Amsterdam, 9 April 2009 - Heineken today announced that it has decided to amend one proposal of the agenda and to withdraw two proposals from the agenda of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM) on 23 April 2009.

The proposal to be amended is:

Item 3a) Extension and amendment of the authorisation of the Executive Board to acquire own shares

The original proposal reflected a change in Dutch legislation, which now permits the repurchase of 50% of the issued share capital. However, given shareholder feedback and only a theoretical possibility that Heineken would take advantage of the new legislation, the proposal will be amended in such a way that the maximum number of shares that may be acquired under the authorization will remain limited to 10% of the issued share capital of the company.

The proposals to be withdrawn are:

Item 4a) Adjustments to the remuneration policy for the Executive Board
Item 4b) Related amendment to the Long-Term Incentive Plan for the Executive Board

The original proposals reflected the strengthened geographic footprint of the company and the need to remain competitive in an international context. The proposed policy maintained reward levels at the median of a revised labour market peer group. In part, this would also have entailed an increase in the maximum target levels for the Long Term Incentive Plan.

However, given the public debate regarding executive remuneration and the request to freeze the 2009 salaries of the Executive Board (marking a third successive year at the same level) the Supervisory Board has decided to withdraw the proposals. On the basis of the new peer group a revised proposal will be submitted to the General Meeting of Shareholders in 2010.