken divested itself of a brand that has been out of use since 2010. English cider maker Weston’s swooped for Gold Label in October.
- Heineken’s travel retail focus continued with the opening of a branded airport lounge in Dubai. The lounge is the company’s first in the Middle East.
- Heineken said it was “disappointed” after Europe’s highest court rejected an appeal against a reduction in fines for its part in a cartel. Heineken and Bavaria were fined EUR273.8m (US$363m) in 2007.