Last night, HEINEKEN received the prestigious GBCHealth Business Leadership Award at GBCHealth's annual conference in New York City. HEINEKEN has been selected to receive this award by GBCHealth for its enduring commitment to and excellence in its support for health-related programming for its employees, their dependents and the communities in which it operates.

John Tedstrom, CEO GBCHealth, stated: "Heineken is an unsung hero in Global Health. It is a corporate leader who has dedicated its energy, attention and resources over more than two decades to tackling some of the most challenging global health issues of our time. From the company's first HIV awareness and prevention programs in 1989 to its decision in 2001 to offer HIV care services as part of its employee medical benefits package (a program many other companies have since replicated), to being an integral voice in shaping critical policy efforts, Heineken has been a trailblazer in the global health space going above and beyond its core business to address issues that other companies find difficult to address."

Stefaan van der Borght, Global Director Health Affairs HEINEKEN, said: "We are extremely honoured with this award. At HEINEKEN people are our greatest assets. No other asset in the company is as important as the people that contribute with their work to our business results. Therefore, HEINEKEN commits itself to provide a healthy working environment for all employees, contractors working on its premises and for those hired by HEINEKEN further along the supply chain. We have been actively focusing on health care of our employees and communities for over twenty years now and will continue to do so going forward. At the same time we realise our health care work has only just begun."

HEINEKEN operates in many different countries. Particularly in the area of healthcare, being a multinational company means taking on responsibilities and actively contributing to the development of societies. HEINEKEN is active in helping combat the world's poverty diseases: malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Its HIV/AIDS programme is an important and integrated part of HEINEKEN's healthcare initiatives, aimed at both prevention and access to anti-retroviral drugs.

At the end of 2007 HEINEKEN launched the Heineken Africa Foundation in order to support the improvement of health for communities in sub-Saharan Africa. HEINEKEN has endowed the Foundation with EUR 20 million, which allows up to EUR 1 million per year to be invested in relevant health projects and health-related education. To date, the Foundation has committed EUR 3 million which supports 33 projects.

Note to editors:
HEINEKEN is a proud, independent global brewer committed to surprise and excite consumers with its brands and products everywhere. The brand that bears the founder's family name – Heineken® – is available in almost every country on the globe and is the world's most valuable international premium beer brand. The Company's aim is to be a leading brewer in each of the markets in which it operates and to have the world's most valuable brand portfolio. HEINEKEN wants to win in all markets with Heineken® and with a full brand portfolio in markets of choice. The Company is present in over 70 countries and operates more than 140 breweries with volume of 214 million hectolitres of group beer sold. HEINEKEN is Europe's largest brewer and the world's third largest by volume. HEINEKEN iscommitted to the responsible marketing and consumption of its more than 250 international premium, regional, local and specialty beers and ciders. These include Amstel, Birra Moretti, Cruzcampo, Desperados, Dos Equis, Foster's, Heineken®, Newcastle Brown Ale, Ochota, Primus, Sagres, Sol, Star, Strongbow, Tecate, and Zywiec. Our leading joint venture brands include Cristal, Kingfisher, Tiger and Anchor. In 2011, revenue totaled EUR 17.1 billion and EBIT (beia) was EUR 2.7 billion. The number of people employed is around 70,000. Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. shares are listed on the Amsterdam stock exchange. Prices for the ordinary shares may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbols HEIA NA and HEIO NA and on the Reuter Equities 2000 Service under HEIN.AS and HEIO.AS. Most recent information is available on HEINEKEN's website: www.theHEINEKENcompany.com.

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Launched in 2010 'Brewing a Better Future' is HEINEKEN's long-term sustainability ambition for 2020. 22 integrated programmes make up the ambition, focussing on improving the environmental impact of HEINEKEN's brands and business, empowering people and the communities in which HEINEKEN operates and positively impacting the role of beer in society.

Amongst the commitments Heineken has made as part of its approach to sustainability are:

• by 2020 a reduction of specific direct and indirect CO2 emissions in breweries by at least 40% and a reduction in specific water consumption by at least 25%
• to expand to €20 million the funding for the Heineken Africa Foundation
• to expand the local sourcing of raw materials in Africa to 60% by 2020
• the continuous reduction of our CO2 footprint of our brands
• by 2015 ensuring that all markets have a partnership that help the company play its part in reducing alcohol abuse
• by 2015 for every majority-owned business to have a sustainability plan and to report publicly on its progress and commitment.

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