SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL
2003
FOMENTO ECONOMICO MEXICANO, S.A. DE C.V.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Mexican Economic Development, Inc.
(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
United Mexican States
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
General Anaya No. 601 Pte.
Colonia Bella Vista
Monterrey, NL 64410 Mexico
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file
annual reports under cover of Form 20-F of Form 40-F.)
Form 20-F x Form 40-F
--- ---
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the
information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)
Yes No x
--- ---
(If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to
the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82--.)
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
FOMENTO ECONOMICO MEXICANO, S.A. DE C.V.
By: /s/ Federico Reyes
----------------------------
Federico Reyes
Chief Financial Officer
Date: April 9, 2003
FEMSA and Interbrew Announce: Bass Ale to Join Labatt USA Portfolio
Business Editors
MONTERREY, Mexico--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 9, 2003--Fomento
Economico Mexicano, S.A. de C.V. ("FEMSA") (NYSE:FMX) (BMV:FEMSA UBD)
(BMV:FEMSA UB), the Leader in Latin Beverages, and Interbrew S.A.
("Interbrew") (Euronext:INTB), The World's Local Brewer(C) jointly
announced today that Bass Ale will enter the Labatt USA ("LUSA")
portfolio for a twelve to eighteen month period beginning July 1,
2003, when U.S. importing and marketing rights for the brand will be
transferred from Guinness Bass Import Company to Interbrew.
As part of the LUSA portfolio, Bass Ale will be given the full
support of Interbrew, including a commitment to the development of
marketing plans, distributor programming and trade support. This
agreement also allows the existing core brands of the Labatt USA
portfolio to benefit from incremental marketing support and sales
resources.
This temporary arrangement gives Labatt USA distribution and
marketing responsibility for Bass Ale in the U.S., and also gives LUSA
a twelve to eighteen month period to establish the best development
plan for the brand in the U.S. During the period of the agreement,
Labatt USA and its joint venture partners, Interbrew and FEMSA
Cerveza, will continue to assess the desirability of a longer-term
arrangement for LUSA to serve as the U.S. distributor of Bass.
Headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., Labatt USA imports and brews a
broad portfolio of high quality beers, including Rolling Rock, Labatt
Blue, Tecate, Dos Equis, and Stella Artois. Labatt USA is a joint
venture of Labatt Brewing Co. Ltd., Canada, which is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Interbrew S.A. of Belgium, and of FEMSA Cerveza S.A. de
C.V. of Mexico, subsidiary of FEMSA.
FEMSA is Latin America's largest beverage company in terms of
sales. Founded in 1890 and headquartered in Monterrey, Mexico, FEMSA
is strategically comprised of and operates by means of the following
subsidiaries: FEMSA Cerveza, which produces, distributes and exports
various brands of beer such as Tecate, Carta Blanca, Superior, Sol, XX
Lager, Dos Equis, and Bohemia; Coca-Cola FEMSA, the largest bottler
for The Coca-Cola Co. in Mexico, which produces and distributes
carbonated beverages such as Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Light, Fanta,
Sprite, and Quatro; and the Strategic Businesses Division, which
groups the packaging (FEMSA Empaques), retail (FEMSA Comercio) and
logistics (FEMSA Logistica) operations, whose main objective is to
offer strategic competitive advantages to the beverage subsidiaries.
Interbrew, The World's Local Brewer(C), is a leading consolidator
in the world beer industry. The company is headquartered in Belgium
and employs over 35,000 people worldwide. The strategy of Interbrew,
The World's Local Brewer(C), is to build strong local platforms in the
major beer markets around the world. In the markets where it operates,
Interbrew is respectful of the local heritage and tradition of the
beer industry and helps the local management grow its business. "The
World's Local Brewer(C)" strategy is based on four pillars: first
strengthening the local brands (in many cases market leader, such as
Jupiler(R) in Belgium), thereafter introducing international premium
and specialty brands including Stella Artois(R), Beck's(R),
Hoegaarden(R), Leffe(R) and Bass(R) Ale. Finally, Interbrew brings
considerable best practices to its local platforms and continues to
develop the local operations both organically and through selective
acquisitions. In total, more than 200 Interbrew brands are sold in
over 120 countries.
--30--CSD/sa*
CONTACT: FEMSA S.A. de C.V., Monterrey
Juan Fonseca, (52) 81 83 28 62 45
juan.fonseca@femsa.com.mx
or
Alan Alanis, (52) 81 83 28 62 11
alan.alanis@femsa.com.mx
or
Interbrew:
Corneel Maes, (32) 16 31 57 69
corneel.maes@interbrew.com
or
Patrick Verelst, (32) 16 31 57 13
patrick.verelst@interbrew.com
or
Labatt USA:
Brenda Williams, 203/849-3712
bwilliams@labattusa.com