In The News...

A plastic container with empty bottles of Heineken beers are pictured among beer kegs outside a restaurant in Singapore August 29, 2012. REUTERS/Tim Chong

Heineken profit beat driven by Americas, Africa gains
Heineken profit beat driven by Americas, Africa gains
Posted : Wednesday, 13 February 2013 01:19AM

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Heineken <HEIN.AS>, the world's third largest brewer, reported higher than expected 2012 profit on Wednesday on the back of sharply higher earnings from Africa and the Americas and forecast higher volumes and revenue this year.

Europe's largest beer maker said net profit before one-offs rose 1.6 percent on a like-for-like basis to 1.70 billion euros ($2.29 billion), above the average expectation in a Reuters poll of 1.65 billion euros.

Heineken had previous forecast flat net profit for 2012.

($1 = 0.7427 euros)

(Reporting By Philip Blenkinsop)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Check for restrictions at: http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp