123 31. Off-balance sheet commitments Less than 1-5 More than Total In millions of EUR Years 5 Years Guarantees to banks for loans (by third parties) 387 188 182 17 Other guarantees 138 27 94 17 116 Guarantees 525 215 276 34 514 Lease operational lease commitments 281 48 127 106 242 Property, plant and equipment ordered 64 64 - - 127 Raw materials purchase contracts 621 71 8 542 610 Other off-balance sheet obligations 460 186 175 99 267 Off-balance sheet obligations 1,426 369 310 747 1,246 Committed bank facilities 2,120 77 2,043 2,411 teineken leases buildings, cars and equipment. During the year ended 31 December 2007 €147 million (2006: €133 million) was recognised s an expense in the income statement in respect of operating leases and rent. Other off-balance sheet obligations mainly include rental, service and sponsorship contracts. ommitted bank facilities are credit facilities on which commitment fee is paid as compensation for the bank's requirement to reserve capital. The bank is obliged to provide the facility under the terms and onditions of the agreement. Of the total guarantees, off-balance sheet obligations and committed bank facilities, an amount of 288 million is related to joint ventures. 2. Contingencies he Netherlands leineken is involved in an antitrust case initiated by the European Commission for alleged violations of he EU competition laws. By decision of 18 April 2007 the European Commission stated that Heineken, nd other brewers operating in the Netherlands, restricted competition in the Dutch market during the period 1996-1999. This decision follows an investigation by the European Commission that commenced n March 2000. Heineken fully cooperated with the authorities in this investigation. As a result of its lecision, the European Commission has imposed a fine on Heineken of €219 million. \ll cartel decisions by the European Commission may be appealed against before the European Court of irst Instance and then before the Court of Justice of the European Communities in Luxembourg. These wo courts are empowered to annul decisions in whole or in part and to reduce or increase fines, where his is deemed appropriate. Dn 4 July 2007 Heineken filed an appeal with the European Court of First Instance against the decision of he European Commission as Heineken disagrees with the findings of the European Commission. Pending appeal, Heineken was obliged to pay the fine to the European Commission. This imposed fine is treated 3S an expense in our 2007 annual report. fhe European Commission filed its defence on 22 November 2007. Heineken will file its statement of eply in March 2008. After the European Commission will have filed its reply by rejoinder, Heineken is entitled to request for oral pleadings before the Court. A final decision by the European Court is expected thereafter. Heineken N.V. Annual Report 2007

Jaarverslagen en Personeelsbladen Heineken

Jaarverslagen | 2007 | | pagina 121