InBev announces its intention to create European Shared Service Centers, and to outsource its Business Systems and Application Services for certain European countries

Brussels, February 24, 2006 - After having investigated the current structures and processes for the transactional and support functions throughout the organization, InBev (Euronext: INB) has determined that there is a need to update its existing support platform for Europe.

This would ensure that InBev is providing the best possible transactional and support services to its sales activities and breweries across Europe. InBev also believes that these services would be delivered in a more cost efficient way, freeing up resources to invest behind its activities.

1. European Shared Service Centers

Based on the findings of the study, it is InBev's general intention to move to a Shared Service Center model in 2006 for selected transactional activities within its Export, Finance and Procurement functions in a number of countries. The goal would be to create a single, integrated cross-functional organization that is able to deliver a greater focus on the consumer, customer and supply chain.

In order to take a closer look at this potential move to Shared Service Centers and the impact it would have on processes and roles, work will now begin on a number of phases.

Export:

InBev proposes to establish a Shared Service Center to provide Export services for the following countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Romania, Russia, the UK and Ukraine. The Czech Republic has been identified as the best location for this center.

It is InBev's intention to implement the centralization of the Export activities for Germany and the Czech Republic in the first part of 2006. This could lead to approximately:

In the second part of 2006, InBev intends to implement the centralization of the Export activities for the other European countries involved.

InBev wants to advise and consult its employees and social partners of this intention. The exact number of potential job reductions will, however, only be known at the end of the consultation process.

Finance:

It is also InBev's intention to centralize processes related to Finance transactional activities and establish a Shared Service Center for these services for the following countries: Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands and the UK. Later, we will consider France.

Hungary has been identified as the most appropriate location for this center.

The implementation of this centralization would be considered in the first part of 2006 for Belgium, Germany, Hungary and Luxemburg. This could lead to approximately: In the second part of 2006, InBev intends to implement the centralization of the Finance activities for the other European countries involved.

Again, InBev wants to advise and consult its employees and social partners of this intention. The exact number of potential job reductions will, however, only be known at the end of the consultation process.

In summary, for the first part of 2006, about 360 job reductions are contemplated, covering five European countries. At the same time, it is InBev's expectation that 107 jobs would be created in the Czech Republic and 188 in Hungary.

2. Business Systems and Application Services

As a result of the findings of the second study, it is also InBev's general intention to outsource Global and Western European Business Systems and Application Services based in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Italy, and France to an external supplier. Improvements to the existing model would potentially provide a more consistent approach to these services for InBev's business in a number of European countries at an optimal cost while maintaining strong service levels.

Having announced this intention, InBev will now consult with its social partners and start negotiating with potential outsourcing partners for these services. Further details about the scope of these changes to InBev's Business Systems and Application Services support services, the potential shape of the new organization and the number of roles potentially impacted, will result from these consultation and negotiation processes.

During these discussions, InBev will ensure that employees have the opportunity to continue their career in the supplier's organization. The experience of several employees having transferred when InBev outsourced its Information Technology infrastructure to IBM and BT in mid 2005 was that it can be beneficial to join an employer that specializes in their core business.

The target date for commencement of the outsourcing of these services, subject to completion of detailed contractual negotiations with suppliers, is the end of the second quarter of 2006.

Following the necessary consultations with the social partners relating to both intentions, and negotiations with potential external suppliers with respect to the intended outsourcing of Business Systems and Application Services, InBev's management will make its final decision and disclose, at that time, the expected organizational and financial impacts.

3. Investment

The changes contemplated by these intentions have two objectives. They would ensure that InBev would provide the best possible service for its sales and supply activities across Europe. It is also InBev's goal to free up resources to invest behind these activities (including its brands), which is vitally important in what continues to be a very challenging trading environment in Western Europe.

About InBev

InBev is a publicly traded company (Euronext: INB) based in Leuven, Belgium. The company's origins date back to 1366, and today it is the leading global brewer by volume. InBev's strategy is to strengthen its local platforms by building significant positions in the world's major beer markets through organic growth, world-class efficiency, targeted external growth, and by putting consumers first. InBev has a portfolio of more than 200 brands, including Stella Artois®, Brahma®, Beck's®, Leffe® and Skol® - the third-largest selling beer brand in the world. InBev employs some 77,000 people, running operations in over 30 countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. In 2005, InBev realized 11.7 billion euro revenue. For further information visit www.inbev.com.

Contact information

Marianne Amssoms
VP Corporate External Communications
Tel: +32 16 27 67 11
E-mail: marianne.amssoms@InBev.com
Philip Ludwig
Investor Relations Manager
Tel: +32 16 27 62 43
E-mail: philip.ludwig@InBev.com