Form 20-F
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2012.

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 20-F

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011

 

Commission file number 333-08752

 

 

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. 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)

 

 

Juan F. Fonseca

General Anaya No. 601 Pte.

Colonia Bella Vista

Monterrey, NL 64410 Mexico

(52-818) 328-6167

investor@femsa.com.mx

(Name, telephone, e-mail and/or facsimile number and

address of company contact person)

 

 

 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class:

       

Name of each exchange on which registered:

American Depositary Shares, each representing 10 BD Units, and each BD Unit consisting of one Series B Share, two Series D-B Shares and two Series D-L Shares, without par value      New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:

None

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report:

 

2,161,177,770

   BD Units, each consisting of one Series B Share, two Series D-B Shares and two Series D-L Shares, without par value. The BD Units represent a total of 2,161,177,770 Series B Shares, 4,322,355,540 Series D-B Shares and 4,322,355,540 Series D-L Shares.

1,417,048,500

   B Units, each consisting of five Series B Shares without par value. The B Units represent a total of 7,085,242,500 Series B Shares.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

 

x  Yes

   ¨  No

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

¨  Yes

   x  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). N/A

 

¨  Yes

   ¨  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be file by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

x  Yes

   ¨  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large Accelerated filer  x

   Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

 

U.S. GAAP  ¨

   IFRS  ¨    Other  x

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.

 

¨ Item 17

   x Item 18

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

¨ Yes

   x No

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  
INTRODUCTION      1   
   References      1   
   Currency Translations and Estimates      1   
   Forward-Looking Information      1   
ITEMS 1-2.    NOT APPLICABLE      2   
ITEM 3.    KEY INFORMATION      2   
   Selected Consolidated Financial Data      2   
   Dividends      5   
   Exchange Rate Information      7   
   Risk Factors      8   
ITEM 4.    INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY      19   
   The Company      19   
   Overview      19   
   Corporate Background      19   
   Ownership Structure      25   
   Significant Subsidiaries      27   
   Business Strategy      27   
   Coca-Cola FEMSA      28   
   FEMSA Comercio      46   
   FEMSA Cerveza and Equity Method Investment in the Heineken Group      50   
   Other Business      51   
   Description of Property, Plant and Equipment      51   
   Insurance      53   
   Capital Expenditures and Divestitures      53   
   Regulatory Matters      53   
ITEM 4A.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS      59   
ITEM 5.    OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS      60   
   Overview of Events, Trends and Uncertainties      60   
   Recent Developments      60   
   Operating Leverage      62   
   New Accounting Pronouncements      65   
   Operating Results      70   
   Liquidity and Capital Resources      78   
   U.S. GAAP Reconciliation      85   
ITEM 6.    DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES      86   
   Directors      86   
   Senior Management      91   
   Compensation of Directors and Senior Management      94   
   EVA Stock Incentive Plan      94   
   Insurance Policies      95   
   Ownership by Management      95   
   Board Practices      96   

 

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   Employees      97   
ITEM 7.    MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS      98   
   Major Shareholders      98   
   Related-Party Transactions      99   
   Voting Trust      99   
   Interest of Management in Certain Transactions      99   
   Business Transactions between Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company      100   
ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION      102   
   Consolidated Financial Statements      102   
   Dividend Policy      102   
   Legal Proceedings      102   
   Significant Changes      104   
ITEM 9.    THE OFFER AND LISTING      104   
   Description of Securities      104   
   Trading Markets      105   
   Trading on the Mexican Stock Exchange      105   
   Price History      106   
ITEM 10.    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION      109   
   Bylaws      109   
   Taxation      115   
   Material Contracts      118   
   Documents on Display      124   
ITEM 11.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK      125   
   Interest Rate Risk      125   
   Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk      129   
   Equity Risk      132   
   Commodity Price Risk      132   
ITEM 12.    DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES      132   
ITEM 12A.    DEBT SECURITIES      132   
ITEM 12B.    WARRANTS AND RIGHTS      132   
ITEM 12C.    OTHER SECURITIES      132   
ITEM 12D.    AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES      132   
ITEMS 13-14.    NOT APPLICABLE      133   
ITEM 15.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES      133   
ITEM 16A.    AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT      135   
ITEM 16B.    CODE OF ETHICS      135   
ITEM 16C.    PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES      136   

 

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ITEM 16D.    NOT APPLICABLE      137   
ITEM 16E.    PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS      137   
ITEM 16F.    NOT APPLICABLE      138   
ITEM 16G.    CORPORATE GOVERNANCE      138   
ITEM 16H.    NOT APPLICABLE      140   
ITEM 17.    NOT APPLICABLE      140   
ITEM 18.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS      140   
ITEM 19.    EXHIBITS      141   

 

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INTRODUCTION

This annual report contains information materially consistent with the information presented in the audited financial statements and is free of material misstatements of fact that are not material inconsistencies with the information in the audited financial statements.

References

The terms “FEMSA,” “our company,” “we,” “us” and “our,” are used in this annual report to refer to Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. and, except where the context otherwise requires, its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. We refer to our subsidiary Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V., as “Coca-Cola FEMSA,” and our subsidiary FEMSA Comercio, S.A. de C.V., as “FEMSA Comercio.”

The term “S.A.B.” stands for sociedad anónima bursátil, which is the term used in the United Mexican States, or Mexico, to denominate a publicly traded company under the Mexican Securities Market Law (Ley del Mercado de Valores), which we refer to as the Mexican Securities Law.

References to “U.S. dollars,” “US$,” “dollars” or “$” are to the lawful currency of the United States of America (which we refer to as the United States). References to “Mexican pesos,” “pesos” or “Ps.” are to the lawful currency of Mexico. References to “euros” or “€” are to the lawful currency of the European Economic and Monetary Union (which we refer to as the Euro Zone).

Currency Translations and Estimates

This annual report contains translations of certain Mexican peso amounts into U.S. dollars at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. These translations should not be construed as representations that the Mexican peso amounts actually represent such U.S. dollar amounts or could be converted into U.S. dollars at the rate indicated. Unless otherwise indicated, such U.S. dollar amounts have been translated from Mexican pesos at an exchange rate of Ps. 13.9510 to US$ 1.00, the noon buying rate for Mexican pesos on December 30, 2011, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. On March 30, 2012, this exchange rate was Ps. 12.8115 to US$ 1.00. See “Item 3. Key Information—Exchange Rate Information” for information regarding exchange rates since 2007.

To the extent estimates are contained in this annual report, we believe that such estimates, which are based on internal data, are reliable. Amounts in this annual report are rounded, and the totals may therefore not precisely equal the sum of the numbers presented.

Per capita growth rates and population data have been computed based upon statistics prepared by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática of Mexico (National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Information, which we refer to as INEGI), the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the U.S. Federal Reserve Board and Banco de México (Bank of Mexico), local entities in each country and upon our estimates.

Forward-Looking Information

This annual report contains words, such as “believe,” “expect” and “anticipate” and similar expressions that identify forward-looking statements. Use of these words reflects our views about future events and financial performance. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors that may be beyond our control, including but not limited to effects on our company from changes in our relationship with or among our affiliated companies, movements in the prices of raw materials, competition, significant developments in Mexico or international economic or political conditions or changes in our regulatory environment. Accordingly, we caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. In any event, these statements speak only as of their respective dates, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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ITEMS 1-2. NOT APPLICABLE

 

ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION

Selected Consolidated Financial Data

This annual report includes, under Item 18, our audited consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009. Our audited consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with Mexican Financial Reporting Standards (Normas de Información Financiera Mexicanas, which we refer to as Mexican FRS or NIF), which differ in certain significant respects from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP.

Notes 26 and 27 to our audited consolidated financial statements provide a description of the principal differences between Mexican FRS and U.S. GAAP as they relate to our company, together with a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP of net income, comprehensive income and stockholders’ equity as well as U.S. GAAP consolidated balance sheets, statements of income and comprehensive income and cash flows for the same periods presented for Mexican FRS purposes and for the consolidated statement of changes in stockholders’ equity for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

In the reconciliation to U.S. GAAP for the year ended December 31, 2009, we present our subsidiary Coca-Cola FEMSA, which is a consolidated subsidiary for purposes of Mexican FRS, under the equity method for U.S. GAAP purposes, due to the substantive participating rights of The Coca-Cola Company as a minority shareholder in Coca-Cola FEMSA during that year. On February 1, 2010, FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company signed an amendment to their Shareholders’ Agreement. As a result of this amendment, FEMSA began to consolidate Cola-Cola FEMSA for U.S. GAAP purposes on this date. See Note 26A to our audited consolidated financial statements.

Beginning in 2012, Mexican issuers with securities registered in the National Securities Registry (Registro Nacional de Valores) of the Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores (Mexican National Banking and Securities Commission, or the CNBV) are required to prepare financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, which we refer to as IFRS. Accordingly, as of January 1, 2012, we are preparing our financial information in accordance with IFRS and will present financial information for 2011 on a comparable basis. See Note 28 to our audited consolidated financial statements.

Beginning on January 1, 2008, in accordance with changes to NIF B-10 under Mexican FRS, we discontinued the use of inflation accounting for our subsidiaries that operate in “non-inflationary” countries where cumulative inflation for the three preceding years was less than 26%. Our subsidiaries in Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Colombia and Brazil operate in non-inflationary economic environments, and therefore 2011, 2010 and 2009 figures reflect inflation effects only through 2007. Our subsidiaries in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Argentina operate in economic environments in which cumulative inflation during the same three-year periods was greater than 26%, and we therefore continue recognizing inflationary accounting for 2011, 2010 and 2009. For comparison purposes, the figures prior to 2008 have been restated in Mexican pesos with purchasing power as of December 31, 2007, taking into account local inflation for each country with reference to the consumer price index. Local currencies have been converted into Mexican pesos using official exchange rates published by the local central bank of each country. Our subsidiary in the Euro Zone, CB Equity LLP (which we refer to as CB Equity), operated in a non-inflationary economic environment in 2011 and 2010. See Note 4 to our audited consolidated financial statements.

As a result of discontinuing inflationary accounting for subsidiaries that operate in non-inflationary economic environments, the financial statements are no longer considered to be presented in a reporting currency that comprehensively includes the effects of price level changes. Therefore, the inflationary effects of inflationary economic environments arising in 2009, 2010 and 2011 result in a difference that must be reconciled for U.S. GAAP purposes, except for Venezuela, which is considered to be a hyperinflationary environment since January 2010 and for which inflationary effects have not been reversed under U.S. GAAP. See Notes 26 and 27 to our audited consolidated financial statements.

 

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On April 30, 2010, FEMSA announced the closing of the transaction pursuant to which FEMSA agreed to exchange 100% of its beer operations for a 20% economic interest in Heineken Holding N.V. and Heineken N.V., which, together with their respective subsidiaries, we refer to as Heineken or the Heineken Group. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—FEMSA Cerveza and Equity Method Investment in the Heineken Group.” Under Mexican FRS, we have reclassified our consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2009 to reflect Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Holding, S.A. de C.V. (formerly FEMSA Cerveza, S.A. de C.V.), which we refer to as Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma or FEMSA Cerveza, as a discontinued operation. However, FEMSA Cerveza is not presented as a discontinued operation under U.S. GAAP. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—U.S. GAAP Reconciliation” and Notes 26 and 27 to our audited consolidated financial statements.

The following table presents selected financial information of our company. This information should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by, our audited consolidated financial statements and the notes to those statements. See “Item 18. Financial Statements.” The selected financial information is presented on a consolidated basis and is not necessarily indicative of our financial position or results from operations at or for any future date or period. Under Mexican FRS, FEMSA Cerveza figures for years prior to 2010 have been reclassified and presented as discontinued operations for comparison purposes to 2011 and 2010 figures. See Note 5B to our audited consolidated financial statements. Under U.S. GAAP, FEMSA Cerveza figures are presented as a continuing operation.

 

     Selected Consolidated Financial Information
Year Ended December 31,
 
     2011(2)     2011     2010     2009     2008     2007  
     (in millions of U.S. dollars and millions of Mexican pesos, except for percentages, per
share data and weighted average number of shares outstanding)
 

Income Statement Data:

            

Mexican FRS:(1)

            

Total revenues

   $ 14,554        Ps.203,044        Ps.169,702        Ps.160,251        Ps.133,808        Ps.114,459   

Income from operations(3)

     1,928        26,904        22,529        21,130        17,349        14,300   

Income taxes(4)

     550        7,687        5,671        4,959        3,108        3,931   

Consolidated net income before discontinued operations

     1,483        20,684        17,961        11,799        7,630        8,438   

Income from the exchange of shares with Heineken, net of taxes

     —          —          26,623        —          —          —     

Net income from discontinued operations

     —          —          706        3,283        1,648        3,498   

Consolidated net income

     1,483        20,684        45,290        15,082        9,278        11,936   

Net controlling interest income

     1,085        15,133        40,251        9,908        6,708        8,511   

Net non-controlling interest income

     398        5,551        5,039        5,174        2,570        3,425   

Net controlling interest income before discontinued operations:

            

Per Series B Share

     0.05        0.75        0.64        0.33        0.25        0.25   

Per Series D Share

     0.07        0.94        0.81        0.42        0.32        0.32   

Net controlling income from discontinued operations:

            

Per Series B Share

     —          —          1.37        0.16        0.08        0.17   

Per Series D Share

     —          —          1.70        0.20        0.10        0.21   

Net controlling interest income:

            

Per Series B Share

     0.05        0.75        2.01        0.49        0.33        0.42   

Per Series D Share

     0.07        0.94        2.51        0.62        0.42        0.53   

Weighted average number of shares outstanding (in millions):

            

Series B Shares

     9,246.4        9,246.4        9,246.4        9,246.4        9,246.4        9,246.4   

Series D Shares

     8,644.7        8,644.7        8,644.7        8,644.7        8,644.7        8,644.7   

Allocation of earnings:

            

Series B Shares

     46.11     46.11     46.11     46.11     46.11     46.11

Series D Shares

     53.89     53.89     53.89     53.89     53.89     53.89

 

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     Selected Consolidated Financial Information
Year Ended December 31,
 
     2011(2)     2011     2010     2009     2008     2007  
     (in millions of U.S. dollars and millions of Mexican pesos, except for percentages, per
share data and weighted average number of shares outstanding)
 

U.S. GAAP:(4)

            

Total revenues

   $ 14,640        Ps.204,242        Ps.177,053        Ps.102,902        Ps.91,650        Ps.83,362   

Income from operations

     1,810        25,252        21,235        8,661        7,881        7,667   

Participation in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s earnings(4)

     —          —          183        4,516        2,994        3,635   

Consolidated net income

     1,279        17,851        72,204 (10)      10,685        6,599        8,589   

Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest income

     (387     (5,402     (4,759     (783     253        (32

Net income attributable to controlling interest income

     892        12,449        67,445        9,902        6,852        8,557   

Net controlling interest income:

            

Per Series B Share

     0.04        0.62        3.36        0.49        0.34        0.43   

Per Series D Share

     0.06        0.78        4.20        0.62        0.43        0.53   

Weighted average number of shares outstanding (in millions):

            

Series B Shares

     9,246.4        9,246.4        9,246.4        9,246.4        9,246.4        9,246.4   

Series D Shares

     8,644.7        8,644.7        8,644.7        8,644.7        8,644.7        8,644.7   

Balance Sheet Data:

            

Mexican FRS:(1)

            

Total assets of continuing operations

   $ 19,691        Ps.274,704        Ps.223,578        Ps.153,638        Ps.126,833        Ps.114,537   

Total assets of discontinued operations

     —          —          —          72,268        71,201        68,881   

Current liabilities of continuing operations

     2,769        38,630        30,516        37,218        35,351        28,783   

Current liabilities of discontinued operations

     —          —          —          10,883        12,912        13,581   

Long-term debt of continuing operations(5)

     1,723        24,031        22,203        21,260        21,853        23,066   

Other long-term liabilities of continuing operations

     1,500        20,929        17,846        8,500        8,285        9,882   

Non-current liabilities of discontinued operations

     —          —          —          32,216        22,738        18,453   

Capital stock

     383        5,348        5,348        5,348        5,348        5,348   

Total stockholders’ equity

     13,699        191,114        153,013        115,829        96,895        89,653   

Controlling interest

     9,575        133,580        117,348        81,637        68,821        64,578   

Non-controlling interest

     4,124        57,534        35,665        34,192        28,074        25,075   

U.S. GAAP:(4)

            

Total assets

   $ 27,956        Ps.390,016        Ps.334,517        Ps.158,000        Ps.139,219        Ps.127,167   

Current liabilities

     2,772        38,676        30,629        23,539        23,654        18,579   

Long-term debt(5)

     1,722        24,031        21,927        24,119        19,557        16,569   

Other long-term liabilities

     3,164        44,148        39,825        10,900        9,966        8,715   

Non-controlling interest

     7,205        100,517        78,495        1,274        505        698   

Controlling interest

     13,092        182,644        163,641        98,168        85,537        82,606   

Capital stock

     383        5,348        5,348        5,348        5,348        5,348   

Stockholders’ equity(6)

     20,297        283,161        242,136        99,442        86,042        83,304   

Other information:

            

Mexican FRS:(1)

            

Depreciation(7)

   $ 394        Ps.5,498        Ps.4,527        Ps.4,391        Ps.3,762        Ps.4,930   

Capital expenditures(8)

     897        12,515        11,171        9,067        7,816        5,939   

Operating margin(9)

     13.2     13.2     13.3     13.2     13.0     12.5

U.S. GAAP:

            

Depreciation(7)

   $ 412        Ps.5,743        Ps.4,884        Ps.2,786        Ps.2,439        Ps.2,114   

Operating margin(9)

     12.4     12.4     11.9     8.4     8.6     9.2

 

(1) As a result of the FEMSA Cerveza share exchange with the Heineken Group on April 30, 2010, related figures are presented as discontinued operations for Mexican FRS purposes. As a result, prior year financial information has been modified in order to conform to 2010 financial information.

 

(2) Translation to U.S. dollar amounts at an exchange rate of Ps. 13.9510 to US$ 1.00 solely for the convenience of the reader.

 

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(3) Beginning in 2008, NIF D-3, “Employee Benefits,” permitted the presentation of financial expenses related to labor liabilities as part of the comprehensive financing result, which was previously recorded within operating income. Accordingly, information for 2007 has been reclassified for comparability purposes.

 

(4) As of February 1, 2010, Coca-Cola FEMSA has been consolidated for U.S. GAAP purposes. Prior to that date, Coca-Cola FEMSA was recorded under the equity method, as discussed in Note 26A to our audited consolidated financial statements.

 

(5) Includes long-term debt minus the current portion of long-term debt.

 

(6) As of January 1, 2009, U.S. GAAP requires that non-controlling interest be included as part of the total stockholders’ equity. This standard was applied retrospectively for comparative purposes.

 

(7) Includes bottle breakage.

 

(8) Includes investments in property, plant and equipment, intangible and other assets.

 

(9) Operating margin is calculated by dividing income from operations by total revenues.

 

(10) Includes gain recognized in other income due to control acquisition of Coca-Cola FEMSA. See Note 26A to our audited consolidated financial statements.

Dividends

We have historically paid dividends per BD Unit (including in the form of American Depositary Shares, or ADSs) approximately equal to or greater than 1% of the market price on the date of declaration, subject to changes in our results from operations and financial position, including due to extraordinary economic events and to the factors described in “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors” that affect our financial condition and liquidity. These factors may affect whether or not dividends are declared and the amount of such dividends. We do not expect to be subject to any contractual restrictions on our ability to pay dividends, although our subsidiaries may be subject to such restrictions. Because we are a holding company with no significant operations of our own, we will have distributable profits and cash to pay dividends only to the extent that we receive dividends from our subsidiaries. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that we will pay dividends or as to the amount of any dividends.

The following table sets forth for each year the nominal amount of dividends per share that we declared in Mexican peso and U.S. dollar amounts and their respective payment dates for the 2007 to 2011 fiscal years:

 

Date Dividend Paid

   Fiscal Year
with Respect to  which

Dividend
was Declared
   Aggregate
Amount
of Dividend
Declared
     Per Series B
Share Dividend
     Per Series B
Share  Dividend
    Per Series D
Share Dividend
     Per Series D
Share Dividend
 

May 15, 2007

   2006(1)      Ps.1,485,000,000         Ps.0.0741       $ 0.0069        Ps.0.0926       $ 0.0086   

May 8, 2008

   2007(1)      Ps.1,620,000,000         Ps.0.0807       $ 0.0076        Ps.0.1009       $ 0.0095   

May 4, 2009 and November 3, 2009(2)

   2008         Ps.1,620,000,000         Ps.0.0807       $ 0.0061        Ps.0.1009       $ 0.0076   

May 4, 2009

           Ps.0.0404       $ 0.0030        Ps.0.0505       $ 0.0038   

November 3, 2009

           Ps.0.0404       $ 0.0030        Ps.0.0505       $ 0.0038   

May 4, 2010 and November 3, 2010(3)

   2009         Ps.2,600,000,000         Ps.0.1296       $ 0.0105        Ps.0.1621       $ 0.0132   

May 4, 2010

           Ps.0.0648       $ 0.0053        Ps.0.0810       $ 0.0066   

November 3, 2010

           Ps.0.0648       $ 0.0053        Ps.0.0810       $ 0.0066   

May 3, 2011 and November 2, 2011(4)

   2010         Ps.4,600,000,000         Ps.0.2294       $ 0.0199        Ps.0.28675       $ 0.0249   

May 3, 2011

           Ps.0.1147       $ 0.0099        Ps.0.14338       $ 0.0124   

November 2, 2011

           Ps.0.1147       $ 0.0100        Ps.0.14338       $ 0.0125   

May 3, 2012 and November 6, 2012(5)

   2011         Ps.6,200,000,000         Ps.0.3092         N/a (6)      Ps.0.3865         N/a   

May 3, 2012

           Ps.0.1546         N/a        Ps.0.1932         N/a   

November 2, 2012

           Ps.0.1546         N/a        Ps.0.1932         N/a   

 

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(1) The per series dividend amount has been adjusted for comparability purposes to reflect the 3:1 stock split effective May 25, 2007.

 

(2) The dividend payment for 2008 was divided into two equal payments. The first payment was payable on May 4, 2009, with a record date of April 30, 2009, and the second payment was payable on November 3, 2009, with a record date of October 30, 2009.

 

(3) The dividend payment for 2009 was divided into two equal payments. The first payment was payable on May 4, 2010, with a record date of May 3, 2010, and the second payment was payable on November 3, 2010, with a record date of November 2, 2010.

 

(4) The dividend payment for 2010 was divided into two equal payments. The first payment was payable on May 3, 2011, with a record date of May 2, 2011, and the second payment was payable on November 2, 2011, with a record date of November 1, 2011.

 

(5) The dividend payment for 2011 was divided into two equal payments. The first payment will become payable on May 3, 2012 with a record date of May 2, 2012, and the second payment will become payable on November 6, 2012 with a record date of November 5, 2012.

 

(6) The U.S. dollar amount of the 2011 dividend payments will be based on the exchange rate at the time such payments are made.

At the annual ordinary general shareholders meeting, or AGM, the board of directors submits the financial statements of our company for the previous fiscal year, together with a report thereon by the board of directors. Once the holders of Series B Shares have approved the financial statements, they determine the allocation of our net profits for the preceding year. Mexican law requires the allocation of at least 5% of net profits to a legal reserve, which is not subsequently available for distribution, until the amount of the legal reserve equals 20% of our paid in capital stock. As of the date of this report, the legal reserve of our company is fully constituted. Thereafter, the holders of Series B Shares may determine and allocate a certain percentage of net profits to any general or special reserve, including a reserve for open-market purchases of our shares. The remainder of net profits is available for distribution in the form of dividends to our shareholders. Dividends may only be paid if net profits are sufficient to offset losses from prior fiscal years.

Our bylaws provide that dividends will be allocated among the shares outstanding and fully paid at the time a dividend is declared in such manner that each Series D-B Share and Series D-L Share receives 125% of the dividend distributed in respect of each Series B Share. Holders of Series D-B Shares and Series D-L Shares are entitled to this dividend premium in connection with all dividends paid by us other than payments in connection with the liquidation of our company.

Subject to certain exceptions contained in the deposit agreement dated May 11, 2007, among FEMSA, The Bank of New York, as ADS depositary, and holders and beneficial owners from time to time of our ADSs, evidenced by American Depositary Receipts, or ADRs, any dividends distributed to holders of our ADSs will be paid to the ADS depositary in Mexican pesos and will be converted by the ADS depositary into U.S. dollars. As a result, restrictions on conversion of Mexican pesos into foreign currencies and exchange rate fluctuations may affect the ability of holders of our ADSs to receive U.S. dollars and the U.S. dollar amount actually received by holders of our ADSs.

 

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Exchange Rate Information

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high, low, average and year-end noon buying exchange rate published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for cable transfers of pesos per U.S. dollar. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York discontinued the publication of foreign exchange rates on December 31, 2008, and therefore, the data provided for the periods beginning January 1, 2009 are based on the rates published by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board in its H.10 Weekly Release of Foreign Exchange Rates. The rates have not been restated in constant currency units and therefore represent nominal historical figures.

 

Year ended December 31,

   Exchange Rate  
     High      Low      Average(1)      Year End  

2007

     11.27         10.67         10.93         10.92   

2008

     13.94         9.92         11.21         13.83   

2009

     15.41         12.63         13.50         13.06   

2010

     13.19         12.16         12.64         12.38   

2011

     14.25         11.51         12.46         13.95   

 

(1) Average month-end rates.

 

     Exchange Rate  
     High      Low      Period End  

2010:

        

First Quarter

     Ps.13.19         Ps.12.30         Ps.12.30   

Second Quarter

     13.14         12.16         12.83   

Third Quarter

     13.17         12.49         12.63   

Fourth Quarter

     12.61         12.21         12.38   

2011:

        

First Quarter

     12.25         11.92         11.92   

Second Quarter

     11.97         11.51         11.72   

Third Quarter

     13.87         11.57         13.77   

Fourth Quarter

     14.25         13.10         13.95   

2012:

        

January

     13.75         12.93         13.04   

February

     12.95         12.63         12.79   

March

     12.99         12.63         12.81   

First Quarter

     13.75         12.63         12.81   

 

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RISK FACTORS

Risks Related to Our Company

Coca-Cola FEMSA

Coca-Cola FEMSA’s business depends on its relationship with The Coca-Cola Company, and changes in this relationship may adversely affect its results from operations and financial condition.

Substantially all of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s sales are derived from sales of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. Coca-Cola FEMSA produces, markets and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages through standard bottler agreements in certain territories in Mexico and Latin America, which we refer to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s “territories.” See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Coca-Cola FEMSA—Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Territories.” Through its rights under Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bottler agreements and as a large shareholder, The Coca-Cola Company has the right to participate in the process for making important decisions related to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s business.

The Coca-Cola Company may unilaterally set the price for its concentrate. In addition, under Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bottler agreements, it is prohibited from bottling or distributing any other beverages without The Coca-Cola Company’s authorization or consent, and it may not transfer control of the bottler rights of any of its territories without consent of The Coca-Cola Company.

The Coca-Cola Company also makes significant contributions to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s marketing expenses, although it is not required to contribute a particular amount. Accordingly, The Coca-Cola Company may discontinue or reduce such contributions at any time.

Coca-Cola FEMSA depends on The Coca-Cola Company to renew its bottler agreements. As of December 31, 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA had seven bottler agreements in Mexico, with each one corresponding to a different territory as follows: (i) the agreements for Mexico’s Valley territory expire in June 2013 and April 2016; (ii) the agreements for the Central territory expire in May 2015 and July 2016; (iii) the agreement for the Northeast territory expires in September 2014; (iv) the agreement for the Bajio territory expires in May 2015; and (v) the agreement for the Southeast territory expires in June 2013. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bottler agreements with The Coca-Cola Company will expire for Coca-Cola FEMSA’s territories in other countries as follows: Argentina in September 2014; Brazil in April 2014; Colombia in June 2014; Venezuela in August 2016; Guatemala in March 2015; Costa Rica in September 2017; Nicaragua in May 2016; and Panama in November 2014. All of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bottler agreements are automatically renewable for ten-year terms, subject to the right of either party thereto to give prior notice that it does not wish to renew the relevant agreement. In addition, these agreements generally may be terminated in the case of material breach. Termination would prevent Coca-Cola FEMSA from selling Coca-Cola trademark beverages in the affected territory and would have an adverse effect on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s business, financial condition, results from operations and prospects.

The Coca-Cola Company has substantial influence on the conduct of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s business, which may result in Coca-Cola FEMSA taking actions contrary to the interests of its remaining shareholders.

The Coca-Cola Company has substantial influence on the conduct of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s business. As of April 20, 2012, The Coca-Cola Company indirectly owned 29.4% of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s outstanding capital stock, representing 37.0% of its capital stock with full voting rights. The Coca-Cola Company is entitled to appoint five of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s maximum of 21 directors and the vote of at least two of them is required to approve certain actions by Coca-Cola FEMSA’s board of directors. We are entitled to appoint 13 of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s maximum of 21 directors and all of its executive officers. On February 1, 2010, we and The Coca-Cola Company signed a second amendment to the shareholders agreement that confirms our power to govern Coca-Cola FEMSA’s operating and financial policies in order to exercise control over its operations in the ordinary course of business. The Coca-Cola Company has the power to determine the outcome of certain protective rights, such as mergers, acquisitions or the sale of any line of business, requiring approval by its board of directors, and may have the power

 

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to determine the outcome of certain actions requiring approval of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s shareholders. See “Item 10. Additional Information—Material Contracts—Coca-Cola FEMSA.” The interests of The Coca-Cola Company may be different from the interests of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s remaining shareholders, which may result in Coca-Cola FEMSA taking actions contrary to the interests of its remaining shareholders.

Coca-Cola FEMSA has significant transactions with affiliates, particularly The Coca-Cola Company, which may create the potential for conflicts of interest and could result in less favorable terms to Coca-Cola FEMSA.

Coca-Cola FEMSA engages in several transactions with subsidiaries of The Coca-Cola Company. In addition, Coca-Cola FEMSA has entered into cooperative marketing arrangements with The Coca-Cola Company and is a party to a number of bottler agreements with The Coca-Cola Company. Coca-Cola FEMSA also has agreed to develop still beverages and waters in its territories with The Coca-Cola Company and has entered into agreements to acquire companies with The Coca-Cola Company. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Related Party Transactions—Business Transactions between Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company.”

Coca-Cola FEMSA could engage in transactions on less favorable terms with related parties, due to potential conflicts of interest, compared to terms that could be obtained with an unaffiliated third party.

Competition could adversely affect Coca-Cola FEMSA’s financial performance.

The beverage industry in the territories in which Coca-Cola FEMSA operates is highly competitive. Coca-Cola FEMSA faces competition from other bottlers of sparkling beverages such as Pepsi products, and from producers of low cost beverages, or “B brands.” Coca-Cola FEMSA also competes in different beverage categories, other than sparkling beverages, such as water, juice-based beverages, teas, sport drinks and value-added dairy products. Although competitive conditions are different in each of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s territories, it competes principally in terms of price, packaging, consumer sales promotions, customer service and product innovation. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Coca-Cola FEMSA—Competition.” There can be no assurances that Coca-Cola FEMSA will be able to avoid lower pricing as a result of competitive pressure. Lower pricing, changes made in response to competition and changes in consumer preferences may have an adverse effect on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s financial performance.

Changes in consumer preference could reduce demand for some of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s products.

The non-alcoholic beverage industry is rapidly evolving as a result of, among other things, changes in consumer preferences. Specifically, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of and concerned about environmental and health issues. Concerns over the environmental impact of plastic may reduce the consumption of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s products sold in plastic bottles or result in additional taxes that would adversely affect consumer demand. In addition, researchers, health advocates and dietary guidelines are encouraging consumers to reduce their consumption of certain types of beverages sweetened with sugar and high fructose corn syrup (or HFCS), which could reduce demand for certain of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s products. A reduction in consumer demand would adversely affect Coca-Cola FEMSA’s results from operations.

Water shortages or any failure to maintain existing concessions could adversely affect Coca-Cola FEMSA’s business.

Water is an essential component of all of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s products. Coca-Cola FEMSA obtains water from various sources in its territories, including springs, wells, rivers and municipal and state water companies pursuant to either contracts to obtain water or pursuant to concessions granted by governments in its various territories.

Coca-Cola FEMSA obtains the vast majority of the water used in its production pursuant to concessions to exploit wells, which are generally granted based on studies of the existing and projected groundwater supply. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s existing water concessions or contracts to obtain water may be terminated by governmental

 

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authorities under certain circumstances and their renewal depends on receiving necessary authorizations from local and/or federal water authorities. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Regulatory Matters—Water Supply Law.” In some of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s other territories, the existing water supply may not be sufficient to meet Coca-Cola FEMSA’s future production needs, and the available water supply may be adversely affected by shortages or changes in governmental regulations and environmental changes.

We cannot assure you that water will be available in sufficient quantities to meet Coca-Cola FEMSA’s future production needs or will prove sufficient to meet Coca-Cola FEMSA’s water supply needs.

Increases in the prices of raw materials would increase Coca-Cola FEMSA’s cost of goods sold and may adversely affect Coca-Cola FEMSA’s results from operations.

In addition to water, Coca-Cola FEMSA’s most significant raw materials are (1) concentrate, which it acquires from affiliates of The Coca-Cola Company, (2) packaging materials and (3) sweeteners. Prices for sparkling beverages concentrate are determined by The Coca-Cola Company as a percentage of the weighted average retail price in local currency, net of applicable taxes. In 2005, The Coca-Cola Company decided to gradually increase concentrate prices for sparkling beverages in Brazil and Mexico. These increases were fully implemented in Brazil in 2008 and in Mexico in 2009. However, Coca-Cola FEMSA may experience further increases in its territories in the future. The prices for Coca-Cola FEMSA’s remaining raw materials are driven by market prices and local availability as well as the imposition of import duties and import restrictions and fluctuations in exchange rates. Coca-Cola FEMSA is also required to meet all of its supply needs from suppliers approved by The Coca-Cola Company, which may limit the number of suppliers available to it. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s sales prices are denominated in the local currency in each country in which it operates, while the prices of certain materials, including those used in the bottling of its products, mainly resin, ingots to make plastic bottles, finished plastic bottles, aluminum cans and HFCS, are paid in or determined with reference to the U.S. dollar, and therefore may increase if the U.S. dollar appreciates against the currencies of the countries in which Coca-Cola FEMSA operates, as was the case in 2008 and 2009. While the U.S. dollar did not appreciate against the currency of any of the countries in which Coca-Cola FEMSA operates in 2010 or most of 2011, we cannot assure you that an appreciation of the U.S. dollar with respect to such currencies will not occur in the future. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Coca-Cola FEMSA—Raw Materials.”

Coca-Cola FEMSA’s most significant packaging raw material costs arise from the purchase of resin and plastic ingots to make plastic bottles and from the purchase of finished plastic bottles, the prices of which are tied to crude oil prices and global resin supply. The average prices that Coca-Cola FEMSA paid for resin and plastic ingots in U.S. dollars increased significantly in 2011, as compared to 2010. We cannot provide any assurance that prices will not increase further in future periods. Average sweetener prices, including of sugar and HFCS, paid by Coca-Cola FEMSA during 2011 were higher as compared to 2010 in all of the countries in which it operates. During the 2009-2011 period, international sugar prices were volatile due to various factors, including shifting demands, availability and climate issues affecting production and distribution. Sugar prices in all of the countries in which Coca-Cola FEMSA operates other than Brazil are subject to local regulations and other barriers to market entry that cause Coca-Cola FEMSA to pay in excess of international market prices for sugar. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Coca-Cola FEMSA—Raw Materials.” We cannot assure you that Coca-Cola FEMSA’s raw material prices will not further increase in the future. Increases in the prices of raw materials would increase Coca-Cola FEMSA’s cost of goods sold and adversely affect its financial performance.

Taxes could adversely affect Coca-Cola FEMSA’s business.

The countries in which Coca-Cola FEMSA operates may adopt new tax laws or modify existing law to increase taxes applicable to its business. For example, in Mexico, a general tax reform became effective on January 1, 2010, pursuant to which, as applicable to Coca-Cola FEMSA, there is a temporary increase in the income tax rate from 28% to 30% from 2010 through 2012. This increase will be followed by a reduction to 29% for the year 2013 and a further reduction in 2014 to return to the previous rate of 28%. In addition, the value added tax (VAT) rate increased in 2010 from 15% to 16%. This increase had an impact on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s results from operations due to the reduction in disposable income of consumers.

 

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In Panama, there was an increase in a certain consumer tax, effective as of April 1, 2010, affecting syrups, powders and concentrate. Some of these materials are used for the production of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s sparkling beverages. These taxes increased from 6% to 10%.

Coca-Cola FEMSA’s products are also subject to certain taxes in many of the countries in which it operates. Certain countries in Central America, as well as Brazil and Argentina also impose taxes on sparkling beverages. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Regulatory Matters—Taxation of Sparkling Beverages.” We cannot assure you that any governmental authority in any country where Coca-Cola FEMSA operates will not impose new taxes or increase taxes on its products in the future. The imposition of new taxes or increases in taxes on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s products may have a material adverse effect on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s business, financial condition, prospects and results from operations.

Regulatory developments may adversely affect Coca-Cola FEMSA’s business.

Coca-Cola FEMSA is subject to regulation in each of the territories in which it operates. The principal areas in which Coca-Cola FEMSA is subject to regulation are environment, labor, taxation, health and antitrust. Regulation can also affect Coca-Cola FEMSA’s ability to set prices for its products. See “Item 4. Information of the Company—Regulatory Matters.” The adoption of new laws or regulations or a stricter interpretation or enforcement thereof in the countries in which Coca-Cola FEMSA operates may increase its operating costs or impose restrictions on its operations, which, in turn, may adversely affect its financial condition, business and results from operations. In particular, environmental standards are continually becoming more stringent in several of the countries in which Coca-Cola FEMSA operates, and Coca-Cola FEMSA is also continually in the process of keeping up and complying with these standards, although we cannot assure you that Coca-Cola FEMSA will be able to meet the timelines for compliance established by the relevant regulatory authorities. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Regulatory Matters—Environmental Matters.” Further changes in current regulations may result in an increase in compliance costs, which may have an adverse effect on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s future results from operations or financial condition.

Voluntary price restraints or statutory price controls have been imposed historically in several of the countries in which Coca-Cola FEMSA operates. Coca-Cola FEMSA is currently subject to price controls in Argentina and Venezuela. The imposition of these restrictions or voluntary price restraints in other territories may have an adverse effect on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s results from operations and financial position. See “Item 4. Information of the Company—Regulatory Matters—Price Controls.” We cannot assure you that governmental authorities in any country where Coca-Cola FEMSA operates will not impose statutory price controls or that Coca-Cola FEMSA will not need to implement voluntary price restraints in the future.

In January 2010, the Venezuelan government amended the Ley para la Defensa y Acceso a las Personas a los Bienes y Servicios (Defense of and Access to Goods and Services Law). Any violation by a company that produces, distributes and sells goods and services could lead to fines, penalties or the confiscation of the assets used to produce, distribute and sell these goods without compensation. Although we believe that Coca-Cola FEMSA is in compliance with this law, consumer protection laws in Venezuela are subject to continuing review and changes, and any such changes could lead to an adverse impact on Coca-Cola FEMSA.

In July 2011, the Venezuelan government passed the Ley de Costos y Precios Justos (Fair Costs and Prices Law). The purpose of this law is to establish the regulations and administrative processes necessary to maintain the price stability of, and equal access to, goods and services. The law also creates the National Ministry of Costs and Prices, whose main role is to oversee price controls and set maximum retail prices on certain consumer goods and services. Of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s products, only certain of its still water beverages were affected by these regulations, which mandated Coca-Cola FEMSA to lower its sale prices as of April 2012. Any failure to comply with this law would result in fines, temporary suspension or the closure of operations. While Coca-Cola FEMSA is currently in compliance with this law, we cannot assure you that the Venezuelan government’s future regulation of goods and services will not result in a forced reduction of prices in other of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s products, which could have a negative effect on its results of operations.

 

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In January 2012, the Costa Rican government approved a decree that regulates the sale of food and beverages in schools. The decree came into effect in 2012. Enforcement of this law will be gradual, from applicability in 2012 to 2014, depending on the specific characteristics of the food or beverage in question. In accordance with the decree, the sale of specific sparkling beverages and still beverages that contain sugar, syrup or HFCS in any type of presentation in schools is prohibited. Coca-Cola FEMSA will still be allowed to sell water and certain still beverages in schools. We cannot assure you that the Costa Rican government will not further restrict sales of other of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s products in schools in the future; any such further restrictions could lead to an adverse impact on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s results of operations.

Coca-Cola FEMSA’s operations have from time to time been subject to investigations and proceedings by antitrust authorities and litigation relating to alleged anticompetitive practices. Coca-Cola FEMSA has also been subject to investigations and proceedings on environmental and labor matters. We cannot assure you that these investigations and proceedings could not have an adverse effect on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s results from operations or financial condition. See “Item 8. Financial Information—Legal Proceedings.”

Economic and political conditions in the countries other than Mexico in which Coca-Cola FEMSA operates may increasingly adversely affect its business.

In addition to operating in Mexico, our subsidiary Coca-Cola FEMSA conducts operations in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina. Total revenues and income from Coca-Cola FEMSA’s combined non-Mexican operations increased as a percentage of its consolidated total revenues and income from operations from 47.4% and 32.4%, respectively, in 2006, to 64.3% and 62.0%, respectively, in 2011. As a consequence, Coca-Cola FEMSA’s results have been increasingly affected by the economic and political conditions in the countries, other than Mexico, where it conducts operations.

Consumer demand, preferences, real prices and the costs of raw materials are heavily influenced by macroeconomic and political conditions in the other countries in which Coca-Cola FEMSA operates. These conditions vary by country and may not be correlated to conditions in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Mexican operations. Deterioration in economic and political conditions in any of these countries would have an adverse effect on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s financial position and results from operations. In Venezuela, Coca-Cola FEMSA continues to face exchange rate risk as well as scarcity of raw materials and restrictions with respect to the importation of such materials. Venezuelan political events may also affect Coca-Cola FEMSA’s operations. The political uncertainty involving Venezuela’s October 2012 elections or otherwise could have a negative effect on the Venezuelan economy, which in turn could result in an adverse effect on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s business. We cannot provide any assurances that political developments in Venezuela, over which we have no control, will not have an adverse effect on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s business, financial condition or results from operations.

In addition, presidential elections were held in November 2011 in each of Guatemala and Nicaragua. The elections in Guatemala led to the election of a new president and political party (the Partido Patriota (Patriotic Party)). The elections in Nicaragua led to the reelection of José Daniel Ortega Saavedra, a member of the Partido Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (Sandinista National Liberation Front), as president. We cannot assure you that the elected presidents in these countries will continue to apply the same policies that have been applied to Coca-Cola FEMSA in the past.

Depreciation of the local currencies of the countries in which Coca-Cola FEMSA operates against the U.S. dollar may increase its operating costs. Coca-Cola FEMSA has also operated under exchange controls in Venezuela since 2003 that limit its ability to remit dividends abroad or make payments other than in local currencies and that may increase the real price paid for raw materials and services purchased in local currency. In January 2010, the Venezuelan government announced a devaluation of its official exchange rate and the establishment of a multiple exchange rate system, which was set at 2.60 bolivars to US$ 1.00 for high priority categories and 4.30 bolivars to US$ 1.00 for non-priority categories, and which recognized the existence of other exchange rates in which the Venezuelan government will intervene. In December 2010, the Venezuelan government announced its decision to implement a new singular fixed exchange rate of 4.30 bolivars to US$ 1.00, which resulted in a devaluation of the bolivar against the U.S. dollar. Future changes in the Venezuelan exchange control regime, and future currency devaluations or the imposition of exchange controls in any of the countries in which Coca-Cola FEMSA has operations could have an adverse effect on its financial position and results from operations.

 

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We cannot assure you those political or social developments in any of the countries in which Coca-Cola FEMSA has operations, over which it has no control, will not have a corresponding adverse effect on the economic situation and on its business, financial condition or results from operations.

Weather conditions may adversely affect Coca-Cola FEMSA’s results from operations.

Lower temperatures and higher rainfall may negatively impact consumer patterns, which may result in lower per capita consumption of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s beverage offerings. Additionally, adverse weather conditions may affect road infrastructure in the territories in which Coca-Cola FEMSA operates and limit its ability to sell and distribute its products, thus affecting Coca-Cola FEMSA’s results from operations. As was the case in most of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s territories in 2011, adverse weather conditions affected Coca-Cola FEMSA’s sales in certain regions of these territories.

FEMSA Comercio

Competition from other retailers in Mexico could adversely affect FEMSA Comercio’s business.

The Mexican retail sector is highly competitive. FEMSA participates in the retail sector primarily through FEMSA Comercio. FEMSA Comercio’s OXXO convenience stores face competition on a regional basis from 7-Eleven, Super Extra, Super City and Círculo K stores. OXXO convenience stores also face competition from numerous small chains of retailers across Mexico and from retailers that participate with store formats other than convenience stores. FEMSA Comercio may face additional competition from new market entrants. Increased competition may limit the number of new locations available to FEMSA Comercio and require FEMSA Comercio to modify its product offering or pricing. In addition, consumers may prefer alternative products or store formats offered by competitors. As a result, FEMSA Comercio’s results from operations and financial position may be adversely affected by competition in the future.

Sales of OXXO convenience stores may be adversely affected by changes in economic conditions in Mexico.

Convenience stores often sell certain products at a premium. The convenience store market is thus highly sensitive to economic conditions, since an economic slowdown is often accompanied by a decline in consumer purchasing power, which in turn results in a decline in the overall consumption of FEMSA Comercio’s main product categories. During periods of economic slowdown, OXXO stores may experience a decline in traffic per store and purchases per customer, and this may result in a decline in FEMSA Comercio’s results from operations.

FEMSA Comercio may not be able to maintain its historic growth rate.

FEMSA Comercio increased the number of OXXO stores at a compound annual growth rate of 14.5% from 2007 to 2011. The growth in the number of OXXO stores has driven growth in total revenue and operating income at FEMSA Comercio over the same period. As the overall number of stores increases, percentage growth in the number of OXXO stores is likely to decrease. In addition, as convenience store penetration in Mexico grows, the number of viable new store locations may decrease, and new store locations may be less favorable in terms of same store sales, average ticket and store traffic. As a result, FEMSA Comercio’s future results from operations and financial condition may not be consistent with prior periods and may be characterized by lower growth rates in terms of total revenue and operating income. In Colombia, FEMSA Comercio may not be able to maintain similar historic growth rates to those in Mexico.

FEMSA Comercio’s business may be adversely affected by an increase in the crime rate in Mexico.

In recent years, crime rates have increased, particularly in the north of Mexico, and there has been a particular increase in drug-related crime and other organized crime. Although FEMSA Comercio has stores across the majority of the Mexican territory, the north of Mexico represents an important region in FEMSA Comercio’s operations. An increase in crime rates could negatively affect sales and customer traffic, increase security expenses incurred in each store, result in higher turnover of personnel or damage to the perception of the OXXO brand, each of which could have an adverse effect on FEMSA Comercio’s business.

 

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FEMSA Comercio’s business may be adversely affected by changes in information technology.

FEMSA Comercio invests aggressively in information technology (which we refer to as IT) in order to maximize its value generation potential. Given the rapid speed at which FEMSA Comercio adds new services and products to its commercial offerings, the development of IT systems, hardware and software needs to keep pace with the growth of the business. If these systems became unstable or if planning for future IT investments were inadequate, it could affect FEMSA Comercio’s business by reducing the flexibility of its value proposition to consumers or by increasing its operating complexity, either of which could adversely affect FEMSA Comercio’s revenue-per-store trends.

Risks Related to Our Holding of Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. Shares

FEMSA will not control Heineken N.V.’s and Heineken Holding N.V.’s decisions.

On April 30, 2010, FEMSA announced the closing of the transaction pursuant to which FEMSA agreed to exchange 100% of its beer operations for a 20% economic interest in the Heineken Group, which we refer to as the Heineken transaction. As a consequence of the Heineken transaction, FEMSA now participates in the Heineken Holding N.V. Board of Directors, which we refer to as the Heineken Holding Board, and in the Heineken N.V. Supervisory Board, which we refer to as the Heineken Supervisory Board. However, FEMSA is not a majority or controlling shareholder of Heineken N.V. or Heineken Holding N.V., nor does it control the decisions of the Heineken Holding Board or the Heineken Supervisory Board. Therefore, the decisions made by the majority or controlling shareholders of Heineken N.V. or Heineken Holding N.V. or the Heineken Holding Board or the Heineken Supervisory Board may not be consistent with or may not consider the interests of FEMSA’s shareholders or may be adverse to the interests of FEMSA’s shareholders. Additionally, FEMSA has agreed not to disclose non-public information and decisions taken by Heineken.

Heineken is present in a large number of countries.

Heineken is a global distributor and brewer of beer in a large number of countries. As a consequence of the Heineken transaction, FEMSA shareholders are indirectly exposed to the political, economic and social circumstances affecting the markets in which Heineken is present, which may have an adverse effect on the value of FEMSA’s interest in Heineken, and, consequently, the value of FEMSA shares.

Strengthening of the Mexican peso.

In the event of a depreciation of the euro against the Mexican peso, the fair value of FEMSA’s investment in shares will be adversely affected.

Furthermore, the cash flow that is expected to be received in the form of dividends from Heineken will be in euros, and therefore, in the event of a depreciation of the euro against the Mexican peso, the amount of expected cash flow will be adversely affected.

Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. are publicly listed companies.

Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. are listed companies whose stock trades publicly and is subject to market fluctuation. A reduction in the price of Heineken N.V. or Heineken Holding N.V. shares would result in a reduction in the economic value of FEMSA’s participation in Heineken.

 

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Risks Related to Our Principal Shareholders and Capital Structure

A majority of our voting shares are held by a voting trust, which effectively controls the management of our company, and whose interests may differ from those of other shareholders.

As of March 23, 2012, a voting trust, of which the participants are members of seven families, owned 38.69% of our capital stock and 74.86% of our capital stock with full voting rights, consisting of the Series B Shares. Consequently, the voting trust has the power to elect a majority of the members of our board of directors and to play a significant or controlling role in the outcome of substantially all matters to be decided by our board of directors or our shareholders. The interests of the voting trust may differ from those of our other shareholders. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions” and “Item 10. Additional Information—Bylaws—Voting Rights and Certain Minority Rights.”

Holders of Series D-B and D-L Shares have limited voting rights.

Holders of Series D-B and D-L Shares have limited voting rights and are only entitled to vote on specific matters, such as certain changes in the form of our corporate organization, dissolution, or liquidation, a merger with a company with a distinct corporate purpose, a merger in which we are not the surviving entity, a change of our jurisdiction of incorporation, the cancellation of the registration of the Series D-B and D-L Shares and any other matters that expressly require approval from such holders under the Mexican Securities Law. As a result of these limited voting rights, Series D-B and D-L holders will not be able to influence our business or operations. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Major Shareholders” and “Item 10. Additional Information—Bylaws—Voting Rights and Certain Minority Rights.”

Holders of ADSs may not be able to vote at our shareholder meetings.

Our shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, in the form of ADSs. We cannot assure you that holders of our shares in the form of ADSs will receive notice of shareholders’ meetings from our ADS depositary in sufficient time to enable such holders to return voting instructions to the ADS depositary in a timely manner. In the event that instructions are not received with respect to any shares underlying ADSs, the ADS depositary will, subject to certain limitations, grant a proxy to a person designated by us in respect of these shares. In the event that this proxy is not granted, the ADS depositary will vote these shares in the same manner as the majority of the shares of each class for which voting instructions are received.

Holders of BD Units in the United States and holders of ADSs may not be able to participate in any future preemptive rights offering and as a result may be subject to dilution of their equity interests.

Under applicable Mexican law, if we issue new shares for cash as a part of a capital increase, other than in connection with a public offering of newly issued shares or treasury stock, we are generally required to grant our shareholders the right to purchase a sufficient number of shares to maintain their existing ownership percentage. Rights to purchase shares in these circumstances are known as preemptive rights. By law, we may not allow holders of our shares or ADSs who are located in the United States to exercise any preemptive rights in any future capital increases unless (1) we file a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the SEC, with respect to that future issuance of shares or (2) the offering qualifies for an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933. At the time of any future capital increase, we will evaluate the costs and potential liabilities associated with filing a registration statement with the SEC, as well as the benefits of preemptive rights to holders of our shares in the form of ADSs in the United States and any other factors that we consider important in determining whether to file a registration statement.

We may decide not to file a registration statement with the SEC to allow holders of our shares or ADSs who are located in the United States to participate in a preemptive rights offering. In addition, under current Mexican law, the sale by the ADS depositary of preemptive rights and the distribution of the proceeds from such sales to the holders of our shares in the form of ADSs is not possible. As a result, the equity interest of holders of our shares in the form of ADSs would be diluted proportionately. See “Item 10. Additional Information—Bylaws—Preemptive Rights.”

 

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The protections afforded to minority shareholders in Mexico are different from those afforded to minority shareholders in the United States.

Under Mexican law, the protections afforded to minority shareholders are different from, and may be less than, those afforded to minority shareholders in the United States. Mexican laws do not provide a remedy to shareholders relating to violations of fiduciary duties. There is no procedure for class actions as such actions are conducted in the United States and there are different procedural requirements for bringing shareholder lawsuits against directors for the benefit of companies. Therefore, it may be more difficult for minority shareholders to enforce their rights against us, our directors or our controlling shareholders than it would be for minority shareholders of a United States company.

Investors may experience difficulties in enforcing civil liabilities against us or our directors, officers and controlling persons.

FEMSA is organized under the laws of Mexico, and most of our directors, officers and controlling persons reside outside the United States. In addition, all or a substantial portion of our assets and their respective assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States on such persons or to enforce judgments against them, including any action based on civil liabilities under the U.S. federal securities laws. There is doubt as to the enforceability against such persons in Mexico, whether in original actions or in actions to enforce judgments of U.S. courts, of liabilities based solely on the U.S. federal securities laws.

Developments in other countries may adversely affect the market for our securities.

The market value of securities of Mexican companies is, to varying degrees, influenced by economic and securities market conditions in other emerging market countries. Although economic conditions are different in each country, investors’ reaction to developments in one country can have effects on the securities of issuers in other countries, including Mexico. We cannot assure you that events elsewhere, especially in emerging markets, will not adversely affect the market value of our securities.

The failure or inability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or other distributions to us may adversely affect us and our ability to pay dividends to holders of ADSs.

FEMSA is a holding company. Accordingly, FEMSA’s cash flows are principally derived from dividends, interest and other distributions made to FEMSA by its subsidiaries. Currently, FEMSA’s subsidiaries do not have contractual obligations that require them to pay dividends to FEMSA. In addition, debt and other contractual obligations of our subsidiaries may in the future impose restrictions on our subsidiaries’ ability to make dividend or other payments to FEMSA, which in turn may adversely affect FEMSA’s ability to pay dividends to shareholders and meet its debt and other obligations. As of December 31, 2011, FEMSA had no restrictions on its ability to pay dividends. Given the exchange of 100% of our FEMSA Cerveza business for a 20% economic interest in the Heineken Group, FEMSA’s non-controlling shareholder position in Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. means that it will be unable to require payment of dividends with respect to the Heineken N.V. or Heineken Holding N.V. shares.

Risks Related to Mexico and the Other Countries in Which We Operate

Adverse economic conditions in Mexico may adversely affect our financial position and results from operations.

We are a Mexican corporation, and our Mexican operations are our single most important geographic territory. Given the exchange of 100% of our FEMSA Cerveza business for a 20% economic interest in the Heineken Group, FEMSA shareholders may face a lesser degree of exposure with respect to economic conditions in Mexico and a greater degree of indirect exposure to the political, economic and social circumstances affecting the markets in which Heineken is present. For the year ended December 31, 2011, 60% of our consolidated total revenues were attributable to Mexico and at the net income level the percentage attributable to our Mexican

 

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operations is further reduced. The Mexican economy experienced a downturn as a result of the impact of the global financial crisis on many emerging economies that began in the second half of 2008 and continued through 2010. In the fourth quarter of 2011, Mexican gross domestic product, or GDP, increased by approximately 3.7% on an annualized basis compared to the same period in 2010, due to an improvement in the manufacturing and services sectors of the economy. The Mexican economy continues to be heavily influenced by the U.S. economy, and therefore, further deterioration in economic conditions in, or delays in recovery of, the U.S. economy may hinder any recovery in Mexico. In the past, Mexico has experienced both prolonged periods of weak economic conditions and deteriorations in economic conditions that have had a negative impact on our results from operations. Given the continuing global macroeconomic downturn in 2009 and 2010, and the slow and uncertain recovery in 2011, which also affected the Mexican economy, we cannot assure you that such conditions will not have a material adverse effect on our results from operations and financial position going forward.

Our business may be significantly affected by the general condition of the Mexican economy, or by the rate of inflation in Mexico, interest rates in Mexico and exchange rates for, or exchange controls affecting, the Mexican peso. Decreases in the growth rate of the Mexican economy, periods of negative growth and/or increases in inflation or interest rates may result in lower demand for our products, lower real pricing of our products or a shift to lower margin products. Because a large percentage of our costs and expenses are fixed, we may not be able to reduce costs and expenses upon the occurrence of any of these events, and our profit margins may suffer as a result.

In addition, an increase in interest rates in Mexico would increase the cost to us of variable rate debt, which constituted 41% of our total debt as of December 31, 2011 (including the effect of interest rate swaps), and have an adverse effect on our financial position and results from operations.

Depreciation of the Mexican peso relative to the U.S. dollar could adversely affect our financial position and results from operations.

Depreciation of the Mexican peso relative to the U.S. dollar increases the cost to us of a portion of the raw materials we acquire, the price of which is paid in or determined with reference to U.S. dollars, and of our debt obligations denominated in U.S. dollars and thereby negatively affects our financial position and results from operations. A severe devaluation or depreciation of the Mexican peso may result in disruption of the international foreign exchange markets and may limit our ability to transfer or to convert Mexican pesos into U.S. dollars and other currencies for the purpose of making timely payments of interest and principal on our U.S. dollar-denominated debt or obligations in other currencies. Although the value of the Mexican peso against the U.S. dollar had been fairly stable until mid-2008, in the fourth quarter of 2008, the Mexican peso depreciated approximately 27% compared to the fourth quarter of 2007. Since 2008, the Mexican peso has continued to experience exchange rate fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar, as follows. During 2009 and 2010, the Mexican peso experienced a recovery relative to the U.S. dollar of approximately 5.2% and 5.6% compared to the year of 2008 and 2009, respectively. During 2011, the Mexican peso experienced a devaluation relative to the U.S. dollar of approximately 12.7% compared to 2010. In the first quarter of 2012, the Mexican peso appreciated approximately 8.2% relative to the U.S. dollar compared to the fourth quarter of 2011.

While the Mexican government does not currently restrict, and since 1982 has not restricted, the right or ability of Mexican or foreign persons or entities to convert Mexican pesos into U.S. dollars or to transfer other currencies out of Mexico, the Mexican government could institute restrictive exchange rate policies in the future, as it has done in the past. Currency fluctuations may have an adverse effect on our financial position, results from operations and cash flows in future periods.

When the financial markets are volatile, as they have been in recent periods, our results from operations may be substantially affected by variations in exchange rates and commodity prices, and to a lesser degree, interest rates. These effects include foreign exchange gain and loss on assets and liabilities denominated in U.S. dollars, fair value gain and loss on derivative financial instruments, commodities prices and changes in interest income and interest expense. These effects can be much more volatile than our operating performance and our operating cash flows.

 

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Political events in Mexico could adversely affect our operations.

Mexican political events may significantly affect our operations. Presidential elections in Mexico occur every six years, and the most recent election occurred in July 2006. Elections of the senate also occurred in July 2006, and although the Partido Acción Nacional (or the PAN) won a plurality of the seats in the Mexican congress in the election, no party succeeded in securing a majority. Elections of the Cámara de Diputados (House of Representatives) occurred in 2009, and although the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (or the PRI) won a plurality of seats in the House of Representatives, no party succeeded in securing a majority. The legislative gridlock resulting from the absence of a clear majority by any single party, which is expected to continue until the Mexican presidential and federal congressional elections to be held in July 2012, has impeded the progress of structural reforms in Mexico, which may adversely affect economic conditions in Mexico, and consequently, our results of operations.

The Mexican presidential election in July 2012 will result in a change in administration, as Mexican law does not allow a sitting president to run for a second consecutive term. The presidential race is expected to be highly contested among a number of different parties, including the PRI, the PAN and the Partido de la Revolución Democrática (the Party of the Democratic Revolution, or PRD), each with its own political platform. As a result, we cannot predict which party will win the presidential election or whether changes in Mexican governmental policy will result from a change in administration. Such changes, should they occur, may adversely affect economic conditions and/or the industries in which we operate in Mexico, and therefore our results of operations and financial position.

Insecurity in Mexico could increase, and this could adversely affect our results.

The presence and increasing levels of violence among drug cartels, and between these and the Mexican law enforcement and armed forces, pose a risk to our business. Organized criminal activity and related violent incidents remained high during 2011 and the first quarter of 2012 and are relatively concentrated along the northern Mexican border, as well as in certain other Mexican states such as Sinaloa, Michoacán and Guerrero. Mexican President Felipe Calderón has acted to fight the drug cartels and has disrupted the balance of power among them. The principal driver of organized criminal activity is the drug trade that aims to supply and profit from the uninterrupted demand for drugs and the supply of weapons from the United States. This situation could impact our business because consumer habits and patterns adjust to the increased perceived and real insecurity as people refrain from going out as much and gradually shift some on-premise consumption to off-premise consumption of food and beverages on certain social occasions. Insecurity could increase, and this could therefore adversely affect our operational and financial results.

Depreciation of local currencies in other Latin American countries in which we operate may adversely affect our financial position.

Total revenues increased in certain of our non-Mexican beverage operations at a higher rate relative to their respective Mexican operations in 2010. Although this was not the case in 2011, the recurrence of such a higher rate of total revenue growth could result in a greater contribution to the respective results from operations for these territories, but may also expose us to greater risk in these territories as a result. The devaluation of the local currencies against the U.S. dollar in our non-Mexican territories can increase our operating costs in these countries, and depreciation of the local currencies against the Mexican peso can negatively affect our results from operations for these countries. In recent years, the value of the currency in the countries in which we operate had been relatively stable except in Venezuela. Future currency devaluation or the imposition of exchange controls in any of these countries, including Mexico, would have an adverse effect on our financial position and results from operations.

 

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ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

The Company

Overview

We are a Mexican company headquartered in Monterrey, Mexico, and our origin dates back to 1890. Our company was incorporated on May 30, 1936 and has a duration of 99 years. The duration can be extended indefinitely by resolution of our shareholders. Our legal name is Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V., and in commercial contexts we frequently refer to ourselves as FEMSA. Our principal executive offices are located at General Anaya No. 601 Pte., Colonia Bella Vista, Monterrey, Nuevo León 64410, Mexico. Our telephone number at this location is (52-81) 8328-6000. Our website is www.femsa.com. We are organized as a sociedad anónima bursátil de capital variable under the laws of Mexico.

We conduct our operations through the following principal holding companies, each of which we refer to as a principal sub-holding company:

 

   

Coca-Cola FEMSA, which engages in the production, distribution and marketing of soft drinks;

 

   

FEMSA Comercio, which operates convenience stores; and

 

   

CB Equity, which holds our investment in Heineken.

On April 30, 2010, FEMSA announced the closing of the transaction pursuant to which FEMSA agreed to exchange 100% of its beer operations for a 20% economic interest in the Heineken Group. Under Mexican FRS, we have reclassified our consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2009 to reflect FEMSA Cerveza as a discontinued operation. However, FEMSA Cerveza is not a discontinued operation under U.S. GAAP. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—U.S. GAAP Reconciliation” and Notes 26 and 27 to our audited consolidated financial statements.

Corporate Background

FEMSA traces its origins to the establishment of Mexico’s first brewery, Cervecería Cuauhtémoc, S.A., which we refer to as Cuauhtémoc, which was founded in 1890 by four Monterrey businessmen: Francisco G. Sada, José A. Muguerza, Isaac Garza and José M. Schneider. Descendants of certain of the founders of Cuauhtémoc are participants of the voting trust that controls the management of our company.

The strategic integration of our company dates back to 1936 when our packaging operations were established to supply crown caps to the brewery. During this period, these operations were part of what was known as the Monterrey Group, which also included interests in banking, steel and other packaging operations.

In 1974, the Monterrey Group was split between two branches of the descendants of the founding families of Cuauhtémoc. The steel and other packaging operations formed the basis for the creation of Corporación Siderúrgica, S.A. (now Alfa, S.A.B. de C.V.), controlled by the Garza Sada family, and the beverage and banking operations were consolidated under the Valores Industriales, S.A. de C.V. (the corporate predecessor of FEMSA) corporate umbrella controlled by the Garza Lagüera family. FEMSA’s shares were first listed on what is now the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores, S.A.B. de C.V. (which we refer to as the Mexican Stock Exchange) on September 19, 1978. Between 1977 and 1981, FEMSA diversified its operations through acquisitions in the soft drinks and mineral water industries, the establishment of the first convenience stores under the trade name OXXO and other investments in the hotel, construction, auto parts, food and fishing industries, which were considered non-core businesses and were subsequently divested.

In August 1982, the Mexican government suspended payment on its international debt obligations and nationalized the Mexican banking system. In 1985, certain controlling shareholders of FEMSA acquired a

 

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controlling interest in Cervecería Moctezuma, S.A., which was then Mexico’s third-largest brewery and which we refer to as Moctezuma, and related companies in the packaging industry. FEMSA subsequently undertook an extensive corporate and financial restructuring that was completed in December 1988, and pursuant to which FEMSA’s assets were combined under a single corporate entity, which became Grupo Industrial Emprex, S.A. de C.V., which we refer to as Emprex.

In October 1991, certain majority shareholders of FEMSA acquired a controlling interest in Bancomer, S.A., which we refer to as Bancomer. The investment in Bancomer was undertaken as part of the Mexican government’s reprivatization of the banking system, which had been nationalized in 1982. The Bancomer acquisition was financed in part by a subscription by Emprex’s shareholders, including FEMSA, of shares in Grupo Financiero Bancomer, S.A. de C.V. (currently Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, S.A. de C.V.), which we refer to as BBVA Bancomer, the Mexican financial services holding company that was formed to hold a controlling interest in Bancomer. In February 1992, FEMSA offered Emprex’s shareholders the opportunity to exchange the BBVA Bancomer shares to which they were entitled for Emprex shares owned by FEMSA. In August 1996, the shares of BBVA Bancomer that were received by FEMSA in the exchange with Emprex’s shareholders were distributed as a dividend to FEMSA’s shareholders.

Upon the completion of these transactions, we began a series of strategic transactions to strengthen the competitive positions of our operating subsidiaries. These transactions included the sale of a 30% strategic interest in Coca-Cola FEMSA to a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company and a subsequent public offering of Coca-Cola FEMSA shares, both of which occurred in 1993, and the sale of a 22% strategic interest in FEMSA Cerveza to Labatt Brewing Company Limited, which we refer to as Labatt, in 1994. Labatt, which was later acquired by InBev S.A., or InBev (known at the time of the acquisition of Labatt as Interbrew and currently referred to as A-B InBev), subsequently increased its interest in FEMSA Cerveza to 30%.

In 1998, we completed a reorganization that:

 

   

changed our capital structure by converting our outstanding capital stock at the time of the reorganization into BD Units and B Units, and

 

   

united the shareholders of FEMSA and the former shareholders of Emprex at the same corporate level through an exchange offer that was consummated on May 11, 1998.

As part of the reorganization, FEMSA listed ADSs on the NYSE representing BD Units, and listed the BD Units and its B Units on the Mexican Stock Exchange.

In May 2003, our subsidiary Coca-Cola FEMSA expanded its operations throughout Latin America by acquiring 100% of Panamerican Beverages, Inc., which we refer to as Panamco, then the largest soft drink bottler in Latin America in terms of sales volume in 2002. Through its acquisition of Panamco, Coca-Cola FEMSA began producing and distributing Coca-Cola trademark beverages in additional territories in Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil, along with bottled water, beer and other beverages in some of these territories. The Coca-Cola Company and its subsidiaries received Series D Shares in exchange for their equity interest in Panamco of approximately 25%.

In August 2004, we consummated a series of transactions with InBev, Labatt and certain of their affiliates to terminate the existing arrangements between FEMSA Cerveza and Labatt. As a result of these transactions, FEMSA acquired 100% ownership of FEMSA Cerveza and previously existing arrangements among affiliates of FEMSA and InBev relating to governance, transfer of ownership and other matters with respect to FEMSA Cerveza were terminated.

In June 2005, we consummated an equity offering of 80.5 million BD Units (including BD Units in the form of ADSs) and 52.78 million B units that resulted in net proceeds to us of US$ 700 million after underwriting spreads and commissions. We used the proceeds of the equity offering to refinance indebtedness incurred in connection with the transactions with InBev, Labatt and certain of their affiliates.

 

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In January 2006, FEMSA Cerveza, through one of its subsidiaries, acquired 68% of the equity of the Brazilian brewer Cervejarias Kaiser, which we refer to as Kaiser, from the Molson Coors Brewing Company, or Molson Coors, for US$ 68 million. Molson Coors retained a 15% ownership stake in Kaiser, while Heineken N.V.’s ownership of 17% remained unchanged. In December 2006, Molson Coors completed its exit from Kaiser by exercising its option to sell its 15% holding to FEMSA Cerveza. On December 22, 2006, FEMSA Cerveza made a capital increase of US$ 200 million in Kaiser. At the time, Heineken N.V. elected not to participate in the increase, thereby diluting its 17% interest in Kaiser to 0.17%, and FEMSA Cerveza thereby increased its stake to 99.83% of the equity of Kaiser. However, in August 2007, FEMSA Cerveza and Heineken N.V. closed a stock purchase agreement whereby Heineken N.V. purchased the shares necessary to regain its 17% interest in Kaiser. As a result of this transaction, FEMSA Cerveza obtained ownership of 83% of Kaiser and Heineken N.V. obtained ownership of 17%.

In November 2006, we acquired from certain subsidiaries of The Coca-Cola Company 148,000,000 Series D shares of Coca-Cola FEMSA, representing 8.02% of the total outstanding stock of Coca-Cola FEMSA. We acquired these shares at a price of US$ 427.4 million in the aggregate, pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding with The Coca-Cola Company. As of April 20, 2012, we indirectly owned Series A Shares of Coca-Cola FEMSA equal to 50.0% of its capital stock (63.0% of its capital stock with full voting rights) and The Coca-Cola Company indirectly owned Series D Shares of Coca-Cola FEMSA equal to 29.4% of its capital stock (37.0% of its capital stock with full voting rights). The remaining 20.6% of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s capital stock consisted of Series L Shares with limited voting rights, which trade on the Mexican Stock Exchange and/or on the NYSE in the form of ADSs under the trading symbol KOF.

In March 2007, at our company’s AGM, our shareholders approved a three-for-one stock split of FEMSA’s outstanding stock and our ADSs traded on the NYSE. The pro rata stock split had no effect on the ownership structure of FEMSA. The new units issued in the stock split were distributed by the Mexican Stock Exchange on May 28, 2007, to holders of record as of May 25, 2007, and ADSs traded on the NYSE were distributed on May 30, 2007, to holders of record as of May 25, 2007.

In November 2007, Administración, S.A.P.I. de C.V., or Administración, a Mexican company owned directly or indirectly by Coca-Cola FEMSA and by The Coca-Cola Company, acquired 58,350,908 shares representing 100% of the shares of the capital stock of Jugos del Valle, for US$ 370 million in cash, with assumed liabilities of US$ 86 million. On June 30, 2008, Administración and Jugos del Valle merged, and Jugos del Valle became the surviving entity. Subsequent to the initial acquisition of Jugos del Valle, Coca-Cola FEMSA offered to sell 30% of its interest in Administración to other Coca-Cola bottlers in Mexico. In December 2008, the surviving Jugos del Valle entity sold its operations to The Coca-Cola Company, Coca-Cola FEMSA and other bottlers of Coca-Cola trademark brands in Brazil. These still beverage operations were integrated into a joint business with The Coca-Cola Company in Brazil. Through Coca-Cola FEMSA’s joint ventures with The Coca-Cola Company, we distribute the Jugos del Valle line of juice-based beverages and have begun to develop and distribute new products. As of December 31, 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008, Coca-Cola FEMSA has a recorded investment of 19.8% of the capital stock of Jugos del Valle.

In April 2008, FEMSA shareholders approved a proposal to amend our bylaws in order to preserve the unit structure for our shares that has been in place since May 1998, and to maintain our existing share structure beyond May 11, 2008. Our bylaws previously provided that on May 11, 2008 our Series D-B Shares would convert into Series B Shares and our Series D-L Shares would convert into Series L Shares with limited voting rights. In addition, our bylaws provided that, on May 11, 2008, our current unit structure would cease to exist and each of our B Units would be unbundled into five Series B Shares, while each BD Unit would unbundle into three Series B Shares and two newly issued Series L Shares. Following the April 22, 2008 shareholder approvals, the automatic conversion of our share and unit structures no longer exist, and, absent shareholder action, our share structure will continue to be comprised of Series B Shares, which must represent not less than 51% of our outstanding capital stock, and Series D-B and Series D-L Shares, which together may represent up to 49% of our outstanding capital stock. Our Unit structure, absent shareholder action, will continue to consist of B Units, which bundle five Series B Shares, and BD Units, which bundle one Series B Share, two Series D-B Shares and two Series D-L Shares. See “Item 9. The Offer and Listing—Description of Securities.”

 

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In May 2008, Coca-Cola FEMSA completed its acquisition of Refrigerantes Minas Gerais, Ltda., or REMIL, in Brazil for US$ 364.1 million, net of cash received, and assumed liabilities of US$ 196.9 million.

In January 2010, FEMSA announced that its Board of Directors unanimously approved a definitive agreement under which FEMSA would exchange its FEMSA Cerveza business for a 20% economic interest in Heineken, one of the world’s leading brewers. Under the terms of the agreement, FEMSA received 43,018,320 shares of Heineken Holding N.V. and 43,009,699 shares of Heineken N.V., with an additional 29,172,504 shares of Heineken N.V. (which shares we refer to as the Allotted Shares) to be delivered pursuant to an allotted share delivery instrument, or the ASDI. Heineken also assumed US$ 2.1 billion of indebtedness, including FEMSA Cerveza’s unfunded pension obligations. The Allotted Shares were delivered to FEMSA in several installments during 2010 and 2011, with the final installment delivered on October 5, 2011. As of December 31, 2011, FEMSA’s interest in Heineken N.V. represented 12.53% of Heineken N.V.’s outstanding capital and 14.94% of Heineken Holding N.V.’s outstanding capital. The principal terms of the Heineken transaction documents are summarized below in “Item 10. Additional Information—Material Contracts.”

In February 2010, FEMSA signed an agreement with subsidiaries of The Coca-Cola Company to amend the shareholders agreement for Coca-Cola FEMSA. The purpose of the amendment is to set forth that the appointment and compensation of the chief executive officer and all officers reporting to the chief executive officer, as well as the adoption of decisions related to the ordinary operations of Coca-Cola FEMSA, shall only require a simple majority vote of the board of directors. Decisions related to extraordinary matters (such as business acquisitions or combinations in an amount exceeding US$ 100 million, among others) shall continue to require the vote of the majority of the board of directors, including the affirmative vote of two of the board members appointed by The Coca-Cola Company. The amendment was approved at Coca-Cola FEMSA’s extraordinary shareholders meeting on April 14, 2010, and is reflected in the bylaws of Coca-Cola FEMSA. This amendment was signed without transfer of any consideration. The percentage of our voting interest in our subsidiary Coca-Cola FEMSA remains the same after the signing of this amendment.

In April 2010, Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. held their AGM, and approved the acquisition of 100% of the shares of the beer operations owned by FEMSA, under the terms announced in January 2010. The AGM of Heineken appointed, subject to the completion of the acquisition of FEMSA’s beer operations, Mr. Jose Antonio Fernández Carbajal as member of the Board of Directors of Heineken Holding N.V. and the Heineken Supervisory Board, and Mr. Javier Astaburuaga Sanjines as second representative in the Heineken Supervisory Board. Their appointments became effective on April 30, 2010.

In April 2010, FEMSA held its AGM, during which shareholders approved the transaction with Heineken. Shareholders approved the exchange of 100% of FEMSA’s beer operations in Mexico and Brazil for a 20% economic interest in the Heineken Group, and the assumption by Heineken of debt in the amount of US$2.1 billion, under the transaction terms described in January 2010.

In April 2010, FEMSA announced the closing of the transaction pursuant to which FEMSA agreed to exchange 100% of its beer operations for a 20% economic interest in the Heineken Group. The principal terms of the Heineken transaction documents are summarized below in “Item 10. Additional Information—Material Contracts.”

In September 2010, FEMSA sold Promotora de Marcas Nacionales, S. de R.L. de C.V., which we refer to as Promotora, to The Coca-Cola Company. Promotora was the owner of the Mundet brands of soft drinks in Mexico.

In September 2010, FEMSA signed definitive agreements with GPC III, B.V. to sell its flexible packaging and label operations, Grafo Regia, S.A. de C.V. This transaction was part of FEMSA’s strategy to divest non-core assets. The transaction was closed on December 31, 2010.

During the third quarter of 2010, Coca-Cola FEMSA completed a transaction with a Brazilian subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company to produce, sell and distribute Matte Leão branded products. This transaction reinforced Coca-Cola FEMSA’s non-carbonated product offering through the platform that is operated by The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partners in Brazil. As a part of the agreement, Coca-Cola FEMSA has been selling and distributing certain Matte Leão branded ready-to-drink products since the first quarter of 2010. As of April 20, 2012, Coca-Cola FEMSA had a 19.4% indirect interest in the Matte Leão business in Brazil.

 

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In March 2011, a consortium of investors formed by FEMSA, the Macquarie Mexican Infrastructure Fund and other investors, acquired Energía Alterna Istmeña, S. de R.L. de C.V., which we refer to as EAI, and Energía Eólica Mareña, S.A. de C.V., which we refer to as EEM, from subsidiaries of Preneal, S.A., which we refer to as Preneal. EAI and EEM together constitute the Mareña Renovables Wind Power Farm, a 396 megawatt late-stage wind energy project in the southeastern region of the State of Oaxaca. The Mareña Renovables Wind Power Farm is expected to be the largest wind power farm in Latin America.

In March 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA, with The Coca-Cola Company and through Compañía Panameña de Bebidas S.A.P.I. de C.V., acquired Grupo Industrias Lácteas, which we refer to as Estrella Azul, a Panamanian company engaged for more than 50 years in the dairy and juice-based beverage categories. Coca-Cola FEMSA acquired a 50% interest and will continue to develop this business with The Coca-Cola Company. Beginning in April 2011, both The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola FEMSA commenced the gradual integration of Estrella Azul into the existing beverage platform they share for the development of non-carbonated products in Panama.

In October 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA merged with Administradora de Acciones del Noreste, S.A. de C.V., which constituted the beverage division of Grupo Tampico, S.A. de C.V. (which we refer to as Grupo Tampico) and was one of the largest family-owned Coca-Cola product bottlers in Mexico, as calculated by sales volume. This franchise territory operates in the states of Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí and Veracruz, as well as in certain parts of the states of Hidalgo, Puebla and Querétaro, and sold 155.7 million unit cases of beverages in 2011. The aggregate enterprise value at the announcement date of this transaction was Ps. 9,300 million. Grupo Tampico’s principal shareholders received 63.5 million newly issued Coca-Cola FEMSA Series L Shares. Coca-Cola FEMSA began to consolidate the beverage division of Grupo Tampico in its financial statements as of October 2011.

In December 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA began the construction of a production plant in Minas Gerais, Brazil, which will require an investment of 250 million Brazilian reais (equivalent to approximately US$ 140 million). We expect that the construction will generate 800 direct and indirect jobs. As of December 31, 2011, it was anticipated that the new plant would be completed within 18 months and begin operations in June 2013. The plant will be located on a parcel of land 300,000 square meters in size, and it is expected that by 2015 the annual production capacity will be approximately 2.1 billion liters of sparkling beverages, representing an increase of approximately 47% as compared to the current installed capacity of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s plant in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The new plant will produce all of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s existing brands and presentations of Coca-Cola products.

In December 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA merged with the beverage division of Corporación de los Ángeles, S.A. de C.V. (which we refer to as Grupo CIMSA), which division was a Mexican family-owned bottler of Coca-Cola trademark products. This franchise territory operates mainly in the states of Morelos and Mexico, as well as in certain parts of the states of Guerrero and Michoacán, and sold 154.8 million unit cases of beverages in 2011. The aggregate enterprise value at the announcement date of this transaction was Ps. 11,000 million. A total of 75.4 million new Coca-Cola FEMSA Series L Shares were issued in connection with the transaction, and Coca-Cola FEMSA began to consolidate the beverage division of Grupo CIMSA in its financial statements as of December 2011. As part of its merger with the beverage division of Grupo CIMSA, Coca-Cola FEMSA acquired a 13.2% equity interest in Promotora Industrial Azucarera, S.A. de C.V., which we refer to as Piasa.

On December 15, 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA entered into an agreement to merge the beverage division of Grupo Fomento Queretano, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (which we refer to Grupo Fomento Queretano) into Coca-Cola FEMSA. Grupo Fomento Queretano’s beverage division operates mainly in the Mexican state of Querétaro, as well as in parts of the states of Mexico, Hidalgo and Guanajuato. The merger agreement was approved by both Coca-Cola FEMSA’s and Grupo Fomento Queretano’s boards of directors, and is subject to the approval of the Comisión Federal de Competencia (the Mexican Antitrust Commission, or the CFC) and of the shareholders meetings of both companies. The transaction will involve the issuance of approximately 45.1 million new Coca-Cola FEMSA Series L Shares, and in addition Coca-Cola FEMSA will assume Ps. 1,221 million in net debt. This transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2012.

 

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In February 2012, Coca-Cola FEMSA announced that it had entered into a 12-month exclusivity agreement with The Coca-Cola Company to evaluate the potential acquisition by Coca-Cola FEMSA of a controlling ownership stake in the bottling operations owned by The Coca-Cola Company in the Philippines. Both parties believe that Coca-Cola FEMSA’s expertise and successful track record operating in fragmented markets and emerging economies could be effectively deployed in such territory, and contribute significantly toward expanding the penetration of, and consumer preference for, The Coca-Cola Company’s brands in that market. This exclusivity agreement does not require either party to enter into any transaction, and there can be no assurances that a definitive agreement will be executed.

On February 23, 2012, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation, and Stichting Depositary PGGM Infrastructure Funds, a pension fund managed by PGGM, acquired the 45% interest held by FEMSA in the parent companies of the Mareña Renovables Wind Power Farm. Certain subsidiaries of FEMSA, FEMSA Comercio and Coca-Cola FEMSA have entered into 20-year wind power supply agreements with the Mareña Renovables Wind Power Farm to purchase energy output produced by it. These agreements will remain in full force and effect. The sale of FEMSA’s participation as an investor will result in a gain.

 

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Ownership Structure

We conduct our business through our principal sub-holding companies as shown in the following diagram and table:

Principal Sub-holding Companies—Ownership Structure

As of March 31, 2012

 

LOGO

 

(1) Compañía Internacional de Bebidas, S.A. de C.V., which we refer to as CIBSA.

 

(2) Percentage of capital stock, equal to 63.0% of capital stock with full voting rights.

 

(3) Ownership in CB Equity held through various FEMSA subsidiaries.

 

(4) Combined economic interest in Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V.

 

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The following table presents an overview of our operations by reportable segment and by geographic region:

Operations by Segment—Overview

Year Ended December 31, 2011 and % of growth vs. last year(1)

 

     Coca-Cola FEMSA     FEMSA Comercio     CB Equity(2)  
     (in millions of Mexican pesos,
except for employees and percentages)
       

Total revenues

     Ps.124,715         20.5     Ps.74,112         19.0     Ps. —           —  %   

Income from operations

     20,152         18.0     6,276         20.7     (7)         (133)%   

Total assets

     151,608         32.9     26,998         14.0     76,791         14.6%   

Employees

     78,979         15.4     83,820         14.7     —           N/a   

Total Revenues Summary by Segment(1)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2011      2010      2009  
     (in millions of Mexican pesos)  

Coca-Cola FEMSA

     Ps.124,715         Ps.103,456         Ps.102,767   

FEMSA Comercio

     74,112         62,259         53,549   

CB Equity(2)

     —           —           N/a   

Other

     13,373         12,010         10,991   

Consolidated total revenues(3)

     Ps.203,044         Ps.169,702         Ps.160,251   

Total Revenues Summary by Geographic Region(4)(5)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
      2011      2010      2009  

Mexico and Central America(3)(6)

     Ps.130,256         Ps.111,769         Ps.101,023   

South America(3)(7)

     53,113         44,468         37,507   

Venezuela

     20,173         14,048         22,448   

Consolidated total revenues(3)

     Ps.203,044         Ps.169,702         Ps.160,251   

 

(1) The sum of the financial data for each of our segments and percentages with respect thereto differ from our consolidated financial information due to intercompany transactions, which are eliminated in consolidation, and certain assets and activities of FEMSA.

 

(2) CB Equity holds Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. shares.

 

(3) For 2009, consolidated total revenues have been modified to exclude FEMSA Cerveza financial information due to its presentation as a discontinued operation.

 

(4) In 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA changed its business structure and organization. As a result, revenues by geographic region have been regrouped into the following two regions: Mexico and Central America; and South America. See Note 25 to our audited consolidated financial statements.

 

(5) The sum of the financial data for each geographic region differs from our consolidated financial information due to intercompany transactions, which are eliminated in consolidation.

 

(6) Central America includes Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. Domestic (Mexico-only) revenues were Ps. 122,690 million, Ps. 105,448 million and Ps. 94,819 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

(7) Includes Colombia, Brazil and Argentina. South America revenues include Brazilian revenues of Ps. 31,405 million, Ps. 27,070 million and Ps. 21,465 million, and Colombian revenues of Ps. 12,320 million, Ps. 11,057 million and Ps. 9,904 million, each for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

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Significant Subsidiaries

The following table sets forth our significant subsidiaries as of February 29, 2012:

 

Name of Company

   Jurisdiction of
Establishment
   Percentage
Owned
 

CIBSA

   Mexico      100.0

Coca-Cola FEMSA(1)

   Mexico        50.0

Propimex, S. de R.L. de C.V. (a limited liability company; formerly Propimex, S.A. de C.V.)

   Mexico        50.0

Controladora Interamericana de Bebidas, S.A. de C.V.

   Mexico        50.0

Coca-Cola FEMSA de Venezuela, S.A. (formerly Panamco Venezuela, S.A. de C.V.)

   Venezuela        50.0

Spal Industria Brasileira de Bebidas, S.A.

   Brazil        48.9

FEMSA Comercio

   Mexico      100.0

CB Equity

   United Kingdom      100.0

 

(1) Percentage of capital stock. FEMSA owns 63.0% of the capital stock with full voting rights.

Business Strategy

FEMSA is a leading company that participates in the non-alcoholic beverage industry through Coca-Cola FEMSA, the largest independent bottler of Coca-Cola products in the world in terms of sales volume; in the retail industry through FEMSA Comercio, operating the largest and fastest-growing chain of convenience stores in Latin America; and in the beer industry, through its ownership of the second-largest equity stake in Heineken, one of the world’s leading brewers, with operations in over 70 countries.

We understand the importance of connecting with our end consumers by interpreting their needs, and ultimately delivering the right products to them for the right occasions and the optimal value proposition. We strive to achieve this by developing brand value, expanding our significant distribution capabilities, and improving the efficiency of our operations while aiming to reach our full potential. We continue to improve our information gathering and processing systems in order to better know and understand what our consumers want and need, and we are improving our production and distribution by more efficiently leveraging our asset base.

We believe that the competencies that our businesses have developed can be replicated in other geographic regions. This underlying principle guided our consolidation efforts, which culminated in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s acquisition of Panamco in May 2003. The continental platform that this combination produced—encompassing a significant territorial expanse in Mexico and Central America, including some of the most populous metropolitan areas in Latin America—has provided us with opportunities to create value through both an improved ability to execute our strategies and the use of superior marketing tools. We have also increased our capabilities to operate and succeed in other geographic regions, by developing significant management and marketing tools to gain an understanding of local consumer needs and trends, as is the case with OXXO’s new Colombian operations. Going forward, we intend to use those capabilities to continue our international expansion of both Coca-Cola FEMSA and OXXO.

Our ultimate objectives are achieving sustainable revenue growth, improving profitability and increasing the return on invested capital in each of our operations. We believe that by achieving these goals we will create sustainable value for our shareholders.

 

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Coca-Cola FEMSA

Overview

Coca-Cola FEMSA is the largest franchise bottler of Coca-Cola trademark beverages in the world. Coca-Cola FEMSA operates in the following territories:

 

   

Mexico – a substantial portion of central Mexico (including Mexico City and the states of Michoacán and Guanajuato) and the southeast and northeast of Mexico (including the Gulf region).

 

   

Central America – Guatemala (Guatemala City and surrounding areas), Nicaragua (nationwide), Costa Rica (nationwide) and Panama (nationwide).

 

   

Colombia – most of the country.

 

   

Venezuela – nationwide.

 

   

Brazil – the area of greater São Paulo, Campinas, Santos, the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, part of the state of Minas Gerais and part of the state of Goiás.

 

   

Argentina – Buenos Aires and surrounding areas.

Coca-Cola FEMSA was organized on October 30, 1991 as a sociedad anónima de capital variable (a variable capital stock corporation) under the laws of Mexico with a duration of 99 years. On December 5, 2006, as required by amendments to the Mexican Securities Law, Coca-Cola FEMSA became a sociedad anónima bursátil de capital variable (a listed variable capital stock corporation). Coca-Cola FEMSA’s legal name is Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s principal executive offices are located at Guillermo González Camarena No. 600, Col. Centro de Ciudad Santa Fe, Delegación Álvaro Obregón, México, D.F., 01210, México. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s telephone number at this location is (52-55) 5081-5100. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s website is www.coca-colafemsa.com.

The following is an overview of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s operations by reporting segment in 2011.

Operations by Reporting Segment—Overview

Year Ended December 31, 2011(1)

 

     Total
Revenues
     Percentage of
Total Revenues
    Income from
Operations
     Percentage of
Income from
Operations
 

Mexico and Central America(2)

     52,196         41.9     8,906         44.2

South America (excluding Venezuela)(3)

     52,408         42.0     7,943         39.4

Venezuela

     20,111         16.1     3,303         16.4

Consolidated

     124,715         100.0     20,152         100.0

 

(1) Expressed in millions of Mexican pesos, except for percentages.

 

(2) Includes Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. Includes results of the beverage division of Grupo Tampico from October 2011 and of the beverage division of Grupo CIMSA from December 2011.

 

(3) Includes Colombia, Brazil and Argentina.

Corporate History

In 1979, one of our subsidiaries acquired certain sparkling beverage bottlers that are now a part of Coca-Cola FEMSA. At that time, the acquired bottlers had 13 Mexican distribution centers operating 701 distribution routes, and their production capacity was 83 million physical cases. In 1991, FEMSA transferred its ownership in the bottlers to FEMSA Refrescos, S.A. de C.V., the corporate predecessor of Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V.

In June 1993, a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company subscribed for 30% of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s capital stock in the form of Series D Shares for US$ 195 million. In September 1993, FEMSA sold Series L Shares that

 

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represented 19% of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s capital stock to the public, and Coca-Cola FEMSA listed these shares on the Mexican Stock Exchange and, in the form of ADSs, on the NYSE. In a series of transactions between 1994 and 1997, Coca-Cola FEMSA acquired territories in Argentina and additional territories in southern Mexico.

In May 2003, Coca-Cola FEMSA acquired Panamco and began producing and distributing Coca-Cola trademark beverages in additional territories in the central and the gulf regions of Mexico and in Central America (Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama), Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil, along with bottled water, beer and other beverages in some of these territories. As a result of the acquisition, the interest of The Coca-Cola Company in the capital stock of Coca-Cola FEMSA increased from 30.0% to 39.6%.

During August 2004, Coca-Cola FEMSA conducted a rights offering to allow existing holders of its Series L Shares and ADSs to acquire newly-issued Series L Shares in the form of Series L Shares and ADSs, respectively, at the same price per share at which we and The Coca-Cola Company subscribed in connection with the Panamco acquisition. In March 2006, its shareholders approved the non-cancellation of the 98,684,857 Series L Shares (equivalent to approximately 9.87 million ADSs, or over one-third of the issued Series L Shares at the time) that were not subscribed for in the rights offering which were available for subscription at a price of no less than US$ 2.216 per share or its equivalent in Mexican currency.

In November 2006, we acquired, through a subsidiary, 148,000,000 Coca-Cola FEMSA Series D Shares from certain subsidiaries of The Coca-Cola Company representing 9.4% of the total outstanding voting shares and 8.0% of the total outstanding equity of Coca-Cola FEMSA, at a price of US$ 2.888 per share for an aggregate amount of US$ 427.4 million. With this purchase, we increased our ownership to 53.7% of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s capital stock. Pursuant to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bylaws, the acquired shares were converted from Series D Shares to Series A Shares.

In November 2007, Administración, S.A.P.I., a Mexican company owned directly or indirectly by Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company, acquired 100% of the shares of capital stock of Jugos del Valle. See “—The Company—Background.” The business of Jugos del Valle in the United States was acquired and sold by The Coca-Cola Company. Subsequently, Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company and all Mexican and Brazilian Coca-Cola bottlers entered into a joint business for the Mexican and the Brazilian operations, respectively, of Jugos del Valle, through transactions completed during 2008. Taking into account the participations held by the beverage divisions of Grupo Tampico and Grupo CIMSA, Coca-Cola FEMSA currently holds an interest of 24.0% in the Mexican joint business and approximately 19.7% in the Brazilian joint businesses of Jugos del Valle. Jugos del Valle sells fruit juice-based beverages and fruit derivatives.

In May 2008, Coca-Cola FEMSA entered into a transaction with The Coca-Cola Company to acquire its wholly-owned bottling franchise REMIL, located in the State of Minas Gerais in Brazil, and Coca-Cola FEMSA paid a purchase price of US$ 364.1 million in June 2008. Coca-Cola FEMSA began to consolidate REMIL in its financial statements as of June 1, 2008.

In December 2007 and May 2008, Coca-Cola FEMSA sold most of its proprietary brands to The Coca-Cola Company. The proprietary brands are now being licensed back to Coca-Cola FEMSA by The Coca-Cola Company pursuant to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bottler agreements. The December 2007 transaction was valued at US$ 48 million and the May 2008 transaction was valued at US$ 16 million. Coca-Cola FEMSA believes that both of these transactions were conducted on an arm’s length basis. Revenues from the sale of proprietary brands in which Coca-Cola FEMSA has a significant continuing involvement are deferred and amortized against the related costs of future sales over the estimated sales period.

In July 2008, Coca-Cola FEMSA acquired the jug water business of Agua de los Ángeles, S.A. de C.V., or Agua de los Ángeles, in the Valley of Mexico (Mexico City and surrounding areas) from Grupo Embotellador CIMSA, S.A. de C.V., at the time one of the Coca-Cola bottling franchises in Mexico, for a purchase price of US$ 18.3 million. The trademarks remain with The Coca-Cola Company. Coca-Cola FEMSA subsequently merged Agua de los Ángeles into its jug water business under the Ciel brand.

In February 2009, Coca-Cola FEMSA, together with The Coca-Cola Company, acquired the Brisa bottled water business in Colombia from Bavaria, a subsidiary of SABMiller. Coca-Cola FEMSA acquired the production

 

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assets and the distribution territory, and The Coca-Cola Company acquired the Brisa brand. Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company equally shared in paying the purchase price of US$ 92 million. Following a transition period, in June 2009, Coca-Cola FEMSA started to sell and distribute the Brisa portfolio of products in Colombia.

In May 2009, Coca-Cola FEMSA entered into an agreement to develop the Crystal trademark water products in Brazil jointly with The Coca-Cola Company.

In August 2010, Coca-Cola FEMSA acquired from The Coca-Cola Company, along with other Brazilian Coca-Cola bottlers, the business operations of the Matte Leão tea brand. As of April 20, 2012, Coca-Cola FEMSA had a 19.4% indirect interest in the Matte Leão business in Brazil.

In March 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA, with The Coca-Cola Company and through Compañía Panameña de Bebidas S.A.P.I. de C.V., acquired Estrella Azul, a Panamanian conglomerate that participates in the dairy and juice-based beverage categories in Panama. Coca-Cola FEMSA will continue to develop this business with The Coca-Cola Company.

In October 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA merged with the beverage division of Administradora de Acciones del Noreste, S.A. de C.V., which constituted Grupo Tampico’s beverage division and was one of the largest family-owned bottlers of Coca-Cola trademark products in Mexico, as calculated by sales volume. This franchise territory operates in the states of Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí and Veracruz, as well as in certain parts of the states of Hidalgo, Puebla and Querétaro, and sold 155.7 million unit cases of beverages in 2011. The aggregate enterprise value at the announcement date of this transaction was Ps. 9,300 million, and a total of 63.5 million new Coca-Cola FEMSA Series L Shares were issued in connection with the transaction. Coca-Cola FEMSA began to consolidate the beverage division of Grupo Tampico in its financial statements as of October 2011.

In December 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA merged with the beverage division of Grupo CIMSA, a Mexican family-owned bottler of Coca-Cola trademark products with operations mainly in the states of Morelos and México, as well as in certain parts of the states of Guerrero and Michoacán. This franchise territory sold 154.8 million unit cases of beverages in 2011. The aggregate enterprise value of this transaction was Ps. 11,000 million, and a total of 75.4 million new Coca-Cola FEMSA Series L Shares were issued in connection with this transaction. Coca-Cola FEMSA began to consolidate the beverage division of Grupo CIMSA in its financial statements as of December 2011. As part of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s merger with the beverage division of Grupo CIMSA, it also acquired a 13.2% equity interest in Piasa.

Recent Mergers and Acquisitions

On December 15, 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA entered into an agreement to merge the beverage division of Grupo Fomento Queretano into Coca-Cola FEMSA. Grupo Fomento Queretano’s beverage division operates mainly in the Mexican state of Querétaro, as well as in parts of the states of Mexico, Hidalgo and Guanajuato. The merger agreement was approved by both Coca-Cola FEMSA’s and Grupo Fomento Queretano’s boards of directors, and is subject to the approval of the CFC and of the shareholders meetings of both companies. The transaction will involve the issuance of approximately 45.1 million new Coca-Cola FEMSA Series L Shares, and in addition Coca-Cola FEMSA will assume Ps. 1,221 million in net debt. This transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2012.

 

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In February 2012, Coca-Cola FEMSA entered into a 12-month exclusivity agreement with The Coca-Cola Company to evaluate the potential acquisition by Coca-Cola FEMSA of a controlling ownership stake in the bottling operations owned by The Coca-Cola Company in the Philippines. Coca-Cola FEMSA remains in the process of evaluating this potential acquisition.

Capital Stock

As of April 20, 2012, we indirectly owned Series A Shares of Coca-Cola FEMSA equal to 50.0% of its capital stock (63.0% of its capital stock with full voting rights). As of April 20, 2012, The Coca-Cola Company indirectly owned Series D Shares of Coca-Cola FEMSA equal to 29.4% of its capital stock (37.0% of its capital stock with full voting rights). Series L Shares with limited voting rights, which trade on the Mexican Stock Exchange and/or in the form of ADSs on the NYSE, constituted the remaining 20.6% of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s capital stock.

 

LOGO

Business Strategy

In August 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA restructured its business under two new divisions: Mexico and Central America; and South America, creating a more flexible structure to execute its strategies and extend Coca-Cola FEMSA’s track record of growth. Previously, Coca-Cola FEMSA managed its business under three divisions: Mexico; Latincentro; and Mercosur. With this new business structure, Coca-Cola FEMSA aligned its business strategies more efficiently, ensuring a faster introduction of new products and categories, and a more rapid and effective design and deployment of commercial models.

Coca-Cola FEMSA operates with a large geographic footprint in Latin America in two divisions:

 

   

Mexico and Central America (covering certain territories in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama); and

 

   

South America (covering certain territories in Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina).

 

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One of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s goals is to maximize growth and profitability to create value for its shareholders. Its efforts to achieve this goal are based on: (1) transforming Coca-Cola FEMSA’s commercial models to focus on its customers’ value potential and using a value-based segmentation approach to capture the industry’s value potential; (2) implementing multi-segmentation strategies in its major markets to target distinct market clusters divided by consumption occasion, competitive intensity and socioeconomic levels; (3) implementing well-planned product, packaging and pricing strategies through different distribution channels; (4) driving product innovation along its different product categories; (5) developing new businesses and distribution channels; and (6) achieving the full operating potential of its commercial models and processes to drive operational efficiencies throughout its company. To achieve these goals, Coca-Cola FEMSA intends to continue to focus its efforts on, among other initiatives, the following:

 

   

working with The Coca-Cola Company to develop a business model to continue exploring and participating in new lines of beverages, extending existing product lines and effectively advertising and marketing its products;

 

   

developing and expanding its still beverage portfolio through innovation, strategic acquisitions and by entering into agreements to acquire companies with The Coca-Cola Company;

 

   

expanding its bottled water strategy, with The Coca-Cola Company, through innovation and selective acquisitions to maximize profitability across its market territories;

 

   

strengthening its selling capabilities and go-to-market strategies, including pre-sale, conventional selling and hybrid routes, in order to get closer to its clients and help them satisfy the beverage needs of consumers;

 

   

implementing selective packaging strategies designed to increase consumer demand for its products and to build a strong returnable base for the Coca-Cola brand;

 

   

replicating its best practices throughout the value chain;

 

   

rationalizing and adapting its organizational and asset structure in order to be in a better position to respond to a changing competitive environment;

 

   

committing to building a multi-cultural collaborative team, from top to bottom; and

 

   

broadening its geographic footprint through organic growth and strategic joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions.

Coca-Cola FEMSA seeks to increase per capita consumption of its products in the territories in which it operates. To that end, its marketing teams continuously develop sales strategies tailored to the different characteristics of its various territories and distribution channels. Coca-Cola FEMSA continues to develop its product portfolio to better meet market demand and maintain its overall profitability. To stimulate and respond to consumer demand, Coca-Cola FEMSA continues to introduce new categories, products and presentations. See “—Product and Packaging Mix.” In addition, because Coca-Cola FEMSA views its relationship with The Coca-Cola Company as integral to its business, Coca-Cola FEMSA uses market information systems and strategies developed with The Coca-Cola Company to improve its business and marketing strategies.

Coca-Cola FEMSA also continuously seeks to increase productivity in its facilities through infrastructure and process reengineering for improved asset utilization. Its capital expenditure program includes investments in production and distribution facilities, bottles, cases, coolers and information systems. Coca-Cola FEMSA believes that this program will allow it to maintain its capacity and flexibility to innovate and to respond to consumer demand for its products.

Coca-Cola FEMSA focuses on management quality as a key element of its growth strategy, and remains committed to fostering the development of quality management at all levels. Both we and The Coca-Cola Company provide Coca-Cola FEMSA with managerial experience. To build upon these skills, Coca-Cola FEMSA also offers management training programs designed to enhance its executives’ abilities and to provide a forum for exchanging experiences, know-how and talent among an increasing number of multinational executives from its new and existing territories.

Sustainable development is an integral part of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s strategic framework for business growth. Coca-Cola FEMSA bases its efforts on five core areas: (i) Ethics and Corporate Values, which defines its commitment to acting, defining and organizing itself based on its corporate values and culture; (ii) Quality of Life in the Company, which encourages the integral development of its employees and their families; (iii) Health and Wellness, to promote an attitude of health, self-care, nutrition and physical activity, both within and outside the company; (iv) Community Engagement, to develop education and learning projects that improve the quality of life

 

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in the communities where Coca-Cola FEMSA operates; and (v) Environmental Care, to establish guidelines that result in actions to minimize the impact that Coca-Cola FEMSA’s operations might have on the environment and create a broader awareness of caring for the environment.

Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Territories

The following map shows Coca-Cola FEMSA’s territories, giving estimates in each case of the population to which it offers products, the number of retailers of its beverages and the per capita consumption of its beverages as of December 31, 2011:

 

LOGO

Per capita consumption data for a territory are determined by dividing total beverage sales volume within the territory (in bottles, cans and fountain containers) by the estimated population within such territory, and are expressed on the basis of the number of eight-ounce servings of Coca-Cola FEMSA products consumed annually per capita. In evaluating the development of local volume sales in its territories and to determine product potential, Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company measure, among other factors, the per capita consumption of all of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s beverages.

 

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Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Products

Coca-Cola FEMSA produces, markets and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages. These Coca-Cola trademark beverages include: sparkling beverages (colas and flavored sparkling beverages), waters and still beverages (including juice drinks, coffee, teas and isotonics). The following table sets forth Coca-Cola FEMSA’s main brands as of December 31, 2011:

 

Colas:

   Mexico
and
Central
America(1)
   South
America(2)
   Venezuela

Coca-Cola

   ü    ü    ü

Coca-Cola Light

   ü    ü    ü

Coca-Cola Zero

   ü    ü   

Flavored sparkling beverages:

   Mexico
and
Central
America(1)
   South
America(2)
   Venezuela

Chinotto

         ü

Crush

      ü   

Fanta

   ü    ü   

Fresca

   ü      

Frescolita

   ü       ü

Hit

         ü

Kist

   ü      

Kuat

      ü   

Lift

   ü      

Mundet

   ü      

Quatro

      ü   

Simba

      ü   

Sprite

   ü    ü   

Schweppes

   ü    ü    ü

Water:

   Mexico
and
Central
America(1)
   South
America(2)
   Venezuela

Alpina

   ü      

Aquarius(3)

      ü   

Brisa

      ü   

Ciel

   ü      

Crystal

      ü   

Manantial

      ü   

Nevada

         ü

 

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Other Categories:

   Mexico
and
Central
America(1)
   South
America(2)
   Venezuela

Cepita

      ü   

Hi-C(4)

   ü    ü   

Jugos del Valle(5)

   ü    ü    ü

Nestea(6)

   ü       ü

Powerade(7)

   ü    ü    ü

Matte Leao(8)

      ü   

Valle Frut(9)

   ü    ü    ü

Estrella Azul(10)

   ü      

Hugo(11)

      ü   

Del Prado(12)

   ü      

 

(1) Includes Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.

 

(2) Includes Colombia, Brazil and Argentina.

 

(3) Flavored water. In Brazil, also flavored sparkling beverage.

 

(4) Juice-based beverage. Includes Hi-C Orangeade in Argentina.

 

(5) Juice based beverage.

 

(6) Nestea will no longer be a product licensed by The Coca-Cola Company in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s territories as of May 2012 and will be replaced with Fuze Tea.

 

(7) Isotonic.

 

(8) Ready to drink tea.

 

(9) Orangeade. Includes Fresh in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia and Venezuela.

 

(10) Milk and value-added dairy and juices.

 

(11) Milk and juice blend.

 

(12) Juice-based beverages.

Sales Overview

Coca-Cola FEMSA measures total sales volume in terms of unit cases. One unit case refers to 192 ounces of finished beverage product (24 eight-ounce servings) and, when applied to soda fountains, refers to the volume of syrup, powders and concentrate that is required to produce 192 ounces of finished beverage product. The following table illustrates Coca-Cola FEMSA’s historical sales volume for each of its territories.

 

     Sales Volume
Year Ended December 31,
 
     2011      2010      2009  
     (millions of unit cases)  

Mexico and Central America

        

Mexico(1)

     1,366.5         1,242.3         1,227.2   

Central America(2)

     144.3         137.0         135.8   

South America (excluding Venezuela)

        

Colombia(3)

     252.1         244.3         232.2   

Brazil(4)

     485.3         475.6         424.1   

Argentina

     210.7         189.3         184.1   

Venezuela

     189.8         211.0         225.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Combined Volume

     2,648.7         2,499.5         2,428.6   

 

(1) Includes results of the beverage division of Grupo Tampico from October 2011 and of the beverage division of Grupo CIMSA from December 2011.

 

(2) Includes Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.

 

(3) As of June 2009, includes sales from the Brisa bottled water business.

 

(4) Excludes beer sales volume. As of the first quarter of 2010, Coca-Cola FEMSA began to distribute certain ready-to-drink products under the Matte Leão brand.

 

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Product and Packaging Mix

Out of the more than 120 brands and line extensions of beverages that Coca-Cola FEMSA sells and distributes, its most important brand, Coca-Cola, together with the line extensions thereof, Coca-Cola Light and Coca-Cola Zero, accounted for 61.6% of total sales volume in 2011. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s next largest brands, Ciel (a water brand from Mexico), Fanta (and its line extensions), Sprite (and its line extensions) and ValleFrut (and its line extensions), accounted for 10.4%, 5.1%, 2.7% and 2.2%, respectively, of total sales volume in 2011. Coca-Cola FEMSA uses the term line extensions to refer to the different flavors in which Coca-Cola FEMSA offers its brands. Coca-Cola FEMSA produces, markets and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages in each of its territories in containers authorized by The Coca-Cola Company, which consist of a variety of returnable and non-returnable presentations in the form of glass bottles, cans and plastic bottles mainly made of polyethylene terephthalate, which we refer to as PET.

Coca-Cola FEMSA uses the term presentation to refer to the packaging unit in which it sells its products. Presentation sizes for Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Coca-Cola trademark beverages range from a 6.5-ounce personal size to a 3-liter multiple serving size. For all of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s products excluding water, it considers a multiple serving size to be equal to, or larger than, 1.0 liters. In general, personal sizes have a higher price per unit case as compared to multiple serving sizes. Coca-Cola FEMSA offers both returnable and non-returnable presentations, which allow it to offer portfolio alternatives based on convenience and affordability to implement revenue management strategies and to target specific distribution channels and population segments in its territories. In addition, Coca-Cola FEMSA sells some Coca-Cola trademark beverage syrups in containers designed for soda fountain use, which it refers to as fountain. Coca-Cola FEMSA also sells bottled water products in bulk sizes, which term refers to presentations equal to or larger than 5 liters, which have a much lower average price per unit case than Coca-Cola FEMSA’s other beverage products.

The characteristics of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s territories are very diverse. Central Mexico and Coca-Cola FEMSA’s territories in Argentina are densely populated and have a large number of competing beverage brands as compared to the rest of its territories. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s territories in Brazil are densely populated but have lower per capita consumption of beverage products as compared to Mexico. Portions of southern Mexico, Central America and Colombia are large and mountainous areas with lower population density, lower per capita income and lower per capita consumption of beverages. In Venezuela, Coca-Cola FEMSA faces operational disruptions from time to time, which may have an effect on its volumes sold, and consequently, may result in lower per capita consumption.

The following discussion analyzes Coca-Cola FEMSA’s product and packaging mix by reporting segment. The volume data presented are for the years 2011, 2010, and 2009.

Mexico and Central America. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s product portfolio consists of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. In 2008, as part of its efforts to strengthen its multi-category beverage portfolio, Coca-Cola FEMSA incorporated the Jugos del Valle line of juice-based beverages in Mexico, and subsequently in Central America. Per capita consumption of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s beverage products in Mexico and Central America was 632 and 179 eight-ounce servings, respectively, in 2011.

 

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The following table highlights historical sales volume and mix in Mexico and Central America for Coca-Cola FEMSA’s products:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2011     2010     2009  
     (millions of unit cases)  

Total Sales Volume(1)

      

Total

     1,510.8        1,379.3        1,363.0   

% Growth

     9.5     1.2     6.3

 

     (in percentages)  

Unit Case Volume Mix by Category(1)

  

Sparkling beverages

     74.9     75.2     74.7

Water(2)

     19.7        19.4        20.2   

Still beverages

     5.4        5.4        5.1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     100.0     100.0     100.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

  (1) Includes results from the operations of the beverage division of Grupo Tampico from October 2011 and from the beverage division of Grupo CIMSA from December 2011.

 

  (2) Includes bulk water volumes.

In 2011, multiple serving presentations represented 67.6% of total sparkling beverages sales volume in Mexico, remaining flat as compared to 2010, and 55.7% of total sparkling beverages sales volume in Central America, a 60 basis points decrease as compared to 2010. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s strategy is to foster consumption in single serving presentations while maintaining multiple serving volumes. In 2011, returnable packaging, as a percentage of total sparkling beverage sales volume, accounted for 31.7% in Mexico, a 130 basis points increase as compared to 2010, and 31.7% in Central America, a 150 basis points decrease as compared to 2010.

In 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA’s sparkling beverages decreased as a percentage of its total sales volume, from 75.2% in 2010 to 74.9% in 2011, mainly due to the integration of the beverage divisions of Grupo Tampico and Grupo CIMSA in Mexico, which have a higher mix of water in their portfolios.

In 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA’s most popular sparkling beverage presentations in Mexico were the 2.5-liter returnable plastic bottle, the 3.0-liter non-returnable plastic bottle and the 0.6-liter non-returnable plastic bottle (the 20-ounce bottle that is also popular in the United States), which together accounted for 56.8% of total sparkling beverage sales volume in Mexico.

Total sales volume reached 1,510.8 million unit cases in 2011, an increase of 9.5% as compared to 1,379.3 million unit cases in 2010. The integration of the beverage divisions of Grupo Tampico and Grupo CIMSA in Mexico contributed 48.9 million unit cases in 2011, of which 63.0% were sparkling beverages, 5.2% bottled water, 27.4% bulk water and 4.4% still beverages. Excluding the integration of these territories, volume grew 6.0% in 2011, to 1,461.8 million unit cases. Organically sparkling beverages sales volume increased 6.0% as compared to 2010, contributing more than 70% of incremental volumes. The bottled water category, including bulk water, grew 5.6%, accounting for more than 15% of incremental volumes. The still beverage category increased 7.5%, representing the remainder of incremental volumes.

 

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South America (Excluding Venezuela). Coca-Cola FEMSA’s product portfolio in South America consists mainly of Coca-Cola trademark beverages and the Kaiser beer brands in Brazil, which Coca-Cola FEMSA sells and distributes. In 2008, as part of its efforts to strengthen its multi-category beverage portfolio, Coca-Cola FEMSA incorporated the Jugos del Valle line of juice-based beverages in Colombia. In 2009, this line of beverages was re-launched in Brazil as well. The acquisition of Brisa in 2009 helped Coca-Cola FEMSA to become the leader, as calculated by sales volume, in the water market in Colombia. In 2010, Coca-Cola FEMSA incorporated ready-to-drink beverages under the Matte Leão brand in Brazil. During 2011, as part of its continuous effort to develop non-carbonated beverages, Coca-Cola FEMSA launched Cepita in non-returnable PET bottles and Hi-C, an orangeade, both in Argentina. Beginning in 2009, as part of its efforts to foster sparkling beverage per capita consumption in Brazil, Coca-Cola FEMSA re-launched a 2.0-liter returnable plastic bottle for the Coca-Cola brand and introduced two single-serving 0.25-liter presentations. During 2011, these presentations contributed significantly to incremental volumes in Brazil. Per capita consumption of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s beverages in Colombia, Brazil and Argentina was 129, 261 and 395 eight-ounce servings, respectively, in 2011. The following table highlights historical total sales volume and sales volume mix in South America (excluding Venezuela), not including beer:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2011     2010     2009  
     (millions of unit cases)  

Total Sales Volume

      

Total

     948.1        909.2        840.4   

% Growth

     4.3     11.2     8.4
     (in percentages)  

Unit Case Volume Mix by Category

      

Sparkling beverages

     85.9     85.5     87.2

Water(1)

     9.2        10.1        8.8   

Still beverages

     4.9        4.4        4.0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     100.0     100.0     100.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes bulk water volume.

Total sales volume was 948.1 million unit cases in 2011, an increase of 4.3% as compared to 909.2 million unit cases in 2010. Growth in sparkling beverages, mainly driven by sales of the Coca-Cola brand in both Argentina and Colombia, and the Fanta and Schweppes brands in Brazil, accounted for the majority of the growth during the year. Growth in still beverages, mainly driven by the Jugos del Valle line of products in Brazil and the Cepita juice brand and Hi-C orangeade in Argentina, represented the balance of incremental volumes. These increases compensated for a decrease in volume in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s water portfolio, including bulk water, mainly driven by the reduction in volume of the Brisa brand in Colombia.

In 2011, returnable packaging, as a percentage of total sparkling beverage sales volume, accounted for: 39.6% in Colombia, a 240 basis points decrease as compared to 2010; 27.8% in Argentina, a decrease of 70 basis points as compared to 2010; and 15.8% in Brazil, a 100 basis points increase as compared to 2010. In 2011, multiple serving presentations represented 62.1%, 71.3% and 85.0% of total sparkling beverages sales volume in Colombia, Brazil and Argentina, respectively.

Coca-Cola FEMSA continues to distribute and sell the Kaiser beer portfolio in its Brazilian territories through the 20-year term, consistent with arrangements in place with Cervejarias Kaiser since 2006, prior to the acquisition of Cervejarias Kaiser by FEMSA Cerveza. Beginning in the second quarter of 2005, Coca-Cola FEMSA ceased including beer that it distributes in Brazil in its reported sales volumes. On April 30, 2010, the transaction pursuant to which we exchanged 100% of our beer operations for a 20% economic interest in the Heineken Group closed.

Venezuela. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s product portfolio in Venezuela consists of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. Per capita consumption of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s beverages in Venezuela during 2011 was 150 eight-ounce servings.

The following table highlights historical total sales volume and sales volume mix in Venezuela:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2011     2010     2009  
     (millions of unit cases)  

Total Sales Volume

      

Total

     189.8        211.0        225.2   

% Growth

     (10.0 %)      (6.3 %)      9.0
     (in percentages)  

Unit Case Volume Mix by Category

      

Sparkling beverages

     91.7     91.3     91.7

Water(1)

     5.4        6.5        5.7   

Still beverages

     2.9        2.2        2.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     100.0     100.0     100.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes bulk water volume.

 

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Coca-Cola FEMSA has implemented a product portfolio rationalization strategy that allows it to minimize the impact of certain operating disruptions that have been recurrent in Venezuela over the last several years. During 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA faced a 26-day strike at one of its Venezuelan production and distribution facilities and a difficult economic environment that prevented it from growing sales volume of its products. As a result, Coca-Cola FEMSA’s sparkling beverage volume decreased by 9.6%.

In 2011, multiple serving presentations represented 78.4% of total sparkling beverages sales volume in Venezuela, an 80 basis points increase as compared to 2010. In 2011, returnable presentations represented 8.0% of total sparkling beverages sales volume in Venezuela, a 40 basis points increase as compared to 2010. Total sales volume was 189.8 million unit cases in 2011, a decrease of 10.0% as compared to 211.0 million unit cases in 2010.

Seasonality

Sales of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s products are seasonal, as its sales levels generally increase during the summer months of each country and during the Christmas holiday season. In Mexico, Central America, Colombia and Venezuela, Coca-Cola FEMSA typically achieves its highest sales during the summer months of April through September, as well as during the Christmas holidays in December. In Brazil and Argentina, Coca-Cola FEMSA’s highest sales levels occur during the summer months of October through March and the Christmas holidays in December.

Marketing

Coca-Cola FEMSA, in conjunction with The Coca-Cola Company, has developed a marketing strategy to promote the sale and consumption of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s products. Coca-Cola FEMSA relies extensively on advertising, sales promotions and retailer support programs to target the particular preferences of its consumers. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s consolidated marketing expenses in 2011, net of contributions by The Coca-Cola Company, were Ps. 4,508 million. The Coca-Cola Company contributed an additional Ps. 2,561 million in 2011, which mainly includes contributions for coolers, bottles and cases. Through the use of advanced IT, Coca-Cola FEMSA has collected customer and consumer information that allows it to tailor its marketing strategies to target different types of customers located in each of its territories, and to meet the specific needs of the various markets it serves.

Retailer Support Programs. Support programs include providing retailers with point-of-sale display materials and consumer sales promotions, such as contests, sweepstakes and the giveaway of product samples.

Coolers. Cooler distribution among retailers is important for the visibility and consumption of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s products and to ensure that they are sold at the proper temperature.

Advertising. Coca-Cola FEMSA advertises in all major communications media. It focuses its advertising efforts on increasing brand recognition by consumers and improving its customer relations. National advertising campaigns are designed and proposed by The Coca-Cola Company’s local affiliates, with Coca-Cola FEMSA’s input at the local or regional level.

Channel Marketing. In order to provide more dynamic and specialized marketing of its products, Coca-Cola FEMSA’s strategy is to classify its markets and develop targeted efforts for each consumer segment or distribution channel. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s principal channels are small retailers, “on-premise” consumption such as restaurants and bars, supermarkets and third-party distributors. Presence in these channels entails a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the purchasing patterns and preferences of various groups of beverage consumers in each of the different types of locations or distribution channels. In response to this analysis, Coca-Cola FEMSA tailors its product, price, packaging and distribution strategies to meet the particular needs of and exploit the potential of each channel.

 

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Multi-Segmentation. Coca-Cola FEMSA has been implementing a multi-segmentation strategy in the majority of its markets. This strategy consists of the implementation of different product/price/package portfolios by market cluster or group. These clusters are defined based on consumption occasion, competitive intensity and socio-economic levels, rather than solely on the types of distribution channels.

Client Value Management. Coca-Cola FEMSA has been transforming its commercial models to focus on its customers’ value potential using a value-based segmentation approach to capture the industry’s potential. Coca-Cola FEMSA started the rollout of this new model in its Mexico, Central America, Colombia and Brazil operations in 2009 and had covered close to 90% of its total volumes as of the end of 2011.

Coca-Cola FEMSA believes that the implementation of these strategies described above also enables it to respond to competitive initiatives with channel-specific responses as opposed to market-wide responses. In addition, it allows Coca-Cola FEMSA to be more efficient in the way it goes to market and invests its marketing resources in those segments that could provide a higher return. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s marketing, segmentation and distribution activities are facilitated by its management information systems. Coca-Cola FEMSA has invested significantly in creating these systems, including in hand-held computers to support the gathering of product, consumer and delivery information for most of its sales routes throughout its territories.

Product Sales and Distribution

The following table provides an overview of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s distribution centers and the retailers to which it sell its products:

Product Distribution Summary

as of December 31, 2011

 

     Mexico and Central America(1)      South  America(2)      Venezuela  

Distribution centers

     152         65         32   

Retailers (3)

     863,409         663,678         209,597   

 

(1) Includes Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.

 

(2) Includes Colombia, Brazil and Argentina.

 

(3) Estimated.

Coca-Cola FEMSA continuously evaluates its distribution model in order to fit with the local dynamics of the marketplace and analyze the way it goes to market, recognizing different service needs from its customers, while looking for a more efficient distribution model. As part of this strategy, Coca-Cola FEMSA is rolling out a variety of new distribution models throughout its territories, seeking improvements in its distribution network.

Coca-Cola FEMSA uses several sales and distribution models depending on market, geographic conditions and the customer’s profile: (1) the pre-sale system, which separates the sales and delivery functions, permitting trucks to be loaded with the mix of products that retailers have previously ordered, thereby increasing both sales and distribution efficiency; (2) the conventional truck route system, in which the person in charge of the delivery makes immediate sales from inventory available on the truck; (3) a hybrid distribution system, where the same truck carries product available for immediate sale and product previously ordered through the pre-sale system; (4) the telemarketing system, which could be combined with pre-sales visits; and (5) sales through third-party wholesalers of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s products.

As part of the pre-sale system, sales personnel also provide merchandising services during retailer visits, which Coca-Cola FEMSA believes enhance the shopper experience at the point of sale. Coca-Cola FEMSA believes that an adequate number of service visits to retailers and frequency of deliveries are essential elements in an effective selling and distribution system for its products.

Coca-Cola FEMSA’s distribution centers range from large warehousing facilities and re-loading centers to small deposit centers. In addition to its fleet of trucks, Coca-Cola FEMSA distributes its products in certain

 

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locations through electric carts and hand-trucks in order to comply with local environmental and traffic regulations. In some of its territories, Coca-Cola FEMSA retains third parties to transport its finished products from the bottling plants to the distribution centers.

Mexico. Coca-Cola FEMSA contracts with one of our subsidiaries for the transportation of finished products to its distribution centers from its Mexican production facilities. From the distribution centers, Coca-Cola FEMSA then distributes its finished products to retailers through its own fleet of trucks.

In Mexico, Coca-Cola FEMSA sells a majority of its beverages at small retail stores to consumers who may take the beverages for consumption at home or elsewhere. It also sells products through the “on-premise” consumption segment, supermarkets and other locations. The “on-premise” consumption segment consists of sales through sidewalk stands, restaurants, bars and various types of dispensing machines, as well as sales through point-of-sale programs in concert halls, auditoriums and theaters.

Brazil. In Brazil, Coca-Cola FEMSA sold 21.1% of its total sales volume through supermarkets in 2011. Also in Brazil, the delivery of its finished products to customers is completed by a third party, while it maintains control over the selling function. In designated zones in Brazil, third-party distributors purchase Coca-Cola FEMSA products at a discount from the wholesale price and resell the products to retailers.

Territories other than Mexico and Brazil. Coca-Cola FEMSA distributes its finished products to retailers through a combination of its own fleet of trucks and third-party distributors. In most of its territories, an important part of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s total sales volume is sold through small retailers, with low supermarket penetration.

Competition

Although Coca-Cola FEMSA believes that its products enjoy wider recognition and greater consumer loyalty than those of its principal competitors, the markets in the territories in which it operates are highly competitive. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s principal competitors are local Pepsi bottlers and other bottlers and distributors of national and regional beverage brands. Coca-Cola FEMSA faces increased competition in many of its territories from producers of low-price beverages, commonly referred to as “B brands.” A number of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s competitors in Central America, Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina offer beer in addition to sparkling beverages, still beverages, and water, which may enable them to achieve distribution efficiencies.

Price discounting and packaging have joined consumer sales promotions, customer service and non-price retailer incentives as the primary means of competition among bottlers. Coca-Cola FEMSA competes by seeking to offer products at an attractive price in the different segments in its markets and by building on the value of its brands. Coca-Cola FEMSA believes that the introduction of new products and new presentations has been a significant competitive technique that allows it to increase demand for its products, provide different options to consumers and increase new consumption opportunities. See “—Sales Overview.”

Mexico and Central America. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s principal competitors in Mexico are bottlers of Pepsi products, whose territories overlap but are not co-extensive with Coca-Cola FEMSA’s. Coca-Cola FEMSA competes with a joint venture recently formed by Grupo Embotelladores Unidos, S.A.B. de C.V., the former Pepsi bottler in central and southeast Mexico, a subsidiary of PepsiCo, and Empresas Polar, S.A., the leading beer distributor and Pepsi bottler in Venezuela. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s main competition in the juice category in Mexico is Grupo Jumex. In the water category, Bonafont, a water brand owned by Group Danone, is its main competition. In addition, Coca-Cola FEMSA competes with Cadbury Schweppes in sparkling beverages and with other national and regional brands in its Mexican territories, as well as low-price producers, such as Big Cola and Consorcio AGA, S.A. de C.V., which offer various presentations of sparkling and still beverages.

In the countries that comprise Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Central America region, its main competitors are Pepsi and Big Cola bottlers. In Guatemala and Nicaragua, it competes with a joint venture between AmBev and The Central American Bottler Corporation. In Costa Rica, Coca-Cola FEMSA’s principal competitor is Florida Bebidas S.A., a subsidiary of Florida Ice and Farm Co. In Panama, its main competitor is Cervecería Nacional, S.A. Coca-Cola FEMSA also faces competition from “B brands” offering multiple-serving size presentations in some Central American countries.

 

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South America (excluding Venezuela). Coca-Cola FEMSA’s principal competitor in Colombia is Postobón, a well-established local bottler that sells flavored sparkling beverages, some of which have a wide consumption preference, such as manzana Postobón (apple Postobón), which is the second most popular flavor in the Colombian sparkling beverage industry in terms of total sales volume. Postobón also sells Pepsi products. Postobón is a vertically integrated producer, the owners of which hold other significant commercial interests in Colombia. Coca-Cola FEMSA also competes with low-price producers, such as the producers of Big Cola, which principally offer multiple-serving size presentations in the sparkling and still beverage industry.

In Brazil, Coca-Cola FEMSA competes against AmBev, a Brazilian company with a portfolio of brands that includes Pepsi, local brands with flavors such as guaraná, and proprietary beer brands. Coca-Cola FEMSA also competes against “B brands” or “Tubainas,” which are small, local producers of low-cost flavored sparkling beverages in multiple-serving presentations that represent a significant portion of the sparkling beverage market.

In Argentina, Coca-Cola FEMSA’s main competitor is Buenos Aires Embotellador S.A. (BAESA), a Pepsi bottler, which is owned by Argentina’s principal brewery, Quilmes Industrial S.A., and is indirectly controlled by AmBev. In addition, Coca-Cola FEMSA competes with a number of competitors offering generic, low-priced sparkling beverages as well as many other generic products and private label proprietary supermarket brands.

Venezuela. In Venezuela, Coca-Cola FEMSA’s main competitor is Pepsi-Cola Venezuela, C.A., a joint venture formed between PepsiCo and Empresas Polar, S.A., the leading beer distributor in the country. Coca-Cola FEMSA also competes with the producers of Big Cola in part of the country.

Raw Materials

Pursuant to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bottler agreements, it is authorized to manufacture, sell and distribute Coca-Cola trademark beverages within specific geographic areas, and is required to purchase in some of its territories, for all Coca-Cola trademark beverages, concentrate from companies designated by The Coca-Cola Company and artificial sweeteners from companies authorized by The Coca-Cola Company. Concentrate prices for sparkling beverages are determined as a percentage of the weighted average retail price in local currency net of applicable taxes. Although The Coca-Cola Company has the right to unilaterally set the price of concentrates, in practice this percentage has historically been set pursuant to periodic negotiations with The Coca-Cola Company.

In 2005, The Coca-Cola Company decided to gradually increase concentrate prices for sparkling beverages in Brazil and Mexico. These increases were fully implemented in Brazil in 2008 and in Mexico in 2009. As part of the cooperation framework that Coca-Cola FEMSA reached with The Coca-Cola Company at the end of 2006, The Coca-Cola Company will provide a relevant portion of the funds derived from the concentrate increase for marketing support of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s sparkling and still beverages portfolio. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Related Party Transactions—Business Transactions between Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company.”

In addition to concentrate, Coca-Cola FEMSA purchases sweeteners, carbon dioxide (CO2), resin and ingots to make plastic bottles, finished plastic and glass bottles, cans, caps and fountain containers, as well as other packaging materials and raw materials. Sweeteners are combined with water to produce basic syrup, which is added to the concentrate as the sweetener for most of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s beverages. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bottler agreements provide that, with respect to Coca-Cola trademark beverages, these materials may be purchased only from suppliers approved by The Coca-Cola Company, including affiliates of ours. Prices for packaging materials and HFCS historically have been determined with reference to the U.S. dollar, although the local currency equivalent in a particular country is subject to price volatility in accordance with changes in exchange rates. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s most significant packaging raw material costs arise from the purchase of resin, plastic ingots to make plastic bottles and finished plastic bottles, which Coca-Cola FEMSA obtains from international and local producers. The prices of these materials are tied to crude oil prices and global resin supply. In recent years, Coca-Cola FEMSA has experienced volatility in the prices it pays for these materials. Across its territories, Coca-Cola FEMSA’s average price for resin in U.S. dollars increased approximately 30% in 2011 as compared to 2010.

 

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Under Coca-Cola FEMSA’s agreements with The Coca-Cola Company, it may use raw or refined sugar or HFCS as sweeteners in its products. Sugar prices in all of the countries in which Coca-Cola FEMSA operates, other than Brazil, are subject to local regulations and other barriers to market entry that cause Coca-Cola FEMSA to pay in excess of international market prices for sugar in certain countries. In recent years, international sugar prices have experienced significant volatility.

None of the materials or supplies that Coca-Cola FEMSA uses are presently in short supply, although the supply of specific materials could be adversely affected by strikes, weather conditions, governmental controls or national emergency situations.

Mexico and Central America. In Mexico, Coca-Cola FEMSA purchases its returnable plastic bottles from Graham Packaging México, S.A. de C.V., known as Graham, which is the exclusive supplier of returnable plastic bottles to The Coca-Cola Company and its bottlers in Mexico. Coca-Cola FEMSA mainly purchases resin from Indorama Ventures Polymers México, S. de R.L. de C.V. (formerly Arteva Specialties, S. de R.L. de C.V.), M. & G. Polímeros México S.A. de C.V. and DAK Resinas Americas Mexico S.A. de C.V., which ALPLA México S.A. de C.V., known as ALPLA, and Envases Innovativos de México S.A. de C.V. manufacture into non-returnable plastic bottles for Coca-Cola FEMSA.

Coca-Cola FEMSA purchases all of its cans from Promotora Mexicana de Embotelladoras, S.A. de C.V., known as PROMESA, a cooperative of Coca-Cola bottlers in which, as of April 20, 2012, Coca-Cola FEMSA held a 25.0% equity interest. Coca-Cola FEMSA mainly purchases its glass bottles from Compañía Vidriera, S.A. de C.V., known as VITRO, and Glass & Silice, S.A. de C.V. (formerly Vidriera de Chihuahua, S.A. de C.V., or VICHISA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma (formerly FEMSA Cerveza), which currently is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Heineken Group.

Coca-Cola FEMSA purchases sugar from, among other suppliers, Piasa and Beta San Miguel, S.A. de C.V., sugar cane producers in which, as of April 20, 2012, Coca-Cola FEMSA held approximately 13.2% and 2.5% equity interests, respectively. Coca-Cola FEMSA purchases HFCS from CP Ingredientes, S.A. de C.V. and Almidones Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V., known as Almex.

Imported sugar is subject to import duties, the amount of which is set by the Mexican government. As a result, sugar prices in Mexico are in excess of international market prices for sugar, and in 2011, were 47% higher on average in Mexico. In 2011, sugar prices increased approximately 29% as compared to 2010.

In Central America, the majority of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s raw materials such as glass and plastic bottles are purchased from several local suppliers. Coca-Cola FEMSA purchases all of its cans from PROMESA. Sugar is available from suppliers that represent several local producers. Local sugar prices in the countries that comprise the region have increased, mainly due to volatility in international prices. In Costa Rica, Coca-Cola FEMSA acquires plastic non-returnable bottles from ALPLA C.R. S.A., and in Nicaragua it acquires such plastic bottles from ALPLA Nicaragua, S.A.

South America (excluding Venezuela). In Colombia, Coca-Cola FEMSA uses sugar as a sweetener in most of its products, and buys such sugar from several domestic sources. During 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA started to use HFCS as an alternative sweetener for its products. Coca-Cola FEMSA purchases HFCS from Archer Daniels Midland Company. It purchases plastic bottles from Amcor and Tapón Corona de Colombia S.A. It purchases all of its glass bottles from Peldar O-I and cans from Crown, both suppliers in which Grupo Ardila Lulle, owners of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s competitor Postobón, owns a minority equity interest. Glass bottles and cans are available only from these local sources.

Sugar is available in Brazil at local market prices, which historically have been similar to international prices. Sugar prices in Brazil in recent periods have been volatile, mainly due to the increased demand for sugar cane for production of alternative fuels, and Coca-Cola FEMSA’s average acquisition cost for sugar in 2011 increased approximately 30% as compared to 2010. Coca-Cola FEMSA purchases glass bottles, plastic bottles and cans from several domestic and international suppliers.

 

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In Argentina, Coca-Cola FEMSA mainly uses HFCS that it purchases from several different local suppliers as a sweetener in its products, instead of sugar. Coca-Cola FEMSA purchases glass bottles, plastic cases and other raw materials from several domestic sources. It purchases pre-formed plastic ingots, as well as returnable plastic bottles, at competitive prices from Embotelladora del Atlántico S.A., a local subsidiary of Embotelladora Andina S.A., a Coca-Cola bottler with operations in Argentina, Chile and Brazil, and other local suppliers. Coca-Cola FEMSA also acquires pre-formed plastic ingots from ALPLA Avellaneda S.A. and other suppliers. Coca-Cola FEMSA produces its own can presentations, aseptic packaging and hot filled products for distribution of its products to its customers in Buenos Aires.

Venezuela. Coca-Cola FEMSA uses sugar as a sweetener in all of its products, and purchases such sugar mainly from the local market. Since 2003, from time to time, Coca-Cola FEMSA has experienced a sugar shortage due to lower domestic production and the inability of the predominant sugar importers to obtain permission to import in a timely manner. While sugar distribution to the food and beverages industry and to retailers is controlled by the government, Coca-Cola FEMSA did not experience any disruptions during 2011 with respect to access to sufficient sugar supply. However, we cannot assure you that Coca-Cola FEMSA will not experience disruptions in its ability to meet its sugar requirements in the future, should the Venezuelan government impose restrictive measures in the future. Coca-Cola FEMSA buys glass bottles from one local supplier, Productos de Vidrio, S.A., but there are alternative suppliers authorized by The Coca-Cola Company. Coca-Cola FEMSA acquires most of its plastic non-returnable bottles from ALPLA de Venezuela, S.A. and all of its aluminum cans from a local producer, Dominguez Continental, C.A.

Under current regulations promulgated by the Venezuelan authorities, Coca-Cola FEMSA’s ability to import some of its raw materials and other supplies used in its production could be limited, and access to the official exchange rate for these items for Coca-Cola FEMSA and its suppliers, including, among other items, resin, aluminum, plastic caps, distribution trucks and vehicles, is only achieved by obtaining proper approvals from the relevant authorities.

Plants and Facilities

Over the past several years, Coca-Cola FEMSA made significant capital investments to modernize its facilities and improve operating efficiency and productivity, including:

 

   

increasing the annual capacity of its bottling plants by installing new production lines;

 

   

installing clarification facilities to process different types of sweeteners;

 

   

installing plastic bottle-blowing equipment;

 

   

modifying equipment to increase flexibility to produce different presentations, including faster sanitation and changeover times on production lines; and

 

   

closing obsolete production facilities.

As of December 31, 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA owned 35 bottling plants company-wide. By country, it has fourteen bottling facilities in Mexico, five in Central America, six in Colombia, four in Venezuela, four in Brazil and two in Argentina.

As of December 31, 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA operated 249 distribution centers, approximately 51% of which were in its Mexican territories. Coca-Cola FEMSA owns more than 86% of these distribution centers and leases the remainder. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Coca-Cola FEMSA—Product Sales and Distribution.”

 

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The table below summarizes by country, installed capacity and percentage utilization of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s production facilities:

Bottling Facility Summary

As of December 31, 2011

 

Country

   Installed Capacity
(thousands of unit cases)
     %
Utilization(1)
 

Mexico

     1,897,760         70

Guatemala

     34,544         80

Nicaragua

     65,475         58

Costa Rica

     84,238         54

Panama

     40,754         64

Colombia

     531,046         47

Venezuela

     296,052         63

Brazil

     650,356         68

Argentina

     316,040         66

 

(1) Annualized rate.

 

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FEMSA Comercio

Overview and Background

FEMSA Comercio operates the largest chain of convenience stores in Mexico, measured in terms of number of stores as of December 31, 2011, under the trade name OXXO. As of December 31, 2011, FEMSA Comercio operated 9,561 OXXO stores, of which 9,538 are located throughout the country, with a particularly strong presence in the northern part of Mexico, and the remaining 23 stores are located in Bogotá, Colombia.

FEMSA Comercio, the largest single customer of Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma and of the Coca-Cola system in Mexico, was established by FEMSA in 1978 when two OXXO stores were opened in Monterrey, one store in Mexico City and another store in Guadalajara. The motivating factor behind FEMSA’s entrance into the retail industry was to enhance beer sales through company-owned retail outlets as well as to gather information on customer preferences. In 2011, a typical OXXO store carried 2,324 different store keeping units (SKUs) in 31 main product categories.

In recent years, FEMSA Comercio has represented an effective distribution channel for our beverage products, as well as a rapidly growing point of contact with our consumers. Based on the belief that location plays a major role in the long-term success of a retail operation such as a convenience store, as well as a role in our continually improving ability to accelerate and streamline the new-store development process, FEMSA Comercio has focused on a strategy of rapid, profitable growth. FEMSA Comercio opened 960, 1,092 and 1,135 net new OXXO stores in 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively. The accelerated expansion in the number of stores yielded total revenue growth of 19.0% to reach Ps. 74,112 million in 2011. Same store sales increased an average of 9.2%, driven by increases in store traffic and average customer ticket. Starting in 2008, FEMSA Comercio revenues reflect an accounting effect of the mix shift from physical prepaid wireless air-time cards to the sale of electronic air-time for which only the margin is recorded, not the full revenue amount of the electronic recharge. FEMSA Comercio performed approximately 2.7 billion transactions in 2011 compared to 2.3 billion transactions in 2010.

Business Strategy

A fundamental element of FEMSA Comercio’s business strategy is to utilize its position in the convenience store market to grow in a cost-effective and profitable manner. As a market leader in convenience store retailing, based on internal company surveys, management believes that FEMSA Comercio has an in-depth understanding of its markets and significant expertise in operating a national store chain. FEMSA Comercio intends to continue increasing its store base while capitalizing on the market knowledge gained at existing stores.

FEMSA Comercio has developed proprietary models to assist in identifying appropriate store locations, store formats and product categories. Its model utilizes location-specific demographic data and FEMSA Comercio’s experience in similar locations to fine tune the store format and product offerings to the target market. Market segmentation is becoming an important strategic tool, and it should increasingly allow FEMSA Comercio to improve the operating efficiency of each location and the overall profitability of the chain.

FEMSA Comercio has made and will continue to make significant investments in IT to improve its ability to capture customer information from its existing stores and to improve its overall operating performance. The majority of products carried through OXXO stores are bar-coded, and all OXXO stores are equipped with point-of-sale systems that are integrated into a company-wide computer network. To implement revenue management strategies, FEMSA Comercio created a division in charge of product category management for products, such as beverages, fast food and perishables, to enhance and better utilize its consumer information base and market intelligence capabilities. FEMSA Comercio utilizes a technology platform supported by an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, as well as other technological solutions such as merchandising and point-of-sale systems, which will allow FEMSA Comercio to continue redesigning its key operating processes and enhance the usefulness of its market information going forward. In addition, FEMSA Comercio has expanded its operations by opening six new stores in Bogotá, Colombia in 2011.

 

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FEMSA Comercio has adopted innovative promotional strategies in order to increase store traffic and sales. In particular, FEMSA Comercio sells high-frequency items such as beverages, snacks and cigarettes at competitive prices. FEMSA Comercio’s ability to implement this strategy profitably is partly attributable to the size of the OXXO chain, as FEMSA Comercio is able to work together with its suppliers to implement their revenue-management strategies through differentiated promotions. OXXO’s national and local marketing and promotional strategies are an effective revenue driver and a means of reaching new segments of the population while strengthening the OXXO brand. For example, the organization has refined its expertise in executing cross promotions (discounts on multi-packs or sales of complementary products at a special price) and targeted promotions to attract new customer segments, such as housewives, by expanding the offerings in the grocery product category in certain stores. FEMSA Comercio is also strengthening its capabilities to increasingly provide consumers with services such as utility bill payment and other basic transactions.

Store Locations

With 9,538 OXXO stores in Mexico and 23 stores in Colombia as of December 31, 2011, FEMSA Comercio operates the largest convenience store chain in Latin America measured by number of stores. OXXO stores are concentrated in the northern part of Mexico, but also have a growing presence in the rest of the country.

FEMSA Comercio

Regional Allocation of OXXO Stores in Mexico and Latin America(*)

as of December 31, 2011

 

LOGO

FEMSA Comercio has aggressively expanded its number of stores over the past several years. The average investment required to open a new store varies, depending on location and format and whether the store is opened in an existing retail location or requires construction of a new store. FEMSA Comercio is generally able to use supplier credit to fund the initial inventory of new stores.

 

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Growth in Total OXXO Stores

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2011     2010     2009     2008     2007  

Total OXXO stores

     9,561        8,426        7,334        6,374        5,563   

Store growth (% change over previous year)

     13.5     14.9     15.1     14.6     14.8

FEMSA Comercio currently expects to continue the growth trend established over the past several years by emphasizing growth in areas of high economic potential in existing markets and by expanding in underserved and unexploited markets. Management believes that the southeast part of Mexico is particularly underserved by the convenience store industry.

The identification of locations and pre-opening planning in order to optimize the results of new stores are important elements in FEMSA Comercio’s growth plan. FEMSA Comercio continuously reviews store performance against certain operating and financial benchmarks to optimize the overall performance of the chain. Stores unable to maintain benchmark standards are generally closed. Between December 31, 2007 and 2011, the total number of OXXO stores increased by 3,998, which resulted from the opening of 4,091 new stores and the closing of 93 existing stores.

Competition

OXXO competes in the overall retail market, which we believe is highly competitive. OXXO convenience stores face direct competition from 7-Eleven, Super Extra, Super City and Círculo K, and other local convenience stores as well as from a number of other modern and traditional retail formats. OXXO competes both for consumers and for new locations for stores and the managers to operate those stores. Based on an internal market survey conducted by FEMSA Comercio, management believes that FEMSA Comercio operates approximately 66% of the stores in Mexico that could be considered part of the convenience store segment of the retail market as of the end of December 31, 2011. OXXO convenience stores also face competition from numerous small chains of retailers across Mexico and from retailers that participate with store formats other than convenience stores. Furthermore, FEMSA Comercio operates in the 32 Mexican states and has much broader geographical coverage than any of its competitors in Mexico.

Market and Store Characteristics

Market Characteristics

FEMSA Comercio is placing increased emphasis on market segmentation and differentiation of store formats to more appropriately serve the needs of customers on a location-by-location basis. The principal segments include residential neighborhoods, commercial and office locations and stores near schools and universities, along with other types of specialized locations.

Approximately 62% of OXXO’s customers are between the ages of 15 and 35. FEMSA Comercio also segments the market according to demographic criteria, including income level.

Store Characteristics

The average size of an OXXO store is approximately 106 square meters of selling space, excluding space dedicated to refrigeration, storage or parking. The average constructed area of a store is approximately 186 square meters and, when parking areas are included, the average store size is approximately 432 square meters.

 

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FEMSA Comercio—Operating Indicators

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2011     2010     2009     2008     2007  
     (percentage increase compared to
previous year)
 

Total FEMSA Comercio revenues

     19.0     16.3     13.6     12.0     14.3

OXXO same-store sales(1)

     9.2     5.2     1.3     0.4     3.3

 

(1) Same-store sales growth is calculated by comparing the sales of stores for each year that have been in operation for more than 12 months with the sales of those same stores during the previous year.

Beer, cigarettes, soft drinks, snacks and cellular telephone air-time represent the main product categories for OXXO stores. FEMSA Comercio has a distribution agreement with Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma (which is now part of the Heineken Group). As a result of this agreement, OXXO stores only carry beer brands produced and distributed by Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma. OXXO stores will continue to benefit from the existing relationship under which Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma will continue to be the exclusive supplier of beer to OXXO until June 2020. Prior to 2001, OXXO stores had informal agreements with Coca-Cola bottlers, including Coca-Cola FEMSA’s territories in central Mexico, to sell only their products. Beginning in 2001, certain OXXO stores began selling other brands of sparkling beverages in some cities in Mexico.

Approximately 67% of OXXO stores are operated by independent managers responsible for all aspects of store operations. The managers are commission agents and are not employees of FEMSA Comercio. Each store manager is the legal employer of the store’s staff, which typically numbers six people per store. FEMSA Comercio continually invests in on-site operating personnel, with the objective of promoting loyalty, customer service and low personnel turnover in the stores.

Advertising and Promotion

FEMSA Comercio’s marketing efforts include both specific product promotions and image advertising campaigns. These strategies seek to increase store traffic and sales, and to reinforce the OXXO name and market position.

FEMSA Comercio manages its advertising on three levels depending on the nature and scope of the specific campaign: local or store-specific, regional and national. Store-specific and regional campaigns are closely monitored to ensure consistency with the overall corporate image of OXXO stores and to avoid conflicts with national campaigns. FEMSA Comercio primarily uses point of purchase materials, flyers, handbills and print and radio media for promotional campaigns, although television is used occasionally for the introduction of new products and services. The OXXO chain’s image and brand name are presented consistently across all stores, irrespective of location.

Inventory and Purchasing

FEMSA Comercio has placed considerable emphasis on improving operating performance. As part of these efforts, FEMSA Comercio continues to invest in extensive information management systems to improve inventory management. Electronic data collection has enabled FEMSA Comercio to reduce average inventory levels. Inventory replenishment decisions are carried out on a store-by-store basis.

Management believes that the OXXO chain’s scale of operations provides FEMSA Comercio with a competitive advantage in its ability to realize strategic alliances with suppliers. General category offerings are determined on a national level, although purchasing decisions are implemented on a local, regional or national level, depending on the nature of the product category. Given the fragmented nature of the retail industry in Mexico in general, Mexican producers of beer, soft drinks, bread, dairy products, snacks, cigarettes and other high-frequency products have established proprietary distribution systems with extensive direct distribution routes. As a result, approximately 52% of the OXXO chain’s total sales consist of products that are delivered directly to the stores by suppliers. Other products with longer shelf lives are distributed to stores by FEMSA Comercio’s distribution

 

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system, which includes 13 regional warehouses located in Monterrey, Guadalajara, Mexicali, Mérida, León, Obregón, Puebla, Chihuahua, Reynosa, Tijuana, Villahermosa and two in Mexico City. The distribution centers operate a fleet of approximately 627 trucks that make deliveries to each store approximately twice per week.

Seasonality

OXXO stores experience periods of high demand in December, as a result of the holidays, and in July and August, as a result of increased consumption of beer and soft drinks during the hot summer months. The months of November and February are generally the weakest sales months for OXXO stores. In general, colder weather during these months reduces store traffic and consumption of cold beverages.

Other Stores

FEMSA Comercio also operates other small format stores, which include soft discount stores with a focus on perishables, liquor stores and smaller convenience stores.

FEMSA Cerveza and Equity Method Investment in the Heineken Group

Until April 30, 2010, FEMSA Cerveza was our wholly-owned subsidiary, producing beer in Mexico and Brazil and exporting its products to more than 50 countries worldwide, with North America being its most important export market, followed by certain markets in Europe, Latin America and Asia. As of December 31, 2009, FEMSA Cerveza was ranked the tenth-largest brewer in the world in terms of sales volume, and in Mexico, its main market, FEMSA Cerveza was ranked the second-largest beer producer in terms of sales volume. In 2009, approximately 66.4% of FEMSA Cerveza’s sales volume came from Mexico, with the remaining 24.8% from Brazil and 8.8% from exports. As of December 31, 2009, FEMSA Cerveza sold 40.548 million hectoliters of beer and produced and/or distributed 21 brands of beer in 14 different presentations resulting in a portfolio of 111 different product offerings in Mexico.

As of December 31, 2009, FEMSA Cerveza represented 23.5% of our total revenues and 34.1% of our total assets. For the period from January 1, 2010 to April 30, 2010, FEMSA Cerveza contributed net income of Ps. 706 million to our net income. On April 30, 2010, FEMSA announced the closing of the transaction pursuant to which FEMSA agreed to exchange 100% of its beer operations for a 20% economic interest in the Heineken Group. The principal terms of the Heineken transaction documents are summarized below in “Item 10. Additional Information—Material Contracts.”

As of April 30, 2010, FEMSA owns a non-controlling interest in the Heineken Group, one of the world’s leading brewers. Our 20% economic interest in the Heineken Group was initially comprised of 43,018,320 shares of Heineken Holding N.V. and 43,009,699 shares of Heineken N.V., with an additional 29,172,504 Allotted Shares to be delivered pursuant to the ASDI. As of December 31, 2011, the delivery of the Allotted Shares had been completed. See Note 9 to our audited consolidated financial statements. For 2011, FEMSA recognized equity income of Ps. 5,080 million regarding its 20% economic interest in the Heineken Group.

As described above, FEMSA Comercio has a distribution agreement with Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma (which is now a part of the Heineken Group) pursuant to which OXXO stores only carry beer brands produced and distributed by Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma. OXXO stores will continue to benefit from the existing relationship under which Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma will continue to be the exclusive supplier of beer to OXXO until June 2020. As of April 30, 2010, Coca-Cola FEMSA has agreed with Cervejarias Kaiser (also now part of the Heineken Group) to continue to distribute and sell the Kaiser beer portfolio in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Brazilian territories for a 20-year term beginning in 2003, consistent with the arrangement already in place. In addition, our corporate and shared services subsidiary will continue to provide certain services to Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma and its subsidiaries.

 

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Other Business

Our other business consists of the following smaller operations that support our core operations:

 

   

Our refrigeration business produces vertical and horizontal commercial refrigerators for the soft drink, beer and food industries, with an annual capacity of 404,000 units at December 31, 2011. In 2011, this business sold 350,040 refrigeration units, 30% of which were sold to Coca-Cola FEMSA, and the remainder of which were sold to third parties. Until December 31, 2010, our labeling and flexible packaging business was our wholly-owned subsidiary. In 2010, this business sold 14% of its label sales volume to Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, 20% to Coca-Cola FEMSA and 66% to third parties. Our labeling and flexible packaging business was sold on December 31, 2010.

 

   

Our logistics services subsidiary provides a broad range of logistics and vehicle maintenance services to Coca-Cola FEMSA, FEMSA Comercio, Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma and third-party clients in the beverages, consumer products and retail industries. It has operations in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

 

   

Until September 23, 2010 we owned the Mundet brands in Mexico, which were disposed of through the sale to The Coca-Cola Company of Promotora de Marcas Nacionales, S.A. de C.V., which was a wholly-owned subsidiary of FEMSA.

 

   

Our corporate services subsidiary employs all of our corporate staff, including the personnel managing the areas of finance, corporate accounting, taxation, legal, financial and strategic planning, human resources and internal audit. Through this subsidiary, we direct, control, supervise and review the operations of our sub-holding companies. As of December 31, 2011, FEMSA Comercio, FEMSA Logística and our packaging subsidiaries pay management fees for the services provided to them. In addition, Coca-Cola FEMSA has entered into a services agreement pursuant to which it pays for specific services. As part of the Heineken transaction, the corporate and shared services subsidiaries continue to provide some limited corporate services and shared services to subsidiaries of Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma (now part of the Heineken Group), for which such companies continue to pay.

Description of Property, Plant and Equipment

As of December 31, 2011, we owned all of our manufacturing facilities and substantially all of our warehouses and distribution centers. Our properties primarily consisted of production and distribution facilities for our soft drink operations and office space. In addition, FEMSA Comercio owns approximately 10.9% of the OXXO store locations, while the other stores are located in properties that are rented under long-term lease arrangements with third parties.

The table below sets forth the location, principal use and production area of our production facilities, each of which is owned by Coca-Cola FEMSA.

 

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Production Facilities As of December 31, 2011

 

Country

   Location    Principal Use    Production Area
               (in thousands
of sq. meters)

Mexico

   San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    45
   Cuautitlán, Estado de México    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    35
   Los Reyes la Paz, Estado de México    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    50
   Toluca, Estado de México    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    242
   León, Guanajuato    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    124
   Morelia, Michoacán    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    50
   Ixtacomitán, Tabasco    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    117
   Apizaco, Tlaxcala    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    80
   Coatepec, Veracruz    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    142
   La Pureza Altamira, Tamaulipas    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    300
   Poza Rica, Veracruz    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    42
   Pacífico, Estado de México    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    89
   Cuernavaca, Morelos    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    37
   Toluca, Estado de México    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    41

Guatemala

   Guatemala City    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    47

Nicaragua

   Managua    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    54

Costa Rica

   Calle Blancos, San José    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    52
   Coronado, San José    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    14

Panama

   Panama City    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    29

Colombia

   Barranquilla    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    37
   Bogotá    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    105
   Bucaramanga    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    26
   Cali    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    76
   Manantial    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    67
   Medellín    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    47

Venezuela

   Antimano    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    15
   Barcelona    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    141
   Maracaibo    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    68
   Valencia    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    100

Brazil

   Campo Grande    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    36
   Jundiaí    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    191
   Mogi das Cruzes    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    119
   Belo Horizonte    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    73

Argentina

   Alcorta    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    73
   Monte Grande, Buenos Aires    Soft Drink Bottling Plant    32

 

 

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Insurance

We maintain an “all risk” insurance policy covering our properties (owned and leased), machinery and equipment and inventories as well as losses due to business interruptions. The policy covers damages caused by natural disaster, including hurricane, hail, earthquake and damages caused by human acts, including explosion, fire, vandalism, riot and losses incurred in connection with goods in transit. In addition, we maintain an “all risk” liability insurance policy that covers product liability. We purchase our insurance coverage through an insurance broker. The policies for “all risk” property insurance and “all risk” liability insurance are issued by ACE Seguros, S.A., and the coverage is partially reinsured in the international reinsurance market. We believe that our coverage is consistent with the coverage maintained by similar companies operating in Mexico.

Capital Expenditures and Divestitures

Our consolidated capital expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009 were Ps. 12,515 million, Ps. 11,171 million and Ps. 9,103 million respectively, and were for the most part financed from cash from operations generated by our subsidiaries. These amounts were invested in the following manner:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2011      2010      2009  
     (in millions of Mexican pesos)  

Coca-Cola FEMSA

   Ps. 7,826       Ps. 7,478       Ps. 6,282   

FEMSA Comercio

     4,096         3,324         2,668   

Other

     593         369         153   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total(1)

   Ps. 12,515       Ps. 11,171       Ps. 9,103   

 

(1) Capital expenditures and divestitures in 2009 have been modified in order to conform to presentation of 2011 and 2010 figures due to the discontinued operations of FEMSA Cerveza.

Coca-Cola FEMSA

During 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA’s capital expenditures focused on increasing plant production capacity, placing coolers with retailers, returnable bottles and cases, improving the efficiency of its distribution infrastructure and IT. Capital expenditures in Mexico and Central America were approximately Ps. 4,117 million and accounted for approximately 53% of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s capital expenditures, with South America representing the balance.

FEMSA Comercio

FEMSA Comercio’s principal investment activity is the construction and opening of new stores. During 2011, FEMSA Comercio opened 1,135 net new OXXO stores. FEMSA Comercio invested Ps. 4,096 million in 2011 in the addition of new stores, warehouses and improvements to leased properties.

Regulatory Matters

Competition Legislation

The Ley Federal de Competencia Económica (Federal Economic Competition Law or Mexican Competition Law) became effective on June 22, 1993. The Mexican Competition Law and the Reglamento de la Ley Federal de Competencia Económica (Regulations under the Mexican Competition Law), effective as of October 13, 2007, regulate monopolies and monopolistic practices and require Mexican government approval of certain mergers and acquisitions. The Mexican Competition Law subjects the activities of certain Mexican companies, including us, to regulatory scrutiny. In addition, the Regulations under the Mexican Competition Law prohibit members of any trade association from reaching any agreement relating to the price of their products. Management believes that we are currently in compliance in all material respects with Mexican competition legislation.

 

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In Mexico and in some of the other countries in which we operate, we are involved in different ongoing competition related proceedings. We believe that the outcome of these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results from operations. See “Item 8. Financial Information—Legal Proceedings—Coca-Cola FEMSA—Antitrust Matters.”

Price Controls

Voluntary price restraints or statutory price controls have been imposed historically in several of the countries in which Coca-Cola FEMSA operates. Currently, there are no price controls on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s products in any of its territories, except for (i) Argentina, where authorities directly supervise certain products sold through supermarkets to control inflation, and (ii) Venezuela, where the government has recently imposed price controls on certain products including still bottled water. See “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Regulatory developments may adversely affect Coca-Cola FEMSA’s business.”

Taxation of Sparkling Beverages

All the countries in which Coca-Cola FEMSA operates, except for Panama, impose a value-added tax on the sale of sparkling beverages, with a rate of 16% in Mexico beginning in January 2011, 12% in Guatemala, 15% in Nicaragua, 13% in Costa Rica, 16% in Colombia (applied only to the first sale in supply chain), 12% in Venezuela (beginning in April 2009), 17% (Mato Grosso do Sul) and 18% (São Paulo and Minas Gerais) in Brazil, and 21% in Argentina. In addition, several of the countries in which Coca-Cola FEMSA operates impose the following excise or other taxes:

 

   

Guatemala imposes an excise tax of 0.18 cents in local currency (Ps. 0.3221 as of December 31, 2011) per liter of sparkling beverage.

 

   

Costa Rica imposes a specific tax on non-alcoholic bottled beverages based on the combination of packaging and flavor, currently assessed at 15.50 colones (Ps. 0.4180 as of December 31, 2011) per 250 ml, and an excise tax on local brands of 5%, foreign brands of 10% and mixers of 14%.

 

   

Nicaragua imposes a 9% tax on consumption, and municipalities impose a 1% tax on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Nicaraguan gross income.

 

   

Panama imposes a 5% tax based on the cost of goods produced. Panama also imposes a 10% selective consumption tax on syrups, powders and concentrate.

 

   

Brazil imposes an average production tax of approximately 4.9% and an average sales tax of approximately 9.6%, both assessed by the federal government. Most of these taxes are fixed, based on average retail prices in each state where the company operates (VAT) or fixed by the federal government (excise and sales tax).

 

   

Argentina imposes an excise tax on sparkling beverages containing less than 5% lemon juice or less than 10% fruit juice of 8.7%, and an excise tax on flavored sparkling beverages with 10% or more fruit juice and on sparkling water of 4.2%, although this excise tax is not applicable to certain of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s products.

Environmental Matters

In all of our territories, our operations are subject to federal and state laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment.

 

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Mexico

In Mexico, the principal legislation is the Ley General del Equilibrio Ecológico y la Protección al Ambiente (Federal General Law for Ecological Equilibrium and Environmental Protection, or the Mexican Environmental Law) and the Ley General para la Prevención y Gestión Integral de los Residuos (General Law for the Prevention and Integral Management of Waste), which are enforced by the Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, or SEMARNAT). SEMARNAT can bring administrative and criminal proceedings against companies that violate environmental laws, and it also has the power to close non-complying facilities. Under the Mexican Environmental Law, rules have been promulgated concerning water, air and noise pollution and hazardous substances. In particular, Mexican environmental laws and regulations require that we file periodic reports with respect to air and water emissions and hazardous wastes and set forth standards for waste water discharge that apply to our operations. We are also subject to certain minimal restrictions on the operation of delivery trucks in Mexico City. We have implemented several programs designed to facilitate compliance with air, waste, noise and energy standards established by current Mexican federal and state environmental laws, including a program that installs catalytic converters and liquid petroleum gas in delivery trucks for our operations in Mexico City. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Coca-Cola FEMSA—Total Sales and Distribution.”

In addition, we are subject to the Ley de Aguas Nacionales, as amended (the National Water Law), enforced by the Comisión Nacional del Agua (the National Water Commission). Adopted in December 1992, and amended in 2004, the National Water Law provides that plants located in Mexico that use deep water wells to supply their water requirements must pay a fee to the local governments for the discharge of residual waste water to drainage. Pursuant to this law, certain local authorities test the quality of the waste water discharge and charge plants an additional fee for measurements that exceed certain standards published by the National Water Commission. In the case of non-compliance with the law, penalties, including closures, may be imposed. All of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bottler plants located in Mexico have met these standards. In addition, Coca-Cola FEMSA’s plants in Apizaco and San Cristóbal are certified with ISO 14001.

In Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Mexican operations, it established a partnership with The Coca-Cola Company and ALPLA, a supplier of plastic bottles to Coca-Cola FEMSA in Mexico, to create Industria Mexicana de Reciclaje (IMER), a PET recycling facility located in Toluca, Mexico. This facility started operations in 2005 and has a recycling capacity of approximately 25,000 metric tons per year from which 15,000 metric tons can be re-used in PET bottles for food packaging purposes. Coca-Cola FEMSA has also continued contributing funds to a nationwide recycling company, Ecología y Compromiso Empresarial (Environmentally Committed Companies). In addition, Coca-Cola FEMSA’s plants located in Toluca, Reyes, Cuautitlán, Apizaco, San Cristóbal, Morelia, Ixtacomitan, Coatepec, Poza Rica and Cuernavaca have received a Certificado de Industria Limpia (Certificate of Clean Industry).

As part of our environmental protection and sustainability strategies, several of our subsidiaries have entered into 20-year wind power supply agreements with the Mareña Renovables Wind Power Farm to receive electrical energy for use at production and distribution facilities of FEMSA and Coca-Cola FEMSA throughout Mexico, as well as for a significant number of OXXO convenience stores. The Mareña Renovables Wind Power Farm will be located in the state of Oaxaca and is expected to have a capacity of 396 megawatts. We anticipate the Mareña Renovables Wind Power Farm will begin operations in 2013.

Also as part of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s environmental protection and sustainability strategies, in December 2009, Coca-Cola FEMSA, jointly with strategic partners, entered into a wind energy supply agreement with a Mexican subsidiary of the Spanish wind farm developer, GAMESA Energía, S.A., or GAMESA, to supply green energy to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bottling facility in Toluca, Mexico, owned by its subsidiary, Propimex, S. de R.L. de C.V. (formerly Propimex, S.A. de C.V.), or Propimex, and to some of its suppliers of PET bottles. The wind farm generating such energy, which is located in La Ventosa, Oaxaca, is expected to generate approximately 100 thousand megawatt hours of energy annually. The energy supply services began in April 2010 and, during 2010, provided Coca-Cola FEMSA with approximately 45 thousand megawatt hours of energy. In 2010, GAMESA sold its interest in the Mexican subsidiary that owned the wind farm to Iberdrola Renovables México, S.A. de C.V.

 

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Central America

Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Central American operations are subject to several federal and state laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, which have been enacted in the last ten years, as awareness has increased in this region about the protection of the environment and the disposal of hazardous and toxic materials as well as water usage. In some countries in Central America, Coca-Cola FEMSA is in the process of bringing its operations into compliance with new environmental laws on the timeline established by the relevant regulatory authorities. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Costa Rica and Panama operations have participated in a joint effort along with the local division of The Coca-Cola Company called Misión Planeta (Mission Planet) for the collection and recycling of non-returnable plastic bottles.

Colombia

Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Colombian operations are subject to several Colombian federal, state and municipal laws and regulations related to the protection of the environment and the disposal of treated water and toxic and hazardous materials. These laws include the control of atmospheric emissions, noise emissions, disposal of treated water and strict limitations on the use of chlorofluorocarbons. For Coca-Cola FEMSA’s plants in Colombia, it has obtained the Certificación Ambiental Fase IV (Phase IV Environmental Certificate) demonstrating its compliance at the highest level with relevant Colombian regulations. Coca-Cola FEMSA is also engaged in nationwide campaigns for the collection and recycling of glass and plastic bottles as well as reforestation programs. In 2011, jointly with the FEMSA Foundation, Coca-Cola FEMSA was awarded with the “Western Hemisphere Corporate Citizenship Award” for the social responsibility programs it carried out to respond to the extreme weather experienced in Colombia in 2010 and 2011, known locally as the “winter emergency.” In addition, Coca-Cola FEMSA also obtained the ISO 9001, ISO-22000 and PAS 220 certifications for its plants located in Medellín, Cali, Bogotá, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga and La Calera, as recognition for the highest quality in its production processes.

Venezuela

Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Venezuelan operations are subject to several Venezuelan federal, state and municipal laws and regulations related to the protection of the environment. The most relevant of these laws are the Ley Orgánica del Ambiente (Organic Environmental Law), the Ley Sobre Sustancias, Materiales y Desechos Peligrosos (Substance, Material and Dangerous Waste Law), the Ley Penal del Ambiente (Criminal Environmental Law) and the Ley de Aguas (Water Law). Since the enactment of the Organic Environmental Law in 1995, Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Venezuelan subsidiary has presented the proper authorities with plans to bring their production facilities and distribution centers into compliance with applicable laws, which mainly consist of building or expanding the capacity of water treatment plants in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bottling facilities. Even though Coca-Cola FEMSA has had to adjust some of the originally proposed timelines due to construction delays, in 2009, Coca-Cola FEMSA completed the construction and received all the required permits to operate a new water treatment plant in its bottling facility located in the city of Barcelona. At the end of 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA constructed a new water treatment plant in its bottling plant in the city of Valencia, which began operations in February 2012. During 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA also commenced construction of a new water treatment plant in its Antimano bottling plant in Caracas, which construction is expected to conclude during the second quarter of 2012. Coca-Cola FEMSA is also concluding the process of obtaining the necessary authorizations and licenses before it can begin the construction and expansion of its current water treatment plant in its bottling facility in Maracaibo. In December 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA also obtained the ISO 14000 certification for all of its plants in Venezuela.

In addition, in December 2010, the Venezuelan government approved the Ley Integral de Gestión de la Basura (Comprehensive Waste Management Law), which will regulate solid waste management and which may be applicable to manufacturers of products for mass consumption. The full scope of this law has not yet been established.

Brazil

Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Brazilian operations are subject to several federal, state and municipal laws and regulations related to the protection of the environment. Among the most relevant laws and regulations are those dealing with the emission of toxic and hazardous gases, disposal of wastewater and solid waste, and soil contamination by hazardous chemicals, which impose penalties, such as fines, facility closures or criminal charges depending upon the level of non-compliance.

 

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Coca-Cola FEMSA’s production plant located in Jundiaí has been recognized by the Brazilian authorities for its compliance with environmental regulations and for having standards well above those imposed by the law. The plant has been certified for: (i) ISO 9001 since 1993; (ii) ISO 14001 since March 1997; (iii) norm OHSAS 18001 since 2005; (iv) ISO 22000 since 2007; and (v) PAS: 96 since 2010.

In Brazil it is also necessary to obtain concessions from the government to cast drainage. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s plants in Brazil have been granted this concession, except Mogi das Cruzes, where it has timely begun the process of obtaining one. In December, 2010, Coca-Cola FEMSA increased the capacity of the water treatment plant in its Jundiaí facility.

In Brazil, a municipal regulation of the City of São Paulo, implemented pursuant to Law 13.316/2002, came into effect in May 2008. This regulation requires Coca-Cola FEMSA to collect for recycling a specified annual percentage of plastic bottles made from PET sold in the City of São Paulo; such percentage increases each year. As of May 2009, Coca-Cola FEMSA was required to collect for recycling 50% of the PET bottles it sold in the City of São Paulo. As of May 2010, it was required to collect 75%, and as of May 2011, it was required to collect 90%. Currently, Coca-Cola FEMSA is not able to collect the entire required volume of PET bottles it has sold in the City of São Paulo for recycling. If Coca-Cola FEMSA does not meet the requirements of this regulation, which we believe to be more onerous than those imposed by the countries with the highest recycling standards, it could be fined and be subject to other sanctions, such as the suspension of operations in any of its plants and/or distribution centers located in the City of São Paulo. In May 2008, Coca-Cola FEMSA, together with other bottlers in São Paulo, through the Associação Brasileira das Indústrias de Refrigerantes e de Bebidas Não-alcoólicas (Brazilian Soft Drink and Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association, or ABIR), filed a motion requesting a court to overturn this regulation on the basis of impossibility of compliance. In addition, in November 2009, in response to a requirement of the municipal authority for Coca-Cola FEMSA to demonstrate the destination of the PET bottles sold by it in the City of São Paulo, Coca-Cola FEMSA filed a motion showing all of its recycling programs and requesting a more practical timeline to comply with the requirements of the law. In October 2010, the municipal authority of the City of São Paulo levied a fine on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Brazilian operating subsidiary of 250,000 Brazilian reais (approximately Ps. 1,750,000 as of December 31, 2010) on the grounds that the report submitted by Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Brazilian operating subsidiary did not comply with the 75% proper disposal requirement for the period from May 2008 to May 2010. Coca-Cola FEMSA filed an appeal against this fine. Coca-Cola FEMSA is currently awaiting resolution of both matters.

In August 2010, Law No. 12.305/2010 established the Brazilian National Solid Waste Policy. This policy is based on the principle of shared responsibility between the government, companies and the public, and provides for the post-consumption return of products to companies and requires public authorities to implement waste management programs. This law is regulated by Federal Decree No. 7.404/2010, and was published in December 2010. Coca-Cola FEMSA is currently discussing with the relevant authorities the impact this law may have on Brazilian companies in complying with the regulation in effect in the City of São Paulo.

Argentina

Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Argentine operations are subject to federal and municipal laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. The most significant of these are regulations concerning waste water discharge, which are enforced by the Secretaría de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable (Ministry of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development) and the Organismo Provincial para el Desarrollo Sostenible (Provincial Organization for Sustainable Development) for the province of Buenos Aires. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Alcorta plant is in compliance with environmental standards and Coca-Cola FEMSA has been certified for ISO 14001:2004 for its plants and operative units in Buenos Aires.

For all of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s plant operations, it employs an environmental management system: Sistema de Administración Ambiental (Environmental Administration System, or EKOSYSTEM) that is contained within Sistema Integral de Calidad (Integral Quality System, or SICKOF).

 

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Coca-Cola FEMSA has expended, and may be required to expend in the future, funds for compliance with and remediation under local environmental laws and regulations. Currently, we do not believe that such costs will have a material adverse effect on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s results from operations, or financial condition. However, since environmental laws and regulations and their enforcement are becoming increasingly more stringent in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s territories, and there is increased recognition by local authorities of the need for higher environmental standards in the countries where it operates, changes in current regulations may result in an increase in costs, which may have an adverse effect on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s future results from operations or financial condition. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s management is not aware of any significant pending regulatory changes that would require a significant amount of additional remedial capital expenditures.

We do not believe that Coca-Cola FEMSA’s business activities pose a material risk to the environment, and we believe that Coca-Cola FEMSA is in material compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations.

Other regulations

In December 2009, the Venezuelan government issued a decree requiring a reduction in energy consumption by at least 20% for industrial companies whose consumption is greater than two megawatts per hour and to submit an energy-usage reduction plan. Some of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bottling operations in Venezuela outside of Caracas met this threshold and it submitted a plan, which included the purchase of generators for its plants. In January 2010, the Venezuelan government subsequently implemented power cuts and other measures for all industries in Caracas whose consumption was above 35 kilowatts per hour.

In January 2010, the Venezuelan government amended the Defense of and Access to Goods and Services Law. Any violation by a company that produces, distributes and sells goods and services could lead to fines, penalties or the confiscation of the assets used to produce, distribute and sell these goods without compensation. Although we believe Coca-Cola FEMSA is in compliance with this law, consumer protection laws in Venezuela are subject to continuing review and changes.

In July 2011, the Venezuelan government passed the Fair Costs and Prices Law. The purpose of this law is to establish the regulations and administrative processes necessary to maintain the price stability of, and equal access to, goods and services. The law also creates the National Ministry of Costs and Prices, whose main role is to oversee price controls and set maximum retail prices on certain consumer goods and services. Of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s products, only certain of its still water beverages were affected by these regulations, which mandated a lowering of its sale prices as of April 2012. Any failure to comply with this law would result in fines, temporary suspension or the closure of operations. While Coca-Cola FEMSA is presently in compliance with this law, we cannot assure you that the Venezuelan government’s future regulation of goods and services will not result in a forced reduction of prices in respect of certain of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s other products, which could have a negative effect on its results of operations.

In January 2012, the Costa Rican government approved a decree that regulates the sale of food and beverages in schools. The decree came into effect in 2012. Enforcement of this law will be gradual, from applicability in 2012 to 2014, depending on the specific characteristics of the food or beverage in question. In accordance with the decree, the sale of specific sparkling beverages and still beverages that contain sugar, syrup or HFCS in any type of presentation in schools is prohibited. Coca-Cola FEMSA will still be allowed to sell water and certain still beverages in schools. We cannot assure you that the Costa Rican government will not further restrict sales of other of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s products in schools in the future; any such further restrictions could lead to an adverse impact on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s results of operations.

Water Supply Law

In Mexico, Coca-Cola FEMSA obtains water directly from municipal utility companies and pumps water from its own wells and rivers pursuant to concessions obtained from the Mexican government on a plant-by-plant basis. Water use in Mexico is regulated primarily by the National Water Law, and regulations issued thereunder, which created the National Water Commission. The National Water Commission is in charge of overseeing the national system of water use. Under the National Water Law, concessions for the use of a specific volume of

 

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ground or surface water generally run from five- to fifty-year terms, depending on the supply of groundwater in each region as projected by the National Water Commission. Concessionaires may request that concession terms be extended before expiration. The Mexican government is authorized to reduce the volume of ground or surface water granted for use by a concession by whatever volume of water is not used by the concessionaire for two consecutive years. However, because the current concessions for each of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s plants in Mexico do not match each plant’s projected needs for water in future years, we successfully negotiated with the Mexican government the right to transfer the unused volume under concessions from certain plants to other plants anticipating greater water usage in the future. These concessions may be terminated if, among other things, we use more water than permitted or we fail to pay required concession-related fees and do not cure such situations in a timely manner.

Although we have not undertaken independent studies to confirm the sufficiency of the existing or future groundwater supply, we believe that our existing concessions satisfy our current water requirements in Mexico.

In Argentina, a state water company provides water to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Alcorta plant on a limited basis; however, we believe the authorized amount meets Coca-Cola FEMSA’s requirements for this plant. In Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Monte Grande plant in Argentina, it pumps water from its own wells, in accordance with Law 25.688.

In Brazil, we buy water directly from municipal utility companies and we also capture water from underground sources, wells or surface sources (i.e. rivers), pursuant to concessions granted by the Brazilian government for each plant. According to the Brazilian Constitution, water is considered an asset of common use and can only be exploited for the national interest by Brazilians or companies formed under Brazilian law. Concessionaires and users have the responsibility for any damage to the environment. The exploitation and use of water is regulated by the Código de Mineração (Code of Mining, Decree Law No. 227/67), the Código de Águas Minerais (Mineral Water Code, Decree Law No. 7841/45), the National Water Resources Policy (Law No. 9433/97) and by regulations issued thereunder. The companies that exploit water are supervised by the Departamento Nacional de Produção Mineiral—DNPM (National Department of Mineral Production) and the National Water Agency in connection with federal health agencies, as well as state and municipal authorities. In Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Jundiaí and Belo Horizonte plants, we do not exploit mineral water. In the Mogi das Cruzes and Campo Grande plants, we have all the necessary permits related for the exploitation of mineral water.

In Colombia, in addition to natural spring water, Coca-Cola FEMSA obtains water directly from its own wells and from utility companies. Coca-Cola FEMSA is required to have a specific concession to exploit water from natural sources. Water use in Colombia is regulated by law No. 9 of 1979 and decrees no. 1594 of 1984 and no. 2811 of 1974. The National Institute of National Resources supervises companies that exploit water.

In Nicaragua, the use of water is regulated by the Ley General de Aguas Nacionales (National Water Law), and in Costa Rica, the use of water is regulated by the Ley de Aguas (Water Law). In both of these countries, Coca-Cola FEMSA owns and exploits its own water wells granted to it through governmental concessions. In Guatemala, no license or permits are required to exploit water from the private wells in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s own plants. In Panama, Coca-Cola FEMSA acquires water from a state water company, and the use of water is regulated by the Reglamento de Uso de Aguas de Panamá (Panama Use of Water Regulation). In Venezuela, Coca-Cola FEMSA uses private wells in addition to water provided by the municipalities, and it has taken the appropriate actions, including actions to comply with water regulations, to have water supply available from these sources, regulated by the Ley de Aguas (Water Law).

We cannot assure you that water will be available in sufficient quantities to meet our future production needs, that we will be able to maintain our current concessions or that additional regulations relating to water use will not be adopted in the future in our territories. We believe that we are in material compliance with the terms of our existing water concessions and that we are in compliance with all relevant water regulations.

 

ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None

 

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ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with, and is entirely qualified by reference to, our audited consolidated financial statements and the notes to those financial statements. Our audited consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with Mexican FRS, which differ in certain significant respects from U.S. GAAP. Notes 26 and 27 to our audited consolidated financial statements provide a description of the principal differences between Mexican FRS and U.S. GAAP as they relate to us, as well as U.S. GAAP consolidated balance sheets, statements of income and comprehensive income, and cash flows for the same periods presented for Mexican FRS purposes and for the consolidated statement of changes in stockholders’ equity for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2011, and reconciliation to U.S. GAAP of net income, comprehensive income and stockholders’ equity. See “—U.S. GAAP Reconciliation.”

Overview of Events, Trends and Uncertainties

Management currently considers the following events, trends and uncertainties to be important to understanding its results from operations and financial position during the periods discussed in this section:

 

   

Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Mexico and Central America region continues growing volumes at a steady but moderate pace, as does the South America region. The Coca-Cola brand, together with the recently added still-beverage operation, delivered the majority of volume growth.

 

   

FEMSA Comercio accelerated its rate of OXXO store openings and continues to grow in terms of total revenues and as a percentage of our consolidated total revenues. FEMSA Comercio has lower operating margins than our beverage business. Given that FEMSA Comercio has lower operating margins and fixed costs, it is more sensitive to changes in sales which could negatively affect operating margins.

Our results from operations and financial position are affected by the economic and market conditions in the countries where our subsidiaries conduct their operations, particularly in Mexico. Changes in these conditions are influenced by a number of factors, including those discussed in “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors.”

Recent Developments

On December 15, 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA entered into an agreement to merge the beverage division of Grupo Fomento Queretano into Coca-Cola FEMSA. Grupo Fomento Queretano’s beverage division operates mainly in the Mexican state of Querétaro, as well as in parts of the states of Mexico, Hidalgo and Guanajuato. The merger agreement was approved by both Coca-Cola FEMSA’s and Grupo Fomento Queretano’s boards of directors, and is subject to the approval of the CFC and of the shareholders meetings of both companies. The transaction will involve the issuance of approximately 45.1 million new Coca-Cola FEMSA Series L Shares, and in addition Coca-Cola FEMSA will assume Ps. 1,221 million in net debt. This transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2012.

In February 2012, Coca-Cola FEMSA announced that it had entered into a 12-month exclusivity agreement with The Coca-Cola Company to evaluate the potential acquisition by Coca-Cola FEMSA of a controlling ownership stake in the bottling operations owned by The Coca-Cola Company in the Philippines. Both parties believe that Coca-Cola FEMSA’s expertise and successful track record operating in fragmented markets and emerging economies could be effectively deployed in such territory, and contribute significantly toward expanding the penetration of, and consumer preference for, The Coca-Cola Company’s brands in that market. This exclusivity agreement does not require either party to enter into any transaction, and there can be no assurances that a definitive agreement will be executed.

On February 23, 2012, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation, and Stichting Depositary PGGM Infrastructure Funds, a pension fund managed by PGGM, acquired the 45% interest held by FEMSA in the parent companies of the Mareña Renovables Wind Power Farm, a 396 megawatt late-stage wind energy project in

 

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the southeastern region of the State of Oaxaca. Certain subsidiaries of FEMSA, FEMSA Comercio and Coca-Cola FEMSA have entered into 20-year wind power supply agreements with the Mareña Renovables Wind Power Farm to purchase energy output produced by it. These agreements will remain in full force and effect. The sale of FEMSA’s participation as an investor will result in a gain.

Changes in Mexican Financial Reporting Standards

Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards for public companies

The CNBV has announced that, commencing in 2012, all Mexican public companies must report their financial information in accordance with IFRS. Since 2006, the Consejo Mexicano para la Investigación y Desarrollo de Normas de Información Financiera (Mexican Board of Research and Development of Financial Reporting Standards) has been modifying Mexican FRS in order to ensure their convergence with IFRS. Starting on January 1, 2012, we are reporting our financial information in accordance with IFRS and will present financial information for 2011 on a comparable basis.

Effects of Changes in Economic Conditions

Our results from operations are affected by changes in economic conditions in Mexico and in the other countries in which we operate. For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, 60%, 62%, and 59%, respectively, of our total sales were attributable to Mexico. As a result, we have significant exposure to the economic conditions of certain countries, particularly those in Central America, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil, although we continue to generate a substantial portion of our total sales from Mexico. The participation of these other countries as a percentage of our total sales has not changed significantly during the last five years and is expected to increase in future periods due to acquisitions.

The Mexican economy is gradually recovering from a downturn as a result of the impact of the global financial crisis on many emerging economies in 2009. In 2011, Mexican GDP expanded by approximately 3.9% compared to an expansion of 5.4% for the full year of 2010, according to INEGI. According to the Banco Nacional de México survey regarding the economic expectations of specialists, Mexican GDP is expected to increase by 3.43% in 2012, as of the latest estimate, published on April 2, 2012. The Mexican economy continues to be heavily influenced by the U.S. economy, and therefore, further deterioration in economic conditions in, or delays in the recovery of, the U.S. economy may hinder any recovery in Mexico.

Our future results may be significantly affected by the general economic and financial conditions in the countries where we operate, including by levels of economic growth, by the devaluation of the local currency, by inflation and high interest rates or by political developments, and may result in lower demand for our products, lower real pricing or a shift to lower margin products. Because a large percentage of our costs are fixed costs, we may not be able to reduce such costs and expenses, and our profit margins may suffer as a result of downturns in the economy of each country.

The decrease in interest rates in Mexico in 2011 decreases our cost of Mexican peso-denominated variable interest rate indebtedness and could have a favorable effect on our financial position and results of operations during 2012.

Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2009 and through 2011, the exchange rate between the Mexican peso and the U.S. dollar fluctuated from a low of Ps. 11.51 per U.S. dollar, to a high of Ps. 14.25 per U.S. dollar. At December 30, 2011, the exchange rate (noon buying rate) was Ps. 13.9510 to US$ 1.00. On March 30, 2012, the exchange rate was Ps. 12.8115 to US$ 1.00. See “Item 3. Key Information—Exchange Rate Information.” A depreciation of the Mexican peso or local currencies in the countries in which we operate relative to the U.S. dollar increases our cost of raw materials priced in U.S. dollars, including raw materials whose prices are set with reference to the U.S. dollar. In addition, a depreciation of the Mexican peso or local currencies in the countries in which we operate relative to the U.S. dollar will increase our U.S. dollar-denominated debt obligations, which could negatively affect our financial position and results from operations.

 

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Operating Leverage

Companies with structural characteristics that result in margin expansion in excess of sales growth are referred to as having high “operating leverage.”

The operating subsidiaries of Coca-Cola FEMSA are engaged, to varying degrees, in capital-intensive activities. The high utilization of the installed capacity of the production facilities results in better fixed cost absorption, as increased output results in higher revenues without additional fixed costs. Absent significant increases in variable costs, gross profit margins will expand when production facilities are operated at higher utilization rates. Alternatively, higher fixed costs will result in lower gross profit margins in periods of lower output.

In addition, the commercial operations of Coca-Cola FEMSA are carried out through extensive distribution networks, the principal fixed assets of which are warehouses and trucks and are designed to handle large volumes of beverages. Fixed costs represent an important proportion of the total distribution expense of Coca-Cola FEMSA. Generally, the higher the volume that passes through the distribution system, the lower the fixed distribution cost as a percentage of the corresponding revenues. As a result, operating margins improve when the distribution capacity is operated at higher utilization rates. Alternatively, periods of decreased utilization because of lower volumes will negatively affect our operating margins.

FEMSA Comercio operations result in a low margin business with relatively fixed costs. These two characteristics make FEMSA Comercio a business with an operating margin that might be affected more easily by a change in sales levels.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of our audited consolidated financial statements requires that we make estimates and assumptions that affect (1) the reported amounts of our assets and liabilities, (2) the disclosure of our contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and (3) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We base our estimates and judgments on our historical experience and on various other reasonable factors that together form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of our assets and liabilities. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We evaluate our estimates and judgments on an on-going basis. Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 4 to our audited consolidated financial statements. We believe our most critical accounting policies that imply the application of estimates and/or judgments are the following:

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are depreciated over their estimated useful lives. The estimated useful lives are reviewed annually and represent the period we expect the assets to remain in service and to generate revenues. We base our estimates on the experience of our technical personnel. Depreciation is computed using the straight line method of accounting.

Where an item of property, plant and equipment is comprised of major components having different useful lives, these components are accounted for and depreciated as separate items (major components) of property, plant and equipment.

Imported assets are recorded using the exchange rate as of the acquisition date and are restated using the inflation factor of the country where the asset is acquired for inflationary economic environments.

We test depreciable long-lived assets for impairment at fair value when there are indicators of impairment and determine whether impairment exists, by first comparing the book value of the assets with their recoverable value based on undiscounted cash flows, and if such assets are not recoverable, then with their fair value, which is calculated considering their operating conditions and the future cash flows expected to be generated based on their estimated remaining useful life as determined by management.

 

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Returnable and non-returnable bottles are aggregated as part of property, plant and equipment. Returnable bottles are depreciated based on the straight-line method over acquisition cost. Coca-Cola FEMSA estimates depreciation rates considering returnable bottles useful lives.

We recorded returnable bottles and cases at acquisition cost and restated them applying inflation factors only when they form part of our operations in countries with an inflationary economic environment. For Coca-Cola FEMSA, breakage is expensed as it is incurred as part of depreciation. The annual calculated depreciation expense has been similar to the annual bottle breakage expense. Whenever we decide to discontinue a particular returnable presentation and retire it from the market, we write off the discontinued presentation through an increase in breakage expense presented as part of depreciation.

Valuation and impairment of intangible assets and goodwill

We identify all intangible assets associated with business acquisitions and investments in shares. We separate intangible assets between those with a finite useful life and those with an indefinite useful life, in accordance with the period over which we expect to receive the benefits. Intangible assets and goodwill identified in investments in shares are presented within the total investment in shares.

The intangible assets of indefinite life associated with business acquisitions are subject to annual impairment tests. As of December 31, 2011, we have recorded intangible assets with indefinite lives, which consist of:

 

   

Coca-Cola FEMSA’s rights to produce and distribute Coca-Cola trademark products for Ps. 62,822 million primarily as a result of the Panamco acquisition;

 

   

Goodwill relating to Coca-Cola FEMSA acquisitions during 2011 that amounted to Ps. 5,214; and

 

   

Other intangible assets with indefinite lives that amounted to Ps. 343 million.

We review annually the carrying value of our intangible assets with indefinite lives and goodwill for impairment based on recognized valuation techniques. While we believe that our estimates are reasonable, different assumptions regarding such estimates could materially affect our evaluations.

Investments in shares, including related goodwill, are subject to impairments testing whenever certain events or changes in circumstances occur that indicate that the carrying amount may exceed fair value. We recognize an impairment loss when it is considered to be other than a temporary loss. As of December 31, 2011, identified intangible assets and goodwill relating to our 20% economic interest in the Heineken Group amounted to €3,055 million (approximately US$ 3,940 million) and €1,200 million (approximately US$ 1,548 million), respectively.

Following our evaluations during 2011 and up to the date of this annual report, we do not have information which leads to a significant impairment of intangible assets with indefinite lives or of our investments in shares of affiliated companies. We can give no assurance that our expectations will not change as a result of new information or developments. Future changes in economic or political conditions in any country in which we operate or in the industries in which we participate may cause us to change our current assessment.

Employee benefits

Our employee benefits are comprised of obligations for pension plan, seniority premium, post-retirement medical services and severance indemnities. The determination of our obligations and expenses for pension and other post-retirement benefits are determined by actuarial calculations and are dependent on our determination of certain assumptions used to estimate such amounts. We evaluate our assumptions at least annually.

 

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While we believe that our assumptions are appropriate, significant differences in our actual experience or significant changes in our assumptions may materially affect our pension and other post-retirement obligations and our future expense. The following table is a summary of the three key assumptions to be used in determining 2011 annual labor liability expense, along with the impact on this expense of a 1% change in each assumed rate.

 

     Nominal Rates(3)     Real Rates(4)     Impact of Rate
Changes(2)
 

Assumptions 2011(1)

   2011     2010     2009     2011     2010     2009     +1%     -1%  
                                         (in millions of Mexican pesos)  

Mexican and Foreign Subsidiaries:

                

Discount rate

     7.6     7.6     8.2     4.0     4.0     4.5     Ps. (386     Ps.567   

Salary increase

     4.8     4.8     5.1     1.2     1.2     1.5     419       (275

Long-term asset return

     9.0     8.2     8.2     5.0     3.6     4.5     (16     17  

 

(1) Calculated using a measurement date as of December 2011.

 

(2) The impact is not the same for an increase of 1% as for a decrease of 1% because the rates are not linear.

 

(3) For countries considered non-inflationary economic environments according to Mexican FRS.

 

(4) For countries considered inflationary economic environments according to Mexican FRS.

Income taxes

As we describe in Note 23 to our audited consolidated financial statements, the Mexican tax reform as effective in 2011 did not impact our tax result. However, the following are the most important changes pursuant to the Mexican tax reform as effective in 2010 that are applicable to recent and upcoming years: an increase in the VAT rate from 15% in 2009 to 16% in 2010 and future years; an increase in the special tax on production and services from 25% in 2009 to 26.5% in 2010 and future years; and an increase in the statutory income tax rate from 28% in 2009 to 30% for 2010, 2011 and 2012, with a reduction from 30% to 29% and 28% for 2013 and 2014, respectively. In addition, the Mexican tax reform as effective in 2010 requires that income tax payments related to consolidated tax benefits obtained since 1999 be paid during the succeeding five years beginning in the sixth year when tax benefits were used. See Note 23 C and D to our audited consolidated financial statements.

The Impuesto Empresarial de Tasa Unica (IETU) functions similarly to an alternative minimum corporate income tax, except that any amounts paid are not creditable against future income tax payments. Mexican taxpayers are now subject to the higher of the IETU or the income tax liability computed under Mexican Income Tax Law. The IETU is calculated on a cash-flow basis, the rate for 2009 was 17.0% and the rate for both 2010 and 2011 was 17.5%.

We have paid corporate income tax since IETU came into effect and, based on our financial projections estimated for our Mexican tax returns, we expect to continue paying corporate income tax in the future and do not expect to pay IETU, therefore we did not record deferred IETU. As such, the enactment of IETU did not impact our consolidated financial position or results from operations, as it only recognizes deferred income tax.

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. We regularly review our deferred tax assets for recoverability and/or payment, and establish a valuation allowance based on our judgment regarding historical taxable income, projected future taxable income and the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary differences. If these estimates and related assumptions change in the future, we may be required to record additional valuation allowances against our deferred tax assets, resulting in an impact in net income.

The statutory income tax rate in Mexico was 30% for each of 2011 and 2010, and 28% for 2009. The statutory income tax rate in Panama was 25%, 27.5% and 30%, respectively, for 2011, 2010 and 2009. The statutory income tax rates for 2011 in other countries in which we do business were: 31% in Guatemala; 30% in Nicaragua; 30% in Costa Rica; 33% in Colombia; 34% in Venezuela; 34% in Brazil; and 35% in Argentina. Tax loss carry-forwards may be applied to income tax over certain periods of time, varying by country as follows: in Mexico, 10 years; in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Venezuela, 3 years; in Panama and Argentina, 5 years; in Colombia, tax losses may be carried forward for an indefinite period of time but are limited to 25% of taxable income for the relevant year; and in Brazil, tax losses may be carried forward for an indefinite period of time but cannot be restated and are limited to 30% of taxable income for the relevant year. We make judgments about the recoverability of tax loss carry-forward assets as described above.

 

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Indirect tax and legal contingencies

We are subject to various claims and contingencies related to indirect tax and legal proceedings as described in Note 24 to our audited consolidated financial statements. Due to their nature, such legal proceedings involve inherent uncertainties including, but not limited to, court rulings, negotiations between affected parties and governmental actions. Management periodically assesses the probability of loss for such contingencies and accrues a liability and/or discloses the relevant circumstances, as appropriate. If the potential loss from any claim or legal proceeding is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated, we accrue a liability for the estimated loss.

Derivative financial instruments

We are required to measure all derivative financial instruments at fair value and recognize them in the balance sheet as an asset or liability. Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments are recorded each year in net income or as a component of cumulative other comprehensive income, based on whether the instrument provides a hedge and is designated as such, and the ineffectiveness of the hedge. The fair values of derivative financial instruments are determined considering quoted prices in recognized markets. If such instruments are not traded, fair value is determined by applying techniques based upon technical models supported by sufficient reliable and verifiable data, recognized in the financial sector. We base our forward price curves upon market price quotations.

New Accounting Pronouncements

As described in Note 28 to our audited consolidated financial statements, we are adopting IFRS for the preparation of our financial information beginning in 2012. Pursuant to current SEC reporting requirements, foreign private issuers may provide in their SEC filings financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS, without a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP.

The consolidated financial statements to be issued by us for the year ending December 31, 2012 will be our first annual financial statements that comply with IFRS. Our IFRS transition date is January 1, 2011, and therefore, the year ended December 31, 2011 will be the comparative period to be covered. IFRS 1, “First-Time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards” (which we refer to as IFRS 1), sets forth mandatory exceptions and allows certain optional exemptions to the complete retrospective application of IFRS.

Mandatory Exceptions

We have applied the following mandatory exceptions to retrospective application of IFRS, effective as of our IFRS transition date:

Accounting Estimates

Estimates prepared under IFRS as of January 1, 2011 are consistent with the estimates recognized under Mexican FRS as of the same date, unless we are required to adjust such estimates to agree with IFRS.

Derecognition of Financial Assets and Liabilities

We applied the derecognition rules of IAS 39, “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement” (which we refer to as IAS 39) prospectively for transactions occurring on or after our IFRS transition date.

 

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Hedge Accounting

As of our IFRS transition date, we have measured at fair value all derivative financial instruments and hedging relationships designated and documented effectively as accounting hedges, as required by IAS 39, which is consistent with the treatment under Mexican FRS. As a result, there was no impact in our consolidated financial statements due to the application of this exception.

Non-controlling Interest

We have applied the requirements of IAS 27, “Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements” (which we refer to as IAS 27) related to non-controlling interests prospectively beginning on our IFRS transition date.

Optional Exemptions

We have elected the following optional exemptions to retrospective application of IFRS, effective as of our IFRS transition date:

Business Combinations and Acquisitions of Associates and Joint Ventures

According to IFRS 1, an entity may elect not to apply IFRS 3, “Business Combinations” retrospectively to acquisitions made prior to the transition date to IFRS.

The exemption for past business combinations also applies to past acquisitions of investments in associates and of interests in joint ventures.

We have adopted this exemption and did not amend our business acquisitions or investments in associates and joint ventures prior to our IFRS transition date and we did not remeasure the values determined at the acquisition dates, including the amount of previously recognized goodwill in past acquisitions.

Share-based Payments

We have share-based plans, which we pay to our qualifying employees based on our own shares and those of our subsidiary, Coca-Cola FEMSA. Management decided to apply the optional exemptions established in IFRS 1, whereas we did not apply IFRS 2, “Share-based Payment” (which we refer to as IFRS 2): (i) to the equity instruments granted before November 7, 2002, (ii) to equity instruments granted after November 7, 2002 and that were earned before the latter of (a) our IFRS transition date and (b) January 1, 2005 and (iii) liabilities related to share-based payment transactions that were settled before our IFRS transition date.

Deemed Cost

An entity may individually elect to measure an item of its property, plant and equipment at the transition date to IFRS at its fair value and use that fair value as its deemed cost at that date. In addition, a first-time adopter may elect to use a previous generally accepted accounting principles revaluation of an item of property, plant and equipment at, or before, the transition date to IFRS as deemed cost at the date of the revaluation, if the revaluation was, at such date of the revaluation, broadly comparable to either (i) fair value, or (ii) cost or depreciated cost in accordance with IFRS and adjusted to reflect changes in a general or specific price index.

We have presented both our property, plant and equipment and our intangible assets at IFRS historical cost in all countries. In Venezuela, this IFRS historical cost represents actual historical cost in the year of acquisition, indexed for inflation in a hyperinflationary economy based on the provisions of IAS 29, “Hyperinflationary Economies” (which we refer to as IAS 29).

 

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Cumulative Translation Effect

A first-time adopter is neither required to recognize translation differences and accumulate these in a separate component of equity, nor on a subsequent disposal of a foreign operation, to reclassify the cumulative translation difference for that foreign operation from equity to profit or loss as part of the gain or loss on disposal that would have existed at the IFRS transition date.

We applied this exemption and consequently we reclassified the accumulated translation effect recorded under Mexican FRS to retained earnings and, beginning January 1, 2011, we calculate the translation effect of our foreign operations prospectively according to IAS 21, “The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates.”

Borrowing Costs

We applied the IFRS 1 exemption related to borrowing costs incurred for qualifying assets existing at the IFRS transition date, based on our similar Mexican FRS accounting policy, and beginning January 1, 2011 we capitalize eligible borrowing costs in accordance with IAS 23, “Borrowing Costs” (which we refer to as IAS 23).

Recording Effects of the Transition from Mexican FRS to IFRS

The following disclosures provide a qualitative description of the most significant preliminary effects from the transition to IFRS determined as of the date of the issuance of our consolidated financial statements.

Inflation Effects

According to Mexican FRS, the Mexican peso ceased to be the currency of an inflationary economy on December 31, 2007, as the three years’ cumulative inflation as of such date did not exceed 26%.

According to IAS 29, the last hyperinflationary period for the Mexican peso was in 1998. As a result, we have eliminated the cumulative inflation recognized within long-lived assets and contributed capital for our Mexican operations, based on Mexican FRS during the years 1999 through 2007, which were not deemed hyperinflationary for IFRS purposes.

For our foreign operations, the cumulative inflation from the acquisition date was eliminated (except in the case of Venezuela, which was deemed to be a hyperinflationary economy) from the date on which we began to consolidate them.

Employee Benefits

According to NIF D-3, a severance provision and the corresponding expenditure must be recognized based on the experience of an entity in terminating the employment relationship before the retirement date, or if the entity deems to pay benefits as a result of an offer made to employees to encourage a voluntary termination. For IFRS purposes, this provision is only recorded pursuant to IAS 19 (Revised 2011), “Employee Benefits” (which we refer to as IAS 19 (Revised 2011)), at the moment the entity has a demonstrable commitment to end the relationship with the employee or to make a bid to encourage voluntary retirement. This is evidenced by a formal plan that describes the characteristics of the termination of employment. Accordingly, at our IFRS transition date, we derecognized our severance indemnity recorded under Mexican FRS against retained earnings given that no such formal plan exists. A formal plan was not required for recording under Mexican FRS.

IAS 19 (Revised 2011), early adopted by us, eliminates the use of the “corridor” method, which defers the actuarial gains/losses and requires that such gains/losses be recorded directly within other comprehensive income in each reporting period. The standard also eliminates deferral of past service costs and requires entities to record them in comprehensive income in each reporting period. These requirements increased our liability for employee benefits with a corresponding reduction in retained earnings at our IFRS transition date.

 

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Embedded Derivatives

For Mexican FRS purposes, we recorded embedded derivatives for agreements denominated in foreign currency. Pursuant to the principles set forth in IAS 39, there is an exception for embedded derivatives on those contracts that are denominated in certain foreign currencies if, for example, the foreign currency is commonly used in the economic environment in which the transaction takes place. We concluded that all of our embedded derivatives fell within the scope of this exception.

Therefore, at our IFRS transition date, we derecognized all embedded derivatives recognized under Mexican FRS.

Stock Bonus Program

Under NIF D-3, we recognized our stock bonus program plan offered to certain key executives as a defined contribution plan. IFRS require that such share-based payment plans be recorded under the principles set forth in IFRS 2. The most significant difference for changing the accounting treatment is related to the period during which compensation expense is recognized, which under NIF D-3 means the total amount of the bonus is recorded in the period in which it was granted, while in IFRS 2 it shall be recognized over the vesting period of such awards.

Additionally, the trust that holds the equity shares allocated to executives is considered to hold plan assets and is not consolidated under Mexican FRS. However, for IFRS Standing Interpretations Committee Interpretation (SIC) 12, “Consolidation – Special Purpose Entities,” we will consolidate the trust and reflect our own shares in treasury stock and reduce the non-controlling interest for Coca-Cola FEMSA shares held by the trust.

Deferred Income Taxes

The IFRS adjustments recognized by us had an impact on the calculation of deferred income taxes according to the requirements established by IAS 12, “Income Taxes” (IAS 12).

Furthermore, we derecognized a deferred liability recorded in the exchange of shares of FEMSA Cerveza with the Heineken Group. IFRS have an exception for recognition of a deferred tax liability for an investment in a subsidiary if the parent is able to control the timing of the reversal and it is probable that it will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

Retained Earnings

All the adjustments arising from our conversion to IFRS as of the transition date were recorded against retained earnings.

Other Differences in Presentation and Disclosures in the Financial Statements

Generally, IFRS disclosure requirements are more extensive than those of Mexican FRS, which will result in increased disclosures about accounting policies, significant judgments and estimates, financial instruments and management risks, among others. We will restructure our income statement under IFRS to comply with IAS 1, “Presentation of Financial Statements” (IAS 1). In addition, there may be some other differences in presentation.

There are other differences between Mexican FRS and IFRS. However, we consider the differences mentioned above to describe the significant effects.

 

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As a result of the transition to IFRS, the effects as of January 1, 2011 on the principal items of a condensed statement of financial position are described as follows:

 

     Mexican FRS      IFRS Transition Effects     Preliminary IFRS  

Current assets

   Ps. 51,460       Ps. (47   Ps. 51,413   

Non-current assets

     172,118         (10,078     162,040   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

     223,578         (10,125     213,453   

Current liabilities

     30,516         (254     30,262   

Non-current liabilities

     40,049         (10,012     30,037   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     70,565         (10,266     60,299   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

   Ps. 153,013       Ps. 141      Ps. 153,154   

The information presented above has been prepared in accordance with the standards and interpretations issued and in effect or issued and early adopted by us at the date of preparation of our consolidated financial statements (see Note 28 B to our consolidated financial statements). The standards and interpretations that are applicable at December 31, 2012, including those that will be applicable on an optional basis, are not known with certainty at the time of preparing our Mexican FRS consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2011. Additionally, the IFRS accounting policies selected by us may change as a result of changes in the economic environment or industry trends that are observable after the issuance of our Mexican FRS consolidated financial statements. The information presented herein does not intend to comply with IFRS, and it should be noted that under IFRS, only one set of financial statements comprising the statements of financial position, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows, together with comparative information and explanatory notes, can provide a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

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Operating Results

The following table sets forth our consolidated income statement under Mexican FRS for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2011(1)     2011     2010     2009  
     (in millions of U.S. dollars and Mexican pesos)  

Net sales

   $ 14,470        Ps.201,867        Ps.168,376        Ps.158,503   

Other operating revenues

     84        1,177        1,326        1,748   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     14,554        203,044        169,702        160,251   

Cost of sales

     8,459        118,009        98,732        92,313   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     6,095        85,035        70,970        67,938   

Operating expenses:

        

Administrative

     591        8,249        7,766        7,835   

Selling

     3,576        49,882        40,675        38,973   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     4,167        58,131        48,441        46,808   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

     1,928        26,904        22,529        21,130   

Other expenses, net

     (209     (2,917     (282     (1,877

Interest expense

     (210     (2,934     (3,265     (4,011

Interest income

     72        999        1,104        1,205   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

     (138     (1,935     (2,161     (2,806

Foreign exchange gain (loss), net

     84        1,165        (614     (431

Gain on monetary position, net

     9        146        410        486   

Market value (loss) gain on ineffective portion of derivative financial instruments

     (11     (159     212        124   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive financing result

     (56     (783     (2,153     (2,627
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity method of associates

     370        5,167        3,538        132   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     2,033        28,371        23,632        16,758   

Income taxes

     550        7,687        5,671        4,959   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated net income before discontinued operations

     1,483        20,684        17,961        11,799   

Income from the exchange of shares with Heineken, net

     —          —          26,623        —     

Net income from discontinued operations

     —          —          706        3,283   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated net income

     1,483        20,684        45,290        15,082   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net controlling interest income

     1,085        15,133        40,251        9,908   

Net non-controlling interest income

     398        5,551        5,039        5,174   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated net income

     1,483        20,684        45,290        15,082   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Translation to U.S. dollar amounts at an exchange rate of Ps. 13.9510 to US$ 1.00, provided solely for the convenience of the reader.

 

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The following table sets forth certain operating results by reportable segment under Mexican FRS for each of our segments for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009. Due to the discontinued operation of FEMSA Cerveza it is not considered as a reportable segment.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     Percentage Growth  
     2011     2010     2009     2011 vs. 2010     2010 vs. 2009  
     (in millions of Mexican pesos at December 31, 2010, except for percentages)  

Net sales

          

Coca-Cola FEMSA

     Ps.124,066        Ps.102,988        Ps.102,229        20.5     0.7

FEMSA Comercio

     74,112        62,259        53,549        19.0     16.3

CB Equity(1)

     —          —          N/a        N/a        N/a   

Total revenues

          

Coca-Cola FEMSA

     124,715        103,456        102,767        20.5     0.7

FEMSA Comercio

     74,112        62,259        53,549        19.0     16.3

CB Equity

     —          —          N/a        N/a        N/a   

Cost of sales

          

Coca-Cola FEMSA

     67,488        55,534        54,952        21.5     1.1

FEMSA Comercio

     48,636        41,220        35,825        18.0     15.1

CB Equity

     —          —          N/a        N/a        N/a   

Gross profit

          

Coca-Cola FEMSA

     57,227        47,922        47,815        19.4     0.2

FEMSA Comercio

     25,476        21,039        17,724        21.1     18.7

CB Equity

     —          —          N/a        N/a        N/a   

Income from operations

          

Coca-Cola FEMSA

     20,152        17,079        15,835        18.0     7.9

FEMSA Comercio

     6,276        5,200        4,457        20.7     16.7

CB Equity

     (7     (3     N/a        (133.0 )%      N/a   

Depreciation(2)

          

Coca-Cola FEMSA

     4,163        3,333        3,472        24.9     (4.0 )% 

FEMSA Comercio

     1,175        990        819        18.7     20.9

CB Equity

     —          —          N/a        N/a        N/a   

Gross margin(3)(4)

          

Coca-Cola FEMSA

     45.9     46.3     46.5     (0.4 ) p.p.      (0.2 ) p.p. 

FEMSA Comercio

     34.4     33.8     33.1     0.6  p.p.      0.7  p.p. 

CB Equity

     —          N/a        N/a        N/a        N/a   

Operating margin(4)(5)

          

Coca-Cola FEMSA

     16.2     16.5     15.4     (0.3 ) p.p.      1.1  p.p. 

FEMSA Comercio

     8.5     8.4     8.3     0.1  p.p.      0.1  p.p. 

CB Equity

     N/a        N/a        N/a        N/a.        N/a   

 

(1) CB Equity holds Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. Shares.

 

(2) Includes breakage of bottles.

 

(3) Gross margin is calculated with reference to total revenues.

 

(4) As used herein, p.p. refers to a percentage point increase (or decrease), contrasted with a straight percentage increase (or decrease).

 

(5) Operating margin is calculated with reference to total revenues.

 

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Results from operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2011 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2010

FEMSA Consolidated

Under Mexican FRS, we reclassified our financial statements to reflect FEMSA Cerveza as a discontinued operation.

Total Revenues

FEMSA’s consolidated total revenues increased 19.6% to Ps. 203,044 million in 2011 compared to Ps. 169,702 million in 2010. All of FEMSA’s operations—beverages and retail—contributed positively to this revenue growth. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s total revenues increased 20.5% to Ps. 124,715 million, driven by double-digit total revenue growth in both of its divisions and the integration of the beverage divisions of Grupo Tampico and Grupo CIMSA in Mexico. FEMSA Comercio’s revenues increased 19.0% to Ps. 74,112 million, mainly driven by the opening of 1,135 net new stores combined with an average increase of 9.2% in same-store sales.

Gross Profit

Consolidated gross profit increased 19.8% to Ps. 85,035 million in 2011 compared to Ps. 70,970 million in 2010, driven by Coca-Cola FEMSA. Gross margin increased by 0.1 percentage points, from 41.8% of consolidated total revenues in 2010 to 41.9% in 2011.

Income from Operations

Consolidated operating expenses increased 20.0% to Ps. 58,131 million in 2011 compared to Ps. 48,441 million in 2010. The majority of this increase resulted from Coca-Cola FEMSA and additional operating expenses at FEMSA Comercio, resulting from accelerated store expansion. As a percentage of total revenues, consolidated operating expenses increased from 28.5% in 2010 to 28.6% in 2011.

Consolidated administrative expenses increased 6.2% to Ps. 8,249 million in 2011 compared to Ps. 7,766 million in 2010. As a percentage of total revenues, consolidated administrative expenses decreased from 4.6% in 2010 to 4.1% in 2011.

Consolidated selling expenses increased 22.6% to Ps. 49,882 million in 2011 as compared to Ps. 40,675 million in 2010. This increase was attributable to greater selling expenses at Coca-Cola FEMSA and FEMSA Comercio. As a percentage of total revenues, selling expenses increased 0.5 percentage points, from 24.0% in 2010 to 24.5% in 2011.

Consolidated income from operations increased 19.4% to Ps. 26,904 million in 2011 as compared to Ps. 22,529 million in 2010, driven by Coca-Cola FEMSA and FEMSA Comercio. Consolidated operating margin remained stable at 13.3% as a percentage of 2011 consolidated total revenues.

Some of our subsidiaries pay management fees to us in consideration for corporate services we provide to them. These fees are recorded as administrative expenses in the respective business segments. Our subsidiaries’ payments of management fees are eliminated in consolidation and, therefore, have no effect on our consolidated operating expenses.

Coca-Cola FEMSA

Total Revenues

Coca-Cola FEMSA total revenues increased 20.5% to Ps. 124,715 million in 2011, compared to Ps. 103,456 million in 2010 as a result of double-digit total revenue growth in its South America and Mexico and Central America divisions and the integration of the beverage divisions of Grupo Tampico and Grupo CIMSA in its Mexican territories during the fourth quarter of 2011. Excluding the integration of the beverage divisions of Grupo

 

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Tampico and Grupo CIMSA in Mexico, total revenues grew approximately 19% in 2011. On a currency neutral basis and excluding the recently merged franchise territories in Mexico, total revenues increased approximately 16% in 2011. Consolidated average price per unit case increased 13.8%, reaching Ps. 45.38 in 2011 as compared to Ps. 39.89 in 2010.

Consolidated total sales volume reached 2,648.6 million unit cases in 2011, compared to 2,499.5 million unit cases in 2010, an increase of 6.0%. Volume growth resulted from increases in sparkling beverages, which accounted for approximately 80% of incremental volumes, driven by the Coca-Cola brand. The still beverage category, mainly driven by the Jugos del Valle line of business in Mexico, Brazil and Venezuela, and Hi-C orangeade and the Cepita juice brand in Argentina contributed with approximately 15% of the incremental volumes, and the bottled water category represented the balance. Excluding the integration of the beverage divisions of Grupo Tampico and Grupo CIMSA in Mexico, volumes grew 4.0% to 2,599.7 million unit cases.

Gross Profit

Cost of sales increased 21.5% to Ps. 67,488 million in 2011 compared to Ps. 55,534 million in 2010, as a result of higher sweetener and PET costs across Coca-Cola FEMSA’s operations, which were partially offset by the appreciation of the average exchange rates of the Brazilian real, the Colombian peso and the Mexican peso as applied to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s U.S. dollar-denominated raw material costs. Gross profit increased 19.4% to Ps. 57,227 million in 2011, as compared to 2010. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s gross margin decreased 0.4 percentage points to 45.9% in 2011.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses increased 20.2% to Ps. 37,075 million in 2011. As a percentage of total revenues, operating expenses remained flat at 29.7% in 2011 as compared to 29.8% in 2010.

Income from Operations

Income from operations increased 18.0% to Ps. 20,152 million in 2011, as compared to Ps. 17,079 million in 2010 driven by Coca-Cola FEMSA’s South America division. Operating margin was 16.2% in 2011, a contraction of 0.3 percentage points as compared to 2010.

FEMSA Comercio

Total Revenues

FEMSA Comercio total revenues increased 19.0% to Ps. 74,112 million in 2011 compared to Ps. 62,259 million in 2010, primarily as a result of the opening of 1,135 net new stores during 2011, together with an average increase in same-store sales of 9.2%. As of December 31, 2011, there were a total of 9,561 stores in Mexico. FEMSA Comercio same-store sales increased an average of 9.2% compared to 2010, driven by a 4.6% increase in store traffic and 4.3% in average ticket.

Gross Profit

Cost of sales increased 18.0% to Ps. 48,636 million in 2011, below total revenue growth, compared with Ps. 41,220 million in 2010. As a result, gross profit reached Ps. 25,476 million in 2011, which represented a 21.1% increase from 2010. Gross margin expanded 0.6 percentage points to reach 34.4% of total revenues. This increase reflects a positive mix shift due to the growth of higher margin categories and a more effective collaboration and execution with key supplier partners combined with a more efficient use of promotion-related marketing resources.

 

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Income from Operations

Operating expenses increased 21.2% to Ps. 19,200 million in 2011 compared with Ps. 15,839 million in 2010, largely driven by the growing number of stores as well as by incremental expenses, such as those for the strengthening of FEMSA Comercio’s organizational structure, mainly IT-related, and targeted marketing programs.

Administrative expenses increased 21.2% to Ps. 1,438 million in 2011, compared with Ps. 1,186 million in 2010; however, as a percentage of sales, they remained stable at 1.9%.

Selling expenses increased 21.2% to Ps. 17,762 million in 2011 compared with Ps. 14,653 million in 2010.

Income from operations increased 20.7% to Ps. 6,276 million in 2011 compared with Ps. 5,200 million in 2010, resulting in an operating margin expansion of 0.1 percentage points to 8.5% as a percentage of total revenues for the year, compared with 8.4% in 2010.

FEMSA Consolidated—Net Income

Other Expenses

Other expenses include employee profit sharing, which we refer to as PTU, impairment of long-lived assets, contingencies, as well as their subsequent interest and penalties, severance payments derived from restructuring programs and all other non-recurring expenses related to activities different from the main activities of the Company and that are not recognized as part of the comprehensive financing result. During 2011, other expenses increased to Ps. 2,917 million from Ps. 282 million in 2010, largely driven by the net effect of non-recurring items. Such items include the income in 2010 from the sale of our flexible packaging business and the sale of the Mundet brand to The Coca-Cola Company.

Comprehensive Financing Result

Comprehensive financing result decreased 63.6% in 2011 to Ps. 783 million, reflecting an improvement due to a foreign exchange gain (of Ps. 1,165 million) in 2011 driven by the effect of the devaluation of the Mexican peso on the U.S. dollar-denominated component of our cash position as compared to a loss of Ps. 614 million in 2010.

Equity Method of Associates

Equity Method of Associates increased 46.0% to Ps. 5,167 million in 2011 compared with Ps. 3,538 million in 2010, mainly driven by the inclusion of the full year of our 20% interest in Heineken’s net income in 2011, compared to the inclusion of eight months of our 20% interest in Heineken’s 2010 net income.

Income Taxes

Our accounting provision for income taxes in 2011 was Ps. 7,687 million, as compared to Ps. 5,671 million in 2010, resulting in an effective tax rate of 27.1% in 2011, as compared to 24.0% in 2010.

Consolidated Net Income before Discontinued Operations

Net income from continuing operations increased 15.2% to Ps. 20,684 million in 2011 compared to Ps. 17,961million in 2010. These results were driven by the growth in income from operations, which more than compensated for an increase in the other expenses line largely driven by the net effect of non-recurring items. These include the tough comparison base caused by income from the sale of our flexible packaging business and the sale of the Mundet brand to The Coca-Cola Company, and a loss on disposal of long-lived assets in 2011.

Consolidated Net Income

Consolidated net income was Ps. 20,684 million in 2011 compared to Ps. 45,290 million in 2010, a difference mainly attributable to the one-time Heineken transaction-related gain recorded during 2010 (of Ps. 26,623 million). Net controlling interest amounted to Ps. 15,133 million in 2011 compared to Ps. 40,251 million in 2010, which difference was also due principally to the effect in 2010 of the Heineken transaction. Net controlling interest in 2011 per FEMSA Unit(1) was Ps. 4.23 (US$3.03 per ADS).

 

 

1 

FEMSA Units consist of FEMSA BD Units and FEMSA B Units. Each FEMSA BD Unit is comprised of one Series B Share, two Series D-B Shares and two Series D-L Shares. Each FEMSA B Unit is comprised of five Series B Shares. The number of FEMSA Units outstanding as of December 31, 2011 was 3,578,226,270, which is equivalent to the total number of FEMSA Shares outstanding as of the same date, divided by five.

 

 

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Results from operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2010 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2009

FEMSA Consolidated

Under Mexican FRS, we reclassified our financial statements to reflect FEMSA Cerveza as a discontinued operation.

Total Revenues

FEMSA’s consolidated total revenues increased 5.9% to Ps. 169,702 million in 2010 compared to Ps. 160,251 million in 2009. All of FEMSA’s beverage and retail operations contributed positively to this revenue growth. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s total revenues increased 0.7% to Ps. 103,456 million, driven by the revenue growth in its Mercosur and Mexico divisions. FEMSA Comercio’s revenues increased 16.3% to Ps. 62,259 million, mainly driven by the opening of 1,092 net new stores combined with an average increase of 5.2% in same-store sales.

Gross Profit

Consolidated gross profit increased 4.5% to Ps. 70,970 million in 2010 compared to Ps. 67,938 million in 2009, driven by FEMSA Comercio. Gross margin contracted by 0.6 percentage points, from 42.4% of consolidated total revenues in 2009 to 41.8% in 2010 as the faster growth of lower-margin FEMSA Comercio tends to compress FEMSA’s consolidated margins over time. Gross margin improvement at FEMSA Comercio partially offset raw-material cost pressures at Coca-Cola FEMSA.

Income from Operations

Consolidated operating expenses increased 3.5% to Ps. 48,441 million in 2010 compared to Ps. 46,808 million in 2009. The majority of this increase resulted from additional operating expenses at FEMSA Comercio, due to an accelerated store expansion. As a percentage of total revenues, consolidated operating expenses decreased from 29.2% in 2009 to 28.5% in 2010.

Consolidated administrative expenses decreased 0.9% to Ps. 7,766 million in 2010 compared to Ps. 7,835 million in 2009. As a percentage of total revenues, consolidated administrative expenses remained stable at 4.6% in 2010 compared with 4.9% in 2009.

Consolidated selling expenses increased 4.4% to Ps. 40,675 million in 2010 as compared to Ps. 38,973 million in 2009. This increase was attributable to FEMSA Comercio. As a percentage of total revenues, selling expenses decreased 0.3 percentage points from to 24.3% in 2009 to 24.0% in 2010.

Consolidated income from operations increased 6.6% to Ps. 22,529 million in 2010 as compared to Ps. 21,130 million in 2009. This increase was driven by the results of Coca-Cola FEMSA and FEMSA Comercio. Excluding one-time Heineken Transaction-related expenses, consolidated income from operations would have grown 8.7% in that period. Consolidated operating margin increased 0.1 percentage points from 13.2% in 2009, to 13.3% as a percentage of 2010 consolidated total revenues.

Some of our subsidiaries pay management fees to us in consideration for corporate services we provide to them. These fees are recorded as administrative expenses in the respective business segments. Our subsidiaries’ payments of management fees are eliminated in consolidation and, therefore, have no effect on our consolidated operating expenses.

 

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Coca-Cola FEMSA

Total Revenues

Coca-Cola FEMSA total revenues increased 0.7% to Ps. 103,456 million in 2010, compared to Ps. 102,767 million in 2009 as a result of revenue growth in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Mercosur and Mexico divisions and despite the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolívar, which affected our revenues in that country. On a currency-neutral basis and excluding the acquisition of Brisa in Colombia, total revenues increased approximately 15% in 2010.

Consolidated average price per unit case decreased 2.6%, reaching Ps. 39.89 in 2010 as compared to Ps. 40.95 in 2009, reflecting the devaluation in the Venezuelan bolívar.

Consolidated total sales volume reached 2,499.5 million unit cases in 2010, compared to 2,428.6 million unit cases in 2009, an increase of 2.9%. Volume growth resulted largely from increases in sparkling beverages, which grew 2.6% and accounted for more than 70% of incremental volumes, mainly driven by the Coca-Cola brand. The still beverage category, mainly driven by the Jugos del Valle line of business in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s key operations, contributed with approximately 20% of the incremental volumes and the bottled water category represented the balance. Excluding the acquisitions of Brisa, total sales volume increased 1.6% to reach 2,479.6 million unit cases.

Gross Profit

Cost of sales increased 1.1% to Ps. 55,534 million in 2010 compared to Ps. 54,952 million in 2009, as a result of increases in the cost of sweeteners of our operations, which were partially offset by the appreciation of the Brazilian real, the Colombian peso and the Mexican peso as applied to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s U.S. dollar-denominated raw material costs. Gross profit increased 0.2% to Ps. 47,922 million in 2010, as compared to 2009, despite the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolívar; Coca-Cola FEMSA’s gross margin decreased 0.2 percentage points to 46.3% in 2010.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses decreased 3.6% to Ps. 30,843 million in 2010. As a percentage of sales, operating expenses decreased to 29.8% in 2010 from 31.1% in 2009.

Income from Operations

Income from operations increased 7.9% to Ps. 17,079 million in 2010, as compared to Ps. 15,835 million in 2009 driven by Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Mercosur and Latincentro divisions. Operating margin was 16.5% in 2010, an expansion of 1.1 percentage points as compared to 2009.

FEMSA Comercio

Total Revenues

FEMSA Comercio total revenues increased 16.3% to Ps. 62,259 million in 2010 compared to Ps. 53,549 million in 2009, primarily as a result of the opening of 1,092 net new stores during 2010, combined with an average increase of same-store sales of 5.2%. As of December 31, 2010, there were a total of 8,409 stores in Mexico and 17 stores in Colombia. FEMSA Comercio same-store sales increased an average of 5.2% compared to 2009, driven by a 3.9% increase in store traffic and 1.3% in average ticket. As was the case in 2009, the same-store sales, ticket and traffic dynamics continued to reflect the effects from the continued mix shift from physical prepaid wireless air-time cards to the sale of electronic air-time, for which only the margin is recorded, rather than the full amount of the electronic recharge.

 

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Gross Profit

Cost of sales increased 15.1% to Ps. 41,220 million in 2010, below total revenue growth, compared with Ps. 35,825 million in 2009. As a result, gross profit reached Ps. 21,039 million in 2010, which represented an 18.7% increase from 2009. Gross margin expanded 0.7 percentage points to reach 33.8% of total revenues. This increase reflects a positive mix shift due to (i) the growth of higher margin categories, (ii) more effective collaboration and execution with FEMSA Comercio’s key supplier partners and more efficient use of promotion-related marketing resources, and (iii) to a lesser extent, the continued mix shift toward electronic air-time recharges as described above.

Income from Operations

Operating expenses increased 19.4% to Ps. 15,839 million in 2010 compared with Ps. 13,267 million in 2009, largely driven by the growing number of stores as well as by incremental expenses such as (i) higher utility tariffs at the store level and (ii) the strengthening of FEMSA Comercio’s organizational structure, mainly IT-related, which was deferred in 2009 in response to the challenging economic environment that prevailed in Mexico at the time.

Administrative expenses increased 23.7% to Ps. 1,186 million in 2010, compared with Ps. 959 million in 2009, however, as a percentage of sales remained stable at 1.9%.

Selling expenses increased 19.1% to Ps. 14,653 in 2010 compared with Ps. 12,308 million in 2009. Income from operations increased 16.7% to Ps. 5,200 million in 2010 compared with Ps. 4,457 million in 2009, resulting in an operating margin expansion of 10 basis points to 8.4% as a percentage of total revenues for the year, compared with 8.3% in 2009.

FEMSA Consolidated—Net Income

Other Expenses

Other expenses include employee profit sharing, which we refer to as PTU, impairment of long-lived assets, contingencies, as well as their subsequent interest and penalties, severance payments derived from restructuring programs and all other non-recurring expenses related to activities different from the main activities of the Company and that are not recognized as part of the comprehensive financing result. During 2010, other expenses contracted to Ps. 282 million from Ps. 1,877 million in 2009.

Comprehensive Financing Result

Comprehensive financing result decreased 18.0% in 2010 to Ps. 2,153 million, reflecting an improvement over the low comparison base of 2009, driven by lower interest expenses.

Income Taxes

Our accounting provision for income taxes in 2010 was Ps. 5,671 million compared to Ps. 4,959 million in 2009, resulting in an effective tax rate of 24.0% in 2010 as compared with 29.6% in 2009 as the inclusion of the participation in Heineken’s 2010 net income is shown net of taxes.

Consolidated Net Income before Discontinued Operations

Net income from continuing operations increased 52.2% to Ps. 17,961 million in 2010 compared to Ps. 11,799 million in 2009. These results were driven by the combination of (i) the inclusion of FEMSA’s 20% participation in the last eight months of Heineken’s 2010 net income, (ii) growth in income from operations, and (iii) a reduction in the other expenses line.

 

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Consolidated Net Income

Net consolidated income reached Ps. 45,290 million in 2010 compared to Ps. 15,082 million in 2009, driven by (i) the one-time Heineken transaction-related gain and (ii) a double-digit increase in FEMSA’s net income from continuing operations.

Net controlling interest amounted to Ps. 40,251 million in 2010 compared to Ps. 9,908 million in 2009. Net controlling interest in 2010 per FEMSA Unit(2) was Ps. 11.25 (US$ 9.08 per ADS).

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity

Each of our sub-holding companies generally finances its operational and capital requirements on an independent basis. As of December 31, 2011, 76.9% of our outstanding consolidated total indebtedness was at the level of our sub-holding companies. This structure is attributable, in part, to the inclusion of third parties in the capital structure of Coca-Cola FEMSA. Currently, we expect to continue to finance our operations and capital requirements primarily at the level of our sub-holding companies. Nonetheless, we may decide to incur indebtedness at our holding company in the future to finance the operations and capital requirements of our subsidiaries or significant acquisitions, investments or capital expenditures. As a holding company, we depend on dividends and other distributions from our subsidiaries to service our indebtedness.

We continuously evaluate opportunities to pursue acquisitions or engage in joint ventures or other transactions. We would expect to finance any significant future transactions with a combination of cash from operations, long-term indebtedness and capital stock.

Our principal source of liquidity has generally been cash generated from our operations. We have traditionally been able to rely on cash generated from operations because a significant majority of the sales of Coca-Cola FEMSA and FEMSA Comercio are on a cash or short-term credit basis, and FEMSA Comercio’s OXXO stores are able to finance a significant portion of their initial and ongoing inventories with supplier credit. Our principal use of cash has generally been for capital expenditure programs, debt repayment and dividend payments.

The following is a summary of the principal sources and uses of cash for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, from our consolidated statement of cash flows:

Principal Sources and Uses of Cash

of Continuing Operations

Years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

(in millions of Mexican pesos)(1)

 

     2011     2010     2009  

Net cash flows provided by operating activities

     Ps.22,244        Ps.17,802        Ps.22,744   

Net cash flows (used in) provided by investing activities(2)

     (18,090     6,178        (11,376

Net cash flows used in financing activities(3)

     (6,922     (10,496     (7,889

Dividends paid

     (6,625     (3,813     (2,246

 

(1) As of April 30, 2010 FEMSA no longer controls FEMSA Cerveza. As a result, principal sources and uses of cash of discontinued operations are presented in a separate line in the consolidated statements of cash flows (see “Item 18. Financial Statements”).

 

(2) Includes net investments in property, plant and equipment, investment in shares and other assets.

 

(3) Includes dividends declared and paid.

 

 

2

FEMSA Units consist of FEMSA BD Units and FEMSA B Units. Each FEMSA BD Unit is comprised of one Series B share, two Series D-B shares and two Series D-L shares. Each FEMSA B Unit is comprised of five Series B shares. The number of FEMSA Units outstanding as of December 31, 2010 was 3,578,226,270, which is equivalent to the total number of FEMSA shares outstanding as of the same date, divided by five.

 

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Our sub-holding companies generally incur short-term indebtedness in the event that they are temporarily unable to finance operations or meet any capital requirements with cash from operations. A significant decline in the business of any of our sub-holding companies may affect the sub-holding company’s ability to fund its capital requirements. A significant and prolonged deterioration in the economies in which we operate or in our businesses may affect our ability to obtain short-term and long-term credit or to refinance existing indebtedness on terms satisfactory to us.

Our consolidated total indebtedness as of December 31, 2011, was Ps. 29,604 million compared to Ps. 25,506 million as of December 31, 2010. Short-term debt (including maturities of long-term debt) and long-term debt were Ps. 5,573 million and Ps. 24,031 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2011, as compared to Ps. 3,303 million and Ps. 22,203 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2010. Cash and cash equivalents were Ps. 26,329 million as of December 31, 2011, as compared to Ps. 27,097 million as of December 31, 2010.

We believe that our sources of liquidity as of December 31, 2011, were adequate for the conduct of our sub-holding companies’ businesses and that we will have sufficient working capital available to meet our expenditure demands and financing needs in 2012 and in the following years.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

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Contractual Obligations

The table below sets forth our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2011.

 

     Maturity  
     Less than
1 year
     1 - 3 years      3 - 5 years      In excess of
5 years
     Total  
     (in millions of Mexican pesos)  

Long-Term Debt

              

Mexican pesos

     Ps.3,067         Ps.5,158         Ps.5,325         Ps.5,837         Ps.19,387   

Brazilian reais

     9         30         24         36         99   

Colombian pesos

     935         —           —           —           935   

U.S. dollars

     42         209         —           6,990         7,241   

Argentine pesos

     644         81         —           —           725   

Capital Leases

              

Colombian pesos

     205         181         —           —           386   

Brazilian reais

     33         82         78         —           193   

Interest payments(1)

              

Mexican pesos

     1,042         1,690         781         795         4,309   

Brazilian reais

     22         28         9         4         62   

Colombian pesos

     53         10         —           —           63   

U.S. dollars

     326         647         646         1,023         2,642   

Argentine pesos

     86         2         —           —           88   

Interest rate swaps and cross currency swaps(2)

              

Mexican pesos

     887         1,516         1,011         694         4,109   

Brazilian reais

     22         28         10         2         62   

Colombian pesos

     53         12         —           —           65   

U.S. dollars

     325         648         646         646         2,266   

Argentine pesos

     86         13         —           —           99   

Operating leases

              

Mexican pesos

     2,370         4,380         3,914         11,324         21,988   

U.S. dollars

     113         210         873         —           1,196   

Others

     203         187         18         —           408   

Commodity price contracts

              

U.S. dollars

     427         327         —           —           754   

Expected benefits to be paid for pension plans, seniority premiums, post-retirement medical benefits and severance indemnities

     579         759         682         1,739         3,759   

Other long-term liabilities(3)

     —           —           —           4,760         4,760   

 

(1) Interest was calculated using long-term debt as of and interest rate amounts in effect on December 31, 2011 without considering interest rate swaps agreements. The debt and applicable interest rates in effect are shown in Note 17 to our audited consolidated financial statements. Liabilities denominated in U.S. dollars were translated to Mexican pesos at an exchange rate of Ps. 13.9787 per US$ 1.00, the exchange rate quoted to us by dealers for the settlement of obligations in foreign currencies on December 30, 2011.

 

(2) Reflects the amount of future payments that we would be required to make. The amounts were calculated by applying the difference between the interest rate swaps and cross currency swaps and the nominal interest rates contracted to long-term debt as of December 31, 2011, and the market value of the unhedged cross currency swaps.

 

(3) Other long-term liabilities include contingent liabilities and others. Other long-term liabilities additionally reflects those liabilities whose maturity date is undefined and depends on a series of circumstances out of our control, therefore these liabilities have been considered to have a maturity of more than five years.

 

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As of December 31, 2011, Ps. 5,573 million of our total consolidated indebtedness was short-term debt (including maturities of long-term debt).

As of December 31, 2011, our consolidated average cost of borrowing, after giving effect to the cross currency and interest rate swaps, was approximately 6.3%, an increase of 0.5% percentage points compared to 5.8% in 2010. As of December 31, 2011, after giving effect to cross currency swaps, approximately 63% of our total consolidated indebtedness was denominated and payable in Mexican pesos, 27% in U.S. dollars, 6% in Colombian pesos, 4% in Argentine pesos and the remaining 1% in Brazilian reais.

Overview of Debt Instruments

The following table shows the allocations of total debt of our company as of December 31, 2011:

 

     Total Debt Profile of the Company  
     FEMSA
and Others
    Coca-Cola
FEMSA
    FEMSA
Comercio
     Total Debt  
     (in millions of Mexican pesos)  

Short-term Debt

         

Argentine pesos:

         

Bank loans

     Ps. —          Ps. 325        Ps. —           Ps. 325   

Colombian pesos

         

Bank loans

     —          295        —           295   

Mexican pesos

         

Capital leases

     —          18        —           18   

Long-term Debt(1)

         

Mexican pesos:

         

Bank loans

     —          4,550        —           4,550   

Units of Investment (UDIs)

     3,337        —          —           3,337   

Senior notes

     3,500        8,000        —           11,500   

U.S. dollars:

         

Bank loans

     —          7,241        —           7,241   

Brazilian reais:

         

Bank Loans

     —          81        —           81   

Capital leases

     193        18        —           211   

Colombian pesos:

         

Bank Loans

     —          935        —           935   

Capital leases

     —          386        —           386   

Argentine pesos:

         

Bank Loans

     —          725        —           725   

Total

     Ps. 7,030        Ps. 22,574        —           Ps. 29,604   

Average Cost(2)

         

Mexican pesos

     6.1     6.8     —           6.6

U.S. dollars

     —          4.3     —           4.3

Brazilian reais

     11.0     4.5     —           8.8

Argentine pesos

     —          17.3     —           17.3

Colombian pesos

     —          6.4     —           6.4

Total

     6.2     6.4     —           6.3

 

(1) Includes the Ps. 4,395 million current portion of long-term debt.

 

(2) Includes the effect of cross currency and interest rate swaps. Average cost is determined based on interest rates as of December 31, 2011.

 

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Restrictions Imposed by Debt Instruments

Generally, the covenants contained in the credit agreements and other instruments governing indebtedness entered into by us or our sub-holding companies include limitations on the incurrence of any additional debt based on debt service coverage ratios or leverage tests. These credit agreements also generally include restrictive covenants applicable to us, our sub-holding companies and their subsidiaries.

As of December 31, 2011, we were in compliance with all of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s covenants. FEMSA was not subject to any financial covenants as of that date. A significant and prolonged deterioration in our consolidated results from operations could cause us to cease to be in compliance under certain indebtedness in the future. We can provide no assurances that we will be able to incur indebtedness or to refinance existing indebtedness on similar terms in the future.

Summary of Debt

The following is a summary of our indebtedness by sub-holding company and for FEMSA as of December 31, 2011:

 

   

Coca-Cola FEMSA. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s total indebtedness was Ps. 22,574 million as of December 31, 2011, as compared to Ps. 17,351 million as of December 31, 2010. Short-term debt (including the current portion of long-term debt) and long-term debt were Ps. 5,540 million and Ps. 17,034 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2011, as compared to Ps. 1,840 million and Ps. 15,511 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2010. Total debt increased Ps. 5,223 million in 2011, compared to year-end 2010. In April 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA issued two series of Mexican peso-denominated bonds, in 5-year floating rate and 10-year fixed rate tranches, in a principal amount of Ps. 2,500 million each. Proceeds from such issuances were used for general corporate purposes, as well as to pay down existing debt. As of December 31, 2011, cash and cash equivalents were Ps. 12,331 million, as compared to Ps. 12,534 million as of December 31, 2010. As of December 31, 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA’s cash and cash equivalents were comprised of 47.0% U.S. dollars, 23.2% Mexican pesos, 13.4% Brazilian reais, 13.1% Venezuelan bolivars, 1.6% Colombian pesos and 1.0% Argentine pesos.

As part of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s financing policy, it expects to continue to finance its liquidity needs with cash from operations. Nonetheless, as a result of regulations in certain countries in which it operates, it may not be beneficial or, as the case of exchange controls in Venezuela, practicable for Coca-Cola FEMSA to remit cash generated in local operations to fund cash requirements in other countries. Exchange controls like those in Venezuela may also increase the real price of remitting cash from operations to fund debt requirements in other countries. In addition, in the event that cash from operations in these countries is not sufficient to fund future working capital requirements and capital expenditures, Coca-Cola FEMSA may decide, or be required, to fund cash requirements in these countries through local borrowings rather than remitting funds from another country. In addition, in the future Coca-Cola FEMSA may finance its working capital and capital expenditure needs with short-term or other borrowings.

Coca-Cola FEMSA’s average cost of debt, based on interest rates as of December 31, 2011 and after giving effect to cross currency and interest rate swaps, was 4.3% in U.S. dollars, 6.8% in Mexican pesos, 6.4% in Colombian pesos, 4.5% in Brazilian reais and 17.3% in Argentine pesos as of December 31, 2011, compared to 4.5% in U.S. dollars, 6.2% in Mexican pesos, 4.5% in Colombian pesos, 4.5% in Brazilian reais and 16.0% in Argentine pesos as of December 31, 2010.

 

   

FEMSA Cerveza. On April 30, 2010, Heineken N.V. assumed the total outstanding debt of FEMSA Cerveza. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—The Company—Corporate Background.”

 

   

FEMSA Comercio. As of December 31, 2011, FEMSA Comercio did not have outstanding debt.

 

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FEMSA. As of December 31, 2011, FEMSA had total outstanding debt of Ps. 7,030 million, which is comprised of Ps. 3,500 million of certificados bursátiles, which mature in 2013, Ps. 3,337 million of unidades de inversión (inflation indexed units, or UDIs), which mature in November 2017, and Ps. 193 million of financial leases with maturity dates between 2012 and 2016. FEMSA’s average cost of debt, after giving effect to interest rate swaps and cross currency swaps, as of December 31, 2011, was 6.2% in Mexican pesos.

Contingencies

We have various loss contingencies, for which reserves have been recorded in those cases where we believe an unfavorable resolution is probable and can be reasonably quantified. See “Item 8. Financial Information—Legal Proceedings.” Most of these loss contingencies were recorded in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s books as reserves as a result of Panamco acquisition. Any amounts required to be paid in connection with these loss contingencies would be required to be paid from available cash.

The following table presents the nature and amount of loss contingencies recorded as of December 31, 2011:

 

     Loss Contingencies
As of December 31, 2011
 
     (in millions of Mexican pesos)  

Taxes, primarily indirect taxes

     Ps. 1,405   

Legal

     1,128   

Labor

     231   
  

 

 

 

Total

     Ps. 2,764   

As is customary in Brazil, we have been asked by the tax authorities to collateralize tax contingencies currently in litigation amounting to Ps. 2,418 million and of Ps. 2,292 million as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, by pledging fixed assets or providing bank guarantees.

In connection with certain past business combinations, Coca-Cola FEMSA has been indemnified by the sellers for certain contingencies. The agreements in connection with Coca-Cola FEMSA’s recent mergers with the beverage divisions of Grupo Tampico and Grupo CIMSA, respectively contain comparable indemnification provisions. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—The Company—Coca-Cola FEMSA—Recent Mergers and Acquisitions.”

We have other contingencies that, based on a legal assessment of their risk of loss, have been classified by our legal counsel as more than remote but less than probable. These contingencies have a financial impact that is disclosed as loss contingencies in the notes of the consolidated financial statements. These contingencies, or our assessment of them, may change in the future, and we may record reserves or be required to pay amounts in respect of these contingencies. As of December 31, 2011, the aggregate amount of such contingencies for which we had not recorded a reserve was Ps. 6,781 million.

Capital Expenditures

For the past five years, we have had significant capital expenditure programs, which for the most part were financed with cash from operations. Capital expenditures reached Ps. 12,515 million in 2011 compared to Ps. 11,171 million in 2010, an increase of 12.0%. This was primarily due to capacity-related investments at Coca-Cola FEMSA and incremental investments at FEMSA Comercio, mainly related to store expansion. The principal components of our capital expenditures have been for equipment, market-related investments and production capacity and distribution network expansion at Coca-Cola FEMSA and the opening of new stores at FEMSA Comercio. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Capital Expenditures and Divestitures.”

 

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Expected Capital Expenditures for 2012

Our capital expenditure budget for 2012 is expected to be approximately US$ 1,100 million. The following discussion is based on each of our sub-holding companies’ internal 2012 budgets. The capital expenditure plan for 2012 is subject to change based on market and other conditions and the subsidiaries’ results from operations and financial resources.

Coca-Cola FEMSA’s capital expenditures in 2012 are expected to be up to approximately US$ 700 million. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s capital expenditures in 2012 are primarily intended for:

 

   

investments in production capacity (primarily for one plant in Colombia and one in Brazil);

 

   

market investments (primarily for the placement of coolers);

 

   

returnable bottles and cases;

 

   

improvements throughout its distribution network; and

 

   

investments in IT.

Coca-Cola FEMSA estimates that of its projected capital expenditures for 2012, approximately 35.0% will be for its Mexican territories and the remainder will be for its non-Mexican territories. Coca-Cola FEMSA believes that internally generated funds will be sufficient to meet its budgeted capital expenditures for 2012. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s capital expenditure plan for 2012 may change based on market and other conditions and on its results from operations and financial resources.

FEMSA Comercio’s capital expenditure budget in 2012 is expected to total approximately US$ 350 million, and will be allocated to the opening of new OXXO stores and to a lesser extent to the refurbishing of existing OXXO stores and the investment in two new distribution centers. In addition, investments are planned in FEMSA Comercio’s IT, ERP software updates and transportation equipment.

Hedging Activities

Our business activities require the holding or issuing of derivative instruments to hedge our exposure to market risks related to changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, equity risk and commodity price risk. See “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.”

The following table provides a summary of the fair value of derivative financial instruments as of December 31, 2011. If such instruments are not traded in a formal market, fair value is determined by applying techniques based upon technical models we believe are supported by sufficient, reliable and verifiable market data, recognized in the financial sector.

 

     Fair Value At December 31, 2011  
     Maturity
less than
1 year
     Maturity 1 - 3 years   Maturity 3 - 5 years   Maturity in
excess of 5
years
     Fair Value
Asset
(Liability)
 
     (in millions of Mexican pesos)  

Prices quoted by external sources

     Ps. 457       Ps. (229)   Ps. (184)     Ps. 860         Ps. 903   

 

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Plan for the Disposal of Certain Fixed Assets

We have identified certain fixed assets consisting of land, buildings and equipment for disposal, and we have an approved program for disposal of these fixed assets. These assets are not in use and have been valued at their estimated net realizable value without exceeding their restated acquisition cost. These assets are allocated as follows:

 

     December 31,  
         2011              2010      
     (in millions of Mexican pesos)  

Coca-Cola FEMSA

   Ps. 79       Ps. 1899   

Other subsidiaries

     22         43   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   Ps. 101       Ps. 2322   

In inflationary economic environments, fixed assets recorded at their estimated realizable value are considered monetary assets on which a loss on monetary position is computed and recorded in results of operation.

U.S. GAAP Reconciliation

The principal differences between Mexican FRS and U.S. GAAP that affect our net income and majority stockholders’ equity relate to the accounting treatment of the following items:

 

   

consolidation of our subsidiary Coca-Cola FEMSA, which is a consolidated subsidiary for purposes of Mexican FRS but presented under the equity method for U.S. GAAP purposes up until January 31, 2010. As of February 1, 2010, we acquired control of Coca-Cola FEMSA through a business acquisition without any transfer of consideration under U.S. GAAP (see “Item 18. Financial Statements”);

 

   

discontinued operations of FEMSA Cerveza due to the disposal of FEMSA Cerveza, which was accounted for as discontinued operations for purposes of Mexican FRS, and considered to be a continuing operation due to significant involvement with the disposed operation and accounted for as a disposal of net assets under U.S. GAAP (see “Item 18. Financial Statements”);

 

   

subsequent accounting of our investment in Heineken under the equity method for purposes of Mexican FRS; for U.S. GAAP purposes our investment in Heineken has been recognized based on the cost method because it was unable to obtain the required information to reconcile Heineken’s net income from IFRS to U.S. GAAP (see “Item 18. Financial Statements”);

 

   

FEMSA’s non-controlling interest acquisition and sales;

 

   

deferred income taxes and deferred employee profit sharing;

 

   

capitalization of comprehensive financing result;

 

   

employee benefits; and

 

   

effects of inflation, as pursuant to Mexican FRS through 2007, our audited consolidated financial statements recognize certain effects of inflation in accordance with Bulletin B-10. As a result of discontinued inflationary accounting for subsidiaries that operate in non-inflationary environments, our financial statements are no longer considered to be presented in a reporting currency that comprehensively includes the effects of price level changes. Therefore, the inflationary effects of inflationary economic environments arising in 2009, 2010 and 2011 resulted in a difference to be reconciled for U.S. GAAP purposes, except for the inflation effects from our subsidiary in Venezuela. Venezuela is considered to be a hyperinflationary environment since 2010, and we have therefore applied the accommodation provided for in Item 17(c)(2)(iv)(B) of the instructions to Form 20-F, pursuant to which a U.S. GAAP reconciliation is not required if financial statements stated in the currency of a hyperinflationary economy are translated into the reporting currency in accordance with IAS 21, “Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates.” Because we apply NIF B-10, which complies with the indexation requirements of IAS 21 and IAS 29, “Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies,” we are eligible for such accommodation.

 

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For a more detailed description of the differences between Mexican FRS and U.S. GAAP as they relate to us, as well as U.S. GAAP consolidated balance sheets, statements of income and comprehensive income, and cash flows for the same periods presented for Mexican FRS purposes, and for the consolidated statement of changes in stockholders’ equity for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, as well as reconciliation of net income, comprehensive income and stockholders’ equity under Mexican FRS to net income, comprehensive income and stockholders’ equity under U.S. GAAP, see Notes 26 and 27 to our audited consolidated financial statements.

Under U.S. GAAP, we had net income attributable to controlling interest of Ps. 12,449 million and Ps. 67,445 million in 2011 and 2010, respectively. Under Mexican FRS, we had net controlling interest income of Ps. 15,133 million and Ps. 40,251 million in 2011 and 2010, respectively. In 2011, net income attributable to controlling interest under U.S. GAAP was lower than net controlling income under Mexican FRS, mainly due to the elimination of income attributable to Heineken under U.S. GAAP, in accordance with the equity method, which was applied for Mexican FRS but not U.S. GAAP.

Controlling interest equity under U.S. GAAP as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 was Ps. 182,644 million and Ps. 163,641 million, respectively. Under Mexican FRS, controlling interest equity as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 was Ps. 133,580 million and Ps. 117,348 million, respectively. The principal reason for the difference between controlling interest stockholders’ equity under U.S. GAAP and controlling interest equity under Mexican FRS was the reconciliation effects of the fair valuation of recognized regarding the Coca-Cola FEMSA acquisition in 2010 for U.S. GAAP purposes.

 

ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

Directors

Management of our business is vested in the board of directors and in our chief executive officer. Our bylaws provide that the board of directors will consist of no more than 21 directors and their corresponding alternate directors elected by our shareholders at the AGM. Directors are elected for a term of one year. Alternate directors are authorized to serve on the board of directors in place of their specific directors who are unable to attend meetings and may participate in the activities of the board of directors. Nineteen members form our board of directors. Our bylaws provide that the holders of the Series B Shares elect at least eleven directors and that the holders of the Series D Shares elect five directors. See “Item 10. Additional Information—Bylaws.”

In accordance with our bylaws and article 24 of the Mexican Securities Law, at least 25% of the members of our board of directors must be independent (as defined by the Mexican Securities Law).

The board of directors may appoint interim directors in the event that a director is absent or an elected director and corresponding alternate are unable to serve. Such interim directors shall serve until the next AGM, at which the shareholders shall elect a replacement.

Our bylaws provide that the board of directors shall meet at least once every three months. Actions by the board of directors must be approved by at least a majority of the directors present and voting. The chairman of the board of directors, the chairman of our audit or corporate practices committee, or at least 25% of our directors may call a board of directors’ meeting and include matters in the meeting agenda.

Our board of directors was elected at the AGM held on March 23, 2012, and currently consists of 17 directors and 15 alternate directors. The following table sets forth the current members of our board of directors:

 

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Series B Directors

 

José Antonio Fernández Carbajal

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of FEMSA

   Born:    February 1954
  

First elected

(Chairman):

  

 

2001

  

First elected

(Director):

  

 

1984

   Term expires:    2013
   Principal occupation:    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FEMSA
   Other directorships:    Chairman of the board of Coca-Cola FEMSA and Fundación FEMSA A.C., Vice-Chairman of the supervisory board of Heineken N.V. and member of the board of Heineken Holding N.V., Chairman of the board of Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, (ITESM), and member of the boards of Industrias Peñoles, S.A.B. de C.V. (Peñoles), Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. (Televisa), Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A. de C.V. (Volaris) and US Mexico Foundation, and Co-chairman of the Advisory Board of Woodrow Wilson Center, Mexico Institute
   Business experience:    Joined FEMSA’s strategic planning department in 1988, held managerial positions at FEMSA Cerveza’s commercial division and OXXO, was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer of FEMSA in 1991, and was appointed our Chief Executive Officer in 1995
   Education:    Holds a degree in industrial engineering and an MBA from ITESM
   Alternate director:    Federico Reyes García

Eva Garza Lagüera Gonda(1)

Director

   Born:    April 1958
   First elected:    1999
   Term expires:    2013
   Principal occupation:    Private investor
   Other directorships:    Member of the boards of directors of Coca-Cola FEMSA, ITESM and Premio Eugenio Garza Sada
   Education:    Holds a degree in Communication Sciences from ITESM
   Alternate director:    Bárbara Garza Lagüera Gonda(2)

Paulina Garza Lagüera Gonda (2)

Director

   Born:    March 1972
   First elected:    2009
   Term expires:    2013
   Principal occupation:    Private investor
   Other directorships:    Member of the board of directors of Coca-Cola FEMSA
   Education:    Holds a business administration degree from ITESM
   Alternate director:    Othón Páez Garza

José Fernando Calderón Rojas

Director

   Born:    July 1954
   First elected:    2005
   Term expires:    2013
   Principal occupation:    Chief Executive Officer of Franca Servicios, S.A. de C.V., Servicios Administrativos de Monterrey, S.A. de C.V., Regio Franca, S.A. de C.V., and Franca Industrias, S.A. de C.V.
   Other directorships:    Chairman of the boards of Franca Servicios, S.A. de C.V., Franca Industrias, S.A. de C.V., Regio Franca, S.A. de C.V., and Servicios Administrativos de Monterrey, S.A. de C.V., and member of the boards of Bancomer and Alfa, S.A.B. de C.V. (Alfa)
   Education:    Holds a law degree from the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL) and completed specialization studies in tax at UANL
   Alternate director:    Francisco José Calderón Rojas(3)

 

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Consuelo Garza

de Garza

Director

   Born:    October 1930
   First elected:    1995
   Term expires:    2013
   Business experience:    Founder and former President of Asociación Nacional Pro-Superación Personal, (a non-profit organization)
   Alternate director:    Alfonso Garza Garza(4)

Max Michel Suberville

Director

   Born:    July 1932
   First elected:    1985
   Term expires:    2013
   Principal occupation:    Private Investor
   Other directorships:    Co-chairman of the equity committee of El Puerto de Liverpool, S.A.B. de C.V. (Liverpool). Member of the boards of Coca-Cola FEMSA, Peñoles, Grupo Nacional Provincial, S.A.B. (GNP), Grupo Profuturo, S.A. de C.V. (Profuturo), Grupo GNP Pensiones, S.A. de C.V. y Afianzadora Sofimex, S.A.
   Education:    Holds a graduate degree from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and completed post-graduate studies at Harvard University
   Alternate director:    Max Michel González(5)

Alberto Bailleres González

Director

   Born:    August 1931
   First elected:    1989
   Term expires:    2013
   Principal occupation:    Chairman of the boards of directors of Grupo BAL, S.A. de C.V. Peñoles, GNP, Fresnillo plc, Grupo Palacio de Hierro, S.A.B. de C.V., Profuturo and Valores Mexicanos Casa de Bolsa, S.A. de C.V., and Chairman of the Governance Board of Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México.
   Other directorships:    Member of the boards of directors of BBVA Bancomer, Bancomer, Dine, S.A.B. de C.V. (formerly Grupo Desc) (Dine), Televisa, Grupo Kuo, S.A.B. de C.V. (formerly Grupo Desc) (Kuo), and member of the advisory board of JP Morgan International Council
   Education:    Holds an economics degree and an Honorary Doctorate both from Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México
   Alternate director:    Arturo Fernández Pérez

Francisco Javier Fernández Carbajal(6)

Director

   Born:    April 1955
   First elected:    2005
   Term expires:    2013
   Principal occupation:    Chief Executive Officer of Servicios Administrativos Contry, S.A. de C.V.
   Other directorships:    Chairman of the boards of directors of Primero Fianzas, S.A., Primero Seguros, S.A. and Primero Seguros Vida, S.A. and member of the boards of directors of Visa, Inc., Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, S.A.B. de C.V., Alfa, Liverpool, Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V., Frisa Forjados, S.A. de C.V., Corporación EG, S.A. de C.V. and Fresnillo, Plc.
   Education:    Holds degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering from ITESM and an MBA from Harvard Business School
   Alternate director:    Javier Astaburuaga Sanjines

 

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Ricardo Guajardo Touché

Director

   Born:    May 1948
   First elected:    1988
   Term expires:    2013
   Principal occupation:    Chairman of the board of directors of Solfi, S.A.
   Other directorships:    Member of the boards of directors of Grupo Valores Monterrey, Liverpool, Alfa, BBVA Bancomer, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A. de C.V. (ASUR), Grupo Industrial Bimbo, S.A.B. de C.V. (Bimbo), Bancomer, Grupo Coppel and Coca-Cola FEMSA
   Education:    Holds degrees in electrical engineering from ITESM and the University of Wisconsin and a master’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley
   Alternate director:    Alfonso González Migoya

Alfredo Livas Cantú

Director

   Born:    July 1951
   First elected:    1995
   Term expires:    2013
   Principal occupation:    Chairman of the board of directors of Grupo Industrial Saltillo, S.A.B. de C.V.
   Other directorships:    Member of the boards of directors of Grupo Senda Autotransporte, S.A. de C.V., Grupo Acosta Verde, S.A. de C.V., Evox, and Grupo Financiero Banorte S.A.B. de C.V., Grupo Proeza, S.A. de C.V. and Grupo Christus Muguerza
   Education:    Holds an economics degree from UANL and an MBA and masters degree in economics from the University of Texas
   Alternate Director:    Sergio Deschamps Ebergenyi

Mariana Garza Lagüera Gonda(2)

Director

   Born:    April 1970
   First elected:    2001
   Term expires:    2013
   Principal occupation:    Private Investor
   Other directorships:    Member of the boards of directors of Coca-Cola FEMSA, Hospital San José Tec de Monterrey and Museo de Historia Mexicana
   Education:    Holds a business administration degree in Industrial Engineering from ITESM and a Master of International Management from the Thunderbird American Graduate School of International Management
   Alternate director:    Juan Guichard Michel(7)

José Manuel

Canal Hernando

Director

   Born:    February 1940
   First elected:    2003
   Term expires:    2013
   Principal occupation:    Private consultant
   Other directorships:    Member of the boards of directors of Coca-Cola FEMSA, Banco Compartamos, S.A., Kuo, Consorcio Comex, Grupo Industrial Saltillo, S.A.B. de C.V., Grupo Acir, S.A. de C.V., Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. and Grupo Diagnóstico Proa, S.A. de C.V.
   Education:    Holds a CPA degree from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
   Alternate director:    Ricardo Saldívar Escajadillo

 

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Series D Directors      

Armando Garza Sada

Director

   Born:    June 1957
   First elected:    2003
   Term expires:    2013
   Principal occupation:    Chairman of the board of directors of Alfa
   Other directorships:    Member of the boards of directors of Liverpool, Grupo Lamosa S.A.B. de C.V., Bolsa Mexicana de Valores, S.A.B. de C.V., MVS Comunicaciones, S.A. de C.V., ITESM, Frisa Forjados, S.A. de C.V. and CYDSA, S.A.B. de C.V.
   Business experience:    He has a long professional career in Alfa, including Executive Vice-President of Corporate Development
   Education:    Holds a B.S. in Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MBA from Stanford University
   Alternate director:    Enrique F. Senior Hernández

Moisés Naim

Director

   Born:    July 1952
   First elected:    2011
   Term expires:    2013
   Principal occupation:    Senior Associate of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
   Business experience:    Former Editor in Chief of the Washington Post Co.
   Education:    Holds a degree from the Universidad Metropolitana de Venezuela and a Master of Science and PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
   Alternate director:    Francisco Zambrano Rodríguez

Helmut Paul

Director

   Born:    March 1940
   First elected:    1988
   Term expires:    2013
   Principal occupation:    Member of the Advisory Council of Zurich Financial Services
   Other directorships:    Member of the board of directors of Coca-Cola FEMSA
   Business experience:    Advisor at Darby Overseas Investment, Ltd.
   Education:    Holds an MBA from the University of Hamburg
   Alternate director:    Ernesto Cruz Velázquez de León

 

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Michael Larson

Director

   Born:    October 1959
   First elected:    2011
   Term expires:    2013
   Principal occupation:    Chief Investment Officer of William H. Gates III
   Other directorships:    Member of the boards of directors of AutoNation, Inc, Republic Services, Inc, Ecolab, Inc., Cavemont and Televisa, and chairman of the board of trustees of Western Asset/Claymore Inflation-Linked Securities & Income Fund and Western Asset/Claymore Inflation-Linked Opportunities & Income Fund
   Business experience:    Former member of the boards of directors of Pan American Silver, Corp. and Hamilton Lane Advisors
   Education:    Holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and a BA from Claremont Men’s College

Robert E. Denham

Director

   Born:    August 1945
   First elected:    2001
   Term expires:    2013
   Principal occupation:    Partner of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP law firm
   Other directorships:    Member of the boards of directors of New York Times Co., Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, UGL Limited and Chevron Corp.
   Education:    Magna cum laude graduate from the University of Texas, holds a JD from Harvard Law School and an M.A. in Government from Harvard University.

 

(1) Wife of José Antonio Fernández Carbajal.

 

(2) Sister-in-law of José Antonio Fernández Carbajal.

 

(3) Brother of José Calderón Rojas.

 

(4) Son of Consuelo Garza de Garza.

 

(5) Son of Max Michel Suberville.

 

(6) Brother of José Antonio Fernández Carbajal.

 

(7) Nephew of Max Michel Suberville.

Senior Management

The names and positions of the members of our current senior management and that of our principal sub-holding companies, their dates of birth and information on their principal business activities both within and outside of FEMSA are as follows:

 

FEMSA      

José Antonio

Fernández Carbajal

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of FEMSA

  

See “—Directors.”

Joined FEMSA:

Appointed to current position:

  

 

1987

 

1994

Javier Gerardo Astaburuaga Sanjines

Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice-President of Finance and Strategic Development

  

Born:

Joined FEMSA:

Appointed to current

position:

Business experience

within FEMSA:

  

July 1959

1982

 

2006

 

Joined FEMSA as a financial information analyst and later acquired experience in corporate development, administration and finance, held various senior positions at FEMSA Cerveza between 1993 and 2001, including Chief Financial Officer, and for two years was FEMSA Cerveza’s Director of Sales for the north region of Mexico until 2003, in which year he was appointed FEMSA Cerveza’s Co-Chief Executive Officer

     
     
     

 

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   Directorships:    Member of the board of Coca-Cola FEMSA and member of the Supervisory Board of directors of Heineken N.V.
   Education:    Holds a CPA degree from ITESM

Federico Reyes García

Vice-President of Corporate Development of FEMSA

  

Born:

Joined FEMSA:

Appointed to current position:

  

September 1945

1992

 

2006

  

Business experience

within FEMSA:

  

 

Executive Vice-President of Corporate Development from 1992 to 1993, and Chief Financial Officer from 1999 until 2006

   Directorships:    Member of the boards of Coca-Cola FEMSA and Optima Energía
   Education:   

Holds a degree in business and finance from ITESM

José González Ornelas

Vice-President of Administration and Corporate Control of FEMSA

  

Born:

Joined FEMSA:

Appointed to current position:

  

April 1951

1973

 

2001

  

Business experience

within FEMSA:

  

 

Has held several managerial positions in FEMSA including Chief Financial Officer of FEMSA Cerveza, Director of Planning and Corporate Development of FEMSA and Chief Executive Officer of FEMSA Logística, S.A. de C.V.

   Directorships:    Member of the board of directors of Productora de Papel, S.A.
   Education:    Holds a CPA degree from UANL and has post-graduate studies in business administration from the Instituto Panamericano de Alta Dirección de Empresa (IPADE)

Alfonso Garza Garza

Vice-President of Human Resources and Strategic Procurement, Business Processes, and Information Technology

  

Born:

Joined FEMSA:

Appointed to current position:

  

July 1962

1985

 

2009

  

Business experience

within FEMSA:

  

 

Has experience in several FEMSA business units and departments, including domestic sales, international sales, procurement and marketing, mainly at FEMSA Cerveza and as Chief Executive Officer of FEMSA Empaques, S.A. de C.V.

   Directorships:    Member of the boards of directors of Coca-Cola FEMSA, ITESM and Nutec, S.A. de C.V., vice chairman of the communications council of Confederación Patronal de la República Mexicana, S.P. (COPARMEX) and chairman of COPARMEX Nuevo León
   Education:    Holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from ITESM and an MBA from IPADE

Genaro Borrego Estrada

Vice-President of Corporate Affairs

  

Born:

Joined FEMSA:

Appointed to current position:

  

February 1949

2007

 

2007

 

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   Professional experience:   

 

Constitutional Governor of the Mexican State of Zacatecas from 1986 to 1992, General Director of the Mexican Social Security Institute from 1993 to 2000, and Senator in Mexico for the State of Zacatecas from 2000 to 2006

   Directorships:    Member of the board of TANE, S.A. de C.V.
   Education:    Holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the Universidad Iberoamericana

Carlos Aldrete

Ancira

General Counsel and Secretary of the Board of Directors

  

Born:

Joined FEMSA:

Appointed to current position:

  

August 1956

1979

 

1996

   Directorships:    Secretary of the board of directors of FEMSA and secretary of the board of directors of all of the sub-holding companies of FEMSA
  

Business experience

within FEMSA:

  

 

Extensive experience in international business and financial transactions, debt issuances and corporate restructurings and expertise in securities and private mergers and acquisitions law

   Education:    Holds a law degree from the UANL and a masters degree in Comparative Law from the College of Law of the University of Illinois
Coca-Cola FEMSA      

Carlos Salazar Lomelín

Chief Executive Officer of Coca-Cola FEMSA

  

Born:

Joined FEMSA:

Appointed to current position:

  

April 1951

1973

 

2000

  

Business experience

within FEMSA:

  

 

Has held managerial positions in several subsidiaries of FEMSA, including Grafo Regia, S.A. de C.V. and Plásticos Técnicos Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V., served as Chief Executive Officer of FEMSA Cerveza, where he also held various management positions in the Commercial Planning and Export divisions

   Directorships:    Member of the boards of Coca-Cola FEMSA, BBVA Bancomer, AFORE Bancomer, S.A. de C.V., Seguros Bancomer, S.A. de C.V., member of the advisory board of Premio Eugenio Garza Sada, Centro Internacional de Negocios Monterrey A.C. (CINTERMEX), Apex and the ITESM’s EGADE Business School
   Education:    Holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from ITESM, and performed postgraduate studies in business administration at ITESM and economic development in Italy

Héctor Treviño Gutiérrez

Chief Financial Officer

  

Born:

Joined FEMSA:

Appointed to current position:

  

August 1956

1981

 

1993

  

Business experience

within FEMSA:

  

 

Has held managerial positions in the international financing, financial planning, strategic planning and corporate development areas of FEMSA

   Directorships:    Member of the boards of SIEFORES, Insurance and Pensions of BBVA Bancomer and Vinte Viviendas Integrales, S.A.P.I. de C.V., and member of the Technical Committee of Capital-3
   Education:    Holds a degree in chemical engineering from ITESM and an MBA from the Wharton Business School

 

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FEMSA Comercio      

Eduardo Padilla Silva

Chief Executive Officer of FEMSA Comercio

  

Born:

Joined FEMSA:

Appointed to current position:

  

January 1955

1997

 

2004

   Business experience within FEMSA:   

 

Director of Planning and Control of FEMSA from 1997 to 1999 and Chief Executive Officer of the Strategic Procurement Business Division of FEMSA from 2000 until 2003

   Other business experience:   

 

Had a 20-year career in Alfa, culminating with a ten-year tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Terza, S.A. de C.V., major areas of expertise include operational control, strategic planning and financial restructuring

   Directorships:    Member of the boards of Grupo Lamosa, S.A. de C.V., Club Industrial , A.C., Asociación Nacional de Tiendas de Autoservicios y Departamentales, A.C. and NACS, and alternate member of the board of Coca-Cola FEMSA
   Education:    Holds a degree in mechanical engineering from ITESM, an MBA from Cornell University and a Masters degree from IPADE

Compensation of Directors and Senior Management

The compensation of Directors is approved at the AGM. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the aggregate compensation paid to our directors was approximately Ps. 13.5 million.

For the year ended December 31, 2011, the aggregate compensation paid to executive officers and senior management of FEMSA and its subsidiaries was approximately Ps. 1,279 million. Aggregate compensation includes bonuses we paid to certain members of senior management and payments in connection with the EVA stock incentive plan described in Note 16 to our audited consolidated financial statements. Our senior management and executive officers participate in our benefit plan and post-retirement medical services plan on the same basis as our other employees. Members of our board of directors do not participate in our benefit plan and post-retirement medical services plan, unless they are retired employees of our company. As of December 31, 2011, amounts set aside or accrued for all employees under these retirement plans were Ps. 4,403 million, of which Ps. 1,991 million is already funded.

EVA Stock Incentive Plan

In 2004, we, along with our subsidiaries, commenced a new stock incentive plan for the benefit of our executive officers, which we refer to as the EVA stock incentive plan. This plan was developed using as the main metric for the first three years of the plan for evaluation the Economic Value Added, or EVA, framework developed by Stern Stewart & Co., a compensation consulting firm. Under the EVA stock incentive plan, eligible executive officers are entitled to receive a special cash bonus, which will be used to purchase shares.

Under this plan, each year, our Chief Executive Officer in conjunction with our board of directors, together with the chief executive officer of the respective sub-holding company, determines the amount of the special cash bonus used to purchase shares. This amount is determined based on each executive officer’s level of responsibility and based on the EVA generated by Coca-Cola FEMSA or FEMSA, as applicable.

 

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The shares are administrated by a trust for the benefit of the selected executive officers. Under the EVA stock incentive plan, each time a special bonus is assigned to an executive officer, the executive officer contributes the special bonus received to the administrative trust. Pursuant to the plan, the administrative trust acquires BD Units of FEMSA or, in the case of officers of Coca-Cola FEMSA, a specified proportion of publicly traded local shares of FEMSA and Series L Shares of Coca-Cola FEMSA on the Mexican Stock Exchange using the special bonus contributed by each executive officer. The ownership of the publicly traded local shares of FEMSA and, in the case of Coca-Cola FEMSA executives, the Series L Shares of Coca-Cola FEMSA vests at a rate per year equivalent to 20% of the number of publicly traded local shares of FEMSA and Series L Shares of Coca-Cola FEMSA.

As of March 30, 2012, the trust that manages the EVA stock incentive plan held a total of 8,757,485 BD Units of FEMSA and 2,606,007 Series L Shares of Coca-Cola FEMSA, each representing 0.24% and 0.13% of the total number of shares outstanding of FEMSA and of Coca-Cola FEMSA, respectively.

Insurance Policies

We maintain life insurance policies for all of our employees. These policies mitigate the risk of having to pay death benefits in the event of an industrial accident. We maintain a directors’ and officers’ insurance policy covering all directors and certain key executive officers for liabilities incurred in their capacities as directors and officers.

Ownership by Management

Several of our directors are participants of a voting trust. Each of the trust participants of the voting trust is deemed to have beneficial ownership with shared voting power over the shares deposited in the voting trust. As of March 23, 2012, 6,922,159,485 Series B Shares representing 74.86% of the outstanding Series B Shares were deposited in the voting trust. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions.”

The following table shows the Series B Shares, Series D-B Shares and Series D-L Shares as of April 15, 2012 beneficially owned by our directors who are participants in the voting trust, other than the shares deposited in the voting trust:

 

     Series B     Series D-B     Series D-L  

Beneficial Owner

   Shares      Percent of
Class
    Shares      Percent of
Class
    Shares      Percent of
Class
 

Eva Garza Lagüera Gonda

     2,665,844         0.03     5,331,688         0.12     5,331,688         0.12

Mariana Garza Lagüera Gonda

     2,944,090         0.03     5,888,180         0.12     5,888,180         0.12

Barbara Garza Lagüera Gonda

     2,665,480         0.03     5,330,960         0.12     5,330,960         0.12

Paulina Garza Lagüera Gonda

     2,665,480         0.03     5,330,960         0.12     5,330,960         0.12

Consuelo Garza de Garza

     69,488,677         0.75     12,886,904         0.29     12,886,904         0.29

Alberto Bailleres González

     9,475,196         0.10     11,664,112         0.26     11,664,112         0.26

Alfonso Garza Garza

     714,995         —          1,381,590         0.03     1,381,590         0.03

Max Michel Suberville

     17,379,630         0.19     34,759,260         0.80     34,759,260         0.80

To our knowledge, no other director or officer is the beneficial owner of more than 1% of any class of our capital stock.

 

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Board Practices

Our bylaws state that the board of directors will meet at least once every three months following the end of each quarter to discuss our operating results and the advancement in the achievement of strategic objectives. Our board of directors can also hold extraordinary meetings. See “Item 10. Additional Information—Bylaws.”

Under our bylaws, directors serve one-year terms although they continue in office even after the term for which they were appointed ends for up to 30 calendar days, as set forth in article 24 of Mexican Securities Law. None of our directors or senior managers of our subsidiaries has service contracts providing for benefits upon termination of employment, other than post-retirement medical services plans and post-retirement pension plans for our senior managers on the same basis as our other employees.

Our board of directors is supported by committees, which are working groups that analyze issues and provide recommendations to the board of directors regarding their respective areas of focus. The executive officers interact periodically with the committees to address management issues. Each committee has a secretary who attends meetings but is not a member of the committee. The following are the three committees of the board of directors:

 

   

Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is responsible for (1) reviewing the accuracy and integrity of quarterly and annual financial statements in accordance with accounting, internal control and auditing requirements, (2) the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the independent auditor, who reports directly to the Audit Committee and (3) identifying and following-up on contingencies and legal proceedings. The Audit Committee has implemented procedures for receiving, retaining and addressing complaints regarding accounting, internal control and auditing matters, including the submission of confidential, anonymous complaints from employees regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. To carry out its duties, the Audit Committee may hire independent counsel and other advisors. As necessary, the company compensates the independent auditor and any outside advisor hired by the Audit Committee and provides funding for ordinary administrative expenses incurred by the Audit Committee in the course of its duties. The current Audit Committee members are: José Manuel Canal Hernando (Chairman and Financial Expert), Francisco Zambrano Rodríguez, Ernesto Cruz Velázquez de León and Alfonso González Migoya. Each member of the Audit Committee is an independent director, as required by the Mexican Securities Law and applicable NYSE listing standards. The Secretary of the Audit Committee is José González Ornelas, head of FEMSA’s internal audit department.

 

   

Finance and Planning Committee. The Finance and Planning Committee’s responsibilities include (1) evaluating the investment and financing policies proposed by the Chief Executive Officer; and (2) evaluating risk factors to which the corporation is exposed, as well as evaluating its management policies. The current Finance and Planning Committee members are: Ricardo Guajardo Touché (chairman), Federico Reyes García, Robert E. Denham, Francisco Javier Fernández Carbajal and Alfredo Livas Cantú. Javier Astaburuaga Sanjines is the appointed secretary of this committee.

 

   

Corporate Practices Committee. The Corporate Practices Committee is responsible for preventing or reducing the risk of performing operations that could damage the value of our company or that benefit a particular group of shareholders. The committee may call a shareholders’ meeting and include matters on the agenda for that meeting that it may deem appropriate, approve policies on the use of our company’s assets or related party transactions, approve the compensation of the chief executive officer and relevant officers and support our board of directors in the elaboration of reports on accounting practices. The chairman of the Corporate Practices Committee is Helmut Paul. The additional members are: Robert E. Denham and Ricardo Saldívar Escajadillo. Each member of the Corporate Practices Committee is an independent director, as required by the Mexican Securities Law. The Secretary of the Corporate Practices Committee is Alfonso Garza Garza.

 

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Employees

As of December 31, 2011, our headcount by geographic region was as follows: 134,985 in Mexico, 5,874 in Central America, 8,929 in Colombia, 8,431 in Venezuela, 15,229 in Brazil and 4,022 in Argentina. We include in headcount employees of third-party distributors and non-management store employees. The table below sets forth headcount for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009:

Headcount for the Year Ended December 31,(1)

 

     2011      2010      2009  
     Non-Union      Union      Total      Non-Union      Union      Non-Union      Union  

Sub-holding company

                    

Coca-Cola FEMSA(2)

     41,462         37,517         78,979         35,364         33,085         35,734         31,692   

FEMSA Comercio(3)

     56,914         26,906         83,820         51,919         21,182         43,142         17,760   

Other

     8,043         6,628         14,671         6,270         5,989         6,592         4,947   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     106,419         71,051         177,470         93,553         60,256         85,468         54,399   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) As of April 30, 2010, FEMSA no longer controls FEMSA Cerveza. As a result, employee headcount of FEMSA Cerveza as of December 31, 2009, is not included for comparability purposes.

 

(2) Includes employees of third-party distributors whom we do not consider to be our employees, amounting to 18,143, 17,347 and 17,393 in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

(3) Includes non-management store employees, whom we do not consider to be our employees, amounting to 48,801, 44,625 and 37,429 in 2011, 2010 and 2009 respectively.

As of December 31, 2011, our subsidiaries had entered into 302 collective bargaining or similar agreements with personnel employed at our operations. Each of the labor unions in Mexico is associated with one of eight different national Mexican labor organizations. In general, we have a good relationship with the labor unions throughout our operations, except for in Colombia, Venezuela and Guatemala which are or have been the subject of significant labor-related litigation. See “Item 8. Financial Information—Legal Proceedings—Coca-Cola FEMSA.” The agreements applicable to our Mexican operations generally have an indefinite term and provide for an annual salary review and for review of other terms and conditions, such as fringe benefits, every two years.

The table below sets forth the number of collective bargaining agreements and unions for our employees:

Collective Bargaining Labor Agreements Between

Sub-holding Companies and Unions

As of December 31, 2011

 

Sub-holding Company

   Collective
Bargaining
Agreements
     Labor Unions  

Coca-Cola FEMSA

     117         67   

FEMSA Comercio(1)

     104         4   

Others

     81         11   

Total

     302         82   

 

(1) Does not include non-management store employees, who are employed directly by each individual store.

 

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ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Major Shareholders

The following table identifies each owner of more than 5% of any class of our shares known to the company as of March 23, 2012. Except as described below, we are not aware of any holder of more than 5% of any class of our shares. Only the Series B Shares have full voting rights under our bylaws.

Ownership of Capital Stock as of March 23, 2012

 

     Series B Shares(1)     Series D-B Shares(2)     Series D-L Shares(3)     Total Shares
of FEMSA
CapitalStock
 
     Shares Owned      Percent
of Class
    Shares Owned      Percent
of Class
    Shares Owned      Percent
of Class
   

Shareholder

                 

Technical Committee and Trust Participants under the Voting Trust(4)

     6,922,159,485         74.86     —           0     —           0     38.69

William H. Gates III(5)

     281,053,490         3.04     562,106,980         13.00     562,106,980         13.00     7.85

Aberdeen Asset Management PLC(6)

     271,902,190         2.95     543,804,380         12.58     543,804,380         12.58     7.60

 

(1) As of March 23, 2012, there were 9,246,420,270 Series B Shares outstanding.

 

(2) As of March 23, 2012, there were 4,322,355,540 Series D-B Shares outstanding.

 

(3) As of March 23, 2012, there were 4,322,355,540 Series D-L Shares outstanding.

 

(4) As a consequence of the voting trust’s internal procedures, the following trust participants are deemed to have beneficial ownership with shared voting power over those same deposited shares: BBVA Bancomer Servicios, S.A., as Trustee under Trust No. F/25078-7 (controlled by Max Michel Suberville), J.P. Morgan (Suisse), S.A., as Trustee under a trust controlled by Paulina Garza Lagüera Gonda, Bárbara Garza Lagüera Gonda, Mariana Garza Lagüera Gonda, Eva Gonda Rivera, Eva Maria Garza Lagüera Gonda, Consuelo Garza Lagüera de Garza, Alfonso Garza Garza, Patricio Garza Garza, Juan Carlos Garza Garza, Eduardo Garza Garza, Eugenio Garza Garza, Alberto Bailleres González, Maria Teresa Gual Aspe de Bailleres, Inversiones Bursátiles Industriales, S.A. de C.V. (controlled by the Garza Lagüera family), Corbal, S.A. de C.V. (controlled by Alberto Bailleres González), Magdalena Michel de David, Alepage, S.A. (controlled by Consuelo Garza Lagüera de Garza), BBVA Bancomer Servicios, S.A. as Trustee under Trust No. F/29013-0 (controlled by the estate of José Calderón Ayala, late father of José Calderón Rojas), Max Michel Suberville, Max David Michel, Juan David Michel, Monique David de VanLathem, Renee Michel de Guichard, Magdalena Guichard Michel, Rene Guichard Michel, Miguel Guichard Michel, Graciano Guichard Michel, Juan Guichard Michel, Franca Servicios, S.A. de C.V. (controlled by the estate of José Calderón Ayala, late father of José Calderón Rojas), BBVA Bancomer Servicios, S.A., as Trustee under Trust No. F/29490-0 (controlled by Alberto, Susana and Cecilia Bailleres), BBVA Bancomer Servicios, S.A., as Trustee under Trust No. F/710004 (controlled by Magdalena Michel de David) and BBVA Bancomer Servicios, S.A., as Trustee under Trust No. F/700005 (controlled by Renee Michel de Guichard).

 

(5) As reported on Schedule 13D filed on March 28, 2011, includes aggregate shares beneficially owned by Cascade Investments, LLC, over which William H. Gates III has sole voting and dispositive power, and shares beneficially owned by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Trust, over which William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates have shared voting and dispositive power.

 

(6) As reported on Schedule 13G filed on January 11, 2012 by Aberdeen Asset Management PLC.

As of March 30, 2012, there were 48 holders of record of ADSs in the United States, which represented approximately 58% of our outstanding BD Units. Since a substantial number of ADSs are held in the name of nominees of the beneficial owners, including the nominee of The Depository Trust Company, the number of beneficial owners of ADSs is substantially greater than the number of record holders of these securities.

 

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Related-Party Transactions

Voting Trust

The trust participants, who are our principal shareholders, agreed on May 6, 1998 to deposit a majority of their shares, which we refer to as the trust assets, of FEMSA into the voting trust, and later entered into an amended agreement on August 8, 2005, following the substitution by Banco Invex, S.A. as trustee to the voting trust. The primary purpose of the voting trust is to permit the trust assets to be voted as a block, in accordance with the instructions of the technical committee. The trust participants are separated into seven trust groups and the technical committee is comprised of one representative appointed by each trust group. The number of B Units corresponding with each trust group (the proportional share of the shares deposited in the trust of such group) determines the number of votes that each trust representative has on the technical committee. Most matters are decided by a simple majority of the trust assets.

The trust participants agreed to certain transfer restrictions with respect to the trust assets. The trust is irrevocable, for a term that will conclude on May 31, 2013 (subject to additional five-year renewal terms), during which time, trust assets may be transferred by trust participants to spouses and immediate family members and, subject to certain conditions, to companies that are 100% owned by trust participants, which we refer to as the permitted transferees, provided in all cases that the transferee agrees to be bound by the terms of the voting trust. In the event that a trust participant wishes to sell part of its trust assets to someone other than a permitted transferee, the other trust participants have a right of first refusal to purchase the trust assets that the trust participant wishes to sell. If none of the trust participants elects to acquire the trust assets from the selling trust participant, the technical committee will have a right to nominate (subject to the approval of technical committee members representing 75% of the trust assets, excluding trust assets that are the subject of the sale) a purchaser for such trust assets. In the event that none of the trust participants or a nominated purchaser elects to acquire trust assets, the selling trust participant will have the right to sell the trust assets to a third-party on the same terms and conditions that were offered to the trust participants. Acquirors of trust assets will only be permitted to become parties to the voting trust upon the affirmative vote by the technical committee of at least 75% of the trust shares, which must include trust shares represented by at least three trust group representatives. In the event that a trust participant holding a majority of the trust assets elects to sell its trust assets, the other trust participants have “tag along” rights that will enable them to sell their trust assets to the acquiror of the selling trust participant’s trust assets.

Because of their ownership of a majority of the Series B Shares, the trust participants may be deemed to control our company. Other than as a result of their ownership of the Series B Shares, the trust participants do not have any voting rights that are different from those of other shareholders.

Interest of Management in Certain Transactions

The following is a summary of transactions we have entered into with entities for which members of our board of directors or management serve as a member of the board of directors or management. Each of these transactions was entered into in the ordinary course of business, and we believe each is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in arm’s length negotiations with unaffiliated third parties. Under our bylaws, transactions entered with related parties not in the ordinary course of business are subject to the approval of our board of directors, subject to the prior opinion of the corporate practices committee.

On April 30, 2010, José Antonio Fernández Carbajal, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, started to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of Heineken Holding, N.V. and the Supervisory Board of Heineken N.V. Javier Astaburuaga Sanjines, our Chief Financial Officer, also serves on the supervisory Board of Heineken N.V. as of April 30, 2010. Since that date, we have made purchases of beer in the ordinary course of business from the Heineken Group in the amount of Ps. 7,063 million for the last eight months of 2010 and Ps. 9,397 million for 2011. During the last eight months of 2010, we also supplied logistics and administrative services to subsidiaries of Heineken for a total of Ps. 1,048 million, and in 2011 for Ps. 2,169 million. As of the end of December 31, 2011 and 2010, our net balance due to Heineken amounted to Ps. 1,291 million and Ps. 1,038 million, respectively.

 

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We, along with certain of our subsidiaries, regularly engage in financing and insurance coverage transactions, including entering into loans and bond offerings in the local capital markets, with subsidiaries of BBVA Bancomer, a financial services holding company of which Alberto Bailleres González, José Fernando Calderón Rojas, Ricardo Guajardo Touché and José Manuel Canal Hernando, who are also directors of FEMSA, are directors. We made interest expense payments and fees paid to BBVA Bancomer in respect of these transactions of Ps. 128 million, Ps. 108 million, and Ps. 260 million as of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The total amount due to BBVA Bancomer as of the end of December 31, 2011 and 2010 was Ps. 1.1 billion and Ps. 999 million, respectively, and we also had a balance with BBVA Bancomer of Ps. 2,791 million and Ps. 2,944 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.

We regularly engage in the ordinary course of business in hedging transactions, and enter into loans and credit line facilities on an arm’s length basis with subsidiaries of Grupo Financiero Banamex, S.A. de C.V., or Grupo Financiero Banamex, a financial services holding company which qualified as our related party until March 2011. The interest expense and fees paid to Grupo Financiero Banamex as of December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009 were Ps. 28 million, Ps. 56 million, and Ps. 61 million, respectively. As of the end of December 31, 2010, the total amount due to Grupo Financiero Banamex was Ps. 500 million, and we also had a receivable balance with Grupo Financiero Banamex of Ps. 2,103 million.

We maintain an insurance policy covering auto insurance and medical expenses for executives issued by Grupo Nacional Provincial, S.A.B., an insurance company of which Alberto Bailleres González and Max Michelle Suberville, who are also directors of FEMSA, are directors. The aggregate amount of premiums paid under these policies was approximately Ps. 59 million, Ps. 69 million, and Ps. 78 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

We, along with certain of our subsidiaries, spent Ps. 86 million, Ps. 37 million, and Ps. 13 million in the ordinary course of business in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, in publicity and advertisement purchased from Grupo Televisa, S.A.B., a media corporation in which our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, José Antonio Fernández Carbajal, and two of our Directors, Alberto Bailleres González and Michael Larson, serve as directors.

Coca-Cola FEMSA, in its ordinary course of business, purchased Ps. 1,248 million, Ps. 1,206 million, and Ps. 1,044 million in 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively, in juices from subsidiaries of Jugos del Valle.

In October 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA executed certain agreements with affiliates of Grupo Tampico to acquire specific products and services such as plastic cases, certain truck and car brands, as well as auto parts, exclusively for the territories of Grupo Tampico, which provide for certain preferences to be elected as suppliers in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s suppliers’ bidding processes.

FEMSA Comercio, in its ordinary course of business, purchased Ps. 2,270 million, Ps. 2,018 million, and Ps. 1,733 million in 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively, in baked goods and snacks for its stores from subsidiaries of Bimbo, of which Ricardo Guajardo Touché, one of FEMSA’s directors, is a director. FEMSA Comercio also purchased Ps. 316 million and Ps. 126 million in 2011 and 2010, respectively, in juices from subsidiaries of Jugos del Valle. These purchases were entered into in the ordinary course of business, and we believe they were made on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in arm’s length negotiations with unaffiliated third parties.

José Antonio Fernández Carbajal, Eva Garza Lagüera Gonda, Mariana Garza Lagüera Gonda, Ricardo Guajardo Touché, Alfonso Garza Garza and Armando Garza Sada, who are directors of FEMSA, are also members of the board of directors of ITESM, which is a prestigious university system with headquarters in Monterrey, Mexico that routinely receives donations from FEMSA and its subsidiaries. For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, donations to ITESM amounted to Ps. 81 million, Ps. 63 million, and Ps. 72 million, respectively.

Business Transactions between Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company

Coca-Cola FEMSA regularly engages in transactions with The Coca-Cola Company and its affiliates. Coca-Cola FEMSA purchases all of its concentrate requirements for Coca-Cola trademark beverages from The Coca-Cola Company. Total payments by Coca-Cola FEMSA to The Coca-Cola Company for concentrates were approximately Ps. 21,183 million, Ps. 19,371 million, and Ps. 16,863 million in 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively.

 

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Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company pay and reimburse each other for marketing expenditures. The Coca-Cola Company also contributes to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s coolers, bottles and cases investment program. Coca-Cola FEMSA received contributions to its marketing expenses and the coolers investment program of Ps. 2,561 million, Ps. 2,386 million, and Ps. 1,945 million in 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively.

In December 2007 and in May 2008, Coca-Cola FEMSA sold most of its proprietary brands to The Coca-Cola Company. The proprietary brands are now being licensed back to Coca-Cola FEMSA by The Coca-Cola Company pursuant to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bottler agreements. The December 2007 transaction was valued at US$ 48 million and the May 2008 transaction was valued at US$ 16 million. Coca-Cola FEMSA believes that both of these transactions were conducted on an arm’s length basis. Revenues from the sale of proprietary brands realized in prior years in which Coca-Cola FEMSA has a significant continuing involvement are deferred and amortized against the related costs of future sales over the estimated sales period. The balance to be amortized amounted to Ps. 302 million, Ps. 547 million, and Ps. 616 million as of December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively. The short-term portions are included in other current liabilities as of December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, and amounted to Ps. 197 million, Ps. 276 million, and Ps. 203 million, respectively.

In Argentina, Coca-Cola FEMSA purchases a portion of its plastic ingot requirements for producing plastic bottles and all of its returnable plastic bottle requirements from Embotelladora del Atlántico S.A., a local subsidiary of Embotelladora Andina, S.A., a Coca-Cola bottler with operations in Argentina, Chile and Brazil in which The Coca-Cola Company has a substantial interest.

In November 2007, Administración S.A.P.I. acquired 100% of the shares of capital stock of Jugos del Valle. The business of Jugos del Valle in the United States was acquired and sold by The Coca-Cola Company. In June 2008, Administración S.A.P.I. and Jugos del Valle (surviving company) were merged. Subsequently, Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company and all Mexican and Brazilian Coca-Cola bottlers entered into a joint business for the Mexican and the Brazilian operations, respectively, of Jugos del Valle, through transactions completed during 2008. Coca-Cola FEMSA currently holds an interest of 24.0% in the Mexican joint business and approximately 19.7% in the Brazilian joint business. Jugos del Valle sells juice-based beverages and fruit derivatives. Coca-Cola FEMSA distributes the Jugos del Valle line of juice-based beverages in Brazil and its territories in South America.

In February 2009, Coca-Cola FEMSA acquired with The Coca-Cola Company the Brisa bottled water business in Colombia from Bavaria, a subsidiary of SABMiller. Coca-Cola FEMSA acquired the production assets and the rights to distribute in the territory, and The Coca-Cola Company acquired the Brisa brand. Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company equally shared in paying the purchase price of US$ 92 million. Following a transition period, in June 2009, Coca-Cola FEMSA started to sell and distribute the Brisa portfolio of products in Colombia.

In May 2009, Coca-Cola FEMSA completed a transaction to develop the Crystal trademark water business in Brazil with The Coca-Cola Company.

In August 2010, Coca-Cola FEMSA acquired from The Coca-Cola Company along with other Brazilian Coca-Cola bottlers the business operations of the Matte Leão tea brand. As of April 20, 2012 Coca-Cola FEMSA had a 19.4% indirect interest in the Matte Leão business in Brazil.

In September 2010, FEMSA sold Promotora to The Coca-Cola Company. Promotora was the owner of the Mundet brands of soft drinks in Mexico.

In March 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA, together with The Coca-Cola Company and through Compañía Panameña de Bebidas S.A.P.I. de C.V., acquired Estrella Azul, a Panamanian conglomerate that participates in the dairy and juice-based beverage categories in Panama. Coca-Cola FEMSA will continue to develop this business with The Coca-Cola Company.

In February 2012, Coca-Cola FEMSA announced that it had entered into a 12-month exclusivity agreement with The Coca-Cola Company to evaluate the potential acquisition by Coca-Cola FEMSA of a controlling

 

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ownership stake in the bottling operations owned by The Coca-Cola Company in the Philippines. Both parties believe that Coca-Cola FEMSA’s expertise and successful track record operating in fragmented markets and emerging economies could be effectively deployed in such territory, and contribute significantly toward expanding the penetration of, and consumer preference for, The Coca-Cola Company’s brands in that market. This exclusivity agreement does not require either party to enter into any transaction, and there can be no assurances that a definitive agreement will be executed.

 

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Consolidated Financial Statements

See pages F-1 through F-144, incorporated herein by reference.

Dividend Policy

For a discussion of our dividend policy, see “Item 3. Key Information—Dividends” and “Item 10. Additional Information.”

Legal Proceedings

We are party to various legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. Other than as disclosed in this annual report, we are not currently involved in any litigation or arbitration proceeding, including any proceeding that is pending or threatened of which we are aware, which we believe will have, or has had, a material adverse effect on our company. Other legal proceedings that are pending against or involve us and our subsidiaries are incidental to the conduct of our and their business. We believe that the ultimate disposition of such other proceedings individually or on an aggregate basis will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition or results from operations.

Coca-Cola FEMSA

Mexico

Antitrust Matters

During 2000, the CFC, pursuant to complaints filed by PepsiCo. and certain of its bottlers in Mexico, began an investigation of The Coca-Cola Company Export Corporation and its bottlers for alleged monopolistic practices through exclusivity arrangements with certain retailers.

After the corresponding legal proceedings in Mexico in 2008, a Mexican Federal Court rendered a final adverse judgment against two of the eight Mexican subsidiaries involved in the proceedings (which total number includes the beverage divisions of Grupo CIMSA and Grupo Tampico), upholding a fine of approximately Ps. 10.5 million imposed by the CFC on each of the two subsidiaries and ordering the immediate suspension of such practices of alleged exclusivity arrangements and conditional dealing. With respect to the complaints against the remaining six subsidiaries (including the beverage divisions of Grupo CIMSA and Grupo Tampico), a final favorable resolution was rendered in the Mexican Federal Court on June 9, 2010. In March 2011, the CFC dropped all fines against and ruled in favor of all of the involved subsidiaries, on the grounds of insufficient evidence to prove individual and specific liability in the alleged antitrust violations. These resolutions are final and unappealable.

In February 2009, the CFC began a new investigation of alleged monopolistic practices consisting of sparkling beverage sales subject to exclusivity agreements and the granting of discounts and/or benefits in exchange for exclusivity arrangements with certain retailers. In December 2011, the CFC closed this investigation on the grounds of insufficient evidence of monopolistic practices by The Coca-Cola Company and its bottlers. However, on February 9, 2012, the plaintiff appealed the decision of the CFC. The CFC has not yet ruled on whether to accept or deny the appeal.

 

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Central America

Antitrust Matters in Costa Rica

During August 2001, the Comisión para Promover la Competencia in Costa Rica (Costa Rican Antitrust Commission), pursuant to a complaint filed by PepsiCo. and its bottler in Costa Rica, initiated an investigation of the sales practices of The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Costa Rican subsidiary for alleged monopolistic practices in retail distribution, including sales exclusivity arrangements. A ruling from the Costa Rican Antitrust Commission was issued in July 2004, which found Coca-Cola FEMSA’s subsidiary in Costa Rica engaged in monopolistic practices with respect to exclusivity arrangements, pricing and the sharing of coolers under certain limited circumstances and imposed a fine of US$ 130,000 (approximately Ps. 1.5 million). The court dismissed Coca-Cola FEMSA’s appeal of the Costa Rican Antitrust Commission’s ruling. On August 30, 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA appealed the court’s dismissal before the Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal on December 1, 2011. Notwithstanding the above, this matter will not have a material adverse effect on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s financial condition or results of operations because Coca-Cola FEMSA has already paid the Costa Rican Antitrust Commission’s fine and is currently complying with its resolution.

In November 2004, Ajecen del Sur S.A., the bottler of Big Cola in Costa Rica, filed a complaint before the Costa Rican Antitrust Commission related to monopolistic practices in retail distribution and exclusivity agreements against The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Costa Rican subsidiary. The Costa Rican Antitrust Commission decided to pursue an investigation, but has issued a final resolution in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s favor imposing no fine.

Colombia

Labor Matters

During July 2001, a labor union and several individuals from the Republic of Colombia filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida against certain of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s subsidiaries. The plaintiffs alleged that the subsidiaries engaged in wrongful acts against the labor union and its members in Colombia, including kidnapping, torture, death threats and intimidation. The complaint alleges claims under the U.S. Alien Tort Claims Act, Torture Victim Protection Act, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and state tort law and seeks injunctive and declaratory relief and damages of more than US$ 500 million, including treble and punitive damages and the cost of the suit, including attorney fees. In September 2006, the federal district court dismissed the complaint with respect to all claims. The plaintiffs appealed and in August 2009, the Appellate Court affirmed the decision in favor of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s subsidiaries. The plaintiffs moved for a rehearing, and in September 2009, the rehearing motion was denied. Plaintiffs attempted to seek reconsideration en banc, but so far, the court has not considered it.

Venezuela

Tax Matters

In 1999, some of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Venezuelan subsidiaries received notice of indirect tax claims asserted by the Venezuelan tax authorities. These subsidiaries have taken the appropriate measures against these claims at the administrative level and filed appeals with the Venezuelan courts. The claims currently amount to approximately US$ 21.1 million (approximately Ps. 250 million). Coca-Cola FEMSA has certain rights to indemnification from Venbottling Holding, Inc., a former shareholder of Panamco and The Coca-Cola Company, for a substantial portion of the claims. Coca-Cola FEMSA does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these cases will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results from operations.

 

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Brazil

Antitrust Matters

Several claims have been filed against Coca-Cola FEMSA by private parties that allege anticompetitive practices by Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Brazilian subsidiaries. The plaintiffs are Ragi (Dolly), a Brazilian producer of “B Brands,” and PepsiCo. alleging anticompetitive practices by Spal Indústria Brasileira de Bebidas S.A. and Recofarma Indústria do Amazonas Ltda. Of the four claims Dolly filed against Coca-Cola FEMSA, the only one remaining concerns a denial of access to common suppliers. Of the two claims made by PepsiCo, the first concerns exclusivity arrangements at the point of sale, and the second is an alleged corporate espionage allegation against the Pepsi bottler, BAESA, which the Ministry of Economy recommended be dismissed for lack of evidence. Under Brazilian law, each of these claims could result in substantial monetary fines and other penalties, although Coca-Cola FEMSA believes each of the claims is without merit.

Significant Changes

Since December 31, 2011, the following significant change has occurred in our business, as described in more detail in “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Recent Developments” and in Note 29 to our audited consolidated financial statements:

 

   

In February 2012, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation and Stichting Depositary PGGM Infrastructure Funds, a pension fund managed by PGGM, acquired the 45% interest held by FEMSA in the parent companies of the Mareña Renovables Wind Power Farm. The sale of FEMSA’s participation as an investor will result in a gain.

 

ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING

Description of Securities

We have three series of capital stock, each with no par value:

 

   

Series B Shares;

 

   

Series D-B Shares; and

 

   

Series D-L Shares.

Series B Shares have full voting rights, and Series D-B and D-L Shares have limited voting rights. The shares of our company are not separable and may be transferred only in the following forms:

 

   

B Units, consisting of five Series B Shares; and

 

   

BD Units, consisting of one Series B Share, two Series D-B Shares and two Series D-L Shares.

At our AGM held on March 29, 2007, our shareholders approved a three-for-one stock split in respect all of our outstanding capital stock. Following the stock split, our total capital stock consists of 2,161,177,770 BD Units and 1,417,048,500 B Units. Our stock split also resulted in a three-for-one stock split of our ADSs. The stock-split was conducted on a pro-rata basis in respect of all holders of our shares and all ADS holders of record as of May 25, 2007, and the ratio of voting and non-voting shares was maintained, thereby preserving our ownership structure as it was prior to the stock-split.

On April 22, 2008, FEMSA shareholders approved a proposal to amend our bylaws in order to preserve the unit structure for our shares that has been in place since May 1998, and to maintain our existing share structure beyond May 11, 2008, absent further shareholder action.

 

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Previously, our bylaws provided that on May 11, 2008, each Series D-B Share would automatically convert into one Series B Share with full voting rights, and each Series D-L Share would automatically convert into one Series L Share with limited voting rights. At that time:

 

   

the BD Units and the B Units would cease to exist and the underlying Series B Shares and Series L Shares would be separate; and

 

   

the Series B Shares and Series L Shares would be entitled to share equally in any dividend, and the dividend preferences of the Series D-B Shares and Series D-L Shares of 125% of any amount distributed in respect of each Series B Share existing prior to May 11, 2008, would be terminated.

However, following the April 22, 2008, shareholder approvals, these changes will no longer occur and instead our share and unit structure will remain unchanged, absent shareholder action, as follows:

 

   

the BD Units and the B Units will continue to exist; and

 

   

the dividend preferences of the Series D-B Shares and Series D-L Shares of 125% of any amount distributed in respect of each Series B Share will continue to exist.

The following table sets forth information regarding our capital stock as of March 31, 2012:

 

     Number      Percentage of
Capital
    Percentage of
Full Voting

Rights
 

Class

                   

Series B Shares (no par value)

     9,246,420,270         51.68     100

Series D-B Shares (no par value)

     4,322,355,540         24.16     0

Series D-L Shares (no par value)

     4,322,355,540         24.16     0

Total Shares

     17,891,131,350         100     100

Units

                   

BD Units

     2,161,177,770         60.40     23.47

B Units

     1,417,048,500         39.60     76.63

Total Units

     3,578,226,270         100     100

Trading Markets

Since May 11, 1998, ADSs representing BD Units have been listed on the NYSE, and the BD Units and the B Units have been listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange. Each ADS represents 10 BD Units deposited under the deposit agreement with the ADS depositary. As of March 30, 2012, approximately 58% of BD Units traded in the form of ADSs.

The NYSE trading symbol for the ADSs is “FMX” and the Mexican Stock Exchange trading symbols are “FEMSA UBD” for the BD Units and “FEMSA UB” for the B Units.

Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the Mexican peso and the U.S. dollar have affected the U.S. dollar equivalent of the Mexican peso price of our shares on the Mexican Stock Exchange and, consequently, have also affected the market price of our ADSs. See “Item 3. Key Information—Exchange Rate Information.”

Trading on the Mexican Stock Exchange

The Mexican Stock Exchange, located in Mexico City, is the only stock exchange in Mexico. Founded in 1907, it is organized as a sociedad anónima bursátil. Trading on the Mexican Stock Exchange takes place principally through automated systems and is open between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, each business day. Trades in securities listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange can also be effected off the exchange. The Mexican Stock Exchange operates a system of automatic suspension of trading in shares of a particular issuer as a

 

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means of controlling excessive price volatility, but under current regulations this system does not apply to securities such as the BD Units that are directly or indirectly (for example, in the form of ADSs) quoted on a stock exchange (including for these purposes the NYSE) outside Mexico.

Settlement is effected three business days after a share transaction on the Mexican Stock Exchange. Deferred settlement, even by mutual agreement, is not permitted without the approval of the CNBV. Most securities traded on the Mexican Stock Exchange, including ours, are on deposit with S.D. Indeval Instituto para el Depósito de Valores S.A. de C.V., which we refer to as Indeval, a privately owned securities depositary that acts as a clearinghouse for Mexican Stock Exchange transactions.

Price History

The following tables set forth, for the periods indicated, the reported high, low and closing sale prices and the average daily trading volumes for the B Units and BD Units on the Mexican Stock Exchange and the reported high, low and closing sale prices and the average daily trading volumes for the ADSs on the NYSE.

 

     B Units(1)  
     Nominal pesos      Close  US$(4)      Average Daily
Trading Volume

(Units)
 
     High(2)      Low(2)      Close(3)      FX rate        

2007

     42.33         31.79         37.00         10.92         3.39         1,814   

2008

     46.00         32.00         34.99         13.83         2.53         7,286   

2009

     57.00         30.50         55.00         13.06         4.21         300   

2010

                 

First Quarter

     55.00         44.00         48.50         12.30         3.94         1,900   

Second Quarter

     51.00         45.05         49.97         12.83         3.89         1,881   

Third Quarter

     51.99         47.50         50.50         12.63         4.00         1,364   

Fourth Quarter

     57.99         49.50         57.98         12.38         4.68         1,629   

2011

                 

First Quarter

     57.99         50.00         51.50         11.92         4.32         2,062   

Second Quarter

     58.00         51.50         58.00         11.72         4.95         975   

Third Quarter

     71.00         59.00         71.00         13.77         5.16         2,597   

Fourth Quarter

     81.00         78.05         78.05         13.96         5.59         795   

October

     81.00         79.00         79.00         13.17         6.00         1,880   

November

     79.00         79.00         79.00         13.62         5.80         975   

December

     78.05         78.05         78.05         13.95         5.59         8,300   

2012

                 

January

     78.00         75.00         75.00         13.04         5.75         3,182   

February

     76.00         75.00         76.00         12.79         5.94         807   

March

     82.00         80.50         80.50         12.81         6.28         167   

First Quarter

     82.00         75.00         80.50         12.81         6.28         872   

 

(1) The prices and average daily trading volume for the B Units were taken from Bloomberg and reflect our 3:1 stock split, which was effective May 25, 2007.

 

(2) High and low closing prices for the periods presented.

 

(3) Closing price on the last day of the periods presented.

 

(4) Represents the translation from Mexican pesos to U.S. dollars of the closing price of the B Units on the last day of the periods presented based on the noon buying rate for the purchase of U.S. dollars, as reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York using the period-end exchange rate.

 

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     BD Units(1)  
     Nominal pesos      Close  US$(4)      Average  Daily
Trading Volume
(Units)
 
     High(2)      Low(2)      Close(3)      FX rate        

2007

     48.58         32.73         41.70         10.92         3.82         3,889,800   

2008

     49.19         26.10         41.37         13.83         2.99         3,089,044   

2009

     63.20         30.49         62.65         13.06         4.80         3,011,747   

2010

                 

First Quarter

     64.39         53.33         59.03         12.30         4.80         4,213,385   

Second Quarter

     58.94         53.22         55.68         12.83         4.34         3,066,006   

Third Quarter

     66.14         55.79         63.66         12.63         5.04         3,526,727   

Fourth Quarter

     71.21         62.58         69.32         12.38         5.60         3,177,203   

2011

                 

First Quarter

     70.61         64.01         69.85         11.92         5.86         2,562,803   

Second Quarter

     77.79         70.52         77.79         11.72         6.64         2,546,271   

Third Quarter

     91.39         75.28         90.16         13.77         6.55         3,207,475   

Fourth Quarter

     97.80         87.05         97.02         13.96         6.95         2,499,269   

October

     94.80         88.26         89.40         13.17         6.79         2,491,967   

November

     92.76         87.05         92.76         13.62         6.81         3,160,130   

December

     97.80         90.07         97.02         13.95         6.95         1,877,181   

2012

                 

January

     98.04         88.64         91.33         13.04         7.00         2,777,054   

February

     96.59         92.65         94.47         12.79         7.38         3,352,297   

March

     105.33         93.98         105.33         12.81         8.22         2,494,913   

First Quarter

     105.33         88.64         105.33         12.81         8.22         2,865,624   

 

(1) The prices and average daily trading volume for the BD Units were taken from Bloomberg and reflect our 3:1 stock split, which was effective May 25, 2007.

 

(2) High and low closing prices for the periods presented.

 

(3) Closing price on the last day of the periods presented.

 

(4) Represents the translation from Mexican pesos to U.S. dollars of the closing price of the BD Units on the last day of the periods presented based on the noon buying rate for the purchase of U.S. dollars, as reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York using the period-end exchange rate.

 

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     ADSs(1)  
     U.S. dollars      Average  Daily
Trading Volume
(ADSs)
 
     High(2)      Low(2)      Close(3)     

2007

     44.42         29.96         38.17         1,350,303   

2008

     49.39         19.25         30.13         1,321,098   

2009

     49.00         19.91         47.88         1,188,775   

2010

           

First Quarter

     50.01         40.82         47.53         1,394,455   

Second Quarter

     48.14         40.49         42.89         854,938   

Third Quarter

     52.09         42.78         50.43         752,792   

Fourth Quarter

     57.38         49.89         55.92         534,197   

October

     55.05         49.89         54.91         762,224   

November

     56.83         53.89         56.55         498,769   

December

     57.38         55.46         55.92         350,353   

2011

           

First Quarter

     58.93         52.67         58.70         523,823   

Second Quarter

     66.49         59.60         66.49         519,035   

Third Quarter

     73.00         61.34         64.82         641,559   

Fourth Quarter

     72.23         61.73         69.71         527,067   

October

     72.23         64.36         67.05         634,239   

November

     68.92         61.73         68.21         560,506   

December

     69.77         64.81         69.71         386,457   

2012

           

January

     70.52         67.47         70.52         591,823   

February

     75.18         72.47         73.60         482,579   

March

     82.27         72.56         82.27         504,965   

First Quarter

     82.27         52.95         82.27         525,762   

 

(1) Each ADS is comprised of 10 BD Units. Prices and average daily trading volume were taken from Bloomberg and reflect our 3:1 stock split, which was effective May 25, 2007.

 

(2) High and low closing prices for the periods presented.

 

(3) Closing price on the last day of the periods presented.

 

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ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Bylaws

The following is a summary of the material provisions of our bylaws and applicable Mexican law. Our bylaws were last amended on April 22, 2008. For a description of the provisions of our bylaws relating to our board of directors and executive officers, see “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees.”

Organization and Registry

We are a sociedad anónima bursátil de capital variable organized in Mexico under the Mexican General Corporations Law and the Mexican Securities Law. We were incorporated in 1936 under the name Valores Industriales, S.A., as a sociedad anónima, and are currently named Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. We are registered in the Registro Público de la Propiedad y del Comercio (Public Registry of Property and Commerce) of Monterrey, Nuevo León.

Voting Rights and Certain Minority Rights

Each Series B Share entitles its holder to one vote at any of our ordinary or extraordinary general shareholders meetings. Our bylaws state that the board of directors must be composed of no more than 21 members. Holders of Series B Shares are entitled to elect at least 11 members of our board of directors. Holders of Series D Shares are entitled to elect five members of our board of directors. Our bylaws also contemplate that, should a conversion of the Series D-L Shares to Series L Shares occur pursuant to the vote of our Series D-B and Series D-L shareholders at special and extraordinary shareholders meetings, the holders of Series D-L shares (who would become holders of newly-issued Series L Shares) will be entitled to elect two members of the board of directors. None of our shares has cumulative voting rights, which is a right not regulated under Mexican law.

Under our bylaws, the holders of Series D Shares are entitled to vote at extraordinary shareholders meetings called to consider any of the following limited matters: (1) the transformation from one form of corporate organization to another, other than from a company with variable capital stock to a company without variable capital stock or vice versa, (2) any merger in which we are not the surviving entity or with other entities whose principal corporate purposes are different from those of our company or our subsidiaries, (3) change of our jurisdiction of incorporation, (4) dissolution and liquidation and (5) the cancellation of the registration of the Series D Shares or Series L Shares in the Mexican Stock Exchange or in any other foreign stock market where listed, except in the case of the conversion of these shares as provided for in our bylaws.

Holders of Series D Shares are also entitled to vote on the matters that they are expressly authorized to vote on by the Mexican Securities Law and at any extraordinary shareholders meeting called to consider any of the following matters:

 

   

To approve a conversion of all of the outstanding Series D-B Shares and Series D-L Shares into Series B shares with full voting rights and Series L Shares with limited voting rights, respectively.

 

   

To agree to the unbundling of their share Units.

This conversion and/or unbundling of shares would become effective two (2) years after the date on which the shareholders agreed to such conversion and/or unbundling.

Under Mexican law, holders of shares of any series are entitled to vote as a class in a special meeting governed by the same rules that apply to extraordinary shareholders meetings on any action that would have an effect on the rights of holders of shares of such series. There are no procedures for determining whether a particular proposed shareholder action requires a class vote, and Mexican law does not provide extensive guidance on the criteria to be applied in making such a determination.

 

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The Mexican Securities Law, the Mexican General Corporations Law and our bylaws provide for certain minority shareholder protections. These minority protections include provisions that permit:

 

   

holders of at least 10% of our outstanding capital stock entitled to vote, including in a limited or restricted manner, to require the chairman of the board of directors or of the Audit or Corporate Practices Committees to call a shareholders’ meeting;

 

   

holders of at least 5% of our outstanding capital stock, including limited or restricted vote, may bring an action for liabilities against our directors, the secretary of the board of directors or the relevant officers;

 

   

holders of at least 10% of our outstanding capital stock who are entitled to vote, including limited or restricted vote, at any shareholders meeting to request that resolutions with respect to any matter on which they considered they were not sufficiently informed be postponed;

 

   

holders of 20% of our outstanding capital stock to oppose any resolution adopted at a shareholders meeting in which they are entitled to vote, including limited or restricted vote, and file a petition for a court order to suspend the resolution temporarily within 15 days following the adjournment of the meeting at which the action was taken, provided that (1) the challenged resolution violates Mexican law or our bylaws, (2) the opposing shareholders neither attended the meeting nor voted in favor of the challenged resolution and (3) the opposing shareholders deliver a bond to the court to secure payment of any damages that we may suffer as a result of suspending the resolution in the event that the court ultimately rules against the opposing shareholder; and

 

   

holders of at least 10% of our outstanding capital stock who are entitled to vote, including limited or restricted vote, to appoint one member of our board of directors and one alternate member of our board of directors.

Shareholders Meetings

General shareholders meetings may be ordinary meetings or extraordinary meetings. Extraordinary meetings are those called to consider certain matters specified in Article 182 and 228 BIS of the Mexican General Corporations Law, Articles 53 and 108(II) of the Mexican Securities Law and in our bylaws. These matters include: amendments to our bylaws, liquidation, dissolution, merger and transformation from one form of corporate organization to another, issuance of preferred stock and increases and reductions of the fixed portion of our capital stock. In addition, our bylaws require an extraordinary meeting to consider the cancellation of the registration of shares with the Mexican Registry of Securities, or RNV or with other foreign stock exchanges on which our shares may be listed, the amortization of distributable earnings into capital stock, and an increase in our capital stock in terms of the Mexican Securities Law. General meetings called to consider all other matters, including increases or decreases affecting the variable portion of our capital stock, are ordinary meetings. An ordinary meeting must be held at least once each year within the first four months following the end of the preceding fiscal year. Holders of BD Units or B Units are entitled to attend all shareholders meetings of the Series B Shares and Series D Shares and to vote on matters that are subject to the vote of holders of the underlying shares.

The quorum for an ordinary shareholders meeting on first call is more than 50% of the Series B Shares, and action may be taken by a majority of the Series B Shares represented at the meeting. If a quorum is not available, a second or subsequent meeting may be called and held by whatever number of Series B Shares is represented at the meeting, at which meeting action may be taken by a majority of the Series B Shares that are represented at the meeting.

The quorum for an extraordinary shareholders meeting is at least 75% of the shares entitled to vote at the meeting, and action may be taken by a vote of the majority of all the outstanding shares that are entitled to vote. If a quorum is not available, a second meeting may be called, at which the quorum will be the majority of the outstanding capital stock entitled to vote, and actions will be taken by holders of the majority of all the outstanding capital stock entitled to vote.

 

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Shareholders meetings may be called by the board of directors, the audit committee or the corporate practices committee and, under certain circumstances, a Mexican court. Holders of 10% or more of our capital stock may require the chairman of the board of directors, or the chairman of the audit or corporate practices committees to call a shareholders meeting. A notice of meeting and an agenda must be published in the Periódico Oficial del Estado de Nuevo León (Official State Gazette of Nuevo León, or the Official State Gazette) or a newspaper of general circulation in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico at least 15 days prior to the date set for the meeting. Notices must set forth the place, date and time of the meeting and the matters to be addressed and must be signed by whoever convened the meeting. Shareholders meetings will be deemed validly held and convened without a prior notice or publication whenever all the shares representing our capital stock are fully represented. All relevant information relating to the shareholders meeting must be made available to shareholders starting on the date of publication of the notice. To attend a meeting, shareholders must deposit their shares with the company or with Indeval or an institution for the deposit of securities prior to the meeting as indicated in the notice. If entitled to attend a meeting, a shareholder may be represented by an attorney-in-fact.

In addition to the provisions of the Mexican General Corporations Law, the ordinary shareholders meeting shall be convened to approve any transaction that, in a fiscal year, represents 20% or more of the consolidated assets of the company as of the immediately prior quarter, whether such transaction is executed in one or several operations. All shareholders shall be entitled to vote on in such ordinary shareholders meeting, including those with limited or restricted voting rights.

Dividend Rights

At the AGM, the board of directors submits the financial statements of the company for the previous fiscal year, together with a report thereon by the board of directors. Once the holders of Series B Shares have approved the financial statements, they determine the allocation of our net profits for the preceding year. Mexican law requires the allocation of at least 5% of net profits to a legal reserve, which is not subsequently available for distribution, until the amount of the legal reserve equals 20% of our paid in capital stock. Thereafter, the holders of Series B Shares may determine and allocate a certain percentage of net profits to any general or special reserve, including a reserve for open-market purchases of our shares. The remainder of net profits is available for distribution in the form of dividends to the shareholders. Dividends may only be paid if net profits are sufficient to offset losses from prior fiscal years.

Our bylaws provide that dividends will be allocated among the shares outstanding and fully paid at the time a dividend is declared in such manner that each Series D-B Share and Series D-L Share receives 125% of the dividend distributed in respect of each Series B Share. Holders of Series D-B Shares and Series D-L Shares are entitled to this dividend premium in connection with all dividends paid by us.

Change in Capital

Our outstanding capital stock consists of both a fixed and a variable portion. The fixed portion of our capital stock may be increased or decreased only by an amendment of the bylaws adopted by an extraordinary shareholders meeting. The variable portion of our capital stock may be increased or decreased by resolution of an ordinary shareholders meeting. Capital increases and decreases must be recorded in our share registry and book of capital variations, if applicable.

A capital stock increase may be effected through the issuance of new shares for payment in cash or in kind, or by capitalization of indebtedness or of certain items of stockholders’ equity. Treasury stock may only be sold pursuant to a public offering.

Any increase or decrease in our capital stock or any redemption or repurchase will be subject to the following limitations: (1) Series B Shares will always represent at least 51% of our outstanding capital stock and the Series D-L Shares and Series L Shares will never represent more than 25% of our outstanding capital stock; and (2) the Series D-B, Series D-L and Series L Shares will not exceed, in the aggregate, 49% of our outstanding capital stock.

 

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Preemptive Rights

Under Mexican law, except in limited circumstances which are described below, in the event of an increase in our capital stock, a holder of record generally has the right to subscribe to shares of a series held by such holder sufficient to maintain such holder’s existing proportionate holding of shares of that series. Preemptive rights must be exercised during a term fixed by the shareholders at the meeting declaring the capital increase, which term must last at least 15 days following the publication of notice of the capital increase in the Official State Gazette. As a result of applicable United States securities laws, holders of ADSs may be restricted in their ability to participate in the exercise of preemptive rights under the terms of the deposit agreement. Shares subject to a preemptive rights offering, with respect to which preemptive rights have not been exercised, may be sold by us to third parties on the same terms and conditions previously approved by the shareholders or the board of directors. Under Mexican law, preemptive rights cannot be waived in advance or be assigned, or be represented by an instrument that is negotiable separately from the corresponding shares.

Our bylaws provide that shareholders will not have preemptive rights to subscribe shares in the event of a capital stock increase or listing of treasury stock in the following events: (i) merger of the Company; (ii) conversion of obligations in terms of the Mexican General Credit Instruments and Credit Operations Law (Ley General de Títulos y Operaciones de Crédito); (iii) public offering in terms of articles 53, 56 and related provisions of the Mexican Securities Law; and (iv) capital increase made through the payment in kind of the issued shares or through the cancellation of debt of the Company.

Limitations on Share Ownership

Ownership by non-Mexican nationals of shares of Mexican companies is regulated by the Foreign Investment Law and its regulations. The Foreign Investment Commission is responsible for the administration of the Foreign Investment Law and its regulations.

As a general rule, the Foreign Investment Law allows foreign holdings of up to 100% of the capital stock of Mexican companies, except for those companies engaged in certain specified restricted industries. The Foreign Investment Law and its regulations require that Mexican shareholders retain the power to determine the administrative control and the management of corporations in industries in which special restrictions on foreign holdings are applicable. Foreign investment in our shares is not limited under either the Foreign Investment Law or its regulations.

Management of the Company

Management of the company is entrusted to the board of directors and also to the chief executive officer, who is required to follow the strategies, policies and guidelines approved by the board of directors and the authority, obligations and duties expressly authorized in the Mexican Securities Law.

At least 25% of the members of the board of directors shall be independent. Independence of the members of the board of directors is determined by the shareholders meeting, subject to the CNBV’s challenge of such determination. In the performance of its responsibilities, the board of directors will be supported by a corporate practices committee and an audit committee. The corporate practices committee and the audit committee consist solely of independent directors. Each committee is formed by at least three board members appointed by the shareholders or by the board of directors. The chairmen of said committees are appointed (taking into consideration their experience, capacity and professional prestige) and removed exclusively by a vote in a shareholders meeting or by the board of directors.

Surveillance

Surveillance of the company is entrusted to the board of directors, which shall be supported in the performance of these functions by the corporate practices committee, the audit committee and our external auditor. The external auditor may be invited to attend board of directors meetings as an observer, with a right to participate but without voting rights.

 

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Authority of the Board of Directors

The board of directors is our legal representative and is authorized to take any action in connection with our operations not expressly reserved to our shareholders. Pursuant to the Mexican Securities Law, the board of directors must approve, observing at all moments their duty of care and duty of loyalty, among other matters:

 

   

any transactions with related parties outside the ordinary course of our business

 

   

significant asset transfers or acquisitions;

 

   

material guarantees or collateral;

 

   

internal policies; and

 

   

other material transactions.

Meetings of the board of directors are validly convened and held if a majority of the members are present. Resolutions passed at these meetings will be valid if approved by a majority of members of the board of directors are present at the meeting. If required, the chairman of the board of directors may cast a tie-breaking vote.

Redemption

We may redeem part of our shares for cancellation with distributable earnings pursuant to a decision of an extraordinary shareholders meeting. Only shares subscribed and fully paid for may be redeemed. Any shares intended to be redeemed shall be purchased on the Mexican Stock Exchange in accordance with the Mexican General Corporations Law and the Mexican Securities Law. No shares will be redeemed, if as a consequence of such redemption, the Series D and Series L Shares in the aggregate exceed the percentages permitted by our bylaws or if any such redemption will reduce our fixed capital below its minimum.

Repurchase of Shares

According to our bylaws, subject to the provisions of the Mexican Securities Law and under rules promulgated by the CNBV, we may repurchase our shares.

In accordance with the Mexican Securities Law, our subsidiaries may not purchase, directly or indirectly, shares of our capital stock or any security that represents such shares.

Forfeiture of Shares

As required by Mexican law, our bylaws provide that non-Mexican holders of BD Units, B Units or shares (1) are considered to be Mexican with respect to such shares that they acquire or hold and (2) may not invoke the protection of their own governments in respect of the investment represented by those shares. Failure to comply with our bylaws may result in a penalty of forfeiture of a shareholder’s capital stock in favor of the Mexican state. In the opinion of Carlos E. Aldrete Ancira, our general counsel, under this provision, a non-Mexican shareholder (including a non-Mexican holder of ADSs) is deemed to have agreed not to invoke the protection of its own government by asking such government to interpose a diplomatic claim against the Mexican state with respect to its rights as a shareholder, but is not deemed to have waived any other rights it may have, including any rights under the United States securities laws, with respect to its investment in our company. If a shareholder should invoke governmental protection in violation of this agreement, its shares could be forfeited to the Mexican state.

Duration

The bylaws provide that the duration of our company is 99 years, commencing on May 30, 1936, unless extended by a resolution of an extraordinary shareholders meeting.

 

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Appraisal Rights

Whenever the shareholders approve a change of corporate purpose, change of jurisdiction of incorporation or the transformation from one form of corporate organization to another, any shareholder entitled to vote on such change that has voted against it, may withdraw as a shareholder of our company and have its shares redeemed by FEMSA at a price per share calculated as specified under applicable Mexican law, provided that it exercises its right within 15 days following the adjournment of the meeting at which the change was approved. Under Mexican law, the amount which a withdrawing shareholder is entitled to receive is equal to its proportionate interest in our capital stock or according to our most recent balance sheet approved by an ordinary general shareholders meeting.

Delisting of Shares

In the event of a cancellation of the registration of any of our shares with the RNV, whether by order of the CNBV or at our request with the prior consent of 95% of the holders of our outstanding capital stock, our bylaws and the new Mexican Securities Law require us to make a public offer to acquire these shares prior to their cancellation.

Liquidation

Upon the dissolution of our company, one or more liquidators must be appointed by an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders to wind up its affairs. All fully paid and outstanding shares of capital stock will be entitled to participate equally in any distribution upon liquidation.

Actions Against Directors

Shareholders (including holders of Series D-B and Series D-L Shares) representing, in the aggregate, not less than 5% of our capital stock may directly bring an action against directors.

In the event of actions derived from any breach of the duty of care and the duty of loyalty, liability is exclusively in favor of the company. The Mexican Securities Law establishes that liability may be imposed on the members and the secretary of the board of directors, as well as to the relevant officers.

Notwithstanding, the Mexican Securities Law provides that the members of the board of directors will not incur, individually or jointly, liability for damages and losses caused to the company, when their acts were made in good faith, in any of the following events (1) the directors complied with the requirements of the Mexican Securities Law and with the company’s bylaws, (2) the decision making or voting was based on information provided by the relevant officers, the external auditor or the independent experts, whose capacity and credibility do not offer reasonable doubt; (3) the negative economic effects could not have been foreseen, based on the information available; and (4) they comply with the resolutions of the shareholders’ meeting when such resolutions comply with applicable law.

Fiduciary Duties—Duty of Care

The Mexican Securities Law provides that the directors shall act in good faith and in our best interest and in the best interest of our subsidiaries. In order to fulfill its duty, the board of directors may:

 

   

request information about us or our subsidiaries that is reasonably necessary to fulfill its duties;

 

   

require our officers and certain other persons, including the external auditors, to appear at board of directors’ meetings to report to the board of directors;

 

   

postpone board of directors’ meetings for up to three days when a director has not been given sufficient notice of the meeting or in the event that a director has not been provided with the information provided to the other directors; and

 

   

require a matter be discussed and voted upon by the full board of directors in the presence of the secretary of the board of directors.

 

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Our directors may be liable for damages for failing to comply their duty of care if such failure causes economic damage to us or our subsidiaries and the director (1) failed to attend, board of directors’ or committee meetings and as a result of, such failure, the board of directors was unable to take action, unless such absence is approved by the shareholders meeting, (2) failed to disclose to the board of directors or the committees material information necessary for the board of directors to reach a decision, unless legally or contractually prohibited from doing so in order to maintain confidentiality, and (3) failed to comply with the duties imposed by the Mexican Securities Law or our bylaws.

Fiduciary Duties—Duty of Loyalty

The Mexican Securities Law provides that the directors and secretary of the board of directors shall keep confidential any non-public information and matters about which they have knowledge as a result of their position. Also, directors should abstain from participating, attending or voting at meetings related to matters where they have a conflict of interest.

The directors and secretary of the board of directors will be deemed to have violated the duty of loyalty, and will be liable for damages, when they obtain an economic benefit by virtue of their position. Further, the directors will fail to comply with their duty of loyalty if they:

 

   

vote at a board of directors’ meeting or take any action on a matter involving our assets where there is a conflict of interest;

 

   

fail to disclose a conflict of interest during a board of directors’ meeting;

 

   

enter into a voting arrangement to support a particular shareholder or group of shareholders against the other shareholders;

 

   

approve of transactions without complying with the requirements of the Mexican Securities Law;

 

   

use company property in violation of the policies approved by the board of directors;

 

   

unlawfully use material non-public information; and

 

   

usurp a corporate opportunity for their own benefit or the benefit of third parties, without the prior approval of the board of directors.

Limited Liability of Shareholders

The liability of shareholders for our company’s losses is limited to their shareholdings in our company.

Taxation

The following summary contains a description of certain U.S. federal income and Mexican federal tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our ADSs by a holder that is a citizen or resident of the United States, a U.S. domestic corporation or a person or entity that otherwise will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis in respect of our ADSs, whom we refer to as a U.S. holder, but it does not purport to be a description of all of the possible tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to purchase, hold or dispose of ADSs. In particular, this discussion does not address all Mexican or U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular investor, nor does it address the special tax rules applicable to certain categories of investors, such as banks, dealers, traders who elect to mark to market, tax-exempt entities, insurance companies, certain short-term holders of ADSs or investors who hold our ADSs as part of a hedge, straddle, conversion or integrated transaction or investors who have a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar. This summary deals only with U.S. holders that will hold our ADSs as capital assets and does not address the tax treatment of a U.S. holder that owns or is treated as owning 10% or more of the voting shares (including ADSs) of the company.

 

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This summary is based upon the federal tax laws of the United States and Mexico as in effect on the date of this annual report, including the provisions of the income tax treaty between the United States and Mexico which we refer to as the Tax Treaty, which are subject to change. The summary does not address any tax consequences under the laws of any state or locality of Mexico or the United States or the laws of any taxing jurisdiction other than the federal laws of Mexico and the United States. Holders of our ADSs should consult their tax advisors as to the U.S., Mexican or other tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of ADSs, including, in particular, the effect of any foreign, state or local tax laws.

Mexican Taxation

For purposes of this summary, the term “non-resident holder” means a holder that is not a resident of Mexico for tax purposes and that does not hold our ADSs in connection with the conduct of a trade or business through a permanent establishment for tax purposes in Mexico. For purposes of Mexican taxation, an individual is a resident of Mexico if he or she has established his or her home in Mexico, or if he or she has another home outside Mexico, but his or her Centro de Intereses Vitales (Center of Vital Interests) (as defined in the Mexican Tax Code) is located in Mexico and, among other circumstances, more than 50% of that person’s total income during a calendar year comes from within Mexico. A legal entity is a resident of Mexico if it has either its principal place of business or its place of effective management in Mexico. A Mexican citizen is presumed to be a resident of Mexico unless he or she can demonstrate that the contrary is true. If a legal entity or an individual is deemed to have a permanent establishment in Mexico for tax purposes, all income attributable to the permanent establishment will be subject to Mexican taxes, in accordance with applicable tax laws.

Taxation of Dividends. Under Mexican income tax law, dividends, either in cash or in kind, paid with respect to our shares represented by our ADSs are not subject to Mexican withholding tax.

Taxation of Dispositions of ADSs. Gains from the sale or disposition of ADSs by non-resident holders will not be subject to Mexican tax, if the disposition is carried out through a stock exchange recognized under applicable Mexican tax law.

In compliance with certain requirements, gains on the sale or other disposition of ADSs made in circumstances different from those set forth in the prior paragraph generally would be subject to Mexican tax, regardless of the nationality or residence of the transferor. However, under the Tax Treaty, a holder that is eligible to claim the benefits of the Tax Treaty will be exempt from Mexican tax on gains realized on a sale or other disposition of our ADSs in a transaction that is not carried out through the Mexican Stock Exchange or other approved securities markets, so long as the holder did not own, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of our outstanding capital stock (including shares represented by our ADSs) within the 12-month period preceding such sale or other disposition. Deposits of shares in exchange for ADSs and withdrawals of shares in exchange for our ADSs will not give rise to Mexican tax.

Other Mexican Taxes. There are no Mexican inheritance, gift, succession or value added taxes applicable to the ownership, transfer, exchange or disposition of our ADSs. There are no Mexican stamp, issue, registration or similar taxes or duties payable by holders of our ADSs.

United States Taxation

Taxation of Dividends. The gross amount of any dividends paid with respect to our shares represented by our ADSs generally will be included in the gross income of a U.S. holder as ordinary income on the day on which the dividends are received by the ADS depositary and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Dividends, which will be paid in Mexican pesos, will be includible in the income of a U.S. holder in a U.S. dollar amount calculated, in general, by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the date that they are received by the ADS depositary (regardless of whether such Mexican pesos are in fact converted into U.S. dollars on such date). If such dividends are converted

 

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into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. holder generally should not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividends. U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the treatment of the foreign currency gain or loss, if any, on any Mexican pesos received that are converted into U.S. dollars on a date subsequent to the date of receipt. Subject to certain exceptions for short-term and hedged positions, the U.S. dollar amount of dividends received by an individual U.S. holder in respect of the ADSs for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013 is subject to taxation at a maximum rate of 15% if the dividends are “qualified dividends.” Dividends paid on the ADSs will be treated as qualified dividends if (1) we are eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States that the Internal Revenue Service has approved for the purposes of the qualified dividend rules and (2) we were not, in the year prior to the year in which the dividend was paid, and are not, in the year in which the dividend is paid, a passive foreign investment company. The income tax treaty between Mexico and the United States has been approved for the purposes of the qualified dividend rules. Based on our audited consolidated financial statements and relevant market and shareholder data, we believe that we were not treated as a passive foreign investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to our 2011 taxable year. In addition, based on our audited consolidated financial statements and our current expectations regarding the value and nature of our assets, the sources and nature of our income, and relevant market and shareholder data, we do not anticipate becoming a passive foreign investment company for our 2012 taxable year. Dividends generally will constitute foreign source “passive income” for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes.

Distributions to holders of additional shares with respect to our ADSs that are made as part of a pro rata distribution to all of our shareholders generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax.

A holder of ADSs that is, with respect to the United States, a foreign corporation or non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on dividends received on ADSs unless such income is effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. holder of a trade or business in the United States.

Taxation of Capital Gains. A gain or loss realized by a U.S. holder on the sale or other disposition of ADSs will be subject to U.S. federal income taxation as a capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized on the disposition and such U.S. holder’s tax basis in the ADSs. Any such gain or loss will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the ADSs were held for more than one year on the date of such sale. Any long-term capital gain recognized by a U.S. holder that is an individual is subject to a reduced rate of federal income taxation. The deduction of capital losses is subject to limitations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Deposits and withdrawals of shares by U.S. holders in exchange for ADSs will not result in the realization of gains or losses for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Any gain realized by a U.S. holder on the sale or other disposition of ADSs will be treated as U.S. source income for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes.

A non-U.S. holder of ADSs will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any gain realized on the sale of ADSs, unless (1) such gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. holder of a trade or business in the United States, or (2) in the case of a gain realized by an individual non-U.S. holder, the non-U.S. holder is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the sale and certain other conditions are met.

United States Backup Withholding and Information Reporting. A U.S. holder of ADSs may, under certain circumstances, be subject to “backup withholding” with respect to certain payments to such U.S. holder, such as dividends, interest or the proceeds of a sale or disposition of ADSs, unless such holder (1) is a corporation or comes within certain exempt categories, and demonstrates this fact when so required, or (2) provides a correct taxpayer identification number, certifies that it is not subject to backup withholding and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. Any amount withheld under these rules does not constitute a separate tax and will be creditable against the holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. While non-U.S. holders generally are exempt from backup withholding, a non-U.S. holder may, in certain circumstances, be required to comply with certain information and identification procedures in order to prove this exemption.

 

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Material Contracts

We and our subsidiaries are parties to a variety of material agreements with third parties, including shareholders’ agreements, supply agreements and purchase and service agreements. Set forth below are summaries of the material terms of such agreements. The actual agreements have either been filed as exhibits to, or incorporated by reference in, this annual report. See “Item 19. Exhibits.”

Material Contracts Relating to Coca-Cola FEMSA

Shareholders Agreement

Coca-Cola FEMSA operates pursuant to a shareholders agreement among two subsidiaries of FEMSA, The Coca-Cola Company and certain of its subsidiaries. This agreement, together with Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bylaws, sets forth the basic rules under which Coca-Cola FEMSA operates.

In February 2010, Coca-Cola FEMSA’s main shareholders, FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company, amended the shareholders agreement, and Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bylaws were amended accordingly. The amendment mainly relates to changes in the voting requirements for decisions on: (1) ordinary operations within an annual business plan and (2) appointment of the chief executive officer and all officers reporting to him, all of which now may be taken by the board of directors by simple majority voting. Also, the amendment provides that payment of dividends, up to an amount equivalent to 20% of the preceding years’ retained earnings, may be approved by a simple majority of the shareholders. Any decision on extraordinary matters, as they are defined in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bylaws and which include, among other things, any new business acquisition or business combinations in an amount exceeding US$ 100 million and outside the ordinary operations contained in the annual business plan, or any change in the existing line of business, shall require the approval of the majority of the members of the board of directors, with the vote of two of the members appointed by The Coca-Cola Company. Also, any decision related to such extraordinary matters or any payment of dividends above 20% of the preceding years’ retained earnings shall require the approval of the majority of the shareholders of each of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Series A and Series D Shares voting together as a single class, a majority of which must include the majority of the Coca-Cola FEMSA Series D shareholders.

Under Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bylaws and shareholders agreement, its Series A Shares and Series D Shares are the only shares with full voting rights and, therefore, control actions by its shareholders. The shareholders agreement also sets forth the principal shareholders’ understanding as to the effect of adverse actions of The Coca-Cola Company under the bottler agreements. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bylaws and shareholders agreement provide that a majority of the directors appointed by the holders of its Series A Shares, upon making a reasonable, good faith determination that any action of The Coca-Cola Company under any bottler agreement between The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola FEMSA or any of its subsidiaries is materially adverse to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s business interests and that The Coca-Cola Company has failed to cure such action within 60 days of notice, may declare a simple majority period at any time within 90 days after giving notice. During the “simple majority period,” as defined in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bylaws, certain decisions, namely the approval of material changes in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s business plans, the introduction of a new, or termination of an existing, line of business, and related party transactions outside the ordinary course of business, to the extent the presence and approval of at least two Coca-Cola FEMSA Series D directors would otherwise be required, can be made by a simple majority vote of its entire board of directors, without requiring the presence or approval of any Coca-Cola FEMSA Series D director. A majority of the Coca-Cola FEMSA Series A directors may terminate a simple majority period but, once having done so, cannot declare another simple majority period for one year after the termination. If a simple majority period persists for one year or more, the provisions of the shareholders agreement for resolution of irreconcilable differences may be triggered, with the consequences outlined in the following paragraph.

In addition to the rights of first refusal provided for in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bylaws regarding proposed transfers of its Series A Shares or Series D Shares, the shareholders agreement contemplates three circumstances under which one principal shareholder may purchase the interest of the other in Coca-Cola FEMSA: (1) a change in control in a principal shareholder; (2) the existence of irreconcilable differences between the principal shareholders; or (3) the occurrence of certain specified events of default.

 

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In the event that (1) one of the principal shareholders buys the other’s interest in Coca-Cola FEMSA in any of the circumstances described above or (2) the ownership of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s shares of capital stock other than the Series L Shares of the subsidiaries of The Coca-Cola Company or FEMSA is reduced below 20% and upon the request of the shareholder whose interest is not so reduced, the shareholders agreement requires that Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bylaws be amended to eliminate all share transfer restrictions and all special-majority voting and quorum requirements, after which the shareholders agreement would terminate.

The shareholders agreement also contains provisions relating to the principal shareholders’ understanding as to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s growth. It states that it is The Coca-Cola Company’s intention that Coca-Cola FEMSA will be viewed as one of a small number of its “anchor” bottlers in Latin America. In particular, the parties agree that it is desirable that Coca-Cola FEMSA expands by acquiring additional bottler territories in Mexico and other Latin American countries in the event any become available through horizontal growth. In addition, The Coca-Cola Company has agreed, subject to a number of conditions, that if it obtains ownership of a bottler territory that fits with Coca-Cola FEMSA’s operations, it will give Coca-Cola FEMSA the option to acquire such territory. The Coca-Cola Company has also agreed to support prudent and sound modifications to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s capital structure to support horizontal growth. The Coca-Cola Company’s agreement as to horizontal growth expires upon either the elimination of the super-majority voting requirements described above or The Coca-Cola Company’s election to terminate the agreement as a result of a default.

The Coca-Cola Memorandum

In connection with the acquisition of Panamco, in 2003, Coca-Cola FEMSA established certain understandings primarily relating to operational and business issues with both The Coca-Cola Company and our company that were memorialized in writing prior to completion of the acquisition. Although the memorandum has not been amended, Coca-Cola FEMSA continues to develop its relationship with The Coca-Cola Company (through, inter alia, acquisitions and taking on new product categories), and Coca-Cola FEMSA therefore believes that the memorandum should be interpreted in the context of subsequent events, some of which have been noted in the description below. The terms are as follows:

 

   

The shareholder arrangements between directly wholly-owned subsidiaries of our company and The Coca-Cola Company will continue in place. On February 1, 2010, FEMSA amended its shareholders agreement with The Coca-Cola Company. See “—Shareholders Agreement.”

 

   

We will continue to consolidate Coca-Cola FEMSA’s financial results under IFRS.

 

   

The Coca-Cola Company and our company will continue to discuss in good faith the possibility of implementing changes to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s capital structure in the future.

 

   

There will be no changes in concentrate pricing or marketing support by The Coca-Cola Company up to May 2004. After such time, The Coca-Cola Company has complete discretion to implement any changes with respect to these matters, but any decision in this regard will be discussed with Coca-Cola FEMSA and will take Coca-Cola FEMSA’s operating condition into consideration. In 2005, The Coca-Cola Company decided to gradually increase concentrate prices for sparkling beverages over a three-year period in Brazil beginning in 2006 and in Mexico beginning in 2007. These increases were fully implemented in Brazil 2008 and in Mexico in 2009.

 

   

The Coca-Cola Company may require the establishment of a different long-term strategy for Brazil. If, after taking into account our performance in Brazil, The Coca-Cola Company does not consider us to be part of this long-term strategic solution for Brazil, then we will sell our Brazilian franchise to The Coca-Cola Company or its designee at fair market value. Fair market value would be determined by independent investment bankers retained by each party at their own expense pursuant to specified procedures. Coca-Cola FEMSA currently believes the likelihood of this term applying is remote.

 

   

FEMSA, The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola FEMSA will meet to discuss the optimal Latin American territorial configuration for the Coca-Cola bottler system. During these meetings, Coca-Cola FEMSA will consider all possible combinations and any asset swap transactions that may arise from these discussions. In addition, Coca-Cola FEMSA will entertain any potential combination as long as it is strategically sound and done at fair market value.

 

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Coca-Cola FEMSA would like to keep open strategic alternatives that relate to the integration of sparkling beverages and beer. The Coca-Cola Company, our company and Coca-Cola FEMSA would explore these alternatives on a market-by-market basis at the appropriate time.

 

   

The Coca-Cola Company agreed to sell to a subsidiary of our company sufficient shares to permit FEMSA to beneficially own 51% of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s outstanding capital stock (assuming that this subsidiary of FEMSA does not sell any shares and that there are no issuances of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s stock other than as contemplated by the acquisition). As a result of this understanding, on November 3, 2006, FEMSA acquired, through a subsidiary, 148,000,000 of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Series D shares from certain subsidiaries of The Coca-Cola Company, representing 9.4% of the total outstanding voting shares and 8.02% of the total outstanding equity of Coca-Cola FEMSA, for an aggregate amount of US$ 427.4 million. Pursuant to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bylaws, the acquired shares were converted from Coca-Cola FEMSA Series D Shares to Coca-Cola FEMSA Series A Shares.

 

   

Coca-Cola FEMSA may be entering some markets where significant infrastructure investment may be required. The Coca-Cola Company and FEMSA will conduct a joint study that will outline strategies for these markets, as well as the investment levels required to execute these strategies. Subsequently, it is intended that our company and The Coca-Cola Company will reach agreement on the level of funding to be provided by each of the partners. The parties intend that this allocation of funding responsibilities would not be overly burdensome for either partner.

 

   

Coca-Cola FEMSA entered into a stand-by credit facility, on December 19, 2003 with The Coca-Cola Export Corporation, which expired in December 2006 and was never used.

Cooperation Framework with The Coca-Cola Company

On September 1, 2006, Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company reached a comprehensive cooperation framework for a new stage of collaboration going forward. This new framework includes the main aspects of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s relationship with The Coca-Cola Company and defines the terms for the new collaborative business model. The framework is structured around three main objectives, which have been implemented as outlined below.

 

   

Sustainable growth of sparkling beverages, still beverages and bottled water: Together with The Coca-Cola Company, Coca-Cola FEMSA has defined a platform to jointly pursue incremental growth in the sparkling beverage category, as well as accelerated development of still beverages and bottled water across Latin America. To this end, The Coca-Cola Company will provide a relevant portion of the funds derived from the concentrate increase for marketing support of the entire portfolio. In addition, the framework contemplates a new, all-encompassing business model for the development of still beverages that further aligns Coca-Cola FEMSA’s and The Coca-Cola Company’s objectives and should contribute to incremental long-term value creation at both companies. With this objective in mind, Coca-Cola FEMSA has jointly acquired the Brisa bottled water business in Colombia, it has formalized a joint venture with respect to the Jugos del Valle products in Mexico and Brazil, and has formalized its agreements to develop the Crystal water business and the Matte Leão business in Brazil jointly with other bottlers and the business of Estrella Azul in Panama. In addition, during 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company formalized a joint venture to develop certain coffee products in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s territories.

 

   

Horizontal growth: The framework includes The Coca-Cola Company’s endorsement of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s aspiration to continue being a leading participant in the consolidation of the Coca-Cola system in Latin America, as well as the exploration of potential opportunities in other markets where Coca-Cola FEMSA’s operating model and strong execution capabilities could be leveraged. For example, in 2008 Coca-Cola FEMSA entered into a transaction with The Coca-Cola Company to acquire from it REMIL, which was The Coca-Cola Company’s wholly-owned bottling franchise in the majority of the State of Minas Gerais of Brazil.

 

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Long-term vision in relationship economics: Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company understand each other’s business objectives and growth plans, and the new framework provides long-term perspective on the economics of their relationship. This will allow Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company to focus on continuing to drive the business forward and generating profitable growth.

Bottler Agreements

Bottler agreements are the standard agreements for each territory that The Coca-Cola Company enters into with bottlers outside the United States. Coca-Cola FEMSA manufactures, packages, distributes and sells sparkling beverages, bottled still beverages and water under a separate bottler agreement for each of its territories. Coca-Cola FEMSA is required to purchase concentrate and artificial sweeteners in some of its territories for all Coca-Cola trademark beverages from companies designated by The Coca-Cola Company.

These bottler agreements provide that Coca-Cola FEMSA will purchase its entire requirement of concentrate for Coca-Cola trademark beverages from The Coca-Cola Company and other authorized suppliers at prices, terms of payment and on other terms and conditions of supply as determined from time to time by The Coca-Cola Company at its sole discretion. Concentrate prices are determined as a percentage of the weighted average retail price in local currency, net of applicable taxes. Although the price multipliers used to calculate the cost of concentrate and the currency of payment, among other terms, are set by The Coca-Cola Company at its sole discretion, Coca-Cola FEMSA sets the price of products sold to customers at its discretion, subject to the applicability of price restraints. Coca-Cola FEMSA has the exclusive right to distribute Coca-Cola trademark beverages for sale in its territories in authorized containers of the nature prescribed by the bottler agreements and currently used by Coca-Cola FEMSA. These containers include various configurations of cans and returnable and non-returnable bottles made of glass and plastic and fountain containers.

The bottler agreements include an acknowledgment by Coca-Cola FEMSA that The Coca-Cola Company is the sole owner of the trademarks that identify the Coca-Cola trademark beverages and of the secret formulas with which The Coca-Cola Company’s concentrates are made. Subject to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s exclusive right to distribute Coca-Cola trademark beverages in its territories, The Coca-Cola Company reserves the right to import and export Coca-Cola trademark beverages to and from each of its territories. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bottler agreements do not contain restrictions on The Coca-Cola Company’s ability to set the price of concentrates charged to its subsidiaries and do not impose minimum marketing obligations on The Coca-Cola Company. The prices at which Coca-Cola FEMSA purchases concentrates under the bottler agreements may vary materially from the prices it has historically paid. However, under Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bylaws and the shareholders agreement among certain subsidiaries of The Coca-Cola Company and certain subsidiaries of our company, an adverse action by The Coca-Cola Company under any of the bottler agreements may result in a suspension of certain veto rights of the directors appointed by The Coca-Cola Company. This provides Coca-Cola FEMSA with limited protection against The Coca-Cola Company’s ability to raise concentrate prices to the extent that such increase is deemed detrimental to Coca-Cola FEMSA pursuant to such shareholders agreement and the Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bylaws. See “—Shareholders Agreement.”

The Coca-Cola Company has the ability, at its sole discretion, to reformulate any of the Coca-Cola trademark beverages and to discontinue any of the Coca-Cola trademark beverages, subject to certain limitations, so long as all Coca-Cola trademark beverages are not discontinued. The Coca-Cola Company may also introduce new beverages in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s territories in which case Coca-Cola FEMSA has a right of first refusal with respect to the manufacturing, packaging, distribution and sale of such new beverages subject to the same obligations as then exist with respect to the Coca-Cola trademark beverages under the bottler agreements. The bottler agreements prohibit Coca-Cola FEMSA from producing, bottling or handling cola products other than those of The Coca-Cola Company, or other products or packages that would imitate, infringe upon, or cause confusion with the products, trade dress, containers or trademarks of The Coca-Cola Company, or from acquiring or holding an interest in a party that engages in such restricted activities. The bottler agreements also prohibit Coca-Cola FEMSA from producing, bottling or handling any sparkling beverage product except under the authority of, or with the consent of, The Coca-Cola Company. The bottler agreements impose restrictions concerning the use of certain trademarks, authorized containers, packaging and labeling of The Coca-Cola Company so as to conform to policies prescribed by The Coca-Cola Company. In particular, Coca-Cola FEMSA is obligated to:

 

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maintain plant and equipment, staff and distribution facilities capable of manufacturing, packaging and distributing the Coca-Cola trademark beverages in authorized containers in accordance with Coca-Cola FEMSA bottler agreements and in sufficient quantities to satisfy fully the demand in its territories;

 

   

undertake adequate quality control measures prescribed by The Coca-Cola Company;

 

   

develop, stimulate and satisfy fully the demand for Coca-Cola trademark beverages using all approved means, which includes the investment in advertising and marketing plans;

 

   

maintain a sound financial capacity as may be reasonably necessary to assure performance by Coca-Cola FEMSA and its affiliates of their obligations to The Coca-Cola Company; and

 

   

submit annually, to The Coca-Cola Company, Coca-Cola FEMSA’s marketing, management, promotional and advertising plans for the ensuing year.

The Coca-Cola Company contributed a significant portion of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s total marketing expenses in its territories during 2011 and has reiterated its intention to continue providing such support as part of its new cooperation framework. Although Coca-Cola FEMSA believes that The Coca-Cola Company will continue to provide funds for advertising and marketing, it is not obligated to do so. Consequently, future levels of advertising and marketing support provided by The Coca-Cola Company may vary materially from the levels historically provided. See “—Shareholders Agreement.”

Coca-Cola FEMSA has separate bottler agreements with The Coca-Cola Company for each of the territories in which it operates. These bottler agreements are renewable for ten-year terms, subject to the right of either party to give prior notice that it does not wish to renew a specific agreement.

As of December 31, 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA had seven bottler agreements in Mexico, with each one corresponding to a different territory as follows: (i) the agreements for Mexico’s Valley territory expire in June 2013 and April 2016; (ii) the agreements for the Central territory expire in May 2015 and July 2016; (iii) the agreement for the Northeast territory expires in September 2014; (iv) the agreement for the Bajio territory expires in May 2015; and (v) the agreement for the Southeast territory expires in June 2013. Coca-Cola FEMSA’s bottler agreements with The Coca-Cola Company will expire for Coca-Cola FEMSA’s territories in other countries as follows: Argentina in September 2014; Brazil in April 2014; Colombia in June 2014; Venezuela in August 2016; Guatemala in March 2015; Costa Rica in September 2017; Nicaragua in May 2016; and Panama in November 2014.

The bottler agreements are subject to termination by The Coca-Cola Company in the event of default by Coca-Cola FEMSA. The default provisions include limitations on the change in ownership or control of Coca-Cola FEMSA and the assignment or transfer of the bottler agreements and are designed to preclude any person not acceptable to The Coca-Cola Company from obtaining an assignment of a bottler agreement or from acquiring Coca-Cola FEMSA independently of other rights set forth in the shareholders agreement. These provisions may prevent changes in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s principal shareholders, including mergers or acquisitions involving sales or dispositions of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s capital stock, which will involve an effective change of control without the consent of The Coca-Cola Company. See “—Shareholders Agreement.”

Coca-Cola FEMSA has also entered into tradename licensing agreements with The Coca-Cola Company pursuant to which Coca-Cola FEMSA is authorized to use certain trademark names of The Coca-Cola Company. These agreements have a ten-year term, but are terminated if Coca-Cola FEMSA’s ceases to manufacture, market, sell and distribute Coca-Cola trademark products pursuant to the bottler agreements or if the shareholders agreement is terminated. The Coca-Cola Company also has the right to terminate a license agreement if Coca-Cola FEMSA uses its trademark names in a manner not authorized by the bottler agreements.

 

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Material Contracts Relating to our Holding of Heineken Shares

Share Exchange Agreement

On January 11, 2010, FEMSA and certain of our subsidiaries entered into a share exchange agreement, which we refer to as the Share Exchange Agreement, with Heineken Holding N.V. and Heineken N.V. The Share Exchange Agreement required Heineken N.V., in consideration for 100% of the shares of EMPREX Cerveza, S.A. de C.V. (now Heineken Mexico Holding, S.A. de C.V.), which we refer to as EMPREX Cerveza, to deliver at the closing of the Heineken transaction 86,028,019 newly-issued Heineken N.V. shares to FEMSA with a commitment to deliver, pursuant to the ASDI, 29,172,504 Allotted Shares over a period of not more than five years from the date of the closing of the Heineken transaction. As of October 5, 2011, we had received the totality of the Allotted Shares.

The Share Exchange Agreement provided that, simultaneously with the closing of the transaction, Heineken Holding N.V. would swap 43,018,320 Heineken N.V. shares with FEMSA for an equal number of newly issued Heineken Holding N.V. shares. After the closing of the Heineken transaction, we owned 7.5% of Heineken N.V.’s shares. This percentage increased to 12.53% upon full delivery of the Allotted Shares and, together with our ownership of 14.94% of Heineken Holding N.V.’s shares, represents an aggregate 20% economic interest in the Heineken Group.

Under the terms of the Share Exchange Agreement, in exchange for such economic interest in the Heineken Group, FEMSA delivered 100% of the shares representing the capital stock of EMPREX Cerveza, which owned 100% of the shares of FEMSA Cerveza. As a result of the transaction, EMPREX Cerveza and FEMSA Cerveza became wholly-owned subsidiaries of Heineken.

The principal provisions of the Share Exchange Agreement are as follows:

 

   

delivery to Heineken N.V., by FEMSA, of 100% of the outstanding share capital of EMPREX Cerveza, which together with its subsidiaries, constitutes the entire beer business and operations of FEMSA in Mexico and Brazil (including the United States and other export business);

 

   

delivery to FEMSA by Heineken N.V. of 86,028,019 new Heineken N.V. shares;

 

   

simultaneously with the closing of the Heineken transaction, a swap between Heineken Holding N.V. and FEMSA of 43,018,320 Heineken N.V. shares for an equal number of newly issued shares in Heineken Holding N.V.;

 

   

the commitment by Heineken N.V. to assume indebtedness of EMPREX Cerveza and subsidiaries amounting to approximately US$2.1 billion;

 

   

the provision by FEMSA to the Heineken Group of indemnities customary in transactions of this nature concerning FEMSA and FEMSA Cerveza and its subsidiaries and their businesses;

 

   

FEMSA’s covenants to operate the EMPREX Cerveza business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice until the closing of the transaction, subject to customary exceptions, with the economic risks and benefits of the EMPREX Cerveza business transferring to Heineken as of January 1, 2010;

 

   

the provision by Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. to FEMSA of indemnities customary in transactions of this nature concerning the Heineken Group; and

 

   

FEMSA’s covenants, subject to certain limitations, to not engage in the production, manufacture, packaging, distribution, marketing or sale of beer and similar beverages in Latin America, the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.

 

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Corporate Governance Agreement

On April 30, 2010, FEMSA, CB Equity (as transferee of the Heineken N.V. & Heineken Holding N.V. Exchange Shares and Allotted Shares), Heineken N.V. Heineken Holding N.V. and L’Arche Green N.V., as majority shareholder of Heineken Holding N.V., entered into the corporate governance agreement, which we refer to as the Corporate Governance Agreement, which establishes the terms of the relationship between Heineken and FEMSA after the closing of the Heineken transaction.

The Corporate Governance Agreement covers, among other things, the following topics:

 

   

FEMSA’s representation on the Heineken Holding Board and the Heineken Supervisory Board and the creation of an Americas committee, also with FEMSA’s representation;

 

   

FEMSA’s representation on the selection and appointment committee and the audit committee of the Heineken Supervisory Board;

 

   

FEMSA’s commitment to not increase its holding in Heineken Holding N.V. above 20% and to not increase its holding in the Heineken Group above a maximum 20% economic interest (subject to certain exceptions); and

 

   

FEMSA’s agreement to not transfer any shares in Heineken N.V. or Heineken Holding N.V. for a five-year period, subject to certain exceptions, including among others, (i) beginning in the third anniversary, the right to sell up to 1% of all outstanding shares of each of Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. in any calendar quarter and (ii) beginning in the third anniversary, the right to dividend or distribute to its shareholders each of Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. shares.

Under the Corporate Governance Agreement, FEMSA is entitled to nominate two representatives to the Heineken Supervisory Board, one of whom will be appointed as Vice Chairman of the board of Heineken N.V. and will also serve as a representative of FEMSA on the Heineken Holding N.V. Board of Directors. Our nominees for appointment to the Heineken Supervisory Board were José Antonio Fernández Carbajal, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Javier Astaburuaga Sanjines, our Chief Financial Officer, who were both approved by Heineken N.V.’s general meeting of shareholders. Mr. José Antonio Fernández was also approved to the Heineken Holding N.V. Board of Directors by the general meeting of shareholders of Heineken Holding N.V.

In addition, the Heineken Supervisory Board has created an Americas committee to oversee the strategic direction of the business in the American continent and assess new business opportunities in that region. The Americas committee consists of two existing members of the Heineken Supervisory Board and one FEMSA representative, who acts as the chairman. The chairman of the Americas committee is José Antonio Fernández Carbajal, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

The Corporate Governance Agreement has no fixed term, but certain provisions cease to apply if FEMSA ceases to have the right to nominate a representative to the Heineken Holding N.V. Board of Directors and the Heineken N.V. Supervisory Board. For example, in certain circumstances, FEMSA would be entitled to only one representative on the Heineken Supervisory Board, including in the event that FEMSA’s economic interest in the Heineken Group were to fall below 14%, the current FEMSA control structure were to change or FEMSA were to be subject to a change of control. In the event that FEMSA’s economic interest in Heineken falls below 7% or a beer producer acquires control of FEMSA, all of FEMSA’s corporate governance rights would end pursuant to the Corporate Governance Agreement.

Documents on Display

We file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the SEC pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC that apply to foreign private issuers. You may read and copy any materials filed with the SEC at its public reference rooms in Washington, D.C., at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Filings we make electronically with the SEC are also available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

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ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our business activities require the holding or issuing of derivative financial instruments that expose us to market risks related to changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, equity risk and commodity price risk.

Interest Rate Risk

Interest rate risk exists principally with respect to our indebtedness that bears interest at floating rates. At December 31, 2011, we had outstanding total debt of Ps. 29,604 million, of which 47% bore interest at fixed interest rates and 53% bore interest at variable interest rates. Swap contracts held by us effectively switch a portion of our variable rate indebtedness into fixed-rate indebtedness. After giving effect to these contracts, as of December 31, 2011, 59% of our total debt was fixed rate and 41% of our total debt was variable rate. The interest rate on our variable rate debt is determined by reference to the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, (a benchmark rate used for Eurodollar loans), the Tasa de Interés Interbancaria de Equilibrio (Equilibrium Interbank Interest Rate, or TIIE), and the Certificados de la Tesorería (Treasury Certificates, or CETES) rate. If these reference rates increase, our interest payments would consequently increase.

The table below provides information about our derivative financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates and exchange rates. The table presents notional amounts and weighted average interest rates by expected contractual maturity dates. Notional amounts are used to calculate the contractual payments to be exchanged under the contract. Weighted average variable rates are based on the reference rates on December 31, 2011, plus spreads contracted by us. Our derivative financial instruments’ current payments are denominated in U.S. dollars and Mexican pesos. All of the payments in the table are presented in Mexican pesos, our reporting currency, utilizing the December 30, 2011 exchange rate of Ps. 13.9510 per U.S. dollar.

The table below also includes the estimated fair value as of December 31, 2011 of:

 

   

short and long-term debt, based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows, in which the discount rate is estimated using rates currently offered for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities;

 

   

long-term notes payable and capital leases, based on quoted market prices; and

 

   

cross currency swaps and interest rate swaps, based on quoted market prices to terminate the contracts as of December 31, 2011.

As of December 31, 2011, the fair value represents an increase in total debt of Ps. 698 million more than book value due to an increase in the interest rate in Mexico.

 

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Principal by Year of Maturity

 

    At December 31, 2011     At December 31, 2010  
    2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017 and
thereafter
    Carrying
Value
    Fair
Value
    Carrying
Value
    Fair
Value
 
    (in millions of Mexican pesos, except for percentages)  

Short-term debt:

                   

Fixed rate debt:

                   

Mexican pesos

    18        —          —          —          —          —          18        18        —          —     

Interest rate(1)

    6.9               6.9      

Argentine pesos

    325        —          —          —          —          —          325        317        506        506   

Interest rate(1)

    14.9               14.9       15.3  

Variable rate debt:

                   

Colombian pesos

    295        —          —          —          —          —          295        295        1,072        1,072   

Interest rate(1)

    6.8               6.8       4.4     —     

Subtotal

    638        —          —          —          —          —          638        630        1,578        1,578   

Long-term debt:

                   

Fixed rate debt:

                   

Mexican pesos:

                   

Domestic senior notes

    —          —          —          —          —          2,500        2,500        2,631        —          —     

Interest rate(1)

              8.3     8.3      

Units of Investment (UDIs)

    —          —          —          —          —          3,337        3,337        3,337        3,193        3,193   

Interest rate(1)

              4.2     4.2       4.2  

U.S. dollars:

                   

Capital leases

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          4        4   

Interest rate(1)

                    3.8  

J.P. Morgan

(Yankee Bond)

    —          —          —          —          —          6,990        6,990        7,737        6,179        6,179   

Interest rate

              4.6     4.6       4.6  

Argentine pesos

    514        81        —          —          —          —          595        570        684        684   

Interest rate(1)

    16.4     15.7             16.3       16.5  

Brazilian reais:

                   

Bank loans

    5        10        10        10        10        36        81        87        102        102   

Interest rate(1)

    4.5     4.5     4.5     4.5     4.5     4.5     4.5     4.5     4.5  

Capital leases

    4        5        5        4        —          —          18        —          21        21   

 

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Principal by Year of Maturity

 

     At December 31, 2011     At December 31, 2010  
     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017 and
thereafter
     Carrying
Value
    Fair
Value
    Carrying
Value
    Fair
Value
 
     (in millions of Mexican pesos, except for percentages)  

Interest rate(1)

     4.5     4.5     4.5     4.5          4.5       4.5  

Subtotal

     523        96        15        14        10        12,863         13,521        14,362        10,162        10,162   

Variable rate debt:

                     

Mexican pesos:

                     

Bank loans

     67        266        1,392        2,825        —          —           4,550        4,456        4,550        4,550   

Interest rate(1)

     5.0     5.0     5.0     5.0          5.0       5.1  

Domestic senior notes

     3,000        3,500        —          —          2,500        —           9,000        8,981        8,000        7,945   

Interest rate(1)

     4.7     4.8         4.9        4.8       4.8  

U.S. dollars

     42        209        —          —          —          —           251        251        222        222   

Interest rate(1)

     0.7     0.7              0.7       0.6  

Argentine pesos

     130        —          —          —          —          —           130        116        —          —     

Interest rate(1)

     27.3                27.3      

Brazilian reais

     33        39        43        48        30        —           193        193        —          —     

Interest rate(1)

     11.0     11.0     11.0     11.0     11.0        11.0      

Colombian pesos:

                     

Bank loans

     935        —          —          —          —          —           935        929        994        994   

Interest rate(1)

     6.1                6.1       4.7  

Capital leases

     205        181        —          —          —          —           386        384        —          —     

Interest rate(1)

     7.1     6.6              6.9      

Subtotal

     4,412        4,195        1,435        2,873        2,530        —           15,445        15,310        13,766        13,711   

Total long-term debt

     4,935        4,291        1,450        2,887        2,540        12,863         28,966        29,672        23,928        23,873   
     (notional amounts, except for percentages)  

Derivative financial instruments:

  

Interest rate swaps(2):

                     

Mexican pesos:

                     

Variable to fixed

     1,600        2,500        575        1,963        —          —           6,638        (239     5,260        (302

Interest pay rate(1)

     8.1     8.1     8.4     8.6          8.3       8.1  

Interest receive rate(1)

     4.7     4.7     5.0     5.0          4.9       4.9  

 

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Principal by Year of Maturity

 

     At December 31, 2011      At December 31, 2010  
     2012      2013      2014      2015      2016      2017 and
thereafter
    Carrying
Value
    Fair
Value
     Carrying
Value
    Fair
Value
 
     (in millions of Mexican pesos, except for percentages)  

Cross currency swaps:

                          

Units of Investment (UDIs) to Mexican pesos and variable rate

     —           —           —           —           —           2,500        2,500        860         2,500        717   

Interest pay rate(1)

                    4.6     4.6        4.7  

Interest receive rate(1)

                    4.2     4.2        4.2  

 

(1) Weighted average interest rate.

 

(2) Does not include forwards starting swaps with a notional amount of Ps. 1,312 million and a fair value loss of Ps. 43 million. These contracts will become effective in 2012 and mature in 2013.

 

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A hypothetical, instantaneous and unfavorable change of one percentage point in the average interest rate applicable to variable-rate liabilities held at December 31, 2011 would increase our variable interest expense by approximately Ps. 98 million, or 6.4%, over the 12-month period of 2011 assuming no additional debt is incurred during such period, in each case after giving effect to all of our interest and cross currency swap agreements.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

Our principal exchange rate risk involves changes in the value of the local currencies, of each country in which we operate, relative to the U.S. dollar. In 2011, the percentage of our consolidated total revenues was denominated as follows:

Total Revenues by Currency At December 31, 2011

 

Region

   Currency    % of Consolidated
Total Revenues
 

Mexico and Central America(1)

   Mexican peso and others      64

Venezuela

   Bolívar fuerte      10

South America

   Brazilian real, Argentine
peso, Colombian peso
     26

 

(1) Mexican peso, Quetzal, Balboa, Colón and U.S. dollar.

We estimate that a majority of our consolidated costs and expenses are denominated in Mexican pesos for Mexican subsidiaries and in the aforementioned currencies for the foreign subsidiaries, which are principally subsidiaries of Coca-Cola FEMSA. Substantially all of our costs and expenses denominated in a foreign currency, other than the functional currency of each country in which we operate, are denominated in U.S. dollars. As of December 31, 2011, after giving effect to all cross currency swaps, 63% of our long-term indebtedness was denominated in Mexican pesos, 27% was denominated in U.S. dollars, 5% was denominated in Colombian pesos, 4% was denominated in Argentine pesos and 1% was denominated in Brazilian reais. We also have short-term indebtedness, which consists of bank loans in Colombian pesos and Argentine pesos. Decreases in the value of the different currencies relative to the U.S. dollar will increase the cost of our foreign currency denominated operating costs and expenses, and the debt service obligations with respect to our foreign currency-denominated indebtedness. A depreciation of the Mexican peso relative to the U.S. dollar will also result in foreign exchange losses, as the Mexican peso value of our foreign currency-denominated long-term indebtedness is increased.

Our exposure to market risk associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates relates primarily to U.S. dollar-denominated debt obligations as shown in the interest risk table above. We occasionally utilize financial derivative instruments to hedge our exposure to the U.S. dollar relative to the Mexican peso and other currencies.

As of December 31, 2011, we had forward agreements that met the hedging criteria for accounting purposes, to hedge our operations denominated in U.S. dollars. The notional amount was Ps. 2,933 million with a fair value asset of Ps. 183 million, with a maturity date during 2012. The fair value of foreign currency forward contracts is estimated based on the quoted market price of each agreement at year-end assuming the same maturity dates originally contracted for. For the year ended December 31, 2011, a gain of Ps. 21 million was recorded in our consolidated results.

As of December 31, 2010, we had forward agreements that met the hedging criteria for accounting purposes, to hedge our operations denominated in U.S. dollars. The notional amount was Ps. 578 million with a fair value asset of Ps. 2 million, and a notional amount of Ps. 1,690 million with a fair value liability of Ps. 18 million, in each case with a maturity date during 2011. For the year ended December 31, 2010, we recorded a net gain on expired forward agreements of Ps. 27 million as a part of foreign exchange. The fair value of the foreign currency forward contracts is estimated based on the quoted market price of each agreement at year-end assuming the same maturity dates originally contracted for.

 

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As of December 31, 2009, certain forward agreements did not meet the hedging criteria for accounting purposes; consequently, changes in the estimated fair value were recorded in our consolidated income statement. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the net effect of expired contracts that did not meet hedging criteria for accounting purposes, was a loss of Ps. 63 million. The fair value of the foreign currency forward contracts is estimated based on the quoted market price of each agreement at year end assuming the same maturity dates originally contracted.

As of December 31, 2011, we had options to purchase U.S. dollars to reduce our exposure to the risk of exchange rate fluctuations, with a notional amount of Ps. 1,901 million, for which we have recorded a net fair value asset of Ps. 300 million as part of cumulative other comprehensive income. As of December 31, 2010, we did not have any call option agreements to buy foreign currencies.

As of December 31, 2011, we had cross currency swaps designated as fair value hedges under contracts with an aggregate notional amount of Ps. 2,500 million that expire in 2017, for which we have recorded a net fair value asset of Ps. 860 million. The net effect of our expired contracts for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was recorded as interest income of Ps. 8 million in 2011 and Ps. 2 million in 2010, and as interest expense of Ps. 32 million as of December 31, 2009.

For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, certain cross currency swap instruments did not meet the hedging criteria for accounting purposes; consequently, changes in the estimated fair value were recorded in the income statement. The changes in fair value of these contracts represented a loss of Ps. 146 million, a gain of Ps. 205 million and a gain of Ps. 168 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

As of December 31, 2011, we had determined that our leasing contracts denominated in U.S. dollars host an embedded derivative financial instrument. The fair value of these contracts is based on the exchange rate used to finish the contract as of the end of the period. For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the fair value of these contracts resulted in a loss of Ps. 50 million, a gain of Ps. 15 million and a loss of Ps. 19 million, respectively, each of which is recorded in the income statement as market value loss/gain on ineffective portion of derivative financial instruments.

A hypothetical, instantaneous and unfavorable 10% devaluation of the Mexican peso relative to the U.S. dollar occurring on December 31, 2011 would have resulted in an increase in our net consolidated integral result of financing expense of approximately Ps. 203 million over the 12-month period of 2011, reflecting greater losses relating to our U.S dollar-denominated indebtedness, net of a foreign exchange gain, and interest expense generated by the cash balances held by us in U.S. dollars as of that date. However, this result does not take into account any gain on monetary position that would be expected to result from an increase in the inflation rate generated by a devaluation of local currencies relative to the U.S. dollar in inflationary economic environments, which gain on monetary position would reduce the consolidated comprehensive financial result.

As of March 31, 2012, the exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar of all the countries in which we operate, as well as their devaluation/revaluation effect compared to December 31, 2011, are as follows:

 

Country

   Currency    Exchange Rate
as of  March 31, 2012
     (Devaluation)  /
Revaluation
 

Mexico

   Mexican peso      12.85         8.1

Brazil

   Brazilian real      7.05         5.4

Venezuela

   Bolívar fuerte      2.99         8.1

Colombia

   Colombian peso      0.01         (0.1 )% 

Argentina

   Argentine peso      2.93         9.7

Costa Rica

   Colón      0.03         7.2

 

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Country

   Currency    Exchange Rate
as of  March 31, 2012
     (Devaluation)  /
Revaluation
 

Guatemala

   Quetzal      1.67         6.7

Nicaragua

   Cordoba      0.55         9.2

Panama

   U.S. dollar      1.0000           

Euro Zone

   Euro      17.08         5.4

A hypothetical, instantaneous and unfavorable 10% devaluation in the value of the currencies of all the countries in which we operate, relative to the U.S. dollar, occurring on December 31, 2011, would produce a reduction in stockholders’ equity as follows:

 

Country

   Currency    Reduction in
Stockholders’ Equity
 
          (in millions of Mexican pesos)  

Mexico

   Mexican peso      203   

Brazil

   Brazilian real      2,056   

Venezuela

   Bolívar fuerte      814   

Colombia

   Colombian peso      1,111   

Costa Rica

   Colón      373   

Argentina

   Argentine peso      136   

Guatemala

   Quetzal      122   

Nicaragua

   Cordoba      159   

Panama

   U.S. dollar      232   

Euro Zone

   Euro      7,504   

 

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Equity Risk

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, we did not have any equity forward agreements.

Commodity Price Risk

We entered into various derivative contracts to hedge the cost of certain raw materials that are exposed to variations of commodity price exchange rates. As of December 31, 2011, we had various derivative instruments contracts with maturity dates in 2012 and 2013, notional amounts of Ps. 754 million and a fair value liability of Ps. 19 million. The results of our commodity price contracts for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, were Ps. 257 million, Ps. 393 million and Ps. 247 million, respectively, which were recorded in the results from operations of each year. After discontinuing our beer business, we have no derivative contracts that do not meet hedging criteria for accounting purposes.

 

ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES

 

ITEM 12A. DEBT SECURITIES

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 12B. WARRANTS AND RIGHTS

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 12C. OTHER SECURITIES

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 12D. AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

The Bank of New York Mellon serves as the depositary for our ADSs. Holders of our ADSs, evidenced by ADRs, are required to pay various fees to the depositary, and the depositary may refuse to provide any service for which a fee is assessed until the applicable fee has been paid.

ADS holders are required to pay the depositary amounts in respect of expenses incurred by the depositary or its agents on behalf of ADS holders, including expenses arising from compliance with applicable law, taxes or other governmental charges, cable, telex and facsimile transmission, or the conversion of foreign currency into U.S. dollars. The depositary may decide in its sole discretion to seek payment by either billing holders or by deducting the fee from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions.

ADS holders are also required to pay additional fees for certain services provided by the depositary, as set forth in the table below.

 

Depositary service

  

Fee payable by ADS holders

Issuance and delivery of ADSs, including in connection with share distributions, stock splits

   Up to US$5.00 per 100 ADSs (or portion thereof)

Distribution of dividends(1)

   Up to US$0.02 per ADS

Withdrawal of shares underlying ADSs

   Up to US$5.00 per 100 ADSs (or portion thereof)

 

(1) As of the date of this annual report, holders of our ADSs were not required to pay additional fees with respect to this service.

 

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Direct and indirect payments by the depositary

The depositary pays us an agreed amount, which includes reimbursements for certain expenses we incur in connection with the ADS program. These reimbursable expenses include legal and accounting fees, listing fees, investor relations expenses and fees payable to service providers for the distribution of material to ADS holders. For the year ended December 31, 2011, this amount was US$525,590.

 

ITEMS 13-14. NOT APPLICABLE

 

ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We have evaluated, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2011. There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Based upon our evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (or the Exchange Act) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the applicable rules and forms, and that it is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in “Internal Control—Integrated Framework,” as issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors, and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Based on our evaluation under the framework in “Internal Controls—Integrated Framework,” as issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2011.

 

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Our management assessment and conclusion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011 excludes, in accordance with applicable guidance provided by the SEC, an assessment of the internal control over financial reporting of Grupo Tampico and Grupo CIMSA, the beverage divisions of which were acquired by our subsidiary Coca-Cola FEMSA in October 2011 and December 2011, respectively. The beverage divisions of Grupo Tampico and Grupo CIMSA together represented 2.4% and 2.7% of our total and net assets, respectively, as of December 31, 2011, and 0.7% and 0.3% of our revenues and net income, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2011.

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011 has been audited by Mancera, S.C., a member of Ernst & Young Global, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report included herein.

(c) Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.

We have audited Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. and subsidiaries’ management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with Mexican Financial Reporting Standards, including the reconciliation to U.S. GAAP in accordance with Item 18 of Form 20F. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with Mexican Financial Reporting Standards, including the reconciliation to U.S. GAAP in accordance with Item 18 of Form 20F, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

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Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent of detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

As indicated in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, management’s assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of Administradora de Acciones del Noroeste, S.A. de C.V. and its subsidiaries (collectively “Grupo Tampico”) and Corporación de los Angeles, S.A. de C.V. and its subsidiaries (collectively “Grupo CIMSA”), acquired in October and December 2011, respectively, which are included in the 2011 consolidated financial statements of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. and subsidiaries, and constituted 2.4% and 2.7% of Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.’s total and net assets, respectively, as of December 31, 2011 and 0.7% and 0.3% of Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.’s revenues and net income, respectively, for the year then ended. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. and subsidiaries, also did not include an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of Grupo Tampico and Grupo CIMSA.

In our opinion, Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2011, and our report dated April 27, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

Mancera, S.C.

A Member Practice of

Ernst & Young Global

C.P.C. Agustín Aguilar Laurents

Monterrey, N.L., Mexico

April 27, 2012

(d) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during 2011 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. The acquisitions of Grupo CIMSA and Grupo Tampico did not have a material effect on our internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

Our shareholders and our board of directors have designated José Manuel Canal Hernando, an independent director as required by the Mexican Securities Law and applicable NYSE listing standards, as an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of this Item 16A. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Directors.”

 

ITEM 16B. CODE OF ETHICS

We have adopted a code of ethics, within the meaning of this Item 16B of Form 20-F. Our code of ethics applies to our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer and persons performing similar functions as well as to our directors and other officers and employees. Our code of ethics is available on our website at www.femsa.com. If we amend the provisions of our code of ethics that apply to our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer and persons performing similar functions, or if we grant any waiver of such provisions, we will disclose such amendment or waiver on our website at the same address.

 

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ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Audit and Non-Audit Fees

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, Mancera, S.C., a member practice of Ernst & Young Global, was our auditor.

The following table summarizes the aggregate fees billed to us in 2011 and 2010 by Mancera, S.C., which is an independent registered public accounting firm, during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2011      2010  
     (in millions of Mexican pesos)  

Audit fees

     Ps. 83         Ps. 72   

Audit-related fees

     10         6   

Tax fees

     8         5   

Other fees

     —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     Ps. 101         Ps. 83   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Audit fees. Audit fees in the above table represent the aggregate fees billed in connection with the audit of our annual financial statements, as well as to other limited procedures in connection with our quarterly financial information and other statutory and regulatory audit activities.

Audit-related fees. Audit-related fees in the above table for 2011 are the aggregate fees billed for assurance and other services related to the performance of the audit, mainly in connection with special audits and reviews. For 2010, the aggregate audit-related fees billed are mainly associated with the Heineken transaction.

Tax fees. Tax fees in the above table are fees billed for services based upon existing facts and prior transactions in order to document, compute, and obtain government approval for amounts included in tax filings such as value-added tax return assistance and transfer pricing documentation.

Other fees. For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, there were no other fees.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

We have adopted pre-approval policies and procedures under which all audit and non-audit services provided by our external auditors must be pre-approved by the audit committee as set forth in the Audit Committee’s charter. Any service proposals submitted by external auditors need to be discussed and approved by the Audit Committee during its meetings, which take place at least four times a year. Once the proposed service is approved, we or our subsidiaries formalize the engagement of services. The approval of any audit and non-audit services to be provided by our external auditors is specified in the minutes of our Audit Committee. In addition, the members of our board of directors are briefed on matters discussed by the different committees of our board of directors.

 

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ITEM 16D. NOT APPLICABLE

 

ITEM 16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS

We did not purchase any of our equity securities in 2011. The following table presents purchases by trusts that we administer in connection with our stock incentive plans, which purchases may be deemed to be purchases by an affiliated purchaser of us. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees––EVA Stock Incentive Plan.”

Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Purchase Date

   Total
Number of
BD Units
Purchased
     Average
Price
Paid per
BD Units
     Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
   Maximum Number (or
Appropriate U.S.
dollar Value) of Shares
(or Units) that May Yet
Be Purchased Under
the Plans or Programs

March 1, 2008

     4,592,920         Ps.39.51         
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

  

 

March 1, 2009

     5,392,080         Ps.38.76         
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

  

 

March 1, 2010

     4,207,675         Ps.55.44         
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

  

 

March 1, 2011

     2,438,590         Ps.67.78         
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

  

 

March 1, 2012

     2,146,614         Ps.92.36         
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

  

 

 

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ITEM 16F. NOT APPLICABLE

 

ITEM 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Pursuant to Rule 303A.11 of the Listed Company Manual of the NYSE, we are required to provide a summary of the significant ways in which our corporate governance practices differ from those required for U.S. companies under the NYSE listing standards. We are a Mexican corporation with shares listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange. Our corporate governance practices are governed by our bylaws, the Mexican Securities Law and the regulations issued by the CNBV. We also disclose the extent of compliance with the Código de Mejores Prácticas Corporativas (Mexican Code of Best Corporate Practices), which was created by a group of Mexican business leaders and was endorsed by the CNBV.

 

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The table below discloses the significant differences between our corporate governance practices and the NYSE standards.

 

NYSE Standards

  

Our Corporate Governance Practices

Directors independence: A majority of the board of directors must be independent.   

Directors independence: Pursuant to the Mexican Securities Law, we are required to have a board of directors with a maximum of 21 members, 25% of whom must be independent.

 

The Mexican Securities Law sets forth, in article 26, the definition of “independence,” which differs from the one set forth in Section 303A.02 of the Listed Company Manual of the NYSE. Generally, under the Mexican Securities Law, a director is not independent if such director: (i) is an employee or a relevant officer of the company or its subsidiaries; (ii) is an individual with significant influence over the company or its subsidiaries; (iii) is a shareholder or participant of the controlling group of the company; (iv) is a client, supplier, debtor, creditor, partner or employee of an important client, supplier, debtor or creditor of the company; or (v) is a family member of any of the aforementioned persons.

 

In accordance with the Mexican Securities Law, our shareholders are required to make a determination as to the independence of our directors at an ordinary meeting of our shareholders, though the CNBV may challenge that determination. Our board of directors is not required to make a determination as to the independence of our directors.

Executive sessions: Non-management directors must meet at regularly scheduled executive sessions without management.   

Executive sessions: Under our bylaws and applicable Mexican law, our non-management and independent directors are not required to meet in executive sessions.

 

Our bylaws state that the board of directors will meet at least four times a year, following the end of each quarter, to discuss our operating results and progress in achieving strategic objectives. Our board of directors can also hold extraordinary meetings.

Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee: A nominating/corporate governance committee composed entirely of independent directors is required.   

Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee: We are not required to have a nominating committee, and the Mexican Code of Best Corporate Practices does not provide for a nominating committee.

 

However, Mexican law requires us to have a Corporate Practices Committee. Our Corporate Practices Committee is composed of three members, and as required by the Mexican Securities Law and our bylaws, the three members are independent.

Compensation Committee: A compensation committee composed entirely independent directors is required.    Compensation Committee: We do not have a committee that exclusively oversees compensation issues. Our Corporate Practices Committee, composed entirely of independent directors, reviews and recommends management compensation programs in order to ensure that they are aligned with shareholders’ interests and corporate performance.

 

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NYSE Standards

  

Our Corporate Governance Practices

Audit Committee: Listed companies must have an audit committee satisfying the independence and other requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and the NYSE independence standards.    Audit Committee: We have an Audit Committee of four members. Each member of the Audit Committee is an independent director, as required by the Mexican Securities Law.
Equity compensation plan: Equity compensation plans require shareholder approval, subject to limited exemptions.    Equity compensation plan: Shareholder approval is not required under Mexican law or our bylaws for the adoption and amendment of an equity compensation plan. Such plans should provide for general application to all executives. Our current equity compensation plans have been approved by our board of directors.
Code of business conduct and ethics: Corporate governance guidelines and a code of conduct and ethics are required, with disclosure of any waiver for directors or executive officers.    Code of business conduct and ethics: We have adopted a code of ethics, within the meaning of Item 16B of SEC Form 20-F. Our code of ethics applies to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and persons performing similar functions as well as to our directors and other officers and employees. Our code of ethics is available on our website at www.femsa.com. If we amend the provisions of our code of ethics that apply to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and persons performing similar functions, or if we grant any waiver of such provisions, we will disclose such amendment or waiver on our website at the same address.

 

ITEM 16H. NOT APPLICABLE

 

ITEM 17. NOT APPLICABLE

 

ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

See pages F-1 through F-144, incorporated herein by reference.

 

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ITEM 19. EXHIBITS

 

1.1    Bylaws (estatutos sociales) of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V., approved on April 22, 2008, together with an English translation thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 of FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on June 30, 2008 (File No. 333-08752)).
1.2    Share Exchange Agreement by and between Heineken Holding N.V., Heineken N.V., Compañía Internacional de Bebidas, S.A. de C.V., Grupo Industrial Emprex, S.A. de C.V., and FEMSA dated as of January 11, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.2 of FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on June 25, 2010 (File No. 333-08752)).
1.3    First Amendment to Share Exchange Agreement by and between Heineken Holding N.V., Heineken N.V., Compañía Internacional de Bebidas, S.A. de C.V., Grupo Industrial Emprex, S.A. de C.V., and FEMSA dated as of April 26, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.3 of FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on June 25, 2010 (File No. 333-08752)).
1.4    Corporate Governance Agreement, dated April 30, 2010, between Heineken Holding N.V., Heineken N.V., L’Arche Green N.V., FEMSA and CB Equity LLP.
2.1    Deposit Agreement, as further amended and restated as of May 11, 2007, among FEMSA, The Bank of New York, and all owners and holders from time to time of any American Depositary Receipts, including the form of American Depositary Receipt (incorporated by reference to FEMSA’s registration statement on Form F-6 filed on April 30, 2007 (File No. 333- 142469)).
2.2    Specimen certificate representing a BD Unit, consisting of one Series B Share, two Series D-B Shares and two Series D-L Shares, together with an English translation (incorporated by reference to FEMSA’s registration statement on Form F-4 filed on April 9, 1998 (File No. 333-8618)).
2.3    Indenture dated as of February 5, 2010 among Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V., and The Bank of New York Mellon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on June 10, 2010 (File No. 1-12260)).
2.4    First Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 5, 2010 among Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V., and The Bank of New York Mellon and the Bank of New York Mellon (Luxembourg) S.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on June 10, 2010 (File No. 1-12260)).
2.5    Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 1, 2011 among Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V., Propimex, S. de R.L. de C.V. (formerly Propimex, S.A. de C.V.), as Guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon (incorporated by reference to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on June 17, 2011 (File No. 001-12260)).
3.1    Amended Voting Trust Agreement among certain principal shareholders of FEMSA together with an English translation (incorporated by reference to FEMSA’s Schedule 13D as amended filed on August 11, 2005 (File No. 005-54705)).
4.1    Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement, dated as of July 6, 2002, by and among CIBSA, Emprex, The Coca-Cola Company and Inmex (incorporated by reference to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on June 27, 2003 (File No. 1-12260)).
4.2    Amendment, dated May 6, 2003, to the Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement dated July 6, 2002, among CIBSA, Emprex, The Coca-Cola Company, Inmex, Atlantic Industries, Dulux CBAI 2003 B.V. and Dulux CBEXINMX 2003 B.V. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.14 to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on June 27, 2003 (File No. 1-12260)).

 

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4.3    Second Amendment, dated February 1, 2010, to the Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement dated July 6, 2002, among CIBSA, Emprex, The Coca-Cola Company, Inmex and Dulux CBAI 2003 B.V. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on June 10, 2010 (File No. 1-12260)).
4.4    Amended and Restated Bottler Agreement, dated June 21, 2003, between Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company with respect to operations in the southeast of Mexico (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on April 5, 2004 (File No. 1-12260)).
4.5    Supplemental Agreement, dated June 21, 1993, between Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company with respect to operations in the southeast of Mexico (with English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on August 13, 1993 (File No. 333-67380)).
4.6    Amended and Restated Bottler Agreement, dated June 21, 2003, between Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company with respect to operations in the southeast of Mexico (incorporated by reference to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on April 5, 2004 (File No. 1-12260)).
4.7    Supplemental Agreement, dated June 21, 1993, between Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company with respect to operations in the southeast of Mexico (with English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed on August 13, 1993 (File No. 333-67380)).
4.8    Amendments, dated May 17 and July 20, 1995, to Bottler Agreement and Letter of Agreement, dated August 22, 1994, each with respect to operations in Argentina between Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company (with English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on June 28, 1996 (File No. 1-12260)).
4.9    Bottler Agreement, dated December 1, 1995, between Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company with respect to operations in SIRSA (with English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on June 28, 1996 (File No. 1-12260)).
4.10    Supplemental Agreement, dated December 1, 1995, between Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company with respect to operations in SIRSA (with English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on June 28, 1996 (File No. 1-12260)).
4.11    Amendment, dated February 1, 1996, to Bottler Agreement between Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company with respect to operations in SIRSA, dated December 1, 1995 (with English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on June 28, 1996 (File No. 1-12260)).
4.12    Amendment, dated May 22, 1998, to Bottler Agreement with respect to the former SIRSA territory, dated December 1, 1995, between Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company (with English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on June 20, 2001 (File No. 1-12260)).
4.13    Supply Agreement, dated June 21, 1993, between Coca-Cola FEMSA and FEMSA Empaques (incorporated by reference to FEMSA’s registration statement on Form F-4 filed on April 9, 1998 (File No. 333-8618)).
4.14    Bottler Agreement and Side Letter dated June 1, 2005, between Panamco Golfo, S.A. de C.V. and The Coca-Cola Company with respect to operations in Golfo, Mexico (English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on April 18, 2006 (File No. 1-12260)).

 

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4.15    Bottler Agreement and Side Letter dated June 1, 2005, between Panamco Baijo, S.A. de C.V., and The Coca-Cola Company with respect to operations in Baijo, Mexico (English translation). (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on April 18, 2006 (File No. 1-12260)).
4.16    Coca-Cola Tradename License Agreement dated June 21, 1993, between Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company (with English translation) (incorporated by reference to FEMSA’s Registration Statement on Form F-4 filed on April 9, 1998 (File No. 333-8618)).
4.17    Amendment to the Trademark License Agreement, dated December 1, 2002, entered by and among Administración de Marcas S.A. de C.V., as proprietor, and The Coca-Cola Export Corporation Mexico branch, as licensee (incorporated by reference to Panamco’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2003 (File No. 1-2290)).
4.18    Trademark Sub-License Agreement, dated January 4, 2003, entered by and among Panamco Golfo S.A. de C.V., as licensor, and The Coca-Cola Company, as licensee (incorporated by reference to Panamco’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2003 (File No. 1-12290)).
4.19    Trademark Sub-License Agreement, dated January 4, 2003, entered by and among Panamco Bajio S.A. de C.V., as licensor, and The Coca-Cola Company, as licensee (incorporated by reference to Panamco’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2003 (File No. 1-12290)).
4.20    Supply Agreement dated April 3, 1998, between ALPLA Fábrica de Plásticos, S.A. de C.V. and Industria Embotelladora de México, S.A. de C.V. (with English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.18 to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on July 1, 2002 (File No. 1-12260)).
4.21    Services Agreement, dated November 7, 2000, between Coca-Cola FEMSA and FEMSA Logística (with English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.15 to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on June 20, 2001 (File No. 1-12260)).
4.22    Promotion and Non-Compete Agreement, dated March 11, 2003, entered by and among The Coca-Cola Export Corporation Mexico branch and Panamco Bajio S.A. de C.V. (with English translation) (incorporated by reference to Panamco’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2003 (File No. 1-12290)).
4.23    Promotion and Non-Compete Agreement, dated March 11, 2003, entered by and among The Coca-Cola Export Corporation Mexico branch and Panamco Golfo S.A. de C.V. (with English translation) (incorporated by reference to Panamco’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2003 (File No. 1-12290)).
4.24    Memorandum of Understanding, dated as of March 11, 2003, by and among Panamco, as seller, and The Coca-Cola Company, as buyer (incorporated by reference to Panamco’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2003 (File No. 1-12290)).
4.25    Bottler Agreement, dated August 22, 1994, between Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company with respect to operations in Argentina (with English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on June 30, 1995 (File No. 1-12260)).

 

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4.26    Supplemental Agreement, dated August 22, 1994, between Coca-Cola FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company with respect to operations in Argentina (with English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on June 30, 1995 (File No. 1-12260)).
4.27    The Coca-Cola Company Memorandum to Steve Heyer from Jose Antonio Fernández, dated December 22, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to FEMSA’s Registration Statement on Amendment No. 1 to the Form F-3 filed on September 20, 2004 (File No. 333-117795)).
8.1    Significant Subsidiaries.
12.1    CEO Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated April 27, 2012.
12.2    CFO Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated April 27, 2012.
13.1    Officer Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated April 27, 2012.

 

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SIGNATURE

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

Date: April 27, 2012

 

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.
By:   /s/ Javier Astaburuaga Sanjines
Name:   Javier Astaburuaga Sanjines
Title:   Executive Vice-President of Finance and Strategic Development / Chief Financial Officer


Table of Contents

FOMENTO ECONÓMICO MEXICANO, S.A.B. DE C.V. AND SUBSIDIARIES

MONTERREY, N.L., MÉXICO

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Audited consolidated financial statements of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.

  

Report of Mancera S.C., A Member Practice of Ernst  & Young Global, of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. and subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

   F-1

Consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2011 and 2010

   F-2

Consolidated income statements for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

   F-3

Consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

   F-4

Consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity for the years ended December  31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

   F-6

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

   F-7

Audited consolidated financial statements of Heineken N.V.

  

Report of KPMG Accountants N.V. of Heineken N.V. and subsidiaries for the years ended December  31, 2011 and 2010

   F-72

Consolidated income statement for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010

   F-73

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010

   F-74

Consolidated statement of financial position as at December 31, 2011 and 2010

   F-75

Consolidated statement of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010

   F-76

Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010

   F-78

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

   F-80


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2011. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. The financial statements of Heineken N. V. (a corporation in which the Company has a 12.53% and 9.24% interest as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively) which is majority owned by Heineken Holdings N.V. (a corporation in which the Company has a 14.94% interest in both years) (collectively “Heineken”), prepared under International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board (IFRS), have been audited by other auditors whose report dated February 14, 2012 has been furnished to us, and our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for Heineken, is based on the report of the other auditors. In the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s investment in Heineken is stated at Ps. 75,075 and Ps. 66,478 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010 respectively and the Company’s equity in the net income of Heineken is stated at Ps. 5,080 for the year ended December 31, 2011 and Ps. 3,319 million for the eight month period from April 30 to December 31, 2010.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation (including the Company’s conversion of the financial statements of Heineken to Mexican Financial Reporting Standards as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the eight-month period ended December 31, 2010). We believe that our audits and the report of other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, based on our audits and the report of other auditors, the accompanying consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. and subsidiaries at December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the consolidated results of their operations, and consolidated cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2011, in conformity with Mexican Financial Reporting Standards, which differ in certain respects from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (See Notes 26 and 27 to the consolidated financial statements).

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated April 27, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

 

  

Mancera, S.C.

A Member Practice of

Ernst & Young Global

 

C.P.C. Agustín Aguilar Laurents

Monterrey, N.L., México

April 27, 2012

 

F-1


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FOMENTO ECONÓMICO MEXICANO, S.A.B. DE C.V. AND SUBSIDIARIES

MONTERREY, N.L., MÉXICO

Consolidated Balance Sheets

At December 31, 2011 and 2010. Amounts expressed in millions of U.S. dollars ($) and in millions of Mexican pesos (Ps.).

 

     Note      2011      2010  

ASSETS

           

Current Assets:

           

Cash and cash equivalents

     4 B       $ 1,887       Ps.   26,329       Ps.   27,097   

Investments

     4 B         95         1,329         66   

Accounts receivable

     6         753         10,499         7,702   

Inventories

     7         1,031         14,385         11,314   

Recoverable taxes

        309         4,311         4,243   

Other current assets

     8         152         2,114         1,038   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current assets

        4,227         58,967         51,460   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Investments in shares

     9         5,661         78,972         68,793   

Property, plant and equipment

     10         3,828         53,402         41,910   

Intangible assets

     11         5,133         71,608         52,340   

Deferred tax asset

     23 C         33         461         346   

Other assets

     12         809         11,294         8,729   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

        19,691         274,704         223,578   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

           

Current Liabilities:

           

Bank loans and notes payable

     17         46         638         1,578   

Current portion of long-term debt

     17         354         4,935         1,725   

Interest payable

        15         216         165   

Suppliers

        1,539         21,475         17,458   

Accounts payable

        413         5,761         5,375   

Taxes payable

        230         3,208         2,180   

Other current liabilities

     24 A         172         2,397         2,035   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

        2,769         38,630         30,516   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-Term Liabilities:

           

Bank loans and notes payable

     17         1,723         24,031         22,203   

Employee benefits

     15 B         162         2,258         1,883   

Deferred tax liability

     23 C         997         13,911         10,567   

Contingencies and other liabilities

     24 B         341         4,760         5,396   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total long-term liabilities

        3,223         44,960         40,049   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

        5,992         83,590         70,565   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Stockholders’ Equity:

           

Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries

     20         4,124         57,534         35,665   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Controlling interest:

           

Capital stock

        383         5,348         5,348   

Additional paid-in capital

        1,470         20,513         20,558   

Retained earnings from prior years

        6,219         86,756         51,045   

Net income

        1,085         15,133         40,251   

Cumulative other comprehensive income

     4 V         418         5,830         146   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Controlling interest

        9,575         133,580         117,348   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

        13,699         191,114         153,013   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

      $ 19,691       Ps.   274,704       Ps.   223,578   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated balance sheets.

Monterrey, N.L., México.

 

José Antonio Fernández Carbajal   Javier Astaburuaga Sanjines
Chief Executive Officer   Chief Financial Officer

 

F-2


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FOMENTO ECONÓMICO MEXICANO, S.A.B. DE C.V. AND SUBSIDIARIES

MONTERREY, N.L., MÉXICO

Consolidated Income Statements

For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009. Amounts expressed in millions of U.S. dollars ($) and in millions of Mexican pesos (Ps.), except for data per share.

 

     2011     2010     2009  

Net sales

   $ 14,470      Ps.   201,867      Ps.   168,376      Ps.   158,503   

Other operating revenues

     84        1,177        1,326        1,748   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     14,554        203,044        169,702        160,251   

Cost of sales

     8,459        118,009        98,732        92,313   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     6,095        85,035        70,970        67,938   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

        

Administrative

     591        8,249        7,766        7,835   

Selling

     3,576        49,882        40,675        38,973   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     4,167        58,131        48,441        46,808   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

     1,928        26,904        22,529        21,130   

Other expenses, net (Note 18)

     (209     (2,917     (282     (1,877

Comprehensive financing result:

        

Interest expense

     (210     (2,934     (3,265     (4,011

Interest income

     72        999        1,104        1,205   

Foreign exchange gain (loss), net

     84        1,165        (614     (431

Gain on monetary position, net

     9        146        410        486   

Market value (loss) gain on ineffective portion of derivative financial instruments

     (11     (159     212        124   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (56     (783     (2,153     (2,627

Equity method of associates (Note 9)

     370        5,167        3,538        132   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     2,033        28,371        23,632        16,758   

Income taxes (Note 23 D)

     550        7,687        5,671        4,959   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated net income before discontinued operations

     1,483        20,684        17,961        11,799   

Income from the exchange of shares with Heineken, net of taxes (Note 5 B)

     —          —          26,623        —     

Net income from discontinued operations (Note 5 B)

     —          —          706        3,283   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated net income

   $ 1,483      Ps. 20,684      Ps. 45,290      Ps. 15,082   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net controlling interest income

     1,085        15,133        40,251        9,908   

Net non-controlling interest income

     398        5,551        5,039        5,174   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated net income

   $ 1,483      Ps. 20,684      Ps. 45,290      Ps. 15,082   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net controlling interest income before discontinued operations (1):

        

Per series “B” share

   $ 0.05      Ps. 0.75      Ps. 0.64      Ps. 0.33   

Per series “D” share

     0.07        0.94        0.81        0.42   

Net income from discontinued operations (1):

        

Per series “B” share

     —          —          1.37        0.16   

Per series “D”share

     —          —          1.70        0.20   

Net controlling interest income (1):

        

Per series “B” share

     0.05        0.75        2.01        0.49   

Per series “D”share

     0.07        0.94        2.51        0.62   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated income statements.

 

(1) U.S. dollars and Mexican pesos, see Note 22 for number of shares.

 

F-3


Table of Contents

FOMENTO ECONÓMICO MEXICANO, S.A.B. DE C.V. AND SUBSIDIARIES

MONTERREY, N.L., MÉXICO

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Amounts expressed in millions of U.S. dollars ($) and in millions of Mexican pesos (Ps.).

 

     2011     2010     2009  

Cash Flow Generated by (Used in) Operating Activities:

        

Income before income taxes from continuing operations

   $   2,033        Ps.  28,371        Ps.  23,632        Ps.  16,758   

Non-cash operating expenses

     37        513        386        664   

Other adjustments regarding operating activities

     113        1,583        545        773   

Adjustments regarding investing activities:

        

Depreciation

     394        5,498        4,527        4,391   

Amortization

     75        1,043        975        798   

(Gain) loss on sale of long-lived assets

     (1     (9     215        177   

Gain on sale of shares

     —          (1     (1,554     (35

Disposal of long-lived assets

     50        703        9        129   

Interest income

     (72     (999     (1,104     (1,205

Equity method of associates

     (370     (5,167     (3,538     (132

Adjustments regarding financing activities:

        

Interest expenses

     210        2,934        3,265        4,011   

Foreign exchange (gain) loss, net

     (84     (1,165     614        431   

Gain on monetary position, net

     (9     (146     (410     (486

Market value loss (gain) on ineffective portion of derivative financial instruments

     11        159        (212     (124
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     2,387        33,317        27,350        26,150   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accounts receivable and other current assets

     (202     (2,819     (1,402     (681

Inventories

     (160     (2,227     (1,369     (698

Suppliers and other accounts payable

     107        1,492        823        2,373   

Other liabilities

     (40     (566     (249     (267

Employee benefits

     (36     (496     (530     (302

Income taxes paid

     (463     (6,457     (6,821     (3,831
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows provided by continuing operations

     1,593        22,244        17,802        22,744   

Net cash flows provided by discontinued operations

     —          —          1,127        8,181   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows provided by operating activities

     1,593        22,244        18,929        30,925   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Flow Generated by (Used in) Investing Activities:

        

BRISA acquisition, net of cash acquired (see Note 5 A)

     —          —          —          (717

Payment of debt for the acquisition of Grupo Tampico, net of cash acquired (see Note 5 A)

     (173     (2,414     —          —     

Payment of debt for the acquisition of Grupo CIMSA , net of cash acquired (see Note 5 A)

     (137     (1,912     —          —     

Purchase of investments

     (97     (1,351     (66     (2,001

Proceeds from investments

     5        68        1,108        —     

Recovery of long-term financing receivables with FEMSA Cerveza

     —          —          12,209        —     

Net effects of FEMSA Cerveza exchange

     —          —          876        —     

Other disposals

     —          —          1,949        —     

Interest received

     71        991        1,104        1,205   

Dividends received

     119        1,661        1,304        —     

Long-lived assets acquisitions

     (760     (10,615     (9,590     (7,315

Long-lived assets sale

     38        535        624        679   

Other assets

     (324     (4,515     (2,448     (1,880

Intangible assets

     (38     (538     (892     (1,347
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows (used in) generated by investment activities by continuing operations

     (1,296     (18,090     6,178        (11,376

Net cash flows used in investment activities by discontinued operations

     —          —          (4     (3,389
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows (used in) generated by investing activities

     (1,296     (18,090     6,174        (14,765
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows available for financing activities

     297        4,154        25,103        16,160   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this consolidated statement of cash flows.

 

F-4


Table of Contents
     2011     2010     2009  

Cash Flow Generated by (Used in) Financing Activities:

        

Bank loans obtained

     474        6,606        9,016        14,107   

Bank loans paid

     (267     (3,732     (12,536     (15,533

Interest paid

     (218     (3,043     (3,018     (4,259

Dividends declared and paid

     (475     (6,625     (3,813     (2,246

Acquisition of non-controlling interest

     (8     (115     (219     67   

Other liabilities

     (1     (13     74        (25
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows used in financing activities by continuing operations

     (495     (6,922     (10,496     (7,889

Net cash flows used in financing activities by discontinued operations

     —          —          (1,012     (909
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows used in financing activities

     (495     (6,922     (11,508     (8,798
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows by continuing operations

     (198     (2,768     13,484        3,479   

Net cash flows by discontinued operations

     —          —          111        3,883   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows

     (198     (2,768     13,595        7,362   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Translation and restatement effect on cash and cash equivalents

     143        2,000        (1,006     (1,173

Initial cash

     1,942        27,097        15,824        9,635   

Initial cash of discontinued operations

     —          —          (1,316     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Initial cash and cash equivalents

     1,942        27,097        14,508        9,635   

Ending balance

     1,887        26,329        27,097        15,824   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance by discontinued operations

     —          —          —          (1,316
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total ending balance of cash and cash equivalents, net

   $   1,887      Ps.   26,329      Ps.   27,097      Ps.   14,508   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this consolidated statement of cash flows.

 

F-5


Table of Contents

FOMENTO ECONÓMICO MEXICANO, S.A.B. DE C.V. AND SUBSIDIARIES

MONTERREY, N.L., MÉXICO

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009. Amounts expressed in millions of Mexican pesos (Ps.).

 

    Capital
Stock
    Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
from Prior
Years
    Net
Income
    Cumulative
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Controlling
Interest
    Non-Controlling
Interest in
Consolidated
Subsidiaries
    Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 

Balances at December 31, 2008

  Ps. 5,348      Ps. 20,551      Ps. 38,929      Ps. 6,708      Ps. (2,715)      Ps. 68,821      Ps. 28,074      Ps. 96,895   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Transfer of prior year net income

        6,708        (6,708       —          —          —     

Change in accounting principles (see Note 2 K)

        (182         (182     —          (182

Dividends declared and paid (see Note 21)

        (1,620         (1,620     (635     (2,255

Acquisition by FEMSA Cerveza of non-controlling interest

      (3           (3     19        16   

Comprehensive income

          9,908        4,713        14,621        6,734        21,355   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances at December 31, 2009

    5,348        20,548        43,835        9,908        1,998        81,637        34,192        115,829   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Transfer of prior year net income

        9,908        (9,908       —          —          —     

Dividends declared and paid (see Note 21)

        (2,600         (2,600     (1,213     (3,813

Other transactions of non-controlling interest

      10              10        (283     (273

Recycling of OCI and decreasing of non-controlling interest due to exchange of FEMSA Cerveza (see Note 5 B)

          525        (525     —          (1,221     (1,221

Other movements of equity method of associates, net of taxes

        (98         (98     —          (98

Comprehensive income

          39,726        (1,327     38,399        4,190        42,589   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances at December 31, 2010

    5,348        20,558        51,045        40,251        146        117,348        35,665        153,013   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Transfer of prior year net income

        40,251        (40,251       —          —          —     

Dividends declared and paid (see Note 21)

        (4,600         (4,600     (2,025     (6,625

Acquisition of Grupo Tampico through issuance of Coca-Cola FEMSA shares (see Note 5 A)

              —          7,828        7,828   

Acquisition of Grupo CIMSA through issuance of Coca-Cola FEMSA shares (see Note 5 A)

              —          9,017        9,017   

Other transactions of non-controlling interest

      (45           (45     (70     (115

Other movements of equity method of associates, net of taxes

        60            60        —          60   

Comprehensive income

          15,133        5,684        20,817        7,119        27,936   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances at December 31, 2011

  Ps.  5,348      Ps.  20,513      Ps.  86,756      Ps.  15,133      Ps.  5,830      Ps. 133,580      Ps. 57,534      Ps. 191,114   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity.

 

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FOMENTO ECONÓMICO MEXICANO, S.A.B. DE C.V. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009. Amounts expressed in millions of U.S. dollars ($) and in millions of Mexican pesos (Ps.).

Note 1. Activities of the Company

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (“FEMSA”) is a Mexican holding company. The principal activities of FEMSA and its subsidiaries (the “Company”), as an economic unit, are carried out by operating subsidiaries and grouped under direct and indirect holding company subsidiaries (the “Subholding Companies”) of FEMSA.

On February 1, 2010, the Company and The Coca-Cola Company signed a second amendment to the shareholders’ agreement that confirms contractually the capability of the Company to govern the operating and financial policies of Coca-Cola FEMSA, to exercise control over the operations in the ordinary course of business and grants protective rights to The Coca-Cola Company on such items as mergers, acquisitions or sales of any line of business. These amendments were signed without transfer of any consideration. The percentage of voting interest of the Company in Coca-Cola FEMSA remains the same after the signing of this amendment.

On April 30, 2010, FEMSA exchanged 100% of its stake in FEMSA Cerveza, the beer business unit, for a 20% economic interest in Heineken Group (“Heineken”). This strategic transaction, as well as the related impacts, is broadly described in Note 5 B.

The following is a description of the activities of the Company as of the date of the issuance of these consolidated financial statements, together with the ownership interest in each Subholding Company:

 

Subholding Company

   % Ownership  

Activities

Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V. and subsidiaries (“Coca-Cola FEMSA”)    50.0% (1) (2)

(63.0% of the
voting shares)

  Production, distribution and marketing of certain Coca-Cola trademark beverages in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina. The Coca-Cola Company indirectly owns 29.4% of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s capital stock. In addition, shares representing 20.6% of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s capital stock are traded on the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (Mexican Stock Exchange “BMV”). Its American Depositary Shares (ADSs) trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
FEMSA Comercio, S.A. de C.V. and subsidiaries (“FEMSA Comercio”)    100%   Operation of a chain of convenience stores in Mexico under the trade name “OXXO.”
CB Equity, LLP (“CB Equity”)    100%   This company holds Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. shares, acquired as part of the exchange of FEMSA Cerveza on April 2010 (see Note 5 B).
Other companies    100%   Companies engaged in the production and distribution of coolers, commercial refrigeration equipment and plastic cases; as well as transportation logistics and maintenance services to FEMSA’s subsidiaries and to third parties.

 

(1) The Company controls operating and financial policies.
(2) The ownership decreased from 53.7% in 2010 to 50.0% as of December 31, 2011 as a result of merger transactions (see Note 5 A).

 

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Note 2. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with Normas de Información Financiera (Mexican Financial Reporting Standards or “Mexican FRS”), individually referred to as “NIFs,” and are stated in millions of Mexican pesos (“Ps.”). The translation of Mexican pesos into U.S. dollars (“$”) is included solely for the convenience of the reader, using the noon buying exchange rate published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York of 13.9510 pesos per U.S. dollar as of December 30, 2011.

The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of FEMSA and those companies in which it exercises control. All intercompany account balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The Company classifies its costs and expenses by function in the consolidated income statement, in order to conform to the industry’s practices where the Company operates. The income from operations line in the income statement is the result of subtracting cost of sales and operating expenses from total revenues, and it has been included for a better understanding of the Company’s financial and economic performance.

Beginning on January 1, 2008, and according to NIF B-10 “Effects of Inflation,” only inflationary economic environments have to recognize inflation effects. Since that date the Company has operated in a non inflationary economic environment in Mexico. As a result, the financial statements are no longer restated for inflation after December 31, 2007. Figures as of December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 are presented as they were reported in last year.

The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2010 and the consolidated statement of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 present certain reclassifications for comparable purposes in accordance with several Mexican FRS which came into effect on January 1, 2011 (see Notes 2 C, D and E).

The results of operations of businesses acquired by the Company are included in the consolidated financial statements since the date of acquisition. As a result of certain acquisitions (see Note 5 A), the consolidated financial statements are not comparable to the figures presented in prior years.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements and their accompanying notes were approved for issuance by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer on April 27, 2012 and subsequent events have been considered through that date (see Note 29).

On January 1, 2011, 2010, and 2009 several Mexican FRS came into effect. Such changes and their application are described as follows:

 

a) NIF B-5, “Financial Information by Segment”:

In 2011, the Company adopted NIF B-5 “Financial Information by Segment”, which superseded Bulletin B-5. NIF B-5 establishes that an operating segment shall meet the following criteria: i) the segment engages in business activities from which it earns or is in the process of obtaining revenues, and incurs in the related costs and expenses; ii) the operating results are reviewed regularly by the main authority of the entity’s decision maker; and iii) specific financial information is available. NIF B-5 also requires disclosures related to operating segments subject to reporting, including details of earnings, assets and liabilities, reconciliations, information about products and services, and geographical areas. This pronouncement was applied retrospectively for comparative purposes and had no impact, except for new disclosure requirements such as: consolidated other expenses, consolidated other net finance expenses, consolidated net income before discontinued operations and investment in associates and joint ventures (see Note 25).

 

b) NIF B-9, “Interim Financial Reporting”:

The Company adopted NIF B-9 “Interim Financial Reporting”, which prescribes the content to be included in a complete or condensed set of financial statements for an interim period. In accordance with this standard, the complete set of financial statements shall include: a) a statement of financial position as of the end of the period, b) an income statement for the period, c) a statement of changes in equity for the period, d) a statement of cash flows for the period, and e) notes providing the relevant accounting policies and other explanatory notes. Condensed financial statements shall include: a) condensed statement of financial position, b) condensed income statement, c) condensed statement of changes in equity, d) condensed statement of cash flows, and e) selected explanatory notes. The adoption of NIF B-9 did not impact the Company’s annual financial statements.

 

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c) NIF C-4, “Inventories”:

On January 1, 2011 the Company adopted NIF C-4, which replaced Mexican accounting Bulletin C-4, Inventories. The principal difference between Mexican accounting Bulletin C-4 and Mexican FRS C-4 is that the new standard does not allow using direct costs as the inventory valuation method nor does it allow using the LIFO cost method as the formulas (formerly method) for the assignment of unit cost to the inventories. Mexican FRS C-4 establishes that inventories must be valued at the lower of either acquisition cost or net realizable value. Such standard also establishes that advances to suppliers for the acquisition of merchandise must be classified as inventories provided the risks and benefits are transferred to the Company. This standard also sets some additional disclosures. NIF C-4 was applied retrospectively causing a decrease in the inventory balances reported as of December 31, 2010 as a result of the treatment of presentation of advances to suppliers (see Note 2 D), and additional disclosures related to goods in transit and allowance for obsolescence, which was reclassified to finished products (see Note 7). The application of this standard did not impact on inventory valuation of the Company.

 

d) NIF C-5, “Prepaid Expenses”:

In 2011, the Company adopted NIF C-5, which superseded Mexican accounting Bulletin C-5. This standard establishes that the main characteristic of prepaid expenses is that they do not result in the transfer to the entity of the benefits and risks inherent to the goods or services to be received. Consequently, prepaid expenses must be recognized in the balance sheet as either current or non-current assets, depending on the item classification in the statement of financial position. Moreover, Mexican FRS C-5 establishes that prepayments made for goods or services whose inherent benefits and risks have already been transferred to the entity must be carried to the appropriate caption. The accounting changes resulting from the adoption of this standard were recognized retrospectively, causing an increase in “other current assets” Ps. 133 (see Note 8) and “other assets” Ps. 226 (see Note 12), as a result of the comparative presentation of prepaid expenses, which were reclassified from “inventories” (Ps. 133) and “property, plant, and equipment” (Ps. 226), as of December 31, 2010.

 

e) NIF C-6, “Property, Plant and Equipment”:

In 2011, the Company adopted NIF C-6, which replaced Mexican accounting Bulletin C-6, Property, Machinery and Equipment, and it is effective beginning on January 1, 2011, with the exception for the changes related to the segregation of property, plant and equipment into separate components of those assets with different useful lives that is effective on January 1, 2012. However, the depreciation by separate items (major components), has been applied by the Company since priors years, and consequently did not impact its financials statements. Among other points, NIF C-6 establishes that for acquisitions of free-of charge assets, the cost of the assets must be null, thus eliminating the option of performing appraisals. In the case of asset exchanges, NIF C-6 requires entities to determine the commercial substance of the transaction. The depreciation of all assets must be applied against the components of the assets, and the amount to be depreciated is the cost of acquisition less the asset’s residual value. In addition, NIF C-6 clarifies that regardless of whether the use or non use of the asset is temporary or indefinite, it should not cease the depreciation charge. Depreciation of an asset ceases at the earlier of the date that the asset is classified as held for sale and the date that the asset is derecognized. There are specific disclosures for public entities such as: additions, disposals, depreciation, impairments, among others. This standard was fully applied and did not impact the Company’s financial statements, except for reclassification from the balance of the property, plant and equipment as of December 31, 2010 as a result of the treatment of presentation of advances to suppliers (see Note 2 D) and additional disclosures (see Note 10).

 

f) NIF C-18, “Obligations Related to Retirement of Property, Plant and Equipment”:

In 2011, the Company adopted NIF C-18, which establishes the accounting treatment for the recognition of a liability for legal or constructive obligations related to the retirement of property, plant and equipment recognized as a result of the acquisition, construction, development and/or normal operation of such components. This standard also establishes that an entity must initially recognize a provision for obligations related to retirement of property, plant and equipment based on its best estimate of the disbursements required to settle the present obligation at the time it is assumed, provided a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. The best estimate of a provision for an obligation associated with the retirement of property, plant and equipment components should be determined using the expected present value method. The adoption of NIF C-18 did not impact the Company’s financial statements.

 

g) NIF C-1, “Cash and Cash Equivalents”:

In 2010, the Company adopted NIF C-1 “Cash and Cash Equivalents,” which superseded Bulletin C-1 “Cash.” NIF C-1 establishes that cash shall be measured at nominal value, and cash equivalents shall be measured at acquisition cost for initial recognition. Subsequently, cash equivalents should be measured according to its designation: precious metals shall be measured at fair value, foreign currencies shall be translated to the reporting currency applying the closing exchange rate, other cash equivalents denominated in a different measure of exchange shall be recognized to the extent provided for this purpose at the closing date of financial statements, and temporary investments shall be presented at fair value. Cash

 

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and cash equivalents will be presented in the first line of assets, including restricted cash. This pronouncement was applied retrospectively, causing an increase in the cash balances reported as a result of the treatment of presentation of restricted cash, which was reclassified from “other current assets” for the amount of Ps. 394 at December 31, 2010 (see Note 4 B).

 

h) Interpretation to Mexican Financial Reporting Standards (“Interpretación a las Normas de Información Financiera”) or “INIF 19”, “Accounting Change as a Result of IFRS Adoption”:

On September 30, 2010, INIF 19 “Accounting change as a result of IFRS adoption” was issued. INIF 19 states disclosure requirements for: (a) financial statements based on Mexican FRS that were issued before IFRS adoption and (b) financial statements on Mexican FRS that are issued during IFRS adoption process. The adoption of this INIF, resulted in additional disclosures regarding IFRS adoption, such as date of adoption, significant financial impact, significant changes in accounting policies, and others (see Note 28).

 

i) NIF B-7, “Business Combinations”:

In 2009, the Company adopted NIF B-7 “Business Combinations,” which is an amendment to the previous Bulletin B-7 “Business Acquisitions.” NIF B-7 establishes general rules for recognizing the fair value of net assets of businesses acquired as well as the fair value of non-controlling interests, at the purchase date. This statement differs from the previous Bulletin B-7 in the following: a) To recognize all assets and liabilities acquired at their fair value, including the non-controlling interest based on the acquirer accounting policies, b) acquisition-related costs and restructuring expenses should not be part of the purchase price, and c) changes to tax amounts recorded in acquisitions must be recognized as part of the income tax provision. This pronouncement was applied prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date was on or after January 1, 2009.

 

j) NIF C-7, “Investments in Associates and Other Permanent Investments”:

NIF C-7 “Investments in Associates and Other Permanent Investments,” establishes general rules of accounting recognition for the investments in associated and other permanent investments not jointly or fully controlled or that are significantly influenced by an entity. This pronouncement includes guidance to determine the existence of significant influence. Previous Bulletin B-8 “Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements and Assessment of Permanent Share Investments,” defined that permanent share investments were accounted for by the equity method if the entity held 10% or more of its outstanding shares. NIF C-7 establishes that permanent share investments should to be accounted for by equity method if: a) an entity holds 10% or more of a public entity, b) an entity holds 25% or more of a non-public company, or c) an entity has significant influence in its investment as defined in NIF C-7. The Company adopted NIF C-7 on January 1, 2009, and its adoption did not have a significant impact in its consolidated financial results.

 

k) NIF C-8, “Intangible Assets”:

In 2009, the Company adopted NIF C-8 “Intangible Assets” which is similar to previous Bulletin C-8 “Intangible Assets.” NIF C-8, establishes the rules of valuation, presentation and disclosures for the initial and subsequent recognition of intangible assets that are acquired either individually, through acquisition of an entity, or generated internally in the course of the entity’s operations. This NIF considers intangible assets as non-monetary items, broadens the criteria of identification to include not only if they are separable (asset could be sold, transferred or used by the entity) but also whether they come from contractual or legal rights. NIF C-8 establishes that preoperative costs capitalized before this standard went into effect should have intangible assets characteristics, otherwise preoperative costs must be expensed as incurred. The impact of adopting NIF C-8 was a Ps. 182, net of deferred income tax, regarding prior years preoperative costs that did not have intangible asset characteristics, charged to January 1, 2009 retained earnings in the consolidated financial statements and is presented as a change in accounting principle in the consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity.

 

l) NIF D-8, “Share-Based Payments”:

In 2009, the Company adopted NIF D-8 “Share-Based Payments” which establishes the recognition of share-based payments. When an entity purchases goods or pays for services with equity instruments, the NIF requires the entity to recognize those goods and services at fair value and the corresponding increase in equity. If the entity cannot determine the fair value of goods and services, it should determine if using an indirect method, based on fair value of the equity instruments. This pronouncement substitutes for the supplementary use of IFRS 2 “Share-Based Payments.” The adoption of NIF D-8 did not impact the Company’s financial statements.

 

m) NIF B-8, “Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements”:

NIF B-8 “Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements,” issued in 2008 amends Bulletin B-8 “Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements and Assessment of Permanent Share Investments.” Prior Bulletin B-8 based its

 

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consolidation principle mainly on ownership of the majority voting capital stock. NIF B-8 differs from previous Bulletin B-8 in the following: a) defines control as the power to govern financial and operating policies, b) establishes that there are other facts, such as contractual agreements that have to be considered to determine if an entity exercises control or not, c) defines “Specific-Purpose Entity” (“SPE”), as those entities that are created to achieve a specific purpose and are considered within the scope of this pronouncement, d) establishes new terms as “controlling interest” instead of “majority interest” and “non-controlling interest” instead of “minority interest,” and e) confirms that non-controlling interest must be assessed at fair value at the subsidiary acquisition date. NIF B-8 was applied prospectively, beginning on January 1, 2009. The amendment to the shareholders agreement described in Note 1, allowed the Company to continue to consolidate Coca-Cola FEMSA for Mexican FRS purposes during 2009.

Adoption of IFRS

The Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores (Mexican National Banking and Securities Commission, or CNBV) announced that from 2012, all public companies listed in Mexico must report their financial information in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). Since 2006, the CINIF (Mexican Board of Research and Development of Financial Reporting Standards) has been modifying Mexican Financial Reporting Standards in order to ensure their convergence with IFRS.

The Company will adopt IFRS beginning in January 1, 2012 with a transition date to IFRS of January 1, 2011. The consolidated financial statements of the Company for 2012 will be presented in accordance with IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The SEC has previously changed its rules to allow foreign private issuers that report under IFRS as issued by the IASB to not reconcile their financial statements to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP), (see Note 28).

Note 3. Foreign Subsidiary Incorporation

The accounting records of foreign subsidiaries are maintained in local currency and in accordance with local accounting principles of each country. For incorporation into the Company’s consolidated financial statements, each foreign subsidiary’s individual financial statements are adjusted to Mexican FRS, and translated into Mexican pesos, as described as follows:

 

 

For inflationary economic environments, the inflation effects of the origin country are recognized, and subsequently translated into Mexican pesos using the year-end exchange rate for the balance sheets and income statements; and

 

 

For non-inflationary economic environments, assets and liabilities are translated into Mexican pesos using the year-end exchange rate, stockholders’ equity is translated into Mexican pesos using the historical exchange rate, and the income statement is translated using the average exchange rate of each month.

 

          Local Currencies to Mexican Pesos  
     Functional /
Recording Currency
   Average Exchange
Rate for
     Exchange Rate as of December 31  

Country or Zone

      2011      2010      2009      2011      2010      2009  

Mexico

   Mexican peso    Ps. 1.00       Ps. 1.00       Ps. 1.00       Ps. 1.00       Ps. 1.00       Ps. 1.00   

Guatemala

   Quetzal      1.60         1.57         1.66         1.79         1.54         1.56   

Costa Rica

   Colon      0.02         0.02         0.02         0.03         0.02         0.02   

Panama

   U.S. dollar      12.43         12.64         13.52         13.98         12.36         13.06   

Colombia

   Colombian peso      0.01         0.01         0.01         0.01         0.01         0.01   

Nicaragua

   Cordoba      0.55         0.59         0.67         0.61         0.56         0.63   

Argentina

   Argentine peso      3.01         3.23         3.63         3.25         3.11         3.44   

Venezuela (1)

   Bolivar      2.89         2.97         6.29         3.25         2.87         6.07   

Brazil

   Reai      7.42         7.18         6.83         7.45         7.42         7.50   

Euro Zone

   Euro      17.28         16.74         18.80         18.05         16.41         18.81   

 

  (1) Equals 4.30 bolivars per one U.S. dollar in 2011 and 2010; and 2.15 bolivars per one U.S. dollar for 2009, translated to Mexican pesos applying the year-end exchange rate.

The variations in the net investment in foreign subsidiaries generated by exchange rate fluctuation are included in the cumulative translation adjustment, which is recorded in stockholders’ equity as part of cumulative other comprehensive income (loss).

Beginning in 2010, the government of Venezuela announced the devaluation of the Bolivar (Bs). The official exchange rate of Bs. 2.150 to the dollar, in effect since 2005, was replaced on January 8, 2010, with a dual-rate regime, which allows two official exchange rates, one for essential products of Bs. 2.60 per U.S. dollar and other non-essential products of Bs. 4.30 per

 

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U.S. dollar. According to this, the exchange rate used by the company to convert the information of the operation for this country changed from Bs 2.15 to 4.30 per U.S. dollar in 2010. As a result of this devaluation, the balance sheet of the Coca-Cola FEMSA Venezuelan subsidiary reflected a reduction in other comprehensive income (part of shareholder’s equity) of Ps. 3,700 which was accounted for at the time of the devaluation in January 2010. The Company has operated under exchange controls in Venezuela since 2003 that affect its ability to remit dividends abroad or make payments other than in local currencies and that may increase the real price to us of raw materials purchased in local currency.

During December 2010, authorities of the Venezuelan Government announced the unification of their two fixed U.S. dollar exchange rates to Bs. 4.30 per U.S. dollar, effective January 1, 2011. As a result of this change, the translation of balance sheet of the Coca-Cola FEMSA’s Venezuelan subsidiary did not have an impact in shareholders’ equity, since transactions performed by this subsidiary were already using the Bs. 4.30 exchange rate.

Intercompany financing balances with foreign subsidiaries are considered as long-term investments, since there is no plan to pay such financing in the foreseeable future. Monetary position and exchange rate fluctuation regarding this financing are recorded in equity as part of cumulative translation adjustment, in cumulative other comprehensive income (loss).

The translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies into Mexican pesos is for consolidation purposes and does not indicate that the Company could realize or settle the reported value of those assets and liabilities in Mexican pesos. Additionally, this does not indicate that the Company could return or distribute the reported Mexican peso value equity to its shareholders.

Note 4. Significant Accounting Policies

The Company’s accounting policies are in accordance with Mexican FRS, which require that the Company’s management make certain estimates and use certain assumptions to determine the valuation of various items included in the consolidated financial statements. The Company’s management believes that the estimates and assumptions used were appropriate as of the date of these consolidated financial statements. However actual results are subject to future events and uncertainties, which could materially impact the Company’s actual performance.

The significant accounting policies are as follows:

 

a) Recognition of the Effects of Inflation in Countries with Inflationary Economic Environment:

NIF B-10 establishes two types of inflationary environments: a) inflationary economic environment; this is when cumulative inflation of the three preceding years is 26% or more. In such case, inflation effects are recognized in the financial statements by applying the integral method and the recognized restatement effects for inflationary economic environments is made starting in the period that the entity becomes inflationary; and b) non-inflationary economic environment; this is when cumulative inflation of the three preceding years is less than 26%. In such case, no inflationary effects are recognized in the financial statements, keeping the recognized restatement effects from the last period in which the inflationary accounting was applied.

The Company recognizes the effects of inflation in the financial information of its subsidiaries that operate in inflationary economic environments through the integral method, which consists of:

 

   

Using inflation factors to restate non-monetary assets such as inventories, investments in process, property, plant and equipment, intangible assets, including related costs and expenses when such assets are consumed or depreciated. The imported assets are recorded using the exchange rate of the acquisition date, and are restated using the inflation factors of the country where the asset is acquired for inflationary economic environments;

 

   

Applying the appropriate inflation factors to restate capital stock, additional paid-in capital, retained earnings and the cumulative other comprehensive income/loss by the necessary amount to maintain the purchasing power equivalent in Mexican pesos on the dates such capital was contributed or income was generated up to the date these consolidated financial statements are presented; and

 

   

Including in the Comprehensive Financing Result the gain or loss on monetary position (see Note 4 T).

The Company restates the financial information of its subsidiaries that operate in inflationary economic environments using the consumer price index of each country.

The operations of the Company are classified as follows considering the cumulative inflation of the three preceding years of 2011. The following classification was also applied for the 2010 period:

 

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     Inflation Rate     Cumulative Inflation        
   2011     2010     2009     2010-2008     Type of Economy  

Mexico

     3.8     4.4     3.6     15.2     Non-Inflationary   

Guatemala

     6.2     5.4     (0.3 )%      15.0     Non-Inflationary   

Colombia

     3.7     3.2     2.0     13.3     Non-Inflationary   

Brazil

     6.5     5.9     4.1     17.4     Non-Inflationary   

Panama

     6.3     4.9     1.9     14.1     Non-Inflationary   

Euro Zone

     2.7     2.2     0.9     4.3     Non-Inflationary   

Argentina

     9.5     10.9     7.7     28.1     Inflationary   

Venezuela

     27.6     27.2     25.1     108.2     Inflationary   

Nicaragua(1)

     7.6     9.2     0.9     25.4     Inflationary   

Costa Rica(1)

     4.7     5.8     4.0     25.4     Inflationary   

 

  (1) Costa Rica and Nicaragua have been considered inflationary economies in 2009, 2010 and 2011. While the cumulative inflation for 2008-2010 was less than 26%, inflationary trends in these countries continue to support this classification.

 

b) Cash and Cash Equivalents and Investments:

Cash and Cash Equivalents:

Cash is measured at nominal value and consists of non-interest bearing bank deposits and restricted cash. Cash equivalents consisting principally of short-term bank deposits and fixed-rate investments with original maturities of three months or less are recorded at its acquisition cost plus accrued interest income not yet received, which is similar to listed market prices.

 

     2011      2010  

Mexican pesos

   Ps. 7,642       Ps. 11,207   

U.S. dollars

     13,752         12,652   

Brazilian reais

     1,745         1,792   

Euros

     785         531   

Venezuelan bolivars

     1,668         460   

Colombian pesos

     471         213   

Argentine pesos

     131         153   

Others

     135         89   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   Ps. 26,329       Ps. 27,097   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company has restricted cash which is pledged as collateral of accounts payable in different currencies as follows:

 

     2011      2010  

Venezuelan bolivars

   Ps. 324       Ps. 143   

Argentine pesos

     —           2   

Brazilian reais

     164         249   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   Ps. 488       Ps. 394   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, cash equivalents amounted to Ps. 17,908 and Ps. 19,770, respectively.

Investments:

Investments consist of debt securities and bank deposits with maturities more than three months. Management determines the appropriate classification of investments of the time of purchase and reevaluates such designation as of each balance date. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010 investments are classified as available-for-sale and held-to maturity.

Available-for-sale investments are carried at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, reported in other comprehensive income. Interest and dividends on investments classified as available-for-sale are included in interest income. The fair values of the investments are readily available based on quoted market prices.

 

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Held-to maturity investments are those that the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity, and are carried at acquisition cost which includes any cost of purchase and premium or discount related to the investment which is amortized over the life of the investment based on its outstanding balance. Interest and dividends on investments classified as held-to maturity are included in interest income. The carrying value of Held-to maturity investments is similar to its fair value. The following is a detail of available-for-sale and held-to maturity investments.

 

Available-for-Sale              

Debt Securities

   2011      2010  

Acquisition cost

   Ps. 326       Ps. 66   

Unrealized gross gain

     4         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Fair value

   Ps. 330       Ps. 66   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
Held-to Maturity (1)              

Bank Deposits

             

Acquisition cost

   Ps. 993       Ps. —     

Accrued interest

     6         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amortized cost

   Ps. 999       Ps. —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments

   Ps. 1,329       Ps. 66   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (1) Investments contracted in euros at a fixed interest rate and maturing on April 2, 2012.

 

c) Accounts Receivable:

Accounts receivable representing exigible rights arising from sales, services and loans to employees or any other similar concept, are measured at their realizable value and are presented net of discounts and allowance for doubtful accounts.

Allowance for doubtful accounts is based on an evaluation of the aging of the receivable portfolio and the economic situation of the Company’s clients, as well as the Company’s historical loss rate on receivables and the economic environment in which the Company operates. The carrying value of accounts receivable approximates its fair value as of both December 31, 2011 and 2010.

Coca-Cola FEMSA has accounts receivable from The Coca-Cola Company arising from the latter’s participation in advertising and promotional programs and investment in refrigeration equipment and returnable bottles made by Coca-Cola FEMSA (see Note 4 L).

 

d) Inventories and Cost of Sales:

Inventories are measured at the lower of cost or net realizable value.

The cost of inventories is based on the weighted average cost formula and the operating segments of the Company use inventory costing methodologies to value their inventories, such as the standard cost method in Coca-Cola FEMSA and retail method in FEMSA Comercio.

Cost of sales based on average cost is determined based on the average amount of the inventories at the time of sale. Cost of sales includes expenses related to raw materials used in the production process, labor cost (wages and other benefits), depreciation of production facilities, equipment and other costs such as fuel, electricity, breakage of returnable bottles in the production process, equipment maintenance, inspection and plant transfer costs.

 

e) Other Current Assets:

Other current assets are comprised of payments for goods and services whose inherent risks and benefits have not been transferred to the Company and that will be received over the next 12 months, the fair market value of derivative financial instruments with maturity dates of less than one year (see Note 4 U), and long-lived assets available for sale that will be sold within the following year.

Prepaid expenses principally consist of advances to suppliers of raw materials, advertising, promotional, leasing and insurance expenses, and are recognized in the appropriate balance sheet or income statement caption when the risks and benefits have already been transferred to the Company and/or goods, services or benefits are received.

 

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Advertising costs consist of television and radio advertising airtime paid in advance, and is generally amortized over a 12-month period based on the transmission of the television and radio spots. The related production costs are recognized in income from operations the first time the advertising is broadcasted.

Promotional expenses are recognized as incurred, except for those promotional costs related to the launching of new products or presentations before they are on the market. These costs are recorded as prepaid expenses and amortized over the period during which they are estimated to increase sales of the related products or container presentations to normal operating levels, which is generally no longer than one year.

The long-lived assets available-for-sale are recorded at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Long-lived assets are subject to impairment tests (see Note 8).

 

f) Capitalization of Comprehensive Financing Result:

Comprehensive financing result directly attributable to qualifying assets has to be capitalized as part of acquisition cost, except for interest income obtained from temporary investments while the entity is waiting to invest in the qualifying asset. Comprehensive financing result of long-term financing clearly linked to qualifying assets is capitalized directly. When comprehensive financing result of direct or indirect financing is not clearly linked to qualifying assets, the Company capitalizes the proportional comprehensive financing result attributable to those qualifying assets by the weighted average interest rate of each business, including the effects of derivative financial instruments related to that financing.

 

g) Investments in Shares:

Investments in shares of associated companies where the Company holds 10% or more of a public company, 25% or more of a non-public company, or exercises significant influence according to NIF C-7 (see Note 2 J), are initially recorded at their acquisition cost as of acquisition date and are subsequently accounted for by the equity method. In order to apply the equity method from associates, the Company uses the investee’s financial statements for the same period as the Company’s consolidated financial statements and converts them to Mexican FRS if the investee reports financial information in a different GAAP. Equity method income from associates is presented in the consolidated income statements as part of the income from continuing operations.

Goodwill identified at the investment’s acquisition date is presented as part of the investment of shares of an associate in the consolidated balance sheet.

On May 1, 2010, the Company started to account for its 20% interest in Heineken Group under the equity method (see Notes 5 B and 9). Heineken is an international company which prepares its information based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The Company has analyzed differences between Mexican FRS and IFRS to reconcile Heineken’s net controlling interest income and comprehensive income as required by NIF C-7, in order to estimate the impact on its figures.

Investments in affiliated companies in which the Company does not have significant influence are recorded at acquisition cost and restated using the consumer price index if that entity operates in an inflationary economic environment.

 

h) Property, Plant and Equipment:

Property, plant and equipment are initially recorded at their cost of acquisition and/or construction. The comprehensive financing result related to the acquisition or construction of qualifying asset is capitalized as part of the cost of that asset. Major maintenance costs are capitalized as part of total acquisition cost. Routine maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred. Property, plant and equipment also may include costs of dismantling and removing the items and restoring the site on which they are located. In 2011 Returnable bottles are also part of property, plant and equipment and 2010 has been also aggregated to conform this presentation.

Investments in fixed assets in progress consist of property, plant and equipment not yet in service, in other words, that are not yet used for the purpose that they were bought, built or developed. The Company expects to complete those investments during the following 12 months.

Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over acquisition cost, reduced by their residual values. Where an item of property, plant and equipment comprises major components having different useful lives, they are accounted and depreciated for as separate items (major components) of property, plant and equipment. The Company estimates depreciation rates, considering the estimated useful lives of the assets, which along with residual value is reviewed, and modified if appropriate, at each financial year-end.

 

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The estimated useful lives of the Company’s principal assets are as follows:

 

     Years  

Buildings

     40–50   

Machinery

     12–20   

Distribution equipment

     10–12   

Refrigeration equipment

     5–7   

Returnable bottles

     1.5–4   

Information technology equipment

     3–5   

Returnable and Non-Returnable Bottles:

The Company has two types of bottles: returnable and non-returnable.

 

   

Non returnable: Are recorded in the results of operations at the time of product sale.

 

   

Returnable: Are classified as long-lived assets as a component of property, plant and equipment.

Returnable bottles are recorded at acquisition cost, and for countries with inflationary economy they are restated by applying inflation factors as of the balance sheet date, according to NIF B-10.

There are two types of returnable bottles:

 

   

Those that are in the Company’s control within its facilities, plants and distribution centers; and

 

   

Those that have been placed in the hands of customers, but still belong to the Company.

Depreciation of returnable bottles is computed using the straight-line method over acquisition cost. The Company estimates depreciation rates considering their estimated useful lives.

Returnable bottles that have been placed in the hands of customers are subject to an agreement with a retailer pursuant to which the Company retains ownership. These bottles are monitored by sales personnel during periodic visits to retailers and the Company has the right to charge any breakage identified to the retailer. Bottles that are not subject to such agreements are expensed when placed in the hands of retailers.

The Company’s returnable bottles in the market and for which a deposit from customers has been received are presented net of such deposits, and the difference between the cost of these assets and the deposits received is depreciated according to their useful lives.

Leasing Contracts:

The Company leases assets such as property, land, and transportation, machinery and computer equipments.

Leases are capitalized if: i) the contract transfers ownership of the leased asset to the lessee at the end of the lease, ii) the contract contains an option to purchase the asset at a bargain purchase price, iii) the lease period is substantially equal to the remaining useful life of the leased asset or iv) the present value of future minimum payments at the inception of the lease is substantially equal to the market value of the leased asset, net of any residual value.

When the inherent risks and benefits of a leased asset remains substantially with the lessor, leases are classified as operating and rent is charged to results of operations as incurred.

 

i) Other Assets:

Other assets represent payments whose benefits will be received in future years and mainly consist of the following:

 

   

Agreements with customers for the right to sell and promote the Company’s products during certain periods of time, which are considered monetary assets and amortized under the straight-line method over the life of the contract.

 

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The amortization is recorded reducing net sales, which during years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, amounted to Ps. 803, Ps. 553 and Ps. 604, respectively.

 

   

Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method, over the shorter of the useful life of the assets and the period of the lease. The amortization of leasehold improvements as of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were Ps. 590, Ps. 518 and Ps. 471, respectively.

 

j) Intangible Assets:

Intangible assets represent payments whose benefits will be received in future years. These assets are classified as either intangible assets with a finite useful life or intangible assets with an indefinite useful life, in accordance with the period over which the Company is expected to receive the benefits.

Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized and mainly consist of:

 

   

Information technology and management systems costs incurred during the development stage which are currently in use. Such amounts were capitalized and then amortized using the straight-line method over the useful life of those assets. Expenses that do not fulfill the requirements for capitalization are expensed as incurred.

 

   

Other computer systems cost in the development stage, not yet in use. Such amounts are capitalized as they are expected to add value such as income or cost savings in the future. Such amounts will be amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful life after they are placed in service.

 

   

Long-term alcohol licenses are amortized using the straight-line method, and are presented as part of intangible assets of finite useful life.

Intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized and are subject to annual impairment tests or more frequently if necessary. These assets are recorded in the functional currency of the subsidiary in which the investment was made and are subsequently translated into Mexican pesos applying the closing rate of each period. Where inflationary accounting is applied, the intangible assets are restated applying inflation factors of the country of origin and then translated into Mexican pesos at the year-end exchange rate. The Company’s intangible assets with indefinite lives mainly consist of rights to produce and distribute Coca-Cola trademark products in the territories acquired. These rights are contained in agreements that are standard contracts that The Coca-Cola Company has with its bottlers.

There are seven bottler agreements for Coca-Cola FEMSA’s territories in Mexico; two expire in June 2013, two expire in May 2015 and additionally three contracts that arose from the merger with Grupo Tampico and CIMSA, expire in September 2014, April and July 2016. The bottler agreement for Argentina expires in September 2014, for Brazil expires in April 2014, in Colombia in June 2014, in Venezuela in August 2016, in Guatemala in March 2015, in Costa Rica in September 2017, in Nicaragua in May 2016 and in Panama in November 2014. All of the Company’s bottler agreements are automatically renewable for ten-year terms, subject to the right of each party to decide not to renew any of these agreements. In addition, these agreements generally may be terminated in the case of material breach. Termination would prevent Coca-Cola FEMSA from selling Coca-Cola trademark beverages in the affected territory and would have an adverse effect on its business, financial conditions, results from operations and prospects.

Goodwill represents the excess of the acquisition cost over the fair value in identifiable net assets on the acquisition date. It equates to synergies both existing in the acquired operations and those further expected to be realized upon integration. Goodwill is recognized separately and is carried at cost, less accumulated impairment losses.

 

k) Impairment of Investments in Shares, Long-Lived Assets and Goodwill:

The Company reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets and goodwill for impairment and determines whether impairment exists, by comparing the book value of the assets with its fair value which is calculated using recognized methodologies. In case of impairment, the Company records the resulting fair value.

For depreciable and amortizable long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment and certain other definite long–lived assets, the Company performs tests for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or group of assets may not be recoverable through their expected future cash flows.

For indefinite life intangible assets, such as distribution rights and trademarks, the Company tests for impairment on an annual basis and whenever certain circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of those intangible assets exceeds its implied fair value calculated using recognized methodologies consistent with them.

 

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For goodwill, the Company tests for impairment on an annual basis and whenever certain circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the reporting unit might exceed its implied fair value.

For investments in shares, including its goodwill, the Company performs impairment tests whenever certain events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may exceed fair value. When the events or circumstances are considered by the Company as an evidence of impairment that is other than temporary, a loss in value is recognized. Impairment charges regarding long-lived assets and goodwill are recognized in other expenses and charges regarding investments in shares are recognized as a decrease in the equity income method of the period.

Impairments regarding amortizable and indefinite life intangible assets are presented in Note 11. No impairment was recognized regarding to depreciable long-lived assets, goodwill nor investments in shares.

 

l) Payments from The Coca-Cola Company:

The Coca-Cola Company participates in certain advertising and promotional programs as well as in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s refrigeration equipment and returnable bottles investment program. The contributions received for advertising and promotional incentives are included as a reduction of selling expenses. The contributions received for the refrigeration equipment and returnable bottles investment program are recorded as a reduction of the investment in refrigeration equipment and returnable bottles. Total contributions received were Ps. 2,561, Ps. 2,386 and Ps. 1,945 during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

m) Employee Benefits:

Employee benefits include obligations for pension and retirement plans, seniority premiums, postretirement medical services and severance indemnity liabilities other than restructuring, all based on actuarial calculations, using the projected unit credit method. Costs related to compensated absences, such as vacations and vacation premiums, are recognized on an accrual basis.

Employee benefits are considered to be non-monetary and are determined using long-term assumptions. The yearly cost of employee benefits is charged to income from operations and labor cost of past services is recorded as expenses over the remaining working life period of the employees.

Certain subsidiaries of the Company have established funds for the payment of pension benefits, seniority premiums and postretirement medical services through irrevocable trusts of which the employees are named as beneficiaries.

 

n) Contingencies:

The Company recognizes a liability for a loss when it is probable that certain effects related to past events, would materialize and could be reasonably estimated. These events and its financial impact are disclosed as loss contingencies in the consolidated financial statements and include penalties, interests and any other charge related to contingencies. The Company does not recognize an asset for a gain contingency unless it is certain that will be collected.

 

o) Commitments:

The Company discloses all its commitments regarding material long-lived assets acquisitions, and all contractual obligations (see Note 24 F).

 

p) Revenue Recognition:

Revenue is recognized in accordance with stated shipping terms, as follows:

 

   

For Coca-Cola FEMSA sales of products are recognized as revenue upon delivery to the customer and once the customer has taken ownership of the goods. Net sales reflect units delivered at list prices reduced by promotional allowances, discounts and the amortization of the agreements with customers to obtain the rights to sell and promote the products of Coca-Cola FEMSA; and

 

   

For FEMSA Comercio retail sales, net revenues are recognized when the product is delivered to customers, and customers take possession of products.

During 2007 and 2008, Coca-Cola FEMSA sold certain of its private label brands to The Coca-Cola Company. Proceeds received from The Coca-Cola Company were initially deferred and are being amortized against the related costs of future product sales over the estimated period of such sales. The balance of unearned revenues as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 amounted to Ps. 302 and Ps. 547, respectively. The short-term portions of such amounts which are presented as other current liabilities, amounted Ps. 197 and Ps. 276 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

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q) Operating Expenses:

Operating expenses are comprised of administrative and selling expenses. Administrative expenses include labor costs (salaries and other benefits) of employees not directly involved in the sale of the Company’s products, as well as professional service fees, depreciation of office facilities and amortization of capitalized information technology system implementation costs.

Selling expenses include:

 

   

Distribution: labor costs (salaries and other benefits); outbound freight costs, warehousing costs of finished products, breakage of returnable bottles in the distribution process, depreciation and maintenance of trucks and other distribution facilities and equipment. For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, these distribution costs amounted to Ps. 15,125, Ps. 12,774 and Ps. 13,395, respectively;

 

   

Sales: labor costs (salaries and other benefits) and sales commissions paid to sales personnel; and

 

   

Marketing: labor costs (salaries and other benefits), promotional expenses and advertising costs.

 

r) Other Expenses:

Other expenses include Employee Profit Sharing (“PTU”), gains or losses on disposals of long-lived assets, impairment of long-lived assets, contingencies reserves as well as their subsequent interest and penalties, severance payments derived from restructuring programs and all other non-recurring expenses related to activities different from the main activities of the Company that are not recognized as part of the comprehensive financing result.

PTU is applicable to Mexico and Venezuela. In Mexico, employee profit sharing is computed at the rate of 10% of the individual company taxable income, except for considering cumulative dividends received from resident legal persons in Mexico, depreciation of historical rather restated values, foreign exchange gains and losses, which are not included until the asset is disposed of or the liability is due and other effects of inflation are also excluded. In Venezuela, employee profit sharing is computed at a rate equivalent to 15% of after tax income, and it is no more than four months of salary.

According to the assets and liabilities method described in NIF D-4 Income Taxes, the Company does not expect relevant deferred items to materialize. As a result, the Company has not recognized deferred employee profit sharing as of either December 31, 2011, 2010 or 2009.

Severance indemnities resulting from a restructuring program and associated with an ongoing benefit arrangement are charged to other expenses on the date when the Company has made the decision to dismiss personnel under a formal program or for specific causes.

 

s) Income Taxes:

Income tax is charged to results as incurred, as are deferred income taxes. For purposes of recognizing the effects of deferred income taxes in the consolidated financial statements, the Company utilizes both retrospective and prospective analysis over the medium term when more than one tax regime exists per jurisdiction and recognizes the amount based on the tax regime it expects to be subject to, in the future. Deferred income taxes assets and liabilities are recognized for temporary differences resulting from comparing the book and tax values of assets and liabilities plus any future benefits from tax loss carryforwards. Deferred income tax assets are reduced by any benefits for which it is more likely than not that they are not realizable.

The balance of deferred taxes is comprised of monetary and non-monetary items, based on the temporary differences from which it is derived. Deferred taxes are classified as a long-term asset or liability, regardless of when the temporary differences are expected to reverse.

The Company determines deferred taxes for temporary differences of its permanent investments.

The deferred tax provision to be included in the income statement is determined by comparing the deferred tax balance at the end of the year to the balance at the beginning of the year, excluding from both balances any temporary differences that are recorded directly in stockholders’ equity. The deferred taxes related to such temporary differences are recorded in the same stockholders’ equity account that gave rise to them.

 

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t) Comprehensive Financing Result:

Comprehensive financing result includes interest, foreign exchange gain and losses, market value gain or loss on ineffective portion of derivative financial instruments and gain or loss on monetary position, except for those amounts capitalized and those that are recognized as part of the cumulative comprehensive income (loss). The components of the Comprehensive Financing Result are described as follows:

 

   

Interest: Interest income and expenses are recorded when earned or incurred, respectively, except for interest capitalized on the financing of long-term assets;

 

   

Foreign Exchange Gains and Losses: Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded in local currencies using the exchange rate applicable on the date they occur. Assets and liabilities in foreign currencies are adjusted to the year-end exchange rate, recording the resulting foreign exchange gain or loss directly in the income statement, except for the foreign exchange gain or loss from the intercompany financing foreign currency denominated balances that are considered to be of a long-term investment nature and the foreign exchange gain or loss from the financing of long-term assets (see Note 3);

 

   

Gain or Loss on Monetary Position: The gain or loss on monetary position results from the changes in the general price level of monetary accounts of those subsidiaries that operate in inflationary environments (see Note 4 A), which is determined by applying inflation factors of the country of origin to the net monetary position at the beginning of each month and excluding the intercompany financing in foreign currency that is considered as long-term investment because of its nature (see Note 3), as well as the gain or loss on monetary position from long-term liabilities to finance long-term assets, and

 

   

Market Value Gain or Loss on Ineffective Portion of Derivative Financial Instruments: Represents the net change in the fair value of the ineffective portion of derivative financial instruments, the net change in the fair value of those derivative financial instruments that do not meet hedging criteria for accounting purposes; and the net change in the fair value of embedded derivative financial instruments.

 

u) Derivative Financial Instruments:

The Company is exposed to different risks related to cash flows, liquidity, market and credit. As a result the Company contracts in different derivative financial instruments in order to reduce its exposure to the risk of exchange rate fluctuations between the Mexican peso and other currencies, the risk of exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations associated with its borrowings denominated in foreign currencies and the exposure to the risk of fluctuation in the costs of certain raw materials.

The Company values and records all derivative financial instruments and hedging activities, including certain derivative financial instruments embedded in other contracts, in the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at fair value, considering quoted prices in recognized markets. If such instruments are not traded in a formal market, fair value is determined by applying techniques based upon technical models supported by sufficient, reliable and verifiable market data, recognized in the financial sector. Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments are recorded each year in current earnings or as a component of cumulative other comprehensive income (loss), based on the item being hedged and the ineffectiveness of the hedge.

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the balance in other current assets of derivative financial instruments was Ps. 511 and Ps. 24 (see Note 8), and in other assets Ps. 850 and Ps. 708 (see Note 12), respectively. The Company recognized liabilities regarding derivative financial instruments in other current liabilities of Ps. 69 and Ps. 41 (see Note 24 A), as of the end of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and other liabilities of Ps. 565 and Ps. 653 (see Note 24 B) for the same periods.

The Company designates its financial instruments as cash flows hedges at the inception of the hedging relationship when transactions meet all hedging accounting requirements. For cash flows hedges, the effective portion is recognized temporarily in cumulative other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders’ equity and subsequently reclassified to current earnings at the same time the hedged item is recorded in earnings. When derivative financial instruments do not meet all of the accounting requirements for hedging purposes, the change in fair value is immediately recognized in net income. For fair value hedges, the changes in the fair value are recorded in the consolidated results in the period the change occurs as part of the market value gain or loss on ineffective portion of derivative financial instruments.

The Company identifies embedded derivatives that should be segregated from the host contract for purposes of valuation and recognition. When an embedded derivative is identified and the host contract has not been stated at fair value, the embedded derivative is segregated from the host contract, stated at fair value and is classified as trading. Changes in the fair value of the embedded derivatives at the closing of each period are recognized in the consolidated results.

 

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v) Cumulative Other Comprehensive Income (OCI):

The cumulative other comprehensive income represents the period net income as described in NIF B-3 “Income Statement,” plus the cumulative translation adjustment resulted from translation of foreign subsidiaries and associates to Mexican pesos and the effect of unrealized gain/loss on cash flows hedges from derivative financial instruments.

 

     2011      2010  

Unrealized gain on cash flows hedges

   Ps.  367       Ps.  140   

Cumulative translation adjustment

     5,463         6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   Ps.  5,830       Ps.  146   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The changes in the cumulative translation adjustment (“CTA”) were as follows:

 

     2011      2010     2009  

Initial balance

   Ps.  6       Ps.  2,894      Ps.  (826)   

Recycling of CTA from FEMSA Cerveza business (see Note 5 B)

     —           (1,418     —     

Gain (loss) translation effect

     5,436         (3,031     2,183   

Foreign exchange effect from intercompany long-term loans

     21         1,561        1,537   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

   Ps.  5,463       Ps.  6      Ps. 2,894   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

The changes in the deferred income tax from the cumulative translation adjustment amounted to a provision of Ps. 2,779 and a credit of Ps. 352 for the years ended December 2011 and 2010, respectively (see Note 23 C).

 

w) Provisions:

Provisions are recognized for obligations that result from a past event that will probably result in the use of economic resources and that can be reasonably estimated. Such provisions are recorded at net present values when the effect of the discount is significant. The Company has recognized provisions regarding contingencies and vacations in the consolidated financial statements.

 

x) Issuances of Subsidiary Stock:

The Company recognizes issuances of a subsidiary’s stock as a capital transaction. The difference between the book value of the shares issued and the amount contributed by the non-controlling interest holder or a third party is recorded as additional paid-in capital.

 

y) Earnings per Share:

Earnings per share are determined by dividing net controlling interest income by the average weighted number of shares outstanding during the period.

Earnings per share before discontinued operations are calculated by dividing consolidated net income before discontinued operations by the average weighted number of shares outstanding during the period.

Earnings per share from discontinued operations are calculated by dividing net income from discontinued operations plus income from the exchange of shares with Heineken, net of taxes, by the average weighted number of shares outstanding during the period.

 

z) Information by Segment:

The analytical information by segment is presented considering the business units (Subholding Companies as defined in Note 1) and geographic areas in which the Company operates, which is consistent with the internal reporting presented to the Chief Operating Decision Maker, which is considered to be the main authority of the entity. A segment is a component of the Company that engages in business activities from which it earns or is in the process of obtaining revenues, and incurs in the

 

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related costs and expenses, including revenues and costs and expenses that relate to transactions with any of Company’s other components. All segments’ operating results are reviewed regularly by the Chief Operating Decision Maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and to assess its performance, and for which financial information is available.

The main indicators used by the Chief Operating Decision Maker to evaluate performance of the Company in each segment are its income from operations and cash flow from operations before changes in working capital and provisions, which the Company defined as the result of subtracting cost of sales and operating expenses from total revenues and income from operations plus depreciation and amortization, respectively. Inter-segment transfers or transactions are entered and presented into under accounting policies of each segment which are the same to those applied by the Company. Intercompany operations are eliminated and presented within the consolidation adjustment column included in the table in Note 25. Unallocated results items comprise other expenses, net and other net finance expenses (see Note 25).

 

aa) Business Combinations:

Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting which includes an allocation of the estimated fair value of the purchase price to the net assets acquired. Once the purchase price has been allocated, the Company measures its goodwill, as the fair value of the consideration transferred including any contingent consideration less the net recognized amount of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

The valuation of the identifiable assets, in particular intangible assets related distribution rights, requires the Company to make significant assumptions, and also require judgments and estimates. A change in any of these estimates or judgments could change the amount of the purchase price to be allocated to the particular asset or liability and goodwill could be affected by these changes.

Cost related to the acquisition, other than those associated with the issue of debt or equity securities, that the Company incurs in connection with the business combination are expensed as incurred as part of the administrative expenses.

Note 5. Acquisitions and Disposals

 

a) Acquisitions:

Coca-Cola FEMSA made certain business acquisitions that were recorded using the purchase method. The results of the acquired operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements since Coca-Cola FEMSA obtained control of acquired businesses as disclosed below. Therefore, the consolidated income statements and the consolidated balance sheets in the years of such acquisitions are not comparable with previous periods. The consolidated cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2009 show the acquired operations net of the cash related to those acquisitions. In 2010 the Company did not have any significant business combinations.

 

  i) On October 10, 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA completed the acquisition of 100% of Administradora de Acciones del Noreste, S.A. de C.V. (“Grupo Tampico”) a bottler of Coca-Cola trademark products in the states of Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí and Veracruz; as well as in parts of the states of Hidalgo, Puebla and Queretaro. This acquisition was made so as to reinforce the Coca-Cola FEMSA’s leadership position in Mexico and Latin America. The transaction involved: (i) the issuance of 63,500,000 shares of previously unissued Coca-Cola FEMSA L shares, and (ii) the assumption of certain debt of Ps. 2,436, in exchange for 100% share ownership of Grupo Tampico, which was accomplished through a merger. The total purchase price was Ps. 10,264 based on a share price of 123.27 per share on October 10, 2011. Transaction related costs of Ps. 20 were expensed by the Coca-Cola FEMSA as incurred as required by Mexican FRS, and recorded as a component of administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. Grupo Tampico was included in operating results from October, 2011.

The Coca-Cola FEMSA’s estimate of fair value of the Grupo Tampico’s net assets acquired is as follows:

 

Total current assets, including cash acquired of Ps. 22

   Ps.  461   

Total non-current assets

     2,529   

Distribution rights

     5,499   

Goodwill

     2,579   
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     11,068   
  

 

 

 

Debt

     (2,436

Other liabilities

     (804
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     (3,240
  

 

 

 

Net assets acquired

     7,828   
  

 

 

 

Consideration transfered through issuance of shares

   Ps. 7,828   

Debt paid by Coca-Cola FEMSA

     2,436   
  

 

 

 

Total purchase price

     10,264   
  

 

 

 

 

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The condensed income statement of Grupo Tampico for the period from October 10 to December 31, 2011 is as follows:

 

Income Statement

  

Total revenues

     Ps.  1,056   

Income from operations

     117   

Income before taxes

     43   
  

 

 

 

Net income

     Ps.       31   
  

 

 

 

 

  ii) On December 9, 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA completed the acquisition of 100% of Corporación de los Angeles, S.A. de C.V. (“Grupo CIMSA”), a bottler of Coca-Cola trademark products, which operates mainly in the states of Morelos and Mexico, as well as in parts of the states of Guerrero and Michoacan, Mexico. This acquisition was also made so as to reinforce the Coca-Cola FEMSA’s leadership position in Mexico and Latin America. The transaction involved the issuance of 75,423,728 shares of previously unissued Coca-Cola FEMSA L shares along with the cash payment prior to closing of Ps. 2,100 in exchange for 100% share ownership of Grupo CIMSA, which was accomplished through a merger. The total purchase price was Ps. 11,117 based on a share price of Ps. 119.55 per share on December 9, 2011. Transaction related costs of Ps. 24 were expensed by the Coca-Cola FEMSA as incurred as required by Mexican FRS, and recorded as a component of administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. Grupo CIMSA was included in operating results from December 2011.

Coca-Cola FEMSA, preliminary estimate of fair value of the Grupo CIMSA’s net assets acquired is as follows:

 

Total current assets, including cash acquired of Ps. 188

   Ps.  737   

Total non-current assets

     2,802   

Distribution rights

     6,228   

Goodwill

     1,936   
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     11,703   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     (586
  

 

 

 

Net assets acquired

     11,117   
  

 

 

 

Consideration transfered through issuance of shares

   Ps.  9,017   

Cash paid by Coca-Cola FEMSA

     2,100   
  

 

 

 

Total purchase price

     11,117   
  

 

 

 

Coca-Cola FEMSA’s purchase price allocation is preliminary in nature in that its estimation of the fair value of property and equipment and distribution rights is pending receipt of final valuation reports by a third-party valuation experts. To date, only draft reports have been received.

The condensed income statement of Grupo CIMSA for the period from December 12, to December 31, 2011 is as follows:

 

Total revenues

     Ps.   429   

Income from operations

     60   

Income before taxes

     32   
  

 

 

 

Net income

     Ps.     23   
  

 

 

 

 

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  iii) On February 27, 2009, Coca-Cola FEMSA, along with The Coca-Cola Company, completed the acquisition of certain assets of the Brisa bottled water business in Colombia. This acquisition was made so as to strengthen Coca-Cola FEMSA’s position in the local water business in Colombia. The Brisa bottled water business was previously owned by a subsidiary of SABMiller. Terms of the transaction called for an initial purchase price of $92, of which $46 was paid by Coca-Cola FEMSA and $46 by The Coca-Cola Company. The Brisa brand and certain other intangible assets were acquired by The Coca-Cola Company, while production related property and equipment and inventory was acquired by Coca-Cola FEMSA. Coca-Cola FEMSA also acquired the distribution rights over Brisa products in its Colombian territory. In addition to the initial purchase price, contingent purchase consideration also existed related to the net revenues of the Brisa bottled water business subsequent to the acquisition. The total purchase price incurred by Coca-Cola FEMSA was Ps. 730, consisting of Ps. 717 in cash payments, and accrued liabilities of Ps. 13. Transaction related costs were expensed by Coca-Cola FEMSA as incurred, as required by Mexican FRS. Following a transition period, Brisa was included in Coca-Cola FEMSA’s operating results beginning June 1, 2009.

The estimated fair value of Brisa’s net assets acquired by Coca-Cola FEMSA is as follows:

 

Production related property and equipment, at fair value

     Ps.   95   

Distribution rights, at fair value, with an indefinite life

     635   
  

 

 

 

Net assets acquired / purchase price

     Ps. 730   
  

 

 

 

Brisa’s results operation for the period from the acquisition through December 31, 2009 were not material to our consolidated results of operations.

 

  iv) Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Data.

The following unaudited consolidated pro forma financial data represent the Company’s historical financial statements, adjusted to give effect to (i) the acquisitions of Grupo Tampico and Grupo CIMSA mentioned in the preceding paragraphs; and (ii) certain accounting adjustments mainly related to the pro forma depreciation of fixed assets of the acquired companies.

The unaudited pro forma adjustments assume that the acquisitions were made at the beginning of the year immediately preceding the year of acquisition, and are based upon available information and other assumptions that management considers reasonable. The pro forma financial information data does not purport to represent what the effect on the Company’s consolidated operations would have been for each year, had the transactions in fact occurred on January 1, 2010, nor are they intended to predict the Company’s future results of operations.

 

     FEMSA unaudited pro forma
consolidated results for the  years

ended December 31,
 
     2011      2010  

Total revenues

   Ps.  212,264       Ps.  177,857   

Income before income taxes

     29,296         24,268   

Consolidated net income before discontinued operations

     21,319         18,389   

Net controlling interest income before discontinued operations per share Series “B”

     0.77         0.66   

Net controlling interest income before discontinued operations per share Series “D”

     0.96         0.82   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

b) Disposals:

 

  i) On April 30, 2010 FEMSA exchanged 100% of FEMSA Cerveza, the beer business unit, for 20% economic interest in Heineken. Under the terms of the agreement, FEMSA exchanged its beer business and received 43,018,320 shares of Heineken Holding N.V., and 72,182,203 shares of Heineken N.V., of which 29,172,504 will be delivered pursuant to an allotted share delivery instrument (“ASDI”). Those shares are considered in substance common stock due to its similarity to common stock, such as rights to receive the same dividends as any other share. Under the ASDI, it was expected that the allotted shares would be acquired by Heineken in the secondary market for delivery to FEMSA over a term not to exceed five years. As of December 31, 2011, the process of delivery of all shares has been completed (and 10,240,553 shares had been delivered to the Company as of December 31, 2010) (see Note 9).

 

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The total transaction was valued approximately at $7,347, including assumed debt of $2,100, based on shares closing prices of € 35.18 for Heineken N.V., and € 30.82 for Heineken Holding N.V. on April 30, 2010. The Company recorded a net gain after taxes that amounted to Ps. 26,623 which is the difference between the fair value of the consideration received and the book value of FEMSA Cerveza as of April 30, 2010; a deferred income tax of Ps. 10,379 (see “Income from the exchange of shares with Heineken, net of taxes” in the consolidated income statements and Note 23 C), and recycling Ps. 525 (see consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity) from other comprehensive income which are integrated of Ps.1,418 accounted as a gain of cumulative translation adjustment and Ps. 893 as a mark to market loss on derivatives in cumulative comprehensive loss. Additionally, the Company maintained a loss contingency of Ps. 560 as of December 31, 2010, regarding the indemnification accorded with Heineken over FEMSA Cerveza prior tax contingencies. This contingency amounted to Ps. 445 as of December 31, 2011 and Ps. 113 has been reclassified to other current liabilities (see Note 24 B).

As of the date of the exchange, the Company lost control over FEMSA Cerveza and stopped consolidating its financial information and accounted for the 20% economic interest of Heineken acquired by the purchase method as established in NIF C-7 “Investments in Associates and Other Permanent Investments.” Subsequently, this investment in shares has been accounted for by the equity method, because of the Company’s significant influence.

After purchase price adjustments, the Company identified intangible assets of indefinite and finite life brands and goodwill that amounted to € 15,274 million and € 1,200 million respectively and increased certain operating assets and liabilities to fair value, which are presented as part of the investment in shares of Heineken within the consolidated financial statement.

The fair values of the proportional assets acquired and liabilities assumed as part of this transaction are as follows:

 

In millions of euros

   Heineken Figures
at Fair Value
     Fair Value of Proportional
Net Assets Acquired by
FEMSA (20%)
 

ASSETS

     

Property, plant and equipment

     8,506         1,701   

Intangible assets

     15,274         3,055   

Other assets

     4,025         805   

Total non-current assets

     27,805         5,561   

Inventories

     1,579         316   

Trade and other receivable

     3,240         648   

Other assets

     1,000         200   

Total current assets

     5,819         1,164   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

     33,624         6,725   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

     

Loans and borrowings

     9,551         1,910   

Employee benefits

     1,335         267   

Deferred tax liabilities

     2,437         487   

Other non-current liabilities

     736         147   

Total non-current liabilities

     14,059         2,811   

Trade and other payables

     5,019         1,004   

Other current liabilities

     1,221         244   

Total current liabilities

     6,240         1,248   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     20,299         4,059   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net assets acquired

     13,325         2,666   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Goodwill identified in the acquisition

        1,200   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total purchase price

        3,866   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Summarized consolidated balance sheet and income statements of FEMSA Cerveza are presented as follows as of:

 

Consolidated Balance Sheet

   April 30,
2010
 

Current assets

     Ps.13,770   

Property, plant and equipment

     26,356   

Intangible assets and goodwill

     18,828   

Other assets

     11,457   
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     70,411   
  

 

 

 

Current liabilities

     14,039   

Long term liabilities

     27,586   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     41,625   
  

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity:

  

Controlling interest

     27,417   

Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries

     1,369   
  

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     28,786   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

     Ps.70,411   
  

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Income Statements

   April 30,
2010
     December 31,
2009
 

Total revenues

   Ps.  14,490       Ps.  46,329   

Income from operations

     1,342         5,887   

Income before income tax

     749         2,231   

Income tax

     43         (1,052
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated net income

     706         3,283   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest

     48         787   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income attributable to the controlling interest

   Ps. 658       Ps. 2,496   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As a result of the transaction described above, FEMSA Cerveza operations for the period ended on April 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009 are presented in a single line as discontinued operations, net of taxes in the consolidated income statement. Prior years consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes were reformulated in order to present FEMSA Cerveza as discontinued operations for comparable purposes.

Consolidated statement of cash flows of December 31, 2010 and 2009 presents FEMSA Cerveza as discontinued operations. Intercompany transactions between the Company and FEMSA Cerveza for 2009 were reclassified in order to conform to consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2010.

 

  ii) On September 23, 2010, the Company disposed of its subsidiary Promotora de Marcas Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. for which it received a payment of Ps.1,002 from The Coca-Cola Company. The Company recognized a gain of Ps. 845 as a sale of shares within other expenses, which is the difference between the fair value of the consideration received and the carrying value of the net assets disposed.

 

  iii) On December 31, 2010, the Company disposed of its subsidiary Grafo Regia, S.A. de C.V for which it received a payment of Ps. 1,021. The Company recognized a gain of Ps. 665, as a sale of shares within other expenses, which is the difference between the fair value of the consideration received and the carrying value of the net assets disposed.

Note 6. Accounts Receivable

 

     2011     2010  

Trade

     Ps.       8,175        Ps.     5,739   

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     (343     (249

The Coca-Cola Company

     1,157        1,030   

Notes receivable

     339        402   

Loans to employees

     146        111   

Travel advances to employees

     54        51   

Other

     971        618   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Ps.     10,499        Ps.     7,702   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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The changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts are as follows:

 

     2011     2010     2009  

Opening balance

     Ps.     249        Ps.     246        Ps.     206   

Provision for the year

     173        113        91   

Write-off of uncollectible accounts

     (86     (100     (76

Translation of foreign currency effect

     7        (10     25   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

     Ps.     343        Ps.     249        Ps.     246   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Note 7. Inventories

 

     2011      2010  

Finished products

     Ps.       8,339         Ps.       7,222   

Raw materials

     3,656         2,674   

Spare parts

     779         710   

Work in process

     82         60   

Goods in transit

     1,529         648   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Ps.     14,385         Ps.     11,314   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Note 8. Other Current Assets

 

     2011      2010  

Prepaid expenses

     Ps.     1,266         Ps.        638   

Long-lived assets available for sale

     26         125   

Agreements with customers

     194         85   

Derivative financial instruments

     511         24   

Short-term licenses

     28         24   

Other

     89         142   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Ps.     2,114         Ps.     1,038   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Prepaid expenses as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

 

     2011      2010  

Advances for inventories

     Ps.        497         Ps.     133   

Advertising and promotional expenses paid in advance

     211         207   

Advances to service suppliers

     259         154   

Prepaid leases

     85         84   

Prepaid insurance

     58         31   

Other

     156         29   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Ps.     1,266         Ps.     638   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The advertising and deferred promotional expenses recorded in the consolidated income statements for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 amounted to Ps. 5,076 Ps. 4,406 and Ps. 3,629, respectively.

 

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Note 9. Investments in Shares

 

Company

   % Ownership     2011      2010  

Heineken Group (1) (2)

     20.00% (3)    Ps.   75,075       Ps.      66,478   

Coca-Cola FEMSA:

       

Compañía Panameña de Bebidas S.A.P.I., S.A. de C,V. (2)

     50.00%        703         —     

SABB Sistema de Alimentos e Bebidas Do Brasil, LTDA(2) (4)

     19.73%        931         814   

Jugos del Valle, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (1) (2)

     23.99%        819         603   

Holdfab2 Participacoes Societarias, (“Holdfab2”), LTDA (2)

     27.69%        262         300   

Industria Envasadora de Querétaro, S.A. de C.V. (“IEQSA”) (1) (2)

     19.20%        100         67   

Industria Mexicana de Reciclaje, S.A. de C.V. (2)

     35.00%        70         69   

Estancia Hidromineral Itabirito, LTDA (2)

     50.00%        142         87   

Beta San Miguel, S.A. de C.V. (“Beta San Miguel”) (5)

     2.54%        69         69   

KSP Partiçipações, LTDA (2)

     38.74%        102         93   

Promotora Industrial Azucarera, S.A. de C.V. (“PIASA”) (2

     13.20%        281         —     

Dispensadoras de Café, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (2)

     50.00%        161         —     

Other

     Various        16         6   

Other investments (6)

     Various        241         207   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Ps.   78,972       Ps.      68,793   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) The Company has significant influence due to the fact of its representation in the Board of Directors in those companies.
(2) Equity method. The date of the financial statements of the investees used to account for the equity method is the same as the one used in the Company consolidated financial statements.
(3) As of December 31, 2011 , comprised of 12.53% of Heineken, N.V. and 14.94% of Heineken Holding, N.V., which represents an economic interest of 20% in Heineken (see Note 5 B).
(4) During June 2011, a reorganization of the Coca-Cola FEMSA Brazilian investments occurred by way of a merger of the companies Sucos del Valle Do Brasil, LTDA and Mais Industria de Alimentos, LTDA giving rise to a new company by the name of Sistema de Alimentos e Bebidas do Brasil, LTDA.
(5) Acquisition cost.
(6) Includes 45.00% ownership investments in Energía Alterna Istmeña, S. de R.L. de C.V. and Energía Eólica Mareña, S.A de C.V.

As mentioned in Note 5, on December 9, 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA completed the acquisition of 100% of Corporación de los Angeles, S.A. de C.V. (“Grupo CIMSA”). As part of the acquisition of Grupo CIMSA, the Company also acquired a 13.20% equity interest in Promotora Industrial Azucarera S.A de C.V.

On March 28, 2011 Coca-Cola FEMSA made an initial investment for Ps. 620 together with The Coca-Cola Company in Compañía Panameña de Bebidas S.A.P.I. de C.V. (Grupo Estrella Azul), a Panamanian conglomerate in the dairy and juice-based beverage categories business in Panama. The investment of Coca-Cola FEMSA represents 50% of ownership .

On March 17, 2011, a consortium of investors formed by FEMSA, the Macquarie Mexican Infrastructure Fund and other investors, acquired Energía Alterna Istmeña, S. de R.L. de C.V., which we refer to as EAI, and Energía Eólica Mareña, S.A. de C.V., which we refer to as EEM, from subsidiaries of Preneal, S.A., which we refer to as Preneal. EAI and EEM are the owners of a 396 megawatt late-stage wind energy project in the southeastern region of the State of Oaxaca. This project is expected to be the largest wind power farm in Latin America.

In August 2010, Coca-Cola FEMSA made an investment for approximately Ps. 295 (40 million Brazilian Reais) in Holdfab2 Participações Societárias, LTDA representing a 27.69% interest. Holdfab2 has a 50% investment in Leao Junior, a tea producer company in Brazil.

During 2010, the shareholders of Jugos del Valle, including Coca-Cola FEMSA, agreed to spin-off the distribution rights. Those shareholders now purchase product directly from Jugos del Valle for resale to their customers. This reorganization resulted in a decrease of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s investment in shares of Ps. 735 and an increase to its intangible assets (distribution rights of a separate legal entity) for the same amount. During 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA increased its ownership percentage in Jugos del Valle from 19.80% to 23.99% as a result of the holdings of the acquired companies disclosed in Note 5.

Heineken’s main activities are the production, distribution and marketing of beer worldwide. The Company recognized an equity income of Ps. 5,080 and Ps. 3,319 regarding its interest in Heineken, for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the period from May 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010, respectively.

The following is some relevant financial information from Heineken under IFRS as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 and the consolidated results for the full years as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

In millions of euros

   2011     2010(1)  

Current assets

     4,708        4,318   

Long-term assets

     22,419        22,344   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

     27,127        26,662   

Current liabilities

     6,159        5,623   

Long-term liabilities

     10,876        10,819   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     17,035        16,442   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     10,092        10,220   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

In millions of euros

   2011     2010(1)  

Total revenues and other income

     17,187        16,372   

Total expenses

     (14,972     (14,074
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Results from operating activities

     2,215        2,298   

Profit before income tax

     2,025        1,982   

Income tax

     (465     (403
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Profit

     1,560        1,579   

Profit attributable to equity holders of the company

     1,430        1,447   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

     1,007        2,130   

Total comprehensive income attributable to equity holders of the company

     884        1,983   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Heineken adjusted its comparative figures due to the accounting policy change in employee benefits.

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010 fair value of Company’s investment in Heineken N.V. Holding and Heineken N.V. represented by shares equivalent to 20% of its outstanding shares amounted to 3,942 million and 4,048 million based on quoted market prices of those dates. As of April 27, 2012, issuance date of these consolidated financial statements, fair value amounted to € 4,517 million.

During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company has received dividends distributions from Heineken, amounted to Ps. 1,661 and Ps. 1,304, respectively.

 

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Note 10. Property, Plant and Equipment.

 

Cost

   Land     Buildings     Machinery
and
Equipment
    Refrigeration
Equipment
    Bottles
and

Cases
    Investments
in Fixed
Assets in
Progress
    Not
Strategic
Assets
    Others     Total  

Cost as of January 1, 2010

   Ps.  5,412      Ps.  12,020      Ps.  39,638      Ps.  9,027      Ps.  2,029      Ps.  2,825      Ps.  330      Ps.  527      Ps.  71,808   

Additions

     106        322        3,045        834        1,013        4,155        —          115        9,590   

Transfer of completed projects in progress

     —          238        2,096        700        409        (3,443     —          —          —     

Transfer to/(from) assets classified as held for sale

     (64     7        21        —          —          —          71        —          35   

Disposals

     (57     (116     (2,515     (540     (611     (40     (29     (32     (3,940

Effects of changes in foreign exchange rates

     (269     —          (5,096     (730     —          (495     (140     (214     (6,944

Changes in value on the recognition of inflation effects

     98        470        1,029        249        14        47        —          64        1,971   

Capitalization of comprehensive financing result

     —          —          —          —          —          (33     —          —          (33
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cost as of December 31, 2010

   Ps. 5,226      Ps. 12,941      Ps. 38,218      Ps. 9,540      Ps. 2,854      Ps. 3,016      Ps. 232      Ps. 460      Ps. 72,487   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Cost

   Land     Buildings     Machinery
and
Equipment
    Refrigeration
Equipment
    Bottles
and

Cases
    Investments
in Fixed
Assets in
Progress
    Not
Strategic
Assets
    Others     Total  

Cost as of January 1, 2011

   Ps. 5,226      Ps. 12,941      Ps. 38,218      Ps. 9,540      Ps. 2,854      Ps. 3,016      Ps. 232      Ps. 460      Ps. 72,487   

Additions and acquired in business combination

     830        1,552        5,507        1,535        1,441        4,274        —          184        15,323   

Transfer of completed projects in progress

     23        280        2,466        380        398        (3,547     —          —          —     

Transfer to/(from) assets classified as held for sale

     125        108        6        —          —          —          (42     —          197   

Disposals

     (57     (50     (2,294     (463     (694     —          (109     (114     (3,781

Effects of changes in foreign exchange rates

     183        2        1,701        481        110        108        20        44        2,649   

Changes in value on the recognition of inflation effects

     114        571        1,368        301        31        83        —          11        2,479   

Capitalization of comprehensive financing result

     —          —          —          —          —          (14     —          —          (14
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cost as of December 31, 2011

   Ps. 6,444      Ps. 15,404      Ps. 46,972      Ps. 11,774      Ps. 4,140      Ps. 3,920      Ps. 101      Ps. 585      Ps. 89,340   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Accumulated Depreciation

                                                         

Accumulated Depreciation as of January 1, 2010

   Ps.  —         Ps. (3,487   Ps. (22,044   Ps.  (6,016   Ps.  (171   Ps.  —         Ps.  —         Ps. (195   Ps. (31,913

Depreciation for the year

     —           (314     (2,707     (754     (701     —           —           (51     (4,527

Transfer (to)/from assets classified as held for sale

     —           —          64        —          —          —           —           —          64   

Disposals

     —           32        1,951        528        215        —           —           1        2,727   

Effects of changes in foreign exchange rates

     —           —          3,231        642        56        —           —           85        4,014   

Changes in value on the recognition of inflation effects

     —           (224     (526     (177     —          —           —           (15     (942
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated Depreciation as of December 31, 2010

   Ps.  —         Ps. (3,993   Ps. (20,031  

Ps.

 (5,777

  Ps.  (601   Ps.  —         Ps.  —         Ps. (175   Ps. (30,577
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated Depreciation

   Land      Buildings     Machinery
and
Equipment
    Refrigeration
Equipment
    Bottles and
Cases
    Investments
in Fixed
Assets in
Progress
     Not
Strategic
Assets
     Others     Total Cost  

Accumulated Depreciation as of January 1, 2011

   Ps.  —         Ps. (3,993 )   Ps.  (20,031   Ps.  (5,777   Ps.  (601   Ps.  —         Ps.  —         Ps. (175   Ps. (30,577

Depreciation for the year

     —           (361     (3,197     (1,000     (894     —           —           (46     (5,498

Transfer (to)/from assets classified as held for sale

     —           (46     7        —          —          —           —           —          (39

Disposals

     —           4        2,130        206        201        —           —           64        2,605   

Effects of changes in foreign exchange rates

     —           1        (957     (339     22        —           —           (28     (1,301

Changes in value on the recognition of inflation effects

     —           (300     (645     (166     —          —           —           (17     (1,128
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated Depreciation as of December 31, 2011

   Ps.  —         Ps. (4,695   Ps. (22,693   Ps.  (7,076   Ps. (1,272   Ps.  —         Ps.  —         Ps. (202   Ps. (35,938
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Carrying Amount

  Land     Buildings     Machinery
and
Equipment
    Refrigeration
Equipment
    Bottles
and Cases
    Investments
in Fixed
Assets in
Progress
    Not
Strategic
Assets
    Others     Total  

As of January 1, 2010

  Ps. 5,412      Ps. 8,533      Ps. 17,594      Ps. 3,011      Ps. 1,858      Ps. 2,825      Ps. 330      Ps. 332      Ps. 39,895   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2010

    5,226        8,948        18,187        3,763        2,253        3,016        232        285        41,910   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2011

    6,444        10,709        24,279        4,698        2,868        3,920        101        383        53,402   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 the Company capitalized (Ps. 14), (Ps. 33) and Ps. 13, respectively in comprehensive financing costs in relation to Ps. 256, Ps. 708 and Ps. 158 in qualifying assets. Amounts were capitalized assuming an annual capitalization rate of 5.8%, 5.3% and 7.2%, respectively.

For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 the comprehensive financing result is analyzed as follows:

 

     2011      2010      2009  

Comprehensive financing result

     Ps.939       Ps. 2,165         Ps.2,682   

Amount capitalized

     156         12         55   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net amount in income statements

     Ps.783       Ps. 2,153         Ps.2,627   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company has identified certain long-lived assets that are not strategic to the current and future operations of the business and are not being used, comprised of land, buildings and equipment, in accordance with an approved program for the disposal of certain investments. Such long-lived assets have been recorded at the lower of cost or net realizable value, as follows:

 

    2011        2010  

Coca-Cola FEMSA

  Ps. 79         Ps. 189   

Other subsidiaries

    22           43   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
  Ps. 101         Ps. 232   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Buildings

  Ps. 39         Ps. 64   

Land

    56           139   

Equipment

    6           29   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
  Ps. 101         Ps.  232   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

As a result of selling certain not strategic long-lived assets, the Company recognized gain of Ps. 85, loss of Ps. 41, and a gain of Ps. 6 for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Long-lived assets that are available for sale have been reclassified from property, plant and equipment to other current assets. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, long-lived assets available for sale amounted to Ps. 26 and Ps. 125 (see Note 8).

 

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Note 11. Intangible Assets

 

     2011      2010  

Unamortized intangible assets:

     

Coca-Cola FEMSA:

     

Rights to produce and distribute Coca-Cola trademark products

   Ps . 63,521       Ps.  49,169   

Goodwill from Grupo Tampico acquisition – Mexico (see Note 5 A)

     2,579         —     

Goodwill from Grupo CIMSA acquisition – Mexico (see Note 5 A)

     1,936         —     

Other subsidiaries:

     

Other unamortized intangible assets

     343         462   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   Ps. 68,379       Ps. 49,631   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amortized intangible assets:

     

Systems in development costs, net

   Ps. 1,743       Ps. 1,788   

Technology costs and management systems

     990         396   

Alcohol licenses, net (see Note 4 J)

     438         410   

Other

     58         115   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   Ps. 3,229       Ps. 2,709   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total intangible assets

   Ps. 71,608       Ps. 52,340   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The changes in the carrying amount of unamortized intangible assets are as follows:

 

     2011     2010  

Beginning balance

   Ps. 49,631      Ps. 50,143   

Acquisitions

     16,478 (1)       833   

Cancellations

     (119     (151

Impairment

     —          (10

Translation and restatement of foreign currency effect

     2,389        (1,184
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

   Ps .68,379      Ps .49,631   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes Ps. 8,078 and Ps. 8,164 for acquisitions of Grupo Tampico and Grupo CIMSA, respectively (see Note 5 A).

The changes in the carrying amount of amortized intangible assets are as follows:

 

     Investments      Amortization        
     Accumulated
at the
Beginning of
the Year
     Additions (1)      Capitalization
of
Comprehensive
Financing
Result
     Transfer
of
Completed
Project
    Accumulated
at the
Beginning of
the Year
    For the
Year
    Total  

2011

                 

Systems in development costs

   Ps.  1,788       Ps. 249       Ps. 170       Ps. (464   Ps. —        Ps. —        Ps. 1,743   

Technology costs and management systems

     1,465         337         —           464        (1,069     (207     990   

Alcohol licenses (1)

     495         60         —           —          (85     (32     438   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

2010

                 

Systems in development costs

   Ps. 1,188       Ps. 706       Ps. 45       Ps. (151   Ps. —        Ps. —        Ps. 1,788   

Technology costs and management systems

     1,197         117         —           151        (887     (182     396   

Alcohol licenses (1)

     271         224         —           —          (48     (37     410   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

2009

                 

Systems in development costs

   Ps. 333       Ps. 813       Ps. 42       Ps. —        Ps. —        Ps. —        Ps. 1,188   

Technology costs and management systems

     963         234         —           —          (675     (212     310   

Alcohol licenses (1)

     169         102         —           —          (31     (17     223   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) See Note 4 J.

During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 the Company capitalized Ps. 170, Ps. 45 and Ps. 42, respectively in comprehensive financing costs in relation to Ps. 1,761, Ps. 1,221 and Ps. 687 in qualifying assets. Amounts were capitalized assuming an annual capitalization rate of 5.8%, 5.3%, and 7.2%, respectively and an estimated life of the qualifying assets of seven years.

The estimated amortization for intangible assets of definite life is as follows:

 

     2012      2013      2014      2015      2016  

Systems amortization

   Ps. 481       Ps. 409       Ps. 362       Ps. 347       Ps. 337   

Alcohol licenses

     33         38         43         49         56   

Others

     17         15         13         13         13   

 

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Table of Contents

Note 12. Other Assets

 

     2011      2010  

Leasehold improvements, net

     Ps.   6,135       Ps.  5,261   

Agreements with customers (see Note 4 I)

     256         186   

Derivative financial instruments

     850         708   

Guarantee deposits

     948         897   

Long-term accounts receivable

     1,856         681   

Advertising and promotional expenses

     112         125   

Property, plant and equipment paid in advance

     296         226   

Other

     841         645   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Ps. 11,294       Ps. 8,729   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-term accounts receivable are comprised of Ps. 1,829 and Ps. 27 of principal and interest, respectively, and are expected to be collected as follows:

 

2012

   Ps. 10   

2013

     126   

2014

     63   

2015

     1,657   
  

 

 

 
   Ps.  1,856   
  

 

 

 

Note 13. Balances and Transactions with Related Parties and Affiliated Companies

Balances and transactions with related parties and affiliated companies include consideration of: a) the overall business in which the reporting entity participates; b) close family members of key officers; and c) any fund created in connection with a labor related compensation plan.

On April 30, 2010, the Company lost control over FEMSA Cerveza, which became a subsidiary of Heineken Group. As a result, balances and transactions with Heineken Group and subsidiaries are presented since that date as balances and transactions with related parties. Balances and transactions prior to that date are not disclosed because they were not transactions between related parties of the Company.

The consolidated balance sheets and income statements include the following balances and transactions with related parties and affiliated companies:

 

Balances

   2011      2010  

Due from The Coca-Cola Company (see Note 4 L) (1)

     Ps. 1,157         Ps. 1,030   

Balance with BBVA Bancomer, S.A. de C.V. (2)

     2,791         2,944   

Balance with Grupo Financiero Banamex, S.A. de C.V. (2)

     —           2,103   

Due from Heineken Group (1)

     857         425   

Due from Grupo Estrella Azul (3)

     785         —     

Other receivables (1)

     494         295   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Due to BBVA Bancomer, S.A. de C.V. (4)

     Ps. 1,106         Ps. 999   

Due to The Coca-Cola Company (5)

     2,853         1,911   

Due to Grupo Financiero Banamex, S.A. de C.V. (4)

     —           500   

Due to British American Tobacco Mexico (5)

     316         287   

Due to Heineken Group (5)

     2,148         1,463   

Other payables (5)

     508         210   

 

(1) Recorded as part of total of receivable accounts.
(2) Recorded as part of cash and cash equivalents.
(3) Recorded as part of total other assets.
(4) Recorded as part of total bank loans.
(5) Recorded as part of total accounts payable.

 

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Table of Contents

Transactions

   2011      2010      2009  

Income:

        

Services and others to Heineken Group

   Ps.  2,169       Ps.  1,048       Ps.  —     

Logistic services to Grupo Industrial Saltillo, S.A. de C.V.

     241         241         234   

Sales of Grupo Inmobiliario San Agustín, S.A. shares to Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, A.C.

     —           62         64   

Other revenues from related parties

     383         42         22   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses:

        

Purchase of concentrate from The Coca-Cola Company (1)

     21,183         19,371         16,863   

Purchases of raw material, beer and operating expenses from Heineken Group (1) (2)

     9,397         7,063         —     

Purchase of baked goods and snacks from Grupo Bimbo, S.A.B. de C.V. (2)

     2,270         2,018         1,733   

Purchase of cigarettes from British American Tobacco Mexico (2)

     1,964         1,883         1,413   

Advertisement expense paid to The Coca-Cola Company (1)

     874         1,117         780   

Purchase of juices from Jugos del Valle, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (1) (2)

     1,564         1,332         1,044   

Interest expense and fees paid to BBVA Bancomer, S.A. de C.V.

     128         108         260   

Purchase of sugar from Beta San Miguel (1)

     1,398         1,307         713   

Purchase of sugar, cans and aluminum lids from Promotora Mexicana de Embotelladores, S.A. de C.V. (1)

     701         684         783   

Purchase of canned products from IEQSA (1)

     262         196         208   

Purchases from affiliated companies of Grupo Tampico (1)

     175         —           —     

Advertising paid to Grupo Televisa, S.A.B.

     86         37         13   

Interest expense paid to Grupo Financiero Banamex, S.A. de C.V.

     28         56         61   

Insurance premiums for policies with Grupo Nacional Provincial, S.A.B.

     59         69         78   

Donations to Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, A.C.

     81         63         72   

Purchase of plastic bottles from Embotelladora del Atlántico, S.A. (formerly Complejo Industrial Pet, S.A.) (1)

     61         52         54   

Purchase of juice and milk powder from Grupo Estrella Azul (1)

     60         —           —     

Donations to Difusión y Fomento Cultural, A.C.

     21         29         18   

Interest expense paid to The Coca-Cola Company (1)

     7         5         25   

Other expenses with related parties

     103         31         42   

 

(1) These companies are related parties of our subsidiary Coca-Cola FEMSA.
(2) These companies are related parties of our subsidiary FEMSA Comercio.

The benefits and aggregate compensation paid to executive officers and senior management of FEMSA and its subsidiaries were as follows:

 

     2011      2010      2009  

Short- and long-term benefits paid

   Ps.  1,279       Ps.  1,307       Ps.  1,206   

Severance indemnities

     10         34         47   

Postretirement benefits (labor cost)

     117         83         23   

 

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Note 14. Balances and Transactions in Foreign Currencies

According to NIF B-15, assets, liabilities and transactions denominated in foreign currencies are those realized in a currency different than the recording, functional or reporting currency of each reporting unit. As of the end of and for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, assets, liabilities and transactions denominated in foreign currencies, expressed in Mexican pesos are as follows:

 

     2011      2010  
     U.S. dollars      Other
Currencies
     Total      U.S. dollars      Other
Currencies
     Total  

Assets:

                 

Short-term

   Ps.  13,733       Ps.  18       Ps.  13,751       Ps.  11,761       Ps.  480       Ps.  12,241   

Long-term

     1,049         —           1,049         321         —           321   

Liabilities:

                 

Short-term

     2,325         205         2,530         1,501         247         1,748   

Long-term

     7,199         445         7,644         6,962         —           6,962   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Transactions

   U.S. dollars      Other
Currencies
     Total      U.S. dollars      Other
Currencies
     Total  

Total revenues

   Ps. 1,564       Ps. 2       Ps. 1,566       Ps. 1,111       Ps.  —         Ps. 1,111   

Expenses and investments:

                 

Purchases of raw materials

     9,424         —           9,424         5,648         —           5,648   

Interest expense

     319         5         324         294         —           294   

Consulting fees

     11         —           11         452         24         476   

Assets acquisitions

     306         —           306         311         —           311   

Other

     1,075         90         1,165         804         3         807   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of April 27, 2012, approval date of these consolidated financial statements, the exchange rate published by “Banco de México” was Ps. 13.1667 Mexican pesos per one U.S. Dollar, and the foreign currency position was similar to that as of December 31, 2011.

Note 15. Employee Benefits

The Company has various labor liabilities for employee benefits in connection with pension, seniority, post retirement medical and severance benefits. Benefits vary depending upon country.

 

a) Assumptions:

The Company annually evaluates the reasonableness of the assumptions used in its labor liabilities for employee benefits computations. Actuarial calculations for pension and retirement plans, seniority premiums, postretirement medical services and severance indemnity liabilities, as well as the cost for the period, were determined using the following long-term assumptions:

 

          Nominal Rates (1)     Real Rates (2)  
          2011     2010     2009     2011     2010     2009  

Annual discount rate

        7.6     7.6     8.2     4.0     4.0     4.5

Salary increase

        4.8     4.8     5.1     1.2     1.2     1.5

Return on assets

        9.0     8.2     8.2     5.0     3.6     4.5

 

               

Measurement date: December 2011

               

 

  (1) For non-inflationary economies.
  (2) For inflationary economies.

The basis for the determination of the long-term rate of return is supported by a historical analysis of average returns in real terms for the last 30 years of the Certificados de Tesorería del Gobierno Federal (Mexican Federal Government Treasury Certificates) for Mexican investments, treasury bonds of each country for other investments and the expected rates of long-term returns of the actual investments of the Company.

The annual growth rate for health care expenses is 5.1% in nominal terms, consistent with the historical average health care expense rate for the past 30 years. Such rate is expected to remain consistent for the foreseeable future.

 

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Based on these assumptions, the expected benefits to be paid in the following years are as follows:

 

     Pension and
Retirement
Plans
     Seniority
Premiums
     Postretirement
Medical
Services
     Severance
Indemnities
 

2012

     Ps. 409         Ps. 16         Ps. 6         Ps. 148   

2013

     238         15         6         125   

2014

     234         16         6         119   

2015

     206         17         6         115   

2016

     203         19         6         110   

2017 to 2021

     1,078         124         25         512   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

b) Balances of the Liabilities for Employee Benefits:

 

     2011     2010  

Pension and Retirement Plans:

    

Vested benefit obligation

   Ps. 1,639      Ps. 1,461   

Non-vested benefit obligation

     1,184        1,080   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated benefit obligation

     2,823        2,541   

Excess of projected benefit obligation over accumulated benefit obligation

     1,103        757   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Defined benefit obligation

     3,926        3,298   

Pension plan funds at fair value

     (1,927     (1,501
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unfunded defined benefit obligation

     1,999        1,797   

Labor cost of past services (1)

     (319     (349

Unrecognized actuarial loss, net

     (446     (272
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   Ps. 1,234      Ps. 1,176   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Seniority Premiums:

    

Vested benefit obligation

   Ps. 13      Ps. 12   

Non-vested benefit obligation

     126        93   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated benefit obligation

     139        105   

Excess of projected benefit obligation over accumulated benefit obligation

     102        49   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Defined benefit obligation

     241        154   

Seniority premium plan funds at fair value

     (19     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unfunded defined benefit obligation

     222        154   

Unrecognized actuarial gain, net

     22        17   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   Ps. 244      Ps. 171   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Postretirement Medical Services:

    

Vested benefit obligation

   Ps. 134      Ps. 119   

Non-vested benefit obligation

     102        112   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Defined benefit obligation

     236        231   

Medical services funds at fair value

     (45     (43
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unfunded defined benefit obligation

     191        188   

Labor cost of past services (1)

     (2     (4

Unrecognized actuarial loss, net

     (95     (102
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   Ps. 94      Ps. 82   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Severance Indemnities:

    

Accumulated benefit obligation

   Ps. 614      Ps. 462   

Excess of projected benefit obligation over accumulated benefit obligation

     122        91   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Defined benefit obligation

     736        553   

Labor cost of past services (1)

     (50     (99
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   Ps. 686      Ps. 454   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total labor liabilities for employee benefits

   Ps.  2,258      Ps.  1,883   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (1) Unrecognized net transition obligation and unrecognized prior service costs.

 

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The accumulated actuarial gains and losses were generated by the differences in the assumptions used for the actuarial calculations at the beginning of the year versus the actual behavior of those variables at the end of the year.

 

c) Trust Assets:

Trust assets consist of fixed and variable return financial instruments recorded at market value. The trust assets are invested as follows:

 

     2011     2010  

Fixed return:

    

Publicly traded securities

     9     10

Bank instruments

     3     8

Federal government instruments

     69     60

Variable return:

    

Publicly traded shares

     19     22
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     100     100
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Company has a policy of maintaining at least 30% of the trust assets in Mexican Federal Government instruments. Objective portfolio guidelines have been established for the remaining percentage, and investment decisions are made to comply with those guidelines to the extent that market conditions and available funds allow.

The amounts and types of securities of the Company and related parties included in plan assets are as follows:

 

     2011      2010  

Debt:

     

CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V.

     Ps. —           Ps.20   

BBVA Bancomer, S.A. de C.V.

     30         11   

Coca-Cola FEMSA

     2         2   

Grupo Industrial Bimbo, S.A. de C.V.

     2         2   

Grupo Televisa, S.A.B.

     3         —     

Grupo Financiero Banorte, S.A.B. de C.V.

     7         —     

Equity:

     

FEMSA

     58         97   

Coca-Cola FEMSA

     5         —     

Grupo Televisa, S.A.B.

     —           8   

The Company does not expect to make material contributions to plan assets during the following fiscal year.

 

d) Cost for the Year:

 

     2011     2010     2009  

Pension and Retirement Plans:

      

Labor cost

   Ps.  164      Ps.  136      Ps.  136   

Interest cost

     262        219        216   

Expected return on trust assets

     (149     (94     (80

Labor cost of past services (1)

     31        30        29   

Amortization of net actuarial loss

     23        4        17   

Curtailment

     (18     —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     313        295        318   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Seniority Premiums:

      

Labor cost

     30        27        25   

Interest cost

     13        13        12   

Labor cost of past services (1)

     1        1        —     

Amortization of net actuarial loss

     7        —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     51        41        37   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Postretirement Medical Services:

      

Labor cost

     9        8        7   

Interest cost

     17        16        15   

Expected return on trust assets

     (4     (3     (3

Labor cost of past services (1)

     2        2        2   

Amortization of net actuarial loss

     5        4        5   

Curtailment

     (3     —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     26        27        26   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Severance Indemnities:

      

Labor cost

     78        65        61   

Interest cost

     35        31        32   

Labor cost of past services (1)

     50        48        50   

Amortization of net actuarial loss

     81        93        45   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     244        237        188   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   Ps .634      Ps. 600      Ps. 569   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (1) Amortization of unrecognized net transition obligation and amortization of unrecognized prior service costs.

 

e) Changes in the Balance of the Obligations for Employee Benefits:

 

     2011     2010  

Pension and Retirement Plans:

    

Initial balance

   Ps. 3,298      Ps. 2,612   

Labor cost

     164        136   

Interest cost

     262        219   

Curtailment

     6        129   

Actuarial loss

     88        358   

Benefits paid

     (142     (156

Acquisitions

     250        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

     3,926        3,298   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Seniority Premiums:

    

Initial balance

     154        166   

Labor cost

     30        27   

Interest cost

     13        13   

Curtailment

     (1     —     

Actuarial loss (gain)

     2        (33

Benefits paid

     (19     (19

Acquisitions

     62        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

     241        154   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Postretirement Medical Services:

    

Initial balance

     231        191   

Labor cost

     9        8   

Interest cost

     17        16   

Curtailment

     (6     8   

Actuarial loss

     —          21   

Benefits paid

     (15     (13
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

     236        231   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Severance Indemnities:

    

Initial balance

     553        535   

Labor cost

     78        65   

Interest cost

     35        31   

Curtailment

     —          1   

Actuarial loss

     112        74   

Benefits paid

     (155     (153

Acquisitions

     113        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

   Ps.     736      Ps.     553   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

f) Changes in the Balance of the Trust Assets:

 

     2011     2010  

Initial balance

   Ps.  1,544      Ps.  1,183   

Actual return on trust assets

     59        114   

Life annuities (1)

     152        264   

Benefits paid

     (12     (17

Acquisitions

     248        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

   Ps. 1,991      Ps.  1,544   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (1)

Life annuities acquired from Allianz Mexico.

 

g) Variation in Health Care Assumptions:

The following table presents the impact to the postretirement medical service obligations and the expenses recorded in the income statement with a variation of 1% in the assumed health care cost trend rates.

 

     Impact of Changes:  
     +1%      -1%  

Postretirement medical services obligation

   Ps.  38       Ps.  (24

Cost for the year

     5         (2

Note 16. Bonus Program

The bonus program for executives is based on complying with certain goals established annually by management, which include quantitative and qualitative objectives and special projects.

The quantitative objectives represent approximately 50% of the bonus and are based on the Economic Value Added (“EVA”) methodology. The objective established for the executives at each entity is based on a combination of the EVA per entity and the EVA generated by the Company, calculated at approximately 70% and 30%, respectively. The qualitative objectives and special projects represent the remaining 50% of the annual bonus and are based on the critical success factors established at the beginning of the year for each executive.

In addition, the Company provides a defined contribution plan of share compensation to certain key executives, consisting of an annual cash bonus to purchase FEMSA shares or options, based on the executive’s responsibility in the organization, their business’ EVA result achieved, and their individual performance. The acquired shares or options are deposited in a trust, and the executives may access them one year after they are vested at 20% per year. The 50% of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s annual executive bonus is to be used to purchase FEMSA shares or options and the remaining 50% to purchase Coca-Cola FEMSA shares or options. As of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, no options have been granted to employees under the plan.

As of April 30, 2010, the trust linked to FEMSA Cerveza executives was liquidated; as a result 230,642 of FEMSA UBD shares and 27,339 of KOF L shares granted to FEMSA Cerveza executives were vested as part of the share exchange of FEMSA Cerveza.

The incentive plan target is expressed in months of salary, and the final amount payable is computed based on a percentage of compliance with the goals established every year. The bonuses are recorded in income from operations and are paid in cash the following year. During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the bonus expense recorded amounted to Ps. 1,241 Ps. 1,016 and Ps. 1,210, respectively.

All shares held in trust are considered outstanding for earnings per share purposes and dividends on shares held by the trusts are charged to retained earnings.

 

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As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the number of shares held by the trust is as follows:

 

     Number of Shares  
   FEMSA UBD     KOF L  
   2011     2010     2011     2010  

Beginning balance

     10,197,507        10,514,672        3,049,376        3,035,008   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares granted to executives

     2,438,590        3,700,050        651,870        989,500   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares released from trust to executives upon vesting

     (3,236,014     (3,863,904     (986,694     (975,132
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Forfeitures

     —          (153,311     —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

     9,400,083        10,197,507        2,714,552        3,049,376   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The fair value of the shares held by the trust as of the end of December 31, 2011 and 2010 was Ps. 1,297 and Ps. 857, respectively, based on quoted market prices of those dates.

 

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Note 17. Bank Loans and Notes Payable

 

    At December 31, (1)              
(in millions of Mexican pesos)   2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017 and
Thereafter
    2011     Fair
Value
    2010 (1)  

Short-term debt:

                 

Fixed rate debt:

                 

Argentine pesos

                 

Bank loans

  Ps. 325      Ps. —        Ps. —        Ps. —        Ps. —        Ps. —        Ps. 325      Ps. 317      Ps. 506   

Interest rate

    14.9%                  14.9%          15.3%   

Mexican pesos

                 

Capital leases

    18        —          —          —          —          —          18        18        —     

Interest rate

    6.9%                  6.9%          0.0%   

Variable rate debt:

                 

Colombian pesos

                 

Bank loans

    295        —          —          —          —          —          295        295        1,072   

Interest rate

    6.8%                  6.8%          4.4%   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total short-term debt

  Ps. 638      Ps. —        Ps. —        Ps. —        Ps. —        Ps. —        Ps. 638      Ps. 630      Ps. 1,578   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term debt:

                 

Fixed rate debt:

                 

Argentine pesos

                 

Bank loans

    514        81        —          —          —          —          595        570        684   

Interest rate

    16.4%        15.7%                16.3%          16.5%   

Brazilian reais

                 

Bank loans

    5        10        10        10        10        36        81        87        81   

Interest rate

    4.5%        4.5%        4.5%        4.5%        4.5%        4.5%        4.5%          4.5%   

Capital leases

    4        5        5        4        —          —          18          21   

Interest rate

    4.5%        4.5%        4.5%        4.5%            4.5%          4.5%   

U.S. dollars

                 

Yankee Bond

    —          —          —          —          —          6,990        6,990        7,737        6,179   

Interest rate

              4.6%        4.6%          4.6%   

Capital leases

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          4   

Interest rate

                    3.8%   

Mexican pesos

                 

Units of investment (UDIs)

    —          —          —          —          —          3,337        3,337        3,337        3,193   

Interest rate

              4.2%        4.2%          4.2%   

Domestic senior notes

    —          —          —          —          —          2,500        2,500        2,631        —     

Interest rate

              8.3%        8.3%          0.0%   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

  Ps. 523      Ps. 96      Ps. 15      Ps. 14      Ps. 10      Ps. 12,863      Ps. 13,521      Ps. 14,362      Ps. 10,162   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Variable rate debt:

                 

U.S. dollars

                 

Bank loans

    42        209        —          —          —          —          251        251        222   

Interest rate

    0.7%        0.7%                0.7%          0.6%   

Mexican pesos

                 

Domestic senior notes

    3,000        3,500        —          —          2,500        —          9,000        8,981        8,000   

Interest rate

    4.7%        4.8%            4.9%          4.8%          4.8%   

Bank loans

    67        266        1,392        2,825        —          —          4,550        4,456        4,550   

Interest rate

    5.0%        5.0%        5.0%        5.0%            5.0%          5.1%   

Argentine pesos

                 

Bank loans

    130        —          —          —          —          —          130        116        —     

Interest rate

    27.3%                  27.3%       

Brazilian reais

                 

Capital leases

    33        39        43        48        30        —          193        193        —     

Interest rate

    11.0%        11.0%        11.0%        11.0%        11.0%          11.0%       

Colombian pesos

                 

Bank loans

    935        —          —          —          —          —          935        929        994   

Interest rate

    6.1%                  6.1%          4.7%   

Capital leases

    205        181        —          —          —          —          386        384        —     

Interest rate

    7.1%        6.6%                6.9%       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

    4,412        4,195        1,435        2,873        2,530        —          15,445        15,310        13,766   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total long-term debt

  Ps. 4,935      Ps. 4,291      Ps. 1,450      Ps. 2,887      Ps. 2,540      Ps. 12,863      Ps. 28,966      Ps. 29,672      Ps. 23,928   
                (4,935       (1,725
             

 

 

     

 

 

 
              Ps. 24,031        Ps. 22,203   
             

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(1) All interest rates are weighted average annual rates.

 

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Derivative Financial Instruments (1)

   2012      2013      2014      2015      2016      2017 and
Thereafter
     2011      2010  
     (notional amounts in millions of Mexican pesos)  

Cross currency swaps:

                       

Units of investments to Mexican pesos and variable rate:

     —           —           —           —           —           2,500         2,500         2,500   

Interest pay rate

                    4.6%         4.6%         4.7%   

Interest receive rate

                    4.2%         4.2%         4.2%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Interest rate swap: (2)

                       

Mexican pesos

                       

Variable to fixed rate:

     1,600         2,500         575         1,963               6,638         5,260   

Interest pay rate

     8.1%         8.1%         8.4%         8.6%               8.3%         8.1%   

Interest receive rate

     4.7%         4.7%         5.0%         5.0%               4.9%         4.9%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) All interest rates are weighted average annual rates.
(2) Does not include forwards starting swaps with a notional amount of Ps. 1,312 and a fair value loss of Ps. 43. These contracts will become effective in 2012 and mature in 2013.

On December 4, 2007, the Company obtained the approval from the National Banking and Securities Commission (Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores or “CNBV”) for the issuance of long-term domestic senior notes (“Certificados Bursátiles”) in the amount of Ps. 10,000 (nominal amount) or its equivalent in investment units. As of December 31, 2011, the Company has issued the following domestic senior notes: i) on December 7, 2007, the Company issued domestic senior notes composed of Ps. 3,500 (nominal amount) with a maturity date on November 29, 2013 and a floating interest rate; ii) on December 7, 2007, the Company issued domestic senior notes in the amount of 637,587,000 investment units (Ps. 2,500 nominal amount), with a maturity date on November 24, 2017 and a fixed interest rate, iii) on May 26, 2008, the Company issued domestic senior notes composed of Ps. 1,500 (nominal amount), with a maturity date on May 23, 2011 and a floating interest rate, which was paid at maturity.

Additionally, Coca-Cola FEMSA has the following domestic senior notes: a) issued in the Mexican stock exchange: i) Ps. 3,000 (nominal amount) with a maturity date in 2012 and a variable interest rate, ii) Ps. 2,500 (nominal amount) with a maturity date in 2016 and a variable interest rate and iii) Ps. 2,500 (nominal amount) with a maturity date in 2021 and fixed interest rate of 8.3%; b) issued in the NYSE a Yankee Bond of $500 with interest at a fixed rate of 4.6% and maturity date on February 15, 2020.

The Company has financing from different institutions under agreements that stipulate different restrictions and covenants, which mainly consist of maximum levels of leverage and capitalization as well as minimum consolidated net worth and debt and interest coverage ratios. As of the date of these consolidated financial statements, the Company was in compliance with all restrictions and covenants contained in its financing agreements.

Note 18. Other Expenses, Net

 

     2011     2010     2009  

Employee profit sharing (see Note 4 R)

   Ps. 1,237      Ps.  785      Ps.  1,020   

Gain on sale of shares (see Note 5 B)

     (1     (1,554     (35

Brazil tax amnesty (see Note 23 A)

     —          (179     (311

Vacation provision

     —          —          333   

Disposal of long-lived assets (1)

     703        9        129   

Severance payments associated with an ongoing benefit

     226        583        127   

(Gain) loss on sale of long-lived assets

     (9     215        177   

Donations

     200        195        116   

Contingencies

     146        104        152   

Security taxes from Colombia

     197        29        25   

Other

     218        95        144   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   Ps. 2,917      Ps. 282      Ps. 1,877   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Charges related to fixed assets retirement from ordinary operations and other long-lived assets.

 

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Note 19. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company uses a three level fair value hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used to measure fair value. The three levels of inputs are described as follows:

 

   

Level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

 

   

Level 2: inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

 

   

Level 3: are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs shall be used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

The Company measures the fair value of its financial assets and liabilities classified as level 2, applying the income approach method, which estimates the fair value based on expected cash flows discounted to net present value. The following table summarizes financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value, as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 

     2011      2010  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 1      Level 2  

Cash equivalents

   Ps. 17,908          Ps. 19,770      

Available-for-sale investments

     330            66      

Pension plan trust assets

     1,991            1,544      

Derivative financial instruments (asset)

      Ps. 1,361          Ps. 732   

Derivative financial instruments (liability)

        634            694   

The Company does not use inputs classified as level 3 for fair value measurement.

 

a) Total Debt:

The fair value of long-term debt is determined based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows, in which the discount rate is estimated using rates currently offered for debt of similar amounts and maturities. The fair value of notes is based on quoted market prices.

 

     2011      2010  

Carrying value

   Ps. 29,604       Ps. 25,506   

Fair value

     30,302         25,451   

 

b) Interest Rate Swaps:

The Company uses interest rate swaps to offset the interest rate risk associated with its borrowings, pursuant to which it pays amounts based on a fixed rate and receives amounts based on a floating rate. These instruments are recognized in the consolidated balance sheet at their estimated fair value and have been designated as a cash flows hedge. The estimated fair value is based on formal technical models. Changes in fair value were recorded in cumulative other comprehensive income until such time as the hedged amount is recorded in earnings.

At December 31, 2011, the Company has the following outstanding interest rate swap agreements:

 

Maturity Date

   Notional
Amount
     Fair  Value
Asset
(Liability)
 

2012

   Ps. 1,600       Ps. (12

2013

     3,812         (181

2014

     575         (43

2015

     1,963         (184

A portion of certain interest rate swaps do not meet the hedging criteria for accounting purposes; consequently, changes in the estimated fair value of the ineffective portion were recorded in the consolidated results as part of the comprehensive financing result.

The net effect of expired contracts that met hedging criteria is recognized as interest expense as part of the comprehensive financing result.

 

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c) Forward Agreements to Purchase Foreign Currency:

The Company enters into forward agreements to reduce its exposure to the risk of exchange rate fluctuations between the Mexican peso and other currencies. These instruments are recognized in the consolidated balance sheet at their estimated fair value which is determined based on prevailing market exchange rates to end the contracts at the end of the period. For contracts that meet hedging criteria, the changes in the fair value are recorded in cumulative other comprehensive income prior to expiration. Net gain/loss on expired contracts is recognized as part of foreign exchange.

Net changes in the fair value of forward agreements that do not meet hedging criteria for accounting purposes are recorded in the consolidated results as part of the comprehensive financing result. The net effect of expired contracts that do not meet hedging criteria for accounting purposes is recognized as a market value gain (loss) on ineffective portion of derivative financial instruments.

 

d) Options to Purchase Foreign Currency:

The Company has entered into a collar strategy to reduce its exposure to the risk of exchange rate fluctuations. A collar is a strategy that limits the exposure to the risk of exchange rate fluctuations in a similar way as a forward agreement.

These instruments are recognized in the consolidated balance sheet at their estimated fair value which is determined based on prevailing market exchange rates to terminate the contracts at the end of the period. Changes in the fair value of these options, corresponding to the intrinsic value are initially recorded as part of cumulative other comprehensive income. Changes in the fair value, corresponding to the intrinsic value are recorded in the income statement under the caption “market value gain/loss on the ineffective portion of derivative financial instruments,” as part of the consolidated results. Net gain/loss on expired contracts is recognized as part of cost of goods sold.

 

e) Cross Currency Swaps:

The Company enters into cross currency swaps to reduce its exposure to risks of exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations associated with its borrowings denominated in U.S. dollars and other foreign currencies. These instruments are recognized in the consolidated balance sheet at their estimated fair value which is estimated based on formal technical models. These contracts are designated as fair value hedges. The fair value changes related to those cross currency swaps are recorded as part of the ineffective portion of derivative financial instruments, net of changes related to the long-term liability.

Net changes in the fair value of current and expired cross currency swaps contracts that did not meet the hedging criteria for accounting purposes are recorded as a gain/loss in the market value on the ineffective portion of derivative financial instruments in the consolidated results as part of the comprehensive financing result.

 

f) Commodity Price Contracts:

The Company enters into commodity price contracts to reduce its exposure to the risk of fluctuation in the costs of certain raw material. The fair value is estimated based on the market valuations to the end of the contracts at the date of closing of the period. Changes in the fair value are recorded in cumulative other comprehensive income.

The fair value of expired commodity price contracts were recorded in cost of sales where the hedged item was recorded.

 

g) Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments:

The Company has determined that its leasing contracts denominated in U.S. dollars host embedded derivative financial instruments. The fair value is estimated based on formal technical models. Changes in the fair value were recorded in current earnings in the comprehensive financing result as market value on derivative financial instruments.

 

h) Notional Amounts and Fair Value of Derivative Instruments that Met Hedging Criteria:

 

     2011
Notional

Amounts
     Fair Value  
      2011     2010  

CASH FLOWS HEDGE:

       

Assets (Liabilities):

       

Forward agreements

   Ps. 2,933       Ps. 183 (1)    Ps. (16

Options to purchase foreign currency

     1,901         300 (1)      —     

Interest rate swaps

     7,950         (420 )(3)      (418

Commodity price contracts

     754         (19 )(2)      445   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

FAIR VALUE HEDGE:

       

Assets (Liabilities):

       

Cross currency swaps

   Ps. 2,500       Ps. 860 (4)    Ps. 717   

 

  (1) Expires in 2012.
  (2) Maturity dates in 2012 and 2013.
  (3) Maturity dates in 2012 and 2015.
  (4) Expires in 2017.

 

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i) Net Effects of Expired Contracts that Met Hedging Criteria:

 

Types of Derivatives

   Impact in Income
Statement Gain (Loss)
   2011     2010     2009  

Interest rate swaps

   Interest expense    Ps. (120   Ps. (181   Ps. (67

Forward agreements

   Foreign exchange      —          27        —     

Cross currency swaps

   Foreign exchange/

interest expense

     8        2        (32

Commodity price contract

   Cost of sales      257        393        247   

Forward agreements

   Cost of sales      21        —          —     

 

j) Net Effect of Changes in Fair Value of Derivative Financial Instruments that Did Not Meet the Hedging Criteria for Accounting Purposes:

 

Types of Derivatives

  

Impact in Income Statement

  2011     2010     2009  

Interest rate swaps

   Market value gain (loss) on ineffective portion of derivative financial instruments   Ps.  —        Ps. (7   Ps.  —     

Forwards for purchase of foreign currency

       —          —          (63

Cross currency swaps

       (146     205        168   

 

k) Net Effect of Changes in Fair Value of Other Derivative Financial Instruments that Did Not Meet the Hedging Criteria for Accounting Purposes:

 

Types of Derivatives

  

Impact in Income Statement

   2011     2010     2009  

Embedded derivative financial instruments

  

Market value gain (loss) on ineffective

portion of derivative financial instruments

   Ps. (50   Ps. 15      Ps. 19   

Others

        37        (1     —     

Note 20. Non-controlling Interest in Consolidated Subsidiaries

An analysis of FEMSA’s non-controlling interest in its consolidated subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 is as follows:

 

     2011     2010  

Coca-Cola FEMSA

   Ps. 57,450 (1)    Ps. 35,585   

Other

     84        80   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   Ps. 57,534      Ps. 35,665   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes Ps. 7,828 and Ps. 9,017 for acquisitions through issuance of shares of Grupo Tampico and Grupo CIMSA, respectively (see Note 5 A).

 

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Note 21. Stockholders’ Equity

The capital stock of FEMSA is comprised of 2,161,177,770 BD units and 1,417,048,500 B units.

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the capital stock of FEMSA was comprised of 17,891,131,350 common shares, without par value and with no foreign ownership restrictions. Fixed capital stock amounts to Ps. 300 (nominal value) and the variable capital may not exceed 10 times the minimum fixed capital stock amount.

The characteristics of the common shares are as follows:

 

 

Series “B” shares, with unlimited voting rights, which at all times must represent a minimum of 51% of total capital stock;

 

 

Series “L” shares, with limited voting rights, which may represent up to 25% of total capital stock; and

 

 

Series “D” shares, with limited voting rights, which individually or jointly with series “L” shares may represent up to 49% of total capital stock.

The Series “D” shares are comprised as follows:

 

 

Subseries “D-L” shares may represent up to 25% of the series “D” shares;

 

 

Subseries “D-B” shares may comprise the remainder of outstanding series “D” shares; and

 

 

The non-cumulative premium dividend to be paid to series “D” stockholders will be 125% of any dividend paid to series “B” stockholders.

The Series “B” and “D” shares are linked together in related units as follows:

 

 

“B units” each of which represents five series “B” shares and which are traded on the BMV;

 

 

“BD units” each of which represents one series “B” share, two subseries “D-B” shares and two subseries “D-L” shares, and which are traded both on the BMV and the NYSE;

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, FEMSA’s capital stock is comprised as follows:

 

     “B” Units      “BD” Units      Total  

Units

     1,417,048,500         2,161,177,770         3,578,226,270   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares:

        

Series “B”

     7,085,242,500         2,161,177,770         9,246,420,270   

Series “D”

     —           8,644,711,080         8,644,711,080   

Subseries “D-B”

     —           4,322,355,540         4,322,355,540   

Subseries “D-L”

     —           4,322,355,540         4,322,355,540   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total shares

     7,085,242,500         10,805,888,850         17,891,131,350   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The net income of the Company is subject to the legal requirement that 5% thereof be transferred to a legal reserve until such reserve equals 20% of capital stock at nominal value. This reserve may not be distributed to stockholders during the existence of the Company, except as a stock dividend. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, this reserve in FEMSA amounted to Ps. 596 (nominal value).

Retained earnings and other reserves distributed as dividends, as well as the effects derived from capital reductions, are subject to income tax at the rate in effect at the date of distribution, except for restated stockholder contributions and distributions made from consolidated taxable income, denominated “Cuenta de Utilidad Fiscal Neta” (“CUFIN”).

Dividends paid in excess of CUFIN are subject to income tax at a grossed-up rate based on the current statutory rate. Since 2003, this tax may be credited against the income tax of the year in which the dividends are paid, and in the following two years against the income tax and estimated tax payments. As of December 31, 2011, FEMSA’s balances of CUFIN amounted to Ps. 62,925.

At the ordinary stockholders’ meeting of FEMSA held on March 25, 2011, stockholders approved dividends of Ps. 0.22940 Mexican pesos (nominal value) per series “B” share and Ps. 0.28675 Mexican pesos (nominal value) per series “D” share that were paid in May and November, 2011. Additionally, the stockholders approved a reserve for share repurchase of a maximum of Ps. 3,000.As of December 31, 2011, the Company has not repurchased shares.

 

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At an ordinary stockholders’ meeting of Coca-Cola FEMSA held on March 23, 2011, the stockholders approved a dividend of Ps. 4,358 that was paid on April 27, 2011. The corresponding payment to the non-controlling interest was Ps. 2,017.

As of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 the dividends declared and paid by the Company and Coca-Cola FEMSA were as follows:

 

     2011      2010      2009  

FEMSA

   Ps.  4,600       Ps.  2,600       Ps.  1,620   

Coca-Cola FEMSA (100% of dividend)

     4,358         2,604         1,344   

Note 22. Net Controlling Interest Income per Share

This represents the net controlling interest income corresponding to each share of the Company’s capital stock, computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Additionally, the net income distribution is presented according to the dividend rights of each share series.

The following presents the computed weighted average number of shares and the distribution of income per share series as of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009:

 

     Millions of Shares  
   Series “B”      Series “D”  
   Number     Weighted
Average
     Number     Weighted
Average
 

Shares outstanding as of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

     9,246.42        9,246.42         8,644.71        8,644.71   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividend rights

     1.00           1.25     

Allocation of earnings

     46.11        53.89  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Note 23. Taxes

 

a) Income Tax:

Income tax is computed on taxable income, which differs from net income for accounting purposes principally due to the treatment of the inflationary effects, the cost of labor liabilities for employee benefits, depreciation and other accounting provisions. A tax loss may be carried forward and applied against future taxable income.

 

     Domestic     Foreign  
     2011     2010      2009     2011      2010      2009  

Income before income tax from continuing operations

   Ps.  12,275      Ps.  11,276       Ps.  9,209      Ps.  16,096       Ps.  12,356       Ps.  7,549   

Income tax:

               

Current income tax

     3,744        2,643         2,839        3,817         2,211         2,238   

Deferred income tax

     (173     264         (401     299         553         283   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Domestic income before income tax from continuing operations is presented net of dividends received from foreign entities. The income tax paid in foreign countries is compensated with the consolidated income tax paid in Mexico for the period.

 

     Domestic     Foreign  
     2011      2010     2009     2011      2010      2009  

Income before income tax from discontinued operations

   Ps.  —         Ps.  306      Ps.  2,688      Ps.  —         Ps.  442       Ps.  (456

Income tax:

               

Current income tax

     —           210        1,568        —           92         (45

Deferred income tax

     —           (260     (508     —           —           (2,066 )(1) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (1) Application of tax loss carryforwards due to Brazil amnesty adoption.

 

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The statutory income tax rates applicable in the countries where the Company operates, the years in which tax loss carryforwards may be applied and the open periods that remain subject to examination as of December 31, 2011 are as follows:

 

     Statutory
Tax Rate
    Expiration
(Years)
     Open Period
(Years)
 

Mexico

     30     10         5   

Guatemala

     31     N/A         4   

Nicaragua

     30     3         4   

Costa Rica

     30     3         4   

Panama

     25     5         3   

Colombia

     33     Indefinite         2-5   

Venezuela

     34     3         4   

Brazil

     34     Indefinite         6   

Argentina

     35     5         5   

The statutory income tax rate in Mexico was 30% for 2011 and 2010, and 28% for 2009.

In Panama, the statutory income tax rate for 2011, 2010 and 2009 was 25%, 27.5% and 30%, respectively.

On January 1, 2010, the Mexican Tax Reform was effective. The most important changes related to Mexican Tax Reform 2010 are described as follows: the value added tax rate (IVA) increases from 15% to 16%, an increase in special tax on productions and services from 25% to 26.5%; and the statutory income tax rate changes from 28% in 2009 to 30% for 2010, 2011 and 2012, and then in 2013 and 2014 will decrease to 29% and 28%, respectively. Additionally, the Mexican tax reform requires that income tax payments related to consolidation tax benefits obtained since 1999, have to be paid during the next five years beginning on the sixth year when tax benefits were used (see Note 23 C).

In Colombia, tax losses may be carried forward for an indefinite period and they are limited to 25% of the taxable income of each year.

In Brazil, tax losses may be carried forward for an indefinite period but cannot be restated and are limited to 30% of the taxable income of each year.

During 2009 and 2010, Brazil adopted new laws providing for certain tax amnesties. The tax amnesty programs offers Brazilian legal entities and individuals an opportunity to pay off their income tax and indirect tax debts under less stringent conditions than would normally apply. The amnesty programs also include a favorable option under which taxpayers may utilize income tax loss carry-forwards (“NOLs”) when settling certain outstanding income tax and indirect tax debts. The Brazilian subsidiary of Coca-Cola FEMSA decided to participate in the amnesty programs allowing it to settle certain previously accrued indirect tax contingencies. During the years ended, December 31, 2010 and 2009 the Company de-recognized indirect tax contingency accruals of Ps. 333 and Ps. 433 respectively (see Note 24 C), making payments of Ps. 118 and Ps. 243, recording a credit to other expenses of Ps. 179 and Ps. 311 (see Note 18), reversing previously recorded Brazil valuation allowances against NOL’s in 2009, and recording certain taxes recoverable. During 2011, there were no tax amnesty programs applied by the Company.

Tax on Assets:

The operations in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Colombia and Argentina are subject to a minumum tax, which is based primary on a percentage of assets. Any payments are recoverable in future years, under certain conditions. In Mexico, the Company has recoverable tax on assets generated in years earlier than 2008, which is recognized as recoverable taxes and can be recovered through tax returns (see Note 23 E).

 

b) Business Flat Tax (“IETU”):

Effective in 2008, the IETU came into effect in Mexico and replaced the Tax on Assets. IETU functions are similar to an alternative minimum corporate income tax, except that amounts paid cannot be creditable against future income tax payments. The payable tax will be the higher between the IETU or the income tax liability computed under the Mexican income tax law. The IETU applies to corporations, including permanent establishments of foreign entities in Mexico, at a rate of 17.5% beginning in 2010. The rate for 2009 was 17.0%. The IETU is calculated under a cash-flows basis, whereby the tax base is determined by reducing cash proceeds with certain deductions and credits. In the case of income derived from export sales, where cash on the receivable has not been collected within 12 months, income is deemed received at the end of this 12-month period. In addition, as opposed to Mexican income tax which allows for fiscal consolidation, companies that incur IETU are required to file their returns on an individual basis.

 

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The Company has paid corporate income tax since IETU came into effect, and based on its financial projections for purposes of its Mexican tax returns, the Company expects to continue to pay corporate income tax in the future and does not expect to pay IETU. As such, the enactment of IETU has not affected the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

c) Deferred Income Tax:

Effective January 2008, in accordance with NIF B-10, “Effects of Inflation,” in Mexico the application of inflationary accounting is suspended. However, for taxes purposes, the balance of non monetary assets is restated through the application of National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) of each country. For this reason, the difference between accounting and taxable values will increase, generating a deferred tax.

The impact to deferred income tax generated by liabilities (assets) temporary differences are as follows:

 

Deferred Income Taxes

   2011     2010  

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   Ps. (107   Ps. (71

Inventories

     (52     37   

Prepaid expenses

     46        75   

Property, plant and equipment

     1,676        1,418   

Investments in shares

     1,830        161   

Other assets

     (701     (458

Amortized intangible assets

     295        197   

Unamortized intangible assets

     2,409        1,769   

Labor liabilities for employee benefits

     (552     (448

Derivative financial instruments

     23        8   

Loss contingencies

     (721     (703

Temporary non-deductible provision

     (935     (999

Employee profit sharing payable

     (200     (125

Tax loss carryforwards

     (633     (988

Deferred tax from exchange of shares of FEMSA Cerveza (see Note 5 B)

     10,099        10,099   

Other reserves

     973        249   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes, net

     13,450        10,221   

Deferred income taxes asset

     461        346   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes liability

   Ps. 13,911      Ps. 10,567   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The changes in the balance of the net deferred income tax liability are as follows:

 

     2011     2010     2009  

Initial balance

   Ps. 10,221      Ps. (660   Ps. 670   

Deferred tax provision for the year

     225        875        (31

Change in the statutory rate

     (99     (58     (87

Deferred tax from the exchange of shares of FEMSA (see Note 5 B)

     —          10,099        —     

Usage of tax losses related to exchange of FEMSA Cerveza (see Note 5 B)

     —          280        —     

Effect of tax loss carryforwards (1)

     —          —          (1,874

Acquisition of subsidiaries

     186        —          —     

Disposal of subsidiaries

     —          (34     —     

Effects in stockholders’ equity:

      

Derivative financial instruments

     75        75        80   

Cumulative translation adjustment

     2,779        (352     609   

Retained earnings

     23        (38     —     

Deferred tax cancellation due to change in accounting principle

     —          —          (71

Restatement effect of beginning balances

     40        34        44   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

   Ps. 13,450      Ps. 10,221      Ps. (660
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

      
  (1) Effect due to 2010 Mexican tax reform, which deferred taxes were reclassified to other current liabilities and other liabilities according to its maturity.

 

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d) Provision for the Year:

 

     2011     2010     2009  

Current income taxes

   Ps. 7,561      Ps. 4,854      Ps. 5,077   

Deferred income tax

     225        875        (31

Change in the statutory rate

     (99     (58     (87
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income taxes

   Ps. 7,687      Ps. 5,671      Ps. 4,959   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

e) Tax Loss Carryforwards and Recoverable Tax on Assets:

The subsidiaries in Mexico and Brazil have tax loss carryforwards and/or recoverable tax on assets. The taxes effect net of consolidation benefits and their years of expiration are as follows:

 

Year

   Tax Loss
Carryforwards
    Current
Recoverable
Tax on
Assets
 

2012

   Ps. —        Ps. —     

2013

     —          12   

2014

     —          50   

2015

     —          4   

2016

     13        50   

2017

     —          63   

2018

     629        —     

2019 and thereafter

     1,147        —     

No expiration (Brazil, see Note 23 A)

     342        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     2,131        179   

Tax losses used in consolidation

     (1,443     (135
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   Ps. 688      Ps. 44   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The changes in the balance of tax loss carryforwards and recoverable tax on assets, excluding discontinued operations are as follows:

 

     2011     2010  

Initial balance

   Ps. 803      Ps. 1,425   

Additions

     60        18   

Usage of tax losses

     (140     (600

Translation effect of beginning balances

     9        (40
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

   Ps. 732      Ps. 803   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, there is no valuation allowance recorded due to the uncertainty related to the realization of certain tax loss carryforwards and tax on assets.

 

f) Reconciliation of Mexican Statutory Income Tax Rate to Consolidated Effective Income Tax Rate:

 

     2011     2010     2009  

Mexican statutory income tax rate

     30.0     30.0     28.0

Difference between book and tax inflationary effects

     (3.6 )%      (3.9 )%      (1.8 )% 

Difference between statutory income tax rates

     1.2     1.2     2.4

Non-taxable income

     (0.3 )%      (2.4 )%      (0.2 )% 

Others

     (0.2 )%      (0.9 )%      1.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     27.1     24.0     29.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Note 24. Other Liabilities, Contingencies and Commitments

 

a) Other Current Liabilities:

 

     2011      2010  

Derivative financial instruments

   Ps. 69       Ps. 41   

Sundry creditors

     2,116         1,681   

Current portion of other long-term liabilities

     197         276   

Others

     15         37   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   Ps. 2,397       Ps. 2,035   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

b) Contingencies and Other Liabilities:

 

     2011     2010  

Contingencies (1)

   Ps. 2,764      Ps. 2,712   

Taxes payable

     480        872   

Derivative financial instruments

     565        653   

Current portion of other long-term liabilities

     (197     (276

Others

     1,148        1,435   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   Ps. 4,760      Ps. 5,396   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (1) As of December 31, 2010 included Ps. 560 of tax loss contingencies regarding indemnification accorded with Heineken over FEMSA Cerveza, prior tax contingencies, of which Ps. 113 were recognized as other current liabilities and Ps. 2 were cancelled as of December 31, 2011.

 

c) Contingencies Recorded in the Balance Sheet:

The Company has various loss contingencies, and reserves have been recorded in those cases where the Company believes an unfavorable resolution is probable. Most of these loss contingencies were recorded as a result of recent business acquisitions. The following table presents the nature and amount of the loss contingencies recorded as of December 31, 2011:

 

     Total  

Indirect tax

   Ps. 1,405   

Labor

     1,128   

Legal

     231   
  

 

 

 

Total

   Ps. 2,764   
  

 

 

 

Changes in the Balance of Contingencies Recorded:

 

     2011     2010  

Initial balance

   Ps. 2,712      Ps. 2,467   

Provision

     356        716   

Penalties and other charges

     277        376   

Cancellation and expiration

     (359     (205

Payments (1)

     (288     (211

Amnesty adoption

     —          (333

Translation of foreign currency of beginning balance

     66        (98
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

   Ps. 2,764      Ps. 2,712   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (1) Include Ps. 113 reclassified to other current liabilities.

 

d) Unsettled Lawsuits:

The Company has entered into legal proceedings with its labor unions, tax authorities and other parties that primarily involve Coca-Cola FEMSA. These proceedings have resulted in the ordinary course of business and are common to the industry in which the Company operates. The aggregate amount being claimed against the Company resulting from such proceedings as of December 31, 2011 is Ps. 6,781. Such contingencies were classified by legal counsel as less than

 

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probable but more than remote of being settled against the Company. However, the Company believes that the ultimate resolution of such legal proceedings will not have a material effect on its consolidated financial position or result of operations.

In recent years in its Mexican, Costa Rican and Brazilian territories, Coca-Cola FEMSA has been requested to present certain information regarding possible monopolistic practices. These requests are commonly generated in the ordinary course of business in the soft drink industry where this subsidiary operates. The Company does not expect any significant liability to arise from these contingencies.

 

e) Collateralized Contingencies:

As is customary in Brazil, the Company has been requested by the tax authorities to collateralize tax contingencies currently in litigation amounting to Ps. 2,418 by pledging fixed assets and entering into available lines of credit which cover such contingencies.

 

f) Commitments:

As of December 31, 2011, the Company has contractual commitments for finance leases for machinery and transport equipment (see Note 17) and operating lease for the rental of production machinery and equipment, distribution equipment, computer equipment and land for FEMSA Comercio’s operations.

The contractual maturities of the operating lease commitments by currency, expressed in Mexican pesos as of December 31, 2011, are as follows:

 

     Mexican
pesos
     U.S.
dollars
     Other  

2012

   Ps. 2,370       Ps. 113       Ps. 203   

2013

     2,246         110         107   

2014

     2,134         100         80   

2015

     2,018         161         10   

2016

     1,896         712         8   

2017 and thereafter

     11,324         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   Ps. 21,988       Ps. 1,196       Ps. 408   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Rental expense charged to operations amounted to approximately Ps. 3,249 Ps. 2,602 and Ps. 2,255 for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Note 25. Information by Segment

The Company restructured the segment information disclosed to its main authority of the entity to focus on income from operations and cash flow from operations before changes in working capital and provisions (see Note 4 Z). Therefore segment disclosures for prior periods have been reclassified for comparison purposes.

a) By Business Unit:

 

2011

   Coca-Cola
FEMSA
    FEMSA
Comercio
    CB
Equity
    Other  (1)     Consolidation
Adjustments
    Consolidated  

Total revenues

   Ps. 124,715      Ps. 74,112      Ps. —        Ps. 13,373      Ps. (9,156   Ps. 203,044   

Intercompany revenue

     2,099        2        —          7,055        (9,156     —     

Income from operations

     20,152        6,276        (7     483        —          26,904   

Other expenses, net

               (2,917

Interest expense

     (1,736     (1,026     —          (535     363        (2,934

Interest income

     601        12        7        742        (363     999   

Other net finance expenses (2)

               1,152   

Equity method from associates

     86        —          5,080        1        —          5,167   

Income taxes

     (5,599     (556     (267     (1,265     —          (7,687
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated net income before discontinued operations

               20,684   

Depreciation (3)

     4,163        1,175        —          160        —          5,498   

Amortization and non-cash operating expenses

     683        707        —          166        —          1,556   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Cash flows from operations before changes in working capital and provisions (4)

     24,998        8,158        (7     809        —          33,958   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investment in associates and joint ventures

     3,656        —          75,075        241        —          78,972   

Long-term assets

     119,534        16,593        75,075        9,641        (5,106     215,737   

Total assets

     151,608        26,998        76,791        28,220        (8,913     274,704   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Disposals of long-lived assets

     484        211        —          8        —          703   

Capital expenditures, net (5)

     7,826        4,096        —          593        —          12,515   

Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities

     15,307        7,403        (93     (373     —          22,244   

Net cash flows (used in) provided by investment activities

     (14,140     (4,083     1,668        (1,535     —          (18,090

Net cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities

     (2,206     313        —          (5,029     —          (6,922
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (1) Includes other companies (see Note 1) and corporate.
  (2) Includes foreign exchange loss, net; gain on monetary position, net; and market value loss on ineffective portion of derivative financial instruments.
  (3) Includes bottle breakage.
  (4) Income from operations plus depreciation and amortization.
  (5) Includes acquisitions and disposals of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and other assets.

 

2010

   Coca-Cola
FEMSA
    FEMSA
Comercio
    CB
Equity
    Other  (1)     Consolidation
Adjustments
    Consolidated  

Total revenues

     Ps. 103,456        Ps. 62,259        Ps. —          Ps. 12,010        Ps. (8,023     Ps. 169,702   

Intercompany revenue

     1,642        2        —          6,379        (8,023     —     

Income from operations

     17,079        5,200        (3     253        —          22,529   

Other expenses, net

               (282

Interest expense

     (1,748     (917     —          (951     351        (3,265

Interest income

     285        25        2        1,143        (351     1,104   

Other net finance expenses (2)

               8   

Equity method from associates

     217        —          3,319        2        —          3,538   

Income taxes

     (4,260     (499     (208     (704     —          (5,671
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated net income before discontinued operations

               17,961   

Depreciation (3)

     3,333        990        —          204        —          4,527   

Amortization and non-cash operating expenses

     610        607        —          144        —          1,361   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from operations before changes in working capital and provisions (4)

     21,022        6,797        (3     601        —          28,417   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investment in associates and joint ventures

     2,108        —          66,478        207        —          68,793   

Long-term assets

     87,625        14,655        66,478        4,785        (1,425     172,118   

Total assets

     114,061        23,677        67,010        27,705        (8,875     223,578   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Disposals of long-lived assets

     7        —          —          2        —          9   

Capital expenditures, net (5)

     7,478        3,324        —          369        —          11,171   

Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities

     14,350        6,704        —          (3,252     —          17,802   

Net cash flows (used in) provided by investment activities

     (6,845     (3,288     553        15,758        —          6,178   

Net cash flows used in financing activities

     (2,011     (819     (504     (7,162     —          (10,496
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (1) Includes other companies (see Note 1) and corporate.
  (2) Includes foreign exchange loss, net; gain on monetary position, net; and market value gain on ineffective portion of derivative financial instruments.
  (3) Includes bottle breakage.
  (4) Income from operations plus depreciation and amortization.
  (5) Includes acquisitions and disposals of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and other assets.

 

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2009

   Coca-Cola
FEMSA
    FEMSA
Comercio
    Other  (1)     Consolidation
Adjustments
    Consolidated  

Total revenues

     Ps. 102,767        Ps. 53,549        Ps. 10,991        Ps. (7,056     Ps. 160,251   

Intercompany revenue

     1,277        2        5,777        (7,056     —     

Income from operations

     15,835        4,457        838        —          21,130   

Other expenses, net

             (1,877

Interest expense

     (1,895     (954     (1,594     432        (4,011

Interest income

     286        27        1,324        (432     1,205   

Other net finance expenses (2)

             179   

Equity method from associates

     142        —          (10     —          132   

Income taxes

     (4,043     (544     (372     —          (4,959
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated net income before discontinued operations

             11,799   

Depreciation (3)

     3,472        819        100        —          4,391   

Amortization and non-cash operating expenses

     438        511        162        —          1,111   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from operations before changes in working capital and provisions (4)

     19,745        5,787        1,100        —          26,632   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Disposals of long-lived assets

     124        —          5        —          129   

Capital expenditures, net (5)

     6,282        2,668        153        —          9,103   

Net cash flows provided by operating activities

     16,663        4,339        1,742        —          22,744   

Net cash flows (used in) provided by investment activities

     (8,900     (2,634     158        —          (11,376

Net cash flows used in financing activities

     (6,029     (346     (1,514     —          (7,889
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (1) Includes other companies (see Note 1) and corporate.
  (2) Includes foreign exchange loss, net, gain on monetary position, net and market value gain on ineffective portion of derivative financial instruments.
  (3) Includes bottle breakage.
  (4) Income from operations plus depreciation and amortization.
  (5) Includes acquisitions and disposals of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and other assets.

 

b) By Geographic Area:

Geographic disclosures begin with the country level, with the exception of Central America which had been considered a geography by itself. Prior to 2011, the Company aggregated countries into the following geographies for the purposes of its consolidated financial statements: (i) Mexico, (ii) Latincentro, which aggregated Colombia and Central America, (iii) Venezuela (iv) Mercosur, which aggregated Brazil and Argentina, and (v) Europe.

During August 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA changed certain aspects of its business structure and organization. In order to align the Company’s geographic reporting with Coca-Cola FEMSA’s new internal structure, the Company has decided to change the aggregation of its countries into the following geographies for consolidated financial statement purposes: (i) Mexico and Central America division (comprising the following countries: Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaraga, Costa Rica and Panama), (ii) the South America division (comprising the following countries: Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina) and (iii) Europe division. Venezuela operates in an economy with exchange controls and hyper-inflation; and as a result, NIF B-5 “Information by Segments” does not allow its aggregation into the South America segment. The Company is of the view that the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the aggregated operating segments are similar in nature for all periods presented.

Geographic disclosures for prior periods have been reclassified for comparison purposes.

 

2011

   Total
Revenue
    Capital
Expenditures,
Net (3)
     Investments
in Associates
and Joint
Ventures
     Long-Lived
Assets
     Total Assets  

Mexico and Central America (1)

     Ps. 130,256        Ps. 8,409         Ps. 2,458         Ps. 101,380         Ps. 139,741   

South America (2)

     53,113        3,461         1,438         31,430         47,182   

Venezuela

     20,173        645         1         7,852         12,717   

Europe

     —          —           75,075         75,075         76,791   

Consolidation adjustments

     (498     —           —           —           (1,727
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated

     Ps. 203,044        Ps. 12,515         Ps. 78,972         Ps. 215,737         Ps. 274,704   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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2010

                                 

Mexico and Central America (1)

     Ps. 111,769        Ps. 6,796         Ps. 1,019         Ps. 72,116         Ps. 109,508   

South America (2)

     44,468        3,870         1,295         28,055         40,584   

Venezuela

     14,048        505         1         5,469         7,882   

Europe

     —          —           66,478         66,478         67,010   

Consolidation adjustments

     (583     —           —           —           (1,406
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated

     Ps. 169,702        Ps. 11,171         Ps. 68,793         Ps. 172,118         Ps. 223,578   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

2009

                                 

Mexico and Central America (1)

     Ps. 101,023        Ps. 5,870            

South America (2)

     37,507        1,980            

Venezuela

     22,448        1,253            

Consolidation adjustments

     (727     —              
  

 

 

   

 

 

          

Consolidated

     Ps. 160,251        Ps. 9,103            
  

 

 

   

 

 

          

 

  (1) Central America includes Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. Domestic (Mexico only) revenues were Ps. 122,690, Ps. 105,448 and Ps. 94,819 during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Domestic (Mexico only) long-term assets were Ps. 94,076 and Ps. 64,310 as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
  (2) South America includes Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela, although Venezuela is shown separately above. South America revenues include Brazilian revenues of Ps. 31,405, Ps. 27,070 and Ps. 21,465 during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Brazilian long-term assets were Ps. 15,618 and Ps. 14,410 as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. South America revenues also include Colombian revenues of Ps. 12,320, Ps. 11,057 and Ps. 9,904 during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Colombian long-term assets were Ps. 12,855 and Ps. 11,176 as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
  (3) Includes acquisitions and disposals of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and other assets.

Note 26. Differences Between Mexican FRS and U.S. GAAP

As discussed in Note 2, the consolidated financial statements of the Company are prepared in accordance with Mexican FRS, which differs in certain significant respects from authoritative U.S. accounting and reporting standards. Included in this Note and Note 27 are references to certain principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) Codifications (“ASC”) that have been adopted by the Company.

A reconciliation of the reported net income, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income to U.S. GAAP is presented in Note 27.

The principal differences between Mexican FRS and U.S. GAAP included in the reconciliation that affect the consolidated financial statements of the Company are described below.

 

a) Consolidation of Coca-Cola FEMSA:

The Company consolidates its investment in Coca-Cola FEMSA under Mexican FRS, in accordance with Bulletin B-8 “Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements and Valuation of Long-Term Investments in Shares” through 2008 and revised NIF B-8 “Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements” beginning in 2009 as disclosed in Note 2 M.

For U.S. GAAP purposes, the existence of substantive participating rights held by the Coca-Cola Company (non-controlling interest), as addressed in the shareholder agreement, did not allow FEMSA to consolidate Coca-Cola FEMSA in its financial statements. Therefore, FEMSA’s investment in Coca-Cola FEMSA had been accounted for by the equity method in FEMSA’s consolidated financial statement under U.S. GAAP for the year ended December 31, 2009.

As of December 31, 2009, the fair value of FEMSA’s investment in Coca-Cola FEMSA represented by 992,078,519 shares equivalent to 53.7% of its outstanding shares amounted to Ps. 85,135 based on quoted market prices of that date.

 

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Coca-Cola FEMSA’s summarized consolidated income statement under U.S. GAAP is presented as follows for the year ended December 31, 2009:

 

Consolidated Income Statements

   2009  

Total revenues

     Ps. 100,393   

Income from operations

     14,215   

Income before income taxes

     12,237   

Income taxes

     3,525   
  

 

 

 

Consolidated net income

     8,853   

Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest

     (446 )
  

 

 

 

Net income attributable to the controlling interest

     8,407   

Consolidated comprehensive income

     10,913   

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to the non-controlling interest

     (592
  

 

 

 

Consolidated comprehensive income attributable to the controlling interest

     Ps. 10,321   
  

 

 

 

On February 1, 2010, FEMSA and The Coca-Cola Company signed an amendment to their shareholder’s agreement. This amendment allowed FEMSA to continue to consolidate Coca-Cola FEMSA for Mexican FRS purposes during 2009, because the Company has maintained control over its operating and financial policies. As a result of the modifications to the shareholder’s agreement, substantive participating rights held by The Coca-Cola Company were amended and became protective rights. As a result of the modifications made to the shareholders’ agreement, which provided control to the Company over Coca-Cola FEMSA, the Company recognized a business combination without transfer of consideration in order to comply with ASC 805 and beginning February 1, 2010 started to consolidate Coca-Cola FEMSA for U.S. GAAP purposes.

The Company estimated the total fair value of the interest acquired in Coca-Cola FEMSA to be Ps. 148,110 based on Coca-Cola FEMSA’s outstanding shares price quoted in the NYSE of Ps. 80.21 (level 1 information) as of February 1, 2010. As a result of a business combination without transfer of consideration, the Company recognized a gain in other income in the consolidated income statements under U.S. GAAP which amounted to Ps. 39,847. This gain represents the difference between the book value and the fair value of the interest acquired in Coca-Cola FEMSA as of the date of the control acquisition and is reported in “other income, net.”

As of the acquisition date and based on the purchase price allocation, the Company identified intangible assets with indefinite lives consisting of distribution rights of Ps. 113,434 and depreciable long-lived assets that amounted to Ps. 27,409. The Company also recognized goodwill of Ps. 41,761 as part of this transaction. The goodwill recognized with our control acquisition of Coca-Cola FEMSA is primarily related to synergistic value created from having an unified operating system that will strategically position us to better market and distribute our beverage brands in Mexico, Central America, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and Argentina.

The fair value of all Coca-Cola FEMSA net assets acquired by the Company is as follows:

 

Total current assets

     Ps. 19,874   

Property, plant and equipment

     31,431   

Distribution rights

     113,434   

Other long-term assets

     5,548   

Total current liabilities

     19,054   

Total long-term liabilities

     40,156   

Total liabilities

     59,210   
  

 

 

 

Net assets acquired

     111,077   

Goodwill

     41,761   
  

 

 

 

Total fair value of Coca-Cola FEMSA

     152,838   

Fair value of the Non-controlling Interest in the subsidiaries of Coca-Cola FEMSA (1)

     4,728   

Fair value of the Non-controlling Interest of FEMSA in Coca-Cola FEMSA (2)

     68,535   

Fair value of the Controlling Interest acquired in Coca-Cola FEMSA

     79,575   
  

 

 

 

 

  (1) The fair value of the non-controlling interest in the subsidiaries of Coca-Cola FEMSA was estimated using the market approach.
  (2) The fair value of the non-controlling interest of FEMSA in Coca-Cola FEMSA was estimated using the market approach. The main input used to estimate fair value was share prices quoted in the Mexican Stock Exchange.

 

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After acquisition date for the year ended December 31, 2010, additional depreciation and amortization of identified assets net of deferred income tax recognized in the Consolidated Income Statement were an amount of Ps. 661.

The Company recognized within its consolidated income statement revenues of Ps. 95,839 and a net income of Ps. 9,734 for the year ended December 31, 2010, for the eleven months of operations related to Coca-Cola FEMSA after the acquisition date.

Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Data

The following unaudited consolidated pro forma financial data represents the Company’s historical financial statements, adjusted to give effect to (i) the acquisition of Coca-Cola FEMSA mentioned in the preceding paragraphs; (ii) certain accounting adjustments related mainly to the depreciation of the step-up adjustment for fixed assets acquired, (iii) eliminating the gain on the acquisition of Coca-Cola FEMSA.

The unaudited pro forma adjustments assume that the acquisition was made at the beginning of the year immediately preceding the year of acquisition and are based upon available information and other assumptions that management considers reasonable. The pro forma financial information data does not purport to represent what the effect on the Company’s consolidated operations would have been, had the transactions in fact occurred at the beginning of each year, nor are they intended to predict the Company’s future results of operations.

 

     FEMSA unaudited pro  forma
consolidated results for the years
ended December 31,
 
     2010(2)      2009 (2)  

Total revenues

     184,336         195,090   

Income before taxes (1)

     47,607         18,924   

Net income (1)

     32,543         15,022   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (1) In 2010 includes gain on the FEMSA Cerveza exchange.
  (2) Does not include gain due to Coca-Cola FEMSA’s control acquisition.

 

b) Exchange of FEMSA Cerveza and Acquisition of 20% Economic Interest in Heineken:

As explained in Note 5 B i), on April 30, 2010, FEMSA exchanged 100% of its shares in FEMSA Cerveza for a 20% economic interest in Heineken Group. According to Mexican FRS, the disposal of FEMSA Cerveza has been accounted as a discontinued operation.

For U.S. GAAP purposes, FEMSA Cerveza has not been accounted for as a discontinued operation, given the significant cash flows that continue to be exchanged between FEMSA’s ongoing operations and those of the disposed entity. As a result, the disposition was accounted for as a sale of a group of assets and classified within continuing operations in the consolidated financial statements under U.S. GAAP, and not as the disposal of a component of FEMSA. As such, the Company’s Mexican FRS consolidated income statements have reported FEMSA Cerveza’s results of operations prior to the April 30, 2010 exchange in one line item (discontinued operations). For U.S. GAAP purposes it continues to fully consolidate its line by line results prior to the exchange. See Note 5 B i) for summarized FEMSA Cerveza financial statements for dates and periods prior to April 30, 2010 under Mexican FRS.

The acquisition of the 20% economic interest in Heineken has been accounted for taking into consideration closing prices of Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. as of the acquisition date (see Note 5 B i) As of April 30, 2010, under U.S. GAAP, the Company recognized a gain of Ps. 27,132 within other income in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, which represents the difference between the book value of its interest in FEMSA Cerveza and the acquisition value of Heineken recorded at the exchange date. The basis of the assets and liabilities under U.S. GAAP of FEMSA Cerveza at the exchange date was different from the basis of such assets and liabilities under Mexican FRS, additionally the goodwill of Ps. 10,600 allocated to FEMSA Cerveza was cancelled as part of this transaction (see Note 26 M); accordingly, the gain recorded on disposal under U.S. GAAP differs from that under Mexican FRS. The deferred income tax for U.S. GAAP purposes amounted to Ps. 10,099.

For subsequent accounting, the Company recognizes its investment in Heineken for purposes of Mexican FRS under the equity method after reconciling Heineken’s net income and comprehensive income from IFRS to Mexican FRS, as a result of its ability to exercise significant influence over its operating and financial policies as disclosed in Note 5 B i). However, for purposes of U.S. GAAP, the Company recognizes its investment in Heineken based on the cost method because it was unable to obtain the required information to reconcile Heineken’s net income to U.S. GAAP on an accurate and reliable basis.

 

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c) Restatement of Prior Year Financial Statements for Inflationary Effects:

As a result of discontinued inflationary accounting in 2008 for subsidiaries that operate in non-inflationary economic environments, the Company’s financial statements are no longer considered to be presented in a reporting currency that comprehensively includes the effects of price level changes; therefore, the inflationary effects of inflationary economic environments arising in 2009, 2010 and 2011 result in a difference to be reconciled for U.S. GAAP purposes. The equity method of Coca-Cola FEMSA recorded by FEMSA as of January 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 considers this difference, as well as the consolidated net income for the eleven months ended on December 31, 2010 and the consolidated net income for the full year ended on December 31, 2011, regarding inflationary effects of Argentina, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, inflationary economies according to MFRS in which Coca-Cola FEMSA operates. Inflationary effects of Venezuela are not reconcilied because is accounted as a hyper-inflationary economy for U.S. GAAP purposes, since January 1, 2010 (see Note 4 A).

For U.S. GAAP reconciliation purposes, the Company has applied an accommodation available in Item 17(c)(2)(iv)(B) of the instructions to Form 20-F whereby the International Accounting Standard 21 Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates (IAS 21) and IAS 29 Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies (IAS 29) indexation approach is applied. A U.S. GAAP reconciliation which would otherwise require a hyper-inflationary economy to be reported using the dollar as the functional currency is not required to be provided using this accommodation if amounts in a currency of a hyperinflationary economy are translated into the reporting currency in accordance with IAS 21. Additionally, the information related to the revenues as well as long-term assets and total assets related to the Venezuelan subsidiary are shown separately in the segment disclosure footnote (see Note 25 B). Recent devaluations in the Venezuelan currency are also discussed in Note 3.

 

d) Classification Differences:

Certain items require a different classification in the balance sheet or income statement under U.S. GAAP. These include:

 

   

Beginning on January 1, 2010, restricted cash has been classified from other current assets to cash and cash equivalents according to NIF C-1 Cash and Cash Equivalents. Under U.S. GAAP, restricted cash remains classified as other current or long term assets;

 

   

Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets, the gains or losses on the disposition of fixed assets, all severance payments associated with an ongoing benefit and amendments to pension plans, financial expenses from labor liabilities and employee profit sharing, among others, are recorded as part of operating income under U.S. GAAP, but not under Mexican FRS;

 

   

Under Mexican FRS, deferred taxes are classified as non-current, while under U.S. GAAP they are classified based on the classification of the related asset or liability or their estimated reversal date when not associated with an asset or liability;

 

   

Under Mexican FRS, market value gain/loss of embedded derivatives contracts are recorded as market value gain/loss of ineffective portion of derivatives financial instruments. For U.S. GAAP purposes, this effect has been reclassified to operating expenses; and

 

   

Under Mexican FRS, restructuring costs are recorded as other expenses while for U.S. GAAP purposes restructuring costs are recorded as operating expense.

 

e) Deferred Promotional Expenses:

As explained in Note 4 E, under Mexican FRS, promotional expenses related to the launching of new products or product presentations are recorded as prepaid expenses. For U.S. GAAP purposes, such promotional expenses are expensed as incurred.

 

f) Intangible Assets:

According to Mexican FRS, in 2003 the amortization of goodwill was discontinued. For U.S. GAAP purposes, since 2002 goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are no longer subject to amortization.

Under U.S. GAAP, indefinite-lived intangible assets are recorded at estimated fair value at the date of the acquisition, under Mexican FRS intangible assets with indefinite life are recognized at its estimated fair value, limited to the underlying amount of the purchase price consideration. This results in a difference in accounting for acquired intangible assets between Mexican FRS and U.S. GAAP.

 

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During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company acquired the Brisa water business in Colombia. For U.S. GAAP, acquired distribution rights intangible assets are recorded at estimated fair value at the date of the purchase. Under Mexican FRS, this distribution rights intangible asset is recorded at its estimated fair value, limited to the underlying amount of the purchase price consideration. This results in a difference in accounting for acquired intangible assets between Mexican FRS and U.S. GAAP. These differences have resulted in a gain being recorded in 2009 for U.S. GAAP purposes in the amount of Ps. 72.

 

g) Restatement of Imported Equipment:

Through December 2007, the Company restated imported machinery and equipment by applying the inflation rate and the exchange rate of the currency of the country of origin. The resulting amounts were then translated into Mexican pesos using the period end exchange rate. This result in a difference in accounting between Mexican FRS and U.S. GAAP.

NIF B-10 establishes that imported machinery and equipment are recorded using the exchange rate of the acquisition date. Subholding Companies that operate in inflationary economic environments have to restate those assets by applying the inflation rate in their own countries. The change in this methodology did not impact significantly the consolidated financial position of the Company.

 

h) Capitalization of the Comprehensive Financing Result:

Through 2006, and according to Bulletin C-6 “Property, plant and equipment” the Company had not capitalized the comprehensive financial result related to fixed assets.

Beginning in 2007, according to NIF D-6 “Capitalization of Comprehensive Financing Result,” the Company capitalized the comprehensive financing result generated by borrowings obtained to finance qualifying assets.

According to U.S. GAAP, if interest expense (does not include all the components of comprehensive result defined by Mexican FRS) is incurred during the construction of qualifying assets and the net effect is material, capitalization is required for all assets that require a period of time to get them ready for their intended use. The net effect of interest expenses incurred to bring qualifying assets to the condition for its intended use was Ps. 92, Ps. 90 and Ps. 90 for the years ended on December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

A reconciling item is included for the difference in capitalized comprehensive financing result and the related amortization recorded under Mexican FRS and the corresponding capitalized interest expense and related amortization recorded under U.S. GAAP.

 

i) Fair Value Measurements:

The Company adopted a FASB pronouncement that establishes a framework for measuring fair value providing a consistent definition that focuses on exit price and prioritizes the use of market based inputs over company specific inputs. This pronouncement requires companies to consider its own nonperformance risk when measuring liabilities carried at fair value, including derivative financial instruments. The effective date of this standard for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis (at least annually) started on January 1, 2009.

Additionally, U.S. GAAP establishes a three level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. This hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs are fully described in Note 19. The Company has segregated all financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (at least annually) into the most appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to determine the fair value at the measurement date as shown in Note 19.

The Company is exposed to counterparty credit risk on all derivative financial instruments. Because the amounts are recorded at fair value, the full amount of the Company’s exposure is the carrying value of these instruments. Credit risk is monitored through established approval procedures, which consider grading counterparties periodically in order to offset the net effect of counterparty’s credit risk. As a result the Company only enters into derivative transactions with well-established financial institutions; and estimates that such risk is minimal.

U.S. GAAP allows entities to voluntarily choose to measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value (fair value option). The fair value option may be elected on an instrument by instrument basis and is irrevocable, unless a new election date occurs. If the fair value option is elected for an instrument, the unrealized gains and losses for that

 

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instrument shall be reported in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The Company did not elect to adopt fair value option for any of its outstanding instruments; therefore, it did not have any impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In accordance with the financial instruments disclosures, it is necessary to disclose, in the body of the financial statements or in the notes, the fair value of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate it, and the method(s) used to estimate the fair value. The Company estimates that carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, interest payable, suppliers, accounts payable and other current liabilities approximate their fair value due to their short maturity.

Additionally as explained in Note 16, the Company has a bonus program in which the cost of the equity instruments is measured based on the fair value of the instruments on the date they are granted.

 

j) Deferred Income Taxes, Employee Profit Sharing and Uncertain Tax Positions:

The calculation of deferred income taxes and employee profit sharing for U.S. GAAP purposes differs from Mexican FRS as follows:

 

   

Under Mexican FRS, inflation effects on the deferred taxes balance generated by monetary items are recognized in the income statement as part of the result of monetary position of subsidiaries in inflationary economic environments. Under U.S. GAAP, the deferred taxes balance is classified as a non-monetary item. As a result, the consolidated U.S. GAAP income statement differs with respect to the presentation of the gain or loss on monetary position and deferred income taxes provision;

 

   

Under Mexican FRS, deferred employee profit sharing is calculated using the asset and liability method, which is the method used to compute deferred income taxes under U.S. GAAP. Employee profit sharing is deductible for purposes of Mexican taxes from profit. This deduction reduces the payments of income taxes in subsequent years. For Mexican FRS purposes, the Company did not record deferred employee profit sharing, since is not expected to materialize in the future; and

 

   

The differences in the deferred income tax of the control acquisition of Coca-Cola FEMSA, deferred income tax of the exchange of FEMSA Cerveza shares, deferred promotional expenses, intangible assets, restatement of imported machinery and equipment, capitalization of comprehensive financial result, employee benefits and deferred employee profit sharing, explained in Note 26 A, B, E, F, G, H, and J, generate a difference when calculating deferred income taxes under U.S. GAAP compared to that presented under Mexican FRS (see Note 23 C).

The reconciliation of deferred income tax and employee profit sharing, as well as the changes in the balances of deferred taxes, are as follows:

 

Reconciliation of Deferred Income Taxes, Net

   2011     2010  

Deferred income taxes under Mexican FRS

   Ps.  13,450      Ps.  10,221   

U.S. GAAP adjustments:

    

Deferred promotional expenses

     (4     (14

Deferred income tax of Coca-Cola FEMSA´s fair value adjustments

     23,813        21,833   

Intangible assets

     (91     (22

Deferred charges

     (51     (20

Deferred revenues

     17        26   

Equity method of Heineken

     (1,490     (859

Restatement of imported equipment

     (3     85   

Capitalization of interest expense

     4        4   

Tax deduction for deferred employee profit sharing

     19        50   

Employee benefits

     (243     (220
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total U.S. GAAP adjustments

     21,971        20,863   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes, net, under U.S. GAAP

   Ps. 35,421      Ps. 31,084   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Changes in the Balance of Deferred Income Taxes

   2011     2010     2009  

Initial liability (asset) balance

   Ps.  31,084      Ps.  (2,405   Ps.  37   

Provision for the year

     (885     (159     (795

Change in the statutory income tax rate

     (99     (58     (90

Deferred tax of the exchange of FEMSA Cerveza

     —          10,001        —     

Control acquisition of Coca-Cola FEMSA and fair value adjustments

     —          23,843        —     

Application of tax loss carryforwards due to amnesty adoption

     —          —          2,066   

Reversal of tax loss carryforwards allowance

         (2,066

Acquisition of subsidiaries

     186        —          —     

Reversal of tax loss carryforwards

     —          —          (1,874

Financial instruments

     38        (19     319   

Cumulative translation adjustment

     5,060        (60     (134

Unrecognized labor liabilities

     (3     (59     132   

Others

     40        —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending liability (asset) balance

   Ps.  35,421      Ps.  31,084      Ps.  (2,405
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of Deferred Employee Profit Sharing

   2011     2010  

Deferred employee profit sharing under Mexican FRS

   Ps.  —        Ps.  —     

U.S. GAAP adjustments:

    

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     (2     (1

Inventories

     (1     8   

Property, plant and equipment

     154        25   

Deferred charges

     4        4   

Intangible assets

     (1     (1

Labor liabilities

     (274     (233

Other liabilities

     (148     (186
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total U.S. GAAP adjustments

     (268     (384
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Valuation allowance

     202        206   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred employee profit sharing under U.S. GAAP

   Ps.  (66   Ps.  (178
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Changes in the Balance of Deferred Employee Profit Sharing

   2011     2010     2009  

Initial balance (asset) liability

   Ps.  (178   Ps.  134      Ps.  214   

Provision for the year

     120        (257     (234

Acquisition of Coca-Cola FEMSA

     —          (17     —     

Net effect on exchange of FEMSA Cerveza

     —          (118     —     

Labor liabilities

     (4     82        42   

Valuation allowance

     (4     (2     112   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance (asset) liability

   Ps. (66   Ps.  (178   Ps. 134   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

According to U.S. GAAP, the Company is required to recognize in its financial statements the impact of a tax position when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination. If the tax position meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the tax effect is recognized at the largest amount of the benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. Any excess between the tax position taken in the tax return and the tax position recognized in the financial statements using the criteria above results in the recognition of a liability in the financial statements for the uncertain position. Similarly, if a tax position fails to meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the benefit taken in tax return will also result in the recognition of a liability in the financial statements for the full amount of the unrecognized benefit. According to Mexican FRS, the Company is required to record tax contingencies in its financial statements when such liabilities are probable in nature and estimable. However, this difference between Mexican FRS and U.S. GAAP is not material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements during any of the periods presented herein, and has thus not resulted in a reconciling item.

 

k) Employee Benefits:

NIF D-3 “Employee Benefits” eliminates the recognition of the additional labor liability resulting from the difference between actual benefits and the net projected liabilities, establishes a maximum of five years to amortize the beginning balance of past labor costs of pension plans and severance indemnities and requires recording actuarial gains or losses of severance indemnities as part of the income from operations during the period when those are incurred. The adoption of NIF D-3 generates a difference in the unamortized net transition obligation and in the amortization expense of pension plans and severance indemnities. Under U.S. GAAP the Company is required to fully recognize as an asset or liability from the overfunded or underfunded status of defined pension and other postretirement benefit plans.

 

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For the adoption of NIF B-10 for Mexican FRS, the Company is required to apply real rates for inflationary economic environments and nominal rates for non-inflationary economic environments in the actuarial calculations. The Company uses the same criteria for interest rates for both U.S. GAAP and Mexican FRS.

The reconciliation of the pension cost for the year and related labor liabilities is as follows:

 

Cost for the Year

   2011     2010     2009  

Net cost recorded under Mexican FRS

   Ps.  634      Ps.  600      Ps.  569   

Net cost of Coca-Cola FEMSA

       —          (313

Net cost of FEMSA Cerveza (discontinued operation)

       182        574   

U.S. GAAP adjustments:

      

Amortization of unrecognized transition obligation

     (54     (46     (53

Amortization of prior service cost

     (1     (1     5   

Amortization of net actuarial loss

     (11     (4     2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total U.S. GAAP adjustment

     (66     (51     (46
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cost for the year under U.S. GAAP

   Ps. 568      Ps. 731      Ps.  784   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Labor Liabilities

   2011      2010  

Employee benefits under Mexican FRS

   Ps.  2,258       Ps. 1,883   

U.S. GAAP adjustments:

     

Unrecognized net transition obligation

     53         115   

Unrecognized labor cost of past services

     319         337   

Unrecognized net actuarial loss

     518         356   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

U.S. GAAP adjustments to stockholders’ equity

     890         808   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Labor liabilities under U.S. GAAP

   Ps. 3,148       Ps.  2,691   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Estimates of the unrecognized items expected to be recognized as components of net periodic pension cost during 2012 are shown in the table below:

 

     Pension and
Retirement
Plans
    Seniority
Premiums
    Postretirement
Medical
Services
 

Actuarial net loss and prior service cost recognized in cumulative other comprehensive income during the year

   Ps.  82      Ps.  11      Ps.  2   

Actuarial net loss and prior service cost recognized as a component of net periodic cost

     42        5        2   

Net transition liability recognized as a component of net periodic cost

     9        —          2   

Actuarial net loss, prior service cost and transition liability included in cumulative other comprehensive income

     570        (23     98   

Estimate to be recognized as a component of net periodic cost over the following fiscal year:

      

Transition obligation

     (11     —          (1

Prior service credit

     (3     —          —     

Actuarial gain

     (21     3        (5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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l) Non-controlling Interests:

Under Mexican FRS, the non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries is presented as a separate component within stockholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheet.

Beginning as of January 1, 2009, under U.S. GAAP, this item is presented as separate component within consolidated stockholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheet. Additionally, consolidated net income is adjusted to include the net income attributed to the non-controlling interest. And consolidated comprehensive income is adjusted to include the net income attributed to the non-controlling interest. Because these changes are to be applied retrospectively, they eliminate the differences between MFRS and U.S. GAAP in the presentation of the non-controlling interest in the consolidated financial statements.

 

m) FEMSA’s Non-controlling Interest Acquisition:

In accordance with Mexican FRS, the Company applied the entity theory to the acquisition of the non-controlling interest by FEMSA in May 1998, through an exchange offer. Accordingly, no goodwill was created as a result of such acquisition and the difference between the book value of the shares acquired by FEMSA and the FEMSA shares exchanged was recorded as additional paid-in capital. The direct out-of-pocket costs identified with the purchase of non-controlling interest were included in other expenses.

In accordance with U.S. GAAP at the time, the acquisition of non-controlling interest was accounted for under the purchase method, using the market value of shares received by FEMSA in the exchange offer to determine the cost of the acquisition of such non-controlling interest and the related goodwill. Under U.S. GAAP at the time, the direct out-of-pocket costs identified with the purchase of non-controlling interest was treated as additional goodwill.

Additionally, U.S. GAAP accounting standards related to goodwill, require the allocation of goodwill to the related reporting. Reporting units are identified at the operating segment or the component level that will generate the related cash flows. As of December 31, 2011, the remaining allocation of the goodwill generated by the previously mentioned acquisition of non-controlling interest was as follows:

 

FEMSA Comercio

     Ps.     1,085   

Other

     918   
  

 

 

 
     Ps.     2,003   
  

 

 

 

As of February 1, 2010 the goodwill allocated to Coca-Cola FEMSA amounted to Ps. 4,753 and was re-evaluated as part of the control acquisition of Coca-Cola FEMSA.

As of April 30, 2010, the goodwill allocated to FEMSA Cerveza amounted to Ps. 10,600 and was cancelled due to the transaction described in Note 26 B, as part of the disposition of FEMSA Cerveza net assets.

 

n) Deconsolidation of Crystal Brand Water in Brazil:

During 2009, Coca-Cola FEMSA established a joint venture with The Coca-Cola Company for the production and sale of Crystal brand water in Brazil. Coca-Cola FEMSA has recorded a gain for U.S. GAAP purposes of Ps. 120 related to the deconsolidation of its net assets related to the Crystal operations. Approximately, Ps. 120 of previously recorded unearned revenues related to Crystal operations remain recorded for Mexican FRS purposes, and are being amortized into income along with the results from the joint venture over the following three years (through 2012) for Mexican FRS purposes.

 

o) Statement of Cash Flows:

Statement of Cash Flows prepared under Mexican FRS is similar to cash flows standards for U.S. GAAP except for different presentation of interest costs, and certain other supplemental disclosures.

 

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p) Financial Information Under U.S. GAAP:

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

   2011      2010  

ASSETS

     

Current Assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

     Ps. 25,841         Ps. 26,703   

Investments

     1,329         66   

Accounts receivable

     10,499         7,702   

Inventories

     14,384         11,350   

Recoverable taxes

     4,311         4,243   

Other current assets

     3,026         1,635   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current assets

     59,390         51,699   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Investments in shares:

     

Heineken

     69,749         63,413   

Other investments

     3,897         2,315   

Property, plant and equipment

     55,632         44,650   

Intangible assets

     189,511         163,170   

Deferred income tax and deferred employee profit sharing

     543         541   

Other assets

     11,294         8,729   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

   Ps.  390,016       Ps. 334,517   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     

Current Liabilities:

     

Bank loans and notes payable

   Ps. 638       Ps. 1,578   

Current maturities of long-term debt

     4,935         1,725   

Interest payable

     216         165   

Suppliers

     21,475         17,458   

Deferred income tax

     46         113   

Taxes payable

     3,208         2,180   

Accounts payable, and other current liabilities

     8,158         7,410   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     38,676         30,629   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-Term Liabilities:

     

Bank loans and notes payable

     24,031         21,927   

Employee benefits

     3,148         2,691   

Deferred taxes liability

     36,292         31,539   

Contingencies and other liabilities

     4,708         5,595   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total long-term liabilities

     68,179         61,752   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     106,855         92,381   

Equity:

     

Controlling interest

     182,644         163,641   

Non-controlling interest

     100,517         78,495   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity:

     283,161         242,136   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   Ps. 390,016       Ps. 334,517   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

   2011     2010     2009  

Net sales

   Ps.  201,421      Ps. 175,257      Ps. 102,039   

Other operating revenues

     2,821        1,796        863   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     204,242        177,053        102,902   

Cost of sales

     118,662        102,665        59,841   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     85,580        74,388        43,061   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

      

Administrative

     10,070        9,420        7,769   

Selling

     50,208        43,302        26,451   

Restructuring

     —          446        180   

Market value (gain) loss of derivative financial instruments

     50        (15     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     60,328        53,153        34,400   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

     25,252        21,235        8,661   

Comprehensive financing result:

      

Interest expense

     (2,721     (3,966     (3,013

Interest income

     999        1,121        310   

Foreign exchange gain (loss), net

     1,068        (332     (26

Gain (loss) on monetary position, net

     51        219        (1

Market value gain (loss) on ineffective portion of derivative financial instruments

     (109     202        73   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (712     (2,756     (2,657

Other (expenses) income, net

     (213     68,337        52   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before taxes

     24,327        86,816        6,056   

Taxes

     6,563        15,014        (127
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before participation in affiliated companies

     17,764        71,802        6,183   

Participation in affiliated companies:

      

Coca-Cola FEMSA

     —          183        4,516   

Other associates companies

     87        219        (14
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     87        402        4,502   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated net income

   Ps. 17,851      Ps. 72,204      Ps. 10,685   

Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest

     (5,402     (4,759     (783
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to controlling interest

   Ps. 12,449      Ps. 67,445      Ps. 9,902   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated net income

   Ps. 17,851      Ps. 72,204      Ps. 10,685   

Other comprehensive income (loss)

     13,297        (1,702     4,335   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated comprehensive income

     31,148        70,502        15,020   

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to the non-controlling interest

     (9,290     (4,867     (776
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated comprehensive income attributable to the controlling interest

     21,858        65,635        14,244   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net controlling interest income per share:

      

Per Series “B”

   Ps. 0.62      Ps. 3.36      Ps. 0.49   

Per Series “D”

     0.78        4.20        0.62   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Consolidated Cash Flows

   2011     2010     2009  

Cash flows from operating activities:

      

Net income

   Ps. 17,851      Ps. 72,204      Ps. 10,685   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

      

Inflation effect

     (49     (215     (1

Depreciation

     5,743        4,884        2,786   

Amortization

     1,043        1,620        2,487   

Equity method of associates

     (87     (402     (4,502

Deferred income taxes

     (986     9,784        (3,185

Other adjustments regarding operating activities

     644        1,336        5,353   

Profit regarding Coca-Cola FEMSA (see Note 27 A)

     —          (39,847     —     

Income from the exchange of FEMSA Cerveza (see Note 27 B)

     —          (27,132     —     

Changes in operating assets and liabilities net of business acquisitions:

      

Working capital investment

     (2,887     (5,609     (1,640

Dividends received from Coca-Cola FEMSA

     —          —          722   

(Recoverable) payable taxes, net

     1,190        (1,946     673   

Interest payable

     244        (851     (370

Labor obligations

     (496     (741     (512

Derivative financial instruments

     (353     (281     (428
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows provided by operating activities

     21,857        12,804        12,068   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

      

Long-lived assets sale

     535        643        422   

Acquisition of property, plant and equipment

     (10,615     (9,195     (3,779

Purchase of investments

     (1,329     (66     —     

Proceeds from investments

     66        1,108        —     

Other assets acquisitions

     (5,053     (2,111     (3,660

Recovery of long-term financial receivables with FEMSA Cerveza

     —          12,209        —     

Net effect of FEMSA Cerveza exchange

     —          (158     —     

Cash incorporated from Coca-Cola FEMSA

     —          5,950        —     

Other disposals

     —          1,949        —     

Payment of debt for the acquisition of Grupo Tampico, net of cash acquired (Note 5A)

     (2,414     —          —     

Payment of debt for the acquisition of Grupo CIMSA, net of cash acquired (Note 5A)

     (1,912     —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows (used in) provided by investing activities

     (20,722     10,329        (7,017
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

      

Bank loans obtained

     6,606        12,381        16,775   

Bank loans paid

     (3,732     (12,569     (14,541

Dividends declared and paid

     (6,623     (3,813     (1,620

Restricted cash activity for the year

     (94     (181     (88

Other financing activities

     (125     (194     (4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities

     (3,968     (4,376     522   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     1,971        50        (596

Cash and cash equivalents:

      

Net (decrease) increase

     (862     18,807        4,977   

Initial cash

     26,703        7,896        2,919   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

   Ps. 25,841      Ps. 26,703      Ps. 7,896   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental cash flow information:

      

Interest paid

   Ps. (3043   Ps. (2,868   Ps. (2,586

Income taxes paid

     (6,457     (6,171     (3,737
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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The effect of exchange rate changes on cash balances held in foreign currencies was Ps. 1,971 as a gain as of December 31, 2011, Ps. 50 as a gain as of December 31, 2010, and a loss of Ps. 596 as of December 31, 2009, respectively.

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

   2011     2010  

Stockholders’ equity at the beginning of the year

   Ps.  242,136      Ps. 99,442   

Dividends declared and paid

     (6,625     (3,813

Non-controlling interest other comprehensive income

     3,888        (891

Acquisition of Grupo Tampico through issuance of Coca-Cola FEMSA shares (Note 5 A)

     7,828        —     

Acquisition of Grupo CIMSA through issuance of Coca-Cola FEMSA shares (Note 5 A)

     9,017        —     

Acquisition of Coca-Cola FEMSA

     —          77,277   

Other transactions of non-controlling interest

     (115     (273

Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable a the controlling interest:

    

Derivative financial instruments

     157        1,036   

Labor liabilities

     (29     (302

Cumulative translation adjustment

     9,295        (3,130

Reversal of inflation effect

     (242     1,111   

Recycling of OCI due to exchange of beer business

     —          (525
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive gain (loss)

     9,181        (1,810

Net income

     17,851        72,204   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity at the end of the year

   Ps.     283,161      Ps.     242,136   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2011, the balance of cumulative translation adjustment is Ps. 8,240. As of December 31, 2011 the total balance of other comprehensive income is Ps. 9,553 net of a deferred income tax of Ps. 5,095.

Note 27. Reconciliation of Mexican FRS to U.S. GAAP

 

a) Reconciliation of Net Income:

 

     2011     2010     2009  

Net consolidated income under Mexican FRS

   Ps.     20,684      Ps.     45,290      Ps.     15,082   

Non-controlling interest under Mexican FRS of Coca-Cola FEMSA

     —          (222     (4,390

U.S. GAAP adjustments:

      

Reversal of inflation effect (Note 26 C)

     82        (24     —     

Participation in Coca-Cola FEMSA (Note 26 A)

     —          (39     (63

Coca-Cola FEMSA acquisition depreciation and amortization (Note 26 A)

     (245     (961     —     

Heineken equity method (Note 26 B)

     (3,418     (2,789     —     

Net effect on exchange of FEMSA Cerveza (Note 26 B)

     —          (9,881     —     

Restatement of imported equipment (Note 26 G)

     (187     (165     (12

Capitalization of interest expense (Note 26 H)

     (131     57        (49

Deferred income taxes (Note 26 J)

     1,112        769        (9

Deferred employee profit sharing (Note 26 J)

     (120     257        80   

Gain on control acquisition of Coca-Cola FEMSA (Note 26 A)

     —          39,847        —     

Gain on de-consolidation of Crystal operation (Note 26 N)

     (25     (44     —     

Deferred promotional expenses (Note 26 F)

     34        58        —     

Employee benefits (Note 26 K)

     65        51        46   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total U.S. GAAP adjustments

     (2,833     27,136        (7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income under U.S. GAAP

   Ps. 17,851      Ps. 72,204      Ps. 10,685   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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b) Reconciliation of Stockholders’ Equity:

 

     2011     2010  

Total stockholders’ equity under Mexican FRS

   Ps. 191,114      Ps. 153,013   

U.S. GAAP adjustments:

    

Control acquisition of Coca-Cola FEMSA (Note 26 A) (1)

     98,339        90,980   

Coca-Cola FEMSA acquisition depreciation and amortization (Note 26 A)

     (1,206     (961

Gain on acquisition of Brisa intangible assets (Note 26 F)

     72        72   

Gain on deconsolidation of Crystal operation (Note 26 N )

     50        75   

Deferred promotional expenses (Note 26 E)

     (13     (46

Reversal of inflation effect (Note 26 C)

     (831     (443

Participation in Coca-Cola FEMSA (Note 26 A)

     —          (39

Heineken equity method (Note 26 B)

     (5,326     (3,065

Intangible assets and goodwill (Note 26 F)

     100        100   

Restatement of imported equipment (Note 26 G)

     181        351   

Capitalization of interest expense (Note 26 H)

     71        200   

Deferred income taxes (Note 26 J)

     (569     523   

Deferred employee profit sharing (Note 26 J)

     66        181   

Employee benefits (Note 26 K)

     (890     (808

FEMSA’s non-controlling interest acquisition (Note 26 M)

     2,003        2,003   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total U.S. GAAP adjustments

     92,047        89,123   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity under U.S. GAAP

   Ps. 283,161      Ps. 242,136   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (1) The Control acquisition of Coca-Cola FEMSA, is recorded net of a deferred income tax liability of Ps. 21,403 for both years.

 

c) Reconciliation of Comprehensive Income (OCI):

 

     2011     2010     2009  

Consolidated comprehensive income under Mexican FRS

   Ps. 27,936      Ps. 42,589      Ps. 21,355   

Comprehensive income of the non-controlling interest under Mexican FRS

     (7,119     (4,190     (6,734
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income of the controlling interest under Mexican FRS

     20,817        38,399         14,621   

U.S. GAAP adjustments:

      

Net income (Note 27 A)

     (2,682     27,192        (7

Cumulative translation adjustment

     2,777        36        91   

Reversal of inflation effect

     (242     1,111        (746

Heineken equity method

     1,217        (276     —     

Recycling of OCI due to exchange of beer business

       (525     —     

Additional labor liability in excess of unamortized transition obligation

     (29     (302     285   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income under U.S. GAAP

   Ps.  21,858      Ps. 65,635      Ps. 14,244   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Note 28. Implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards

The consolidated financial statements to be issued by the Company for the year ending December 31, 2012 will be its first annual financial statements that comply with IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. The transition date is January 1, 2011 and, therefore, the year ended December 31, 2011 will be the comparative period to be covered. IFRS 1, “First-Time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards” (IFRS 1), sets mandatory exceptions and allows certain optional exemptions to the complete retrospective application of IFRS.

The Company applied the following mandatory exceptions to retrospective application of IFRS, effective as of the transition date:

 

 

Accounting Estimates:

Estimates prepared under IFRS as of January 1, 2011 are consistent with the estimates recognized under Mexican FRS as of the same date, unless the Company is required to adjust such estimates to agree with IFRS.

 

 

Derecognition of Financial Assets and Liabilities:

The Company applied the derecognition rules of IAS 39, “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement” (IAS 39), prospectively for transactions occurring on or after the date of transition.

 

 

Hedge Accounting:

As of the transition date, the Company measured at fair value all derivative financial instruments and hedging relationships designated and documented effectively as accounting hedges as required by IAS 39, which is consistent with the treatment under Mexican FRS.

As a result, there was no impact in the Company’s consolidated financial statements due to the application of this exception.

 

 

Non-controlling Interest:

The Company applied the requirements in IAS 27, “Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements” (IAS 27) related to non-controlling interests prospectively beginning on the transition date.

The Company has elected the following optional exemptions to retrospective application of IFRS, effective as of the transition date:

 

 

Business Combinations and Acquisitions of Associates and Joint Ventures:

According to IFRS 1, an entity may elect not to apply IFRS 3 “Business Combinations” (IFRS 3) retrospectively to acquisitions made prior of the transition date to IFRS.

The exemption for past business combinations also applies to past acquisitions of investments in associates and of interests in joint ventures.

The Company adopted this exemption and did not amend its business acquisitions or investments in associates and joint ventures prior to the transition date and it did not remeasure the values determined at acquisition dates, including the amount of previously recognized goodwill in past acquisitions.

 

 

Share-based Payments:

The Company has share-based plans, which it pays to its qualifying employees based on its own shares and those of its subsidiary, Coca-Cola FEMSA. Management decided to apply the optional exemptions established in IFRS 1, where it did not apply IFRS 2, “Share-based Payment” (IFRS 2), (i) to the equity instruments granted before November 7, 2002, (ii) to equity instruments granted after November 7, 2002 and that were earned before the latter of (a) the IFRS transition date and (b) January 1, 2005, and (iii) to liabilities related to share-based payment transactions that were settled before the transition date.

 

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Deemed Cost:

An entity may individually elect to measure an item of its property, plant and equipment at the transition date to IFRS at its fair value and use that fair value as its deemed cost at that date. In addition, a first-time adopter may elect to use a previous GAAP revaluation of an item of property, plant and equipment at, or before, of the transition date to IFRS as deemed cost at the date of the revaluation, if the revaluation was, at the date of the revaluation, broadly comparable to: (i) fair value; or (ii) cost or depreciated cost in accordance with IFRS, adjusted to reflect changes in a general or specific price index.

The Company has presented both its property, plant, and equipment and its intangible assets at IFRS historical cost in all countries. In Venezuela this IFRS historical cost represents actual historical cost in the year of acquisition, indexed for inflation in a hyper-inflationary economy based on the provisions of IAS 29.

 

 

Cumulative Translation Effect:

A first-time adopter is neither required to recognize translation differences and accumulate these in a separate component of equity nor on a subsequent disposal of a foreign operation, to reclassify the cumulative translation difference for that foreign operation from equity to profit or loss as part of the gain or loss on disposal that would have existed at transition date.

The Company applied this exemption and consequently it reclassified the accumulated translation effect recorded under Mexican FRS to retained earnings and beginning January 1, 2011, it calculates the translation effect of its foreign operations prospectively according to IAS 21, “The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates.”

 

 

Borrowing Costs:

The Company applied the IFRS 1 exemption related to borrowing costs incurred for qualifying assets existing at the transition date based on the similar Company’s Mexican FRS accounting policy, and beginning January 1, 2011 it capitalizes eligible borrowing costs in accordance with IAS 23, “Borrowing Costs” (IAS 23).

Recording Effects of the Transition from Mexican FRS to IFRS:

The following disclosures provide a qualitative description of the most significant preliminary effects from the transition of IFRS determined as of the date of the issuance of the consolidated financial statements:

 

a) Inflation Effects:

According to Mexican FRS, the Mexican peso ceased to be the currency of an inflationary economy in December 2007, as the three year cumulative inflation as of such date did not exceed 26%.

According to IAS 29 “Hyperinflationary Economies” (IAS 29), the last hyperinflationary period for the Mexican peso was in 1998. As a result, the Company eliminated the cumulative inflation recognized within long-lived assets and contributed capital for the Company’s Mexican operations, based on Mexican FRS during the years 1999 through 2007, which were not deemed hyperinflationary for IFRS purposes.

For the foreign operations, the cumulative inflation from the acquisition date was eliminated (except in the case of Venezuela, which was deemed a hyperinflationary economy) from the date the Company began to consolidate them.

 

b) Employee Benefits:

According to NIF D-3 “Employee Benefits” (NIF D-3), a severance provision and the corresponding expenditure, must be recognized based on the experience of the entity in terminating the employment relationship before the retirement date, or if the entity deems to pay benefits as a result of an offer made to employees to encourage a voluntary termination. For IFRS purposes, this provision is only recorded pursuant to IAS 19 (Revised 2011), at the moment the entity has a demonstrable commitment to end the relationship with the employee or to make a bid to encourage voluntary retirement. This is evidenced by a formal plan that describes the characteristics of the termination of employment. Accordingly, at the transition date, the Company derecognized its severance indemnity recorded under Mexican FRS against retained earnings given that no such formal plan exists. A formal plan was not required for recording under Mexican FRS.

IAS 19 (Revised 2011), early adopted by the Company, eliminates the use of the corridor method, which defers the actuarial gains/losses, and requires that they recorded directly within other comprehensive income in each reporting period. The

 

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standard also eliminates deferral of past service costs and requires entities to record them in comprehensive income in each reporting period. These requirements increased its liability for employee benefits with a corresponding reduction in retained earnings at the transition date.

 

c) Embedded Derivatives:

For Mexican FRS purposes, the Company recorded embedded derivatives for agreements denominated in foreign currency. Pursuant to the principles set forth in IAS 39, there is an exception for embedded derivatives on those contracts that are denominated in certain foreign currencies, if for example the foreign currency is commonly used in the economic environment in which the transaction takes place. The Company concluded that all of its embedded derivatives fell within the scope of this exception.

Therefore, at the transition date, the Company derecognized all embedded derivatives recognized under Mexican FRS.

 

d) Stock Bonus Program:

Under Mexican FRS NIF D-3, the Company recognizes its stock bonus program plan offered to certain key executives as a defined contribution plan. IFRS requires that such share-based payment plans be recorded under the principles set forth in IFRS 2, “Share-based Payments.” The most significant difference for changing the accounting treatment is related to the period during which compensation expense is recognized, which under NIF D-3 the total amount of the bonus is recorded in the period in which it was granted, while in IFRS 2 it shall be recognized over the vesting period of such awards.

Additionally, the trust that holds the equity shares allocated to executives, is considered to hold plan assets and is not consolidated under Mexican FRS. However, for IFRS SIC 12, “Consolidation - Special Purpose Entities,” the Company will consolidate the trust and reflect its own shares in treasury stock and reduce the non-controlling interest for the Coca-Cola FEMSA’s shares held by the trust.

 

e) Deferred Income Taxes:

The IFRS adjustments recognized by the Company had an impact on the calculation of deferred income taxes according to the requirements established by IAS 12, “Income Taxes” (IAS 12).

Furthermore, the Company derecognized a deferred liability recorded in the exchange of shares of FEMSA Cerveza with the Heineken Group. IFRS has an exception for recognition of a deferred tax liability for an investment in a subsidiary if the parent is able to control the timing of the reversal and it is probable that it will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

 

f) Retained Earnings:

All the adjustments arising from the Company’s conversion to IFRS as of the transition date were recorded against retained earnings.

 

g) Other Differences in Presentation and Disclosures in the Financial Statements:

Generally, IFRS disclosure requirements are more extensive than those of NIF, which will result in increased disclosures about accounting policies, significant judgments and estimates, financial instruments and management risks, among others. The Company will restructure its Income Statement under IFRS to comply with IAS 1, “Presentation of Financial Statements” (IAS 1). In addition, there may be some other differences in presentation.

There are other differences between Mexican FRS and IFRS, however. The Company considers differences mentioned above describe the significant effects.

As a result of the transition to IFRS, the effects as of January 1, 2011 on the principal items of a condensed statement of financial position are described as follow:

 

     Mexican
FRS
     IFRS Transition
Effects
    Preliminary
IFRS
 

Current assets

   Ps. 51,460       Ps. (47   Ps. 51,413   

Non-current assets

     172,118         (10,078     162,040   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

     223,578         (10,125     213,453   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Current liabilities

     30,516         (254     30,262   

Non-current liabilities

     40,049         (10,012     30,037   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     70,565         (10,266     60,299   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     153,013         141        153,154   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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The information presented above has been prepared in accordance with the standards and interpretations issued and in effect or issued and early adopted by the Company (as a discussed in Note 28 B) at the date of preparation of these consolidated financial statements. The standards and interpretations that are applicable at December 31, 2012, including those that will be applicable on an optional basis, are not known with certainty at the time of preparing the Mexican FRS consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2011. Additionally, the IFRS accounting policies selected by the Company may change as a result of changes in the economic environment or industry trends that are observable after the issuance of this Mexican FRS consolidated financial statements. The information presented herein, does not intend to comply with IFRS, and it should be noted that under IFRS, only one set of financial statements comprising the statements of financial position, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows, together with comparative information and explanatory notes can provide a fair presentation of the financial position of the Company, the results of its operations and cash flows.

Note 29. Subsequent Events

On February 27, 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors agreed to propose an ordinary dividend of Ps. 6,200 which represents an increase of 35% as compared to the dividend that was paid in 2011. This dividend was approved at the Annual Shareholders meeting on March 23, 2012.

On December 15, 2011, Coca-Cola FEMSA and Grupo Fomento Queretano agreed to merge their beverage divisions. Grupo Fomento Queretano’s beverage division operates mainly in the state of Queretaro, as well as in parts of the states of Mexico, Hidalgo and Guanajuato. The merger agreement was approved by both Coca-Cola FEMSA’s and Grupo Fomento Queretano’s Boards of Directors and is subject to the approval of the Comisión Federal de Competencia, the Mexican antitrust authority. The transaction will involve the issuance of approximately 45.1 million of the Coca-Cola FEMSA’s newly issued series L shares, and in addition Coca-Cola FEMSA will assume Ps. 1,221 in net debt. This transaction is expected to be completed in second quarter of 2012.

On February 20, 2012, the Coca-Cola FEMSA entered into a 12-month exclusivity agreement with The Coca-Cola Company to evaluate the potential acquisition of a controlling ownership stake in the bottling operations owned by The Coca-Cola Company in the Philippines. This agreement does not require either party to enter into a transaction, and there can be no assurances that a definitive agreement will be executed.

On February 23, 2012, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation and Stichting Depositary PGGM Infrastructure Funds, a pension fund managed by PGGM, acquired the 45% interest held by FEMSA on the parent companies of Energía Alterna Istmeña, S. de R.L. de C.V., which we refer to as EAI, and Energía Eólica Mareña, S.A. de C.V., which we refer to as EEM. EAI and EEM are the owners of a 396 megawatt late-stage wind energy project in the south-eastern region of the State of Oaxaca. Certain subsidiaries of FEMSA, FEMSA Comercio and Coca-Cola FEMSA have entered into 20-years wind power supply agreements with ENAI and EEM to purchase energy output produced by such companies. The selling of FEMSA’s participation as and investor, will generated a gain on the disposal.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To: The Executive and Supervisory Board of Heineken N.V.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of Heineken N.V. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 and the related consolidated income statements, consolidated statements of comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in equity, for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2011. These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Heineken N.V. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2011, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

As discussed in note 2e to the financial statements, the Company has elected to change its method of accounting for employee benefits in 2011 with respect to the recognition of actuarial gains and losses arising from defined benefit plans. After the policy change, the Company recognizes all actuarial gains and losses in the period in which they occur, in other comprehensive income. In prior years, the Company applied the corridor method. The change in accounting policy was recognized retrospectively in accordance with IAS 8 ‘Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors’ and comparatives have been restated.

/s/ KPMG ACCOUNTANTS N.V.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

February 14, 2012

 

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Table of Contents
Heineken N.V. financial statements    Consolidated Income Statement   

 

     Note      2011     2010*  
For the year ended 31 December                    

In millions of EUR

                   

Revenue

     5         17,123        16,133   

Other income

     8         64        239   

Raw materials, consumables and services

     9         (10,966     (10,291

Personnel expenses

     10         (2,838     (2,665

Amortisation, depreciation and impairments

     11         (1,168     (1,118

Total expenses

        (14,972     (14,074

Results from operating activities

        2,215        2,298   

Interest income

     12         70        100   

Interest expenses

     12         (494     (590

Other net finance income/(expenses)

     12         (6     (19

Net finance expenses

        (430     (509

Share of profit of associates and joint ventures and impairments thereof (net of income tax)

     16         240        193   

Profit before income tax

        2,025        1,982   

Income tax expenses

     13         (465     (403

Profit

        1,560        1,579   

Attributable to:

       

Equity holders of the Company (net profit)

        1,430        1,447   

Non-controlling interests

        130        132   

Profit

        1,560        1,579   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares – basic

     23         585,100,381        562,234,726   

Weighted average number of shares – diluted

     23         586,277,702        563,387,135   

Basic earnings per share (EUR)

     23         2.44        2.57   

Diluted earnings per share (EUR)

     23         2.44        2.57   

 

* Comparatives have been adjusted due to the accounting policy change in employee benefits (see note 2e)

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income   

 

     Note      2011     2010*  
For the year ended 31 December                    

In millions of EUR

                   

Profit

        1,560        1,579   

Other comprehensive income:

       

Foreign currency translation differences for foreign operations

     24         (493     390   

Effective portion of change in fair value of cash flow hedges

     24         (21     43   

Effective portion of cash flow hedges transferred to profit or loss

     24         (11     45   

Ineffective portion of cash flow hedges

     24         —          9   

Net change in fair value available-for-sale investments

     24         71        11   

Net change in fair value available-for-sale investments transferred to profit or loss

     24         (1     (17

Actuarial gains and losses

     24/28         (93     99   

Share of other comprehensive income of associates/joint ventures

     24         (5     (29

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

     24         (553     551   

Total comprehensive income

        1,007        2,130   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Attributable to:

       

Equity holders of the Company

        884        1,983   

Non-controlling interests

        123        147   

Total comprehensive income

        1,007        2,130   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Comparatives have been adjusted due to the accounting policy change in employee benefits (see note 2e)

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Consolidated Statement of Financial Position   

 

     Note      2011      2010*  
As at 31 December                     

In millions of EUR

                    

Assets

        

Property, plant & equipment

     14         7,860         7,687   

Intangible assets

     15         10,835         10,890   

Investments in associates and joint ventures

     16         1,764         1,673   

Other investments and receivables

     17         1,129         1,103   

Advances to customers

     32         357         449   

Deferred tax assets

     18         474         542   

Total non-current assets

        22,419         22,344   

Inventories

     19         1,352         1,206   

Other investments

     17         14         17   

Trade and other receivables

     20         2,260         2,273   

Prepayments and accrued income

        170         206   

Cash and cash equivalents

     21         813         610   

Assets classified as held for sale

     7         99         6   

Total current assets

        4,708         4,318   

Total assets

        27,127         26,662   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity

        

Share capital

        922         922   

Share premium

        2,701         2,701   

Reserves

        498         814   

Allotted Share Delivery Instrument

        —           666   

Retained earnings

        5,653         4,829   

Equity attributable to equity holders of the Company

        9,774         9,932   

Non-controlling interests

        318         288   

Total equity

     22         10,092         10,220   

Liabilities

        

Loans and borrowings

     25         8,199         8,078   

Tax liabilities

        160         178   

Employee benefits

     28         1,174         1,097   

Provisions

     30         449         475   

Deferred tax liabilities

     18         894         991   

Total non-current liabilities

        10,876         10,819   

Bank overdrafts

     21         207         132   

Loans and borrowings

     25         981         862   

Trade and other payables

     31         4,624         4,265   

Tax liabilities

        207         241   

Provisions

     30         140         123   

Liabilities classified as held for sale

     7         —           —     

Total current liabilities

        6,159         5,623   

Total liabilities

        17,035         16,442   

Total equity and liabilities

        27,127         26,662   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* Comparatives have been adjusted due to the accounting policy change in employee benefits (see note 2e)

 

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Table of Contents
Heineken N.V. financial statements    Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows   

 

     Note      2011     2010*  
For the year ended 31 December                    

In millions of EUR

                   

Operating activities

       

Profit

        1,560        1,579   

Adjustments for:

       

Amortisation, depreciation and impairments

     11         1,168        1,118   

Net interest expenses

     12         424        490   

Gain on sale of property, plant & equipment, intangible assets and subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates

     8         (64     (239

Investment income and share of profit and impairments of associates and joint ventures and dividend income on AFS and HFT investments

        (252     (200

Income tax expenses

     13         465        403   

Other non-cash items

        244        163   

Cash flow from operations before changes in working capital and provisions

        3,545        3,314   

Change in inventories

        (145     95   

Change in trade and other receivables

        (21     515   

Change in trade and other payables

        417        (156

Total change in working capital

        251        454   

Change in provisions and employee benefits

        (76     (220

Cash flow from operations

        3,720        3,548   

Interest paid

        (485     (554

Interest received

        65        15   

Dividend received

        137        91   

Income taxes paid

        (526     (443

Cash flow related to interest, dividend and income tax

        (809     (891

Cash flow from operating activities

        2,911        2,657   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities

       

Proceeds from sale of property, plant & equipment and intangible assets

        101        113   

Purchase of property, plant & equipment

     14         (800     (648

Purchase of intangible assets

     15         (56     (56

Loans issued to customers and other investments

        (127     (145

Repayment on loans to customers

        64        72   

Cash flow (used in)/from operational investing activities

        (818     (664

Free operating cash flow

        2,093        1,993   

Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired

     6         (806     17   

Acquisition/Additions of associates, joint ventures and other investments

        (166     (77

Disposal of subsidiaries, net of cash disposed of

        (9     270   

Disposal of associates, joint ventures and other investments

        44        47   

Cash flow (used in)/from acquisitions and disposals

        (937     257   

Cash flow (used in)/from investing activities

        (1,755     (407
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Comparatives have been adjusted due to the accounting policy change in employee benefits (see note 2e)

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows continued

 

     Note      2011     2010*  
For the year ended 31 December 2011                    

In millions of EUR

                   

Financing activities

       

Proceeds from loans and borrowings

        1,782        1,920   

Repayment of loans and borrowings

        (1,587     (3,127

Dividends paid

        (580     (483

Purchase own shares

        (687     (381

Acquisition of non-controlling interests

        (11     (92

Disposal of interests without a change in control

        43        —     

Other

        6        (9

Cash flow (used in)/from financing activities

        (1,034     (2,172
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Cash Flow

        122        78   

Cash and cash equivalents as at 1 January

        478        364   

Effect of movements in exchange rates

        6        36   

Cash and cash equivalents as at 31 December

     21         606        478   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Comparatives have been adjusted due to the accounting policy change in employee benefits (see note 2e)

 

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Table of Contents
Heineken N.V. financial statements   

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

  

 

In millions of EUR

  Note     Share
capital
    Share
Premium
    Translation
reserve
    Hedging
reserve
    Fair
value
reserve
    Other
legal
reserves
    Reserve
for own
shares
    ASDI     Retained
earnings
    Equity
attributable
to equity
holders of the
Company
    Non-
controlling
interests
    Total
equity*
 

Balance as at 1 January 2010

      784        —          (451     (124     100        676        (42     —          4,408        5,351        296        5,647   

Policy changes (note 2e)

      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          (397     (397     —          (397

Restated balance as at 1 January 2010

      784        —          (451     (124     100        676        (42     —          4,011        4,954        296        5,250   

Other comprehensive income

    24        —          —          358        97        (10     75        —          —          16        536        15        551   

Profit

      —          —          —          —          —          241        —          —          1,206        1,447        132        1,579   

Total comprehensive income

      —          —          358        97        (10     316        —          —          1,222        1,983        147        2,130   

Transfer to retained earnings

      —          —          —          —          —          (93     —          —          93        —          —          —     

Dividends to shareholders

      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          (351     (351     (138     (489

Share issued

      138        2,701        —          —          —          —          —          1,026        —          3,865        —          3,865   

Purchase/re issuance own/non-controlling shares

      —          —          —          —          —          —          (381     —          —          (381     —          (381

Allotted Share Delivery Instrument

      —          —          —          —          —          —          362        (360     (2     —          —          —     

Own shares delivered

      —          —          —          —          —          —          6        —          (6     —          —          —     

Share-based payments

      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          15        15        —          15   

Share purchase mandate

      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          (96     (96     —          (96

Acquisition of non-controlling interests without a change in control

      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          (57     (57     (35     (92

Acquisition of non-controlling interests with a change in control

      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          20        20   

Changes in consolidation

      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          (2     (2

Balance as at 31 December 2010

      922        2,701        (93     (27     90        899        (55     666        4,829        9,932        288        10,220   
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Comparatives have been adjusted due to the accounting policy change in employee benefits (see note 2e)
** See note 22 for Hyperinflation impact

 

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Table of Contents
Heineken N.V. financial statements    Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity continued

 

In millions of EUR

  Note     Share
capital
    Share
Premium
    Translation
reserve
    Hedging
reserve
    Fair
value
reserve
    Other
legal
reserves
    Reserve
for own
shares
    ASDI     Retained
earnings
    Equity
attributable
to equity
holders of the
Company
    Non-
controlling
interests
    Total
equity
 

Balance as at 1 January 2011

      922        2,701        (93     (27     90        899        (55     666        4,829        9,932        288        10,220   

Other comprehensive income **

    24        —          —          (482     (42     69        —          —          —          (91     (546     (7     (553

Profit

      —          —          —          —          —          253        —          —          1,177        1,430        130        1,560   

Total comprehensive income

      —          —          (482     (42     69        253        —          —          1,086        884        123        1,007   

Transfer to retained earnings

      —          —          —          —          —          (126     —          —          126        —          —          —     

Dividends to shareholders

      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          (474     (474     (97     (571

Purchase/reissuance own/non-controlling shares

      —          —          —          —          —          —          (687     —          —          (687     (1     (688

Allotted Share Delivery Instrument

      —          —          —          —          —          —          694        (666     (28     —          —          —     

Own shares delivered

      —          —          —          —          —          —          5        —          (5     —          —          —     

Share-based payments

      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          11        11        —          11   

Share purchase mandate

      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          96        96        —          96   

Acquisition of non-controlling interests without a change in control

      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          (21     (21     (1     (22

Disposal of interests without a change in control

      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          33        33        6        39   

Balance as at 31 December 2011

      922        2,701        (575     (69     159        1,026        (43     —          5,653        9,774        318        10,092   
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

** See note 22 for Hyperinflation impact

 

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Table of Contents
Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements   

1. Reporting entity

HEINEKEN N.V. (the ‘Company’) is a company domiciled in the Netherlands. The address of the Company’s registered office is Tweede Weteringplantsoen 21, Amsterdam. The consolidated financial statements of the Company as at and for the year ended 31 December 2011 comprise the Company, its subsidiaries (together referred to as ‘HEINEKEN’ or the ‘Group’ and individually as ‘HEINEKEN’ entities) and HEINEKEN’s interest in jointly controlled entities and associates.

A summary of the main subsidiaries, jointly controlled entities and associates is included in note 36 and 16 respectively.

HEINEKEN is primarily involved in the brewing and selling of beer.

2. Basis of preparation

 

(a) Statement of compliance

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as endorsed by the EU and also comply with the financial reporting requirements included in Part 9 of Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code. All standards and interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) effective year-end 2011 have been adopted by the EU, except that the EU carved out certain hedge accounting provisions of IAS 39. The Company does not utilise this carve-out permitted by the EU, as it is not applicable. Consequently, the accounting policies applied by the Company also comply fully with IFRS as issued by the IASB. The Company presents a condensed income statement, using the facility of Article 402 of Part 9, Book 2, of the Dutch Civil Code.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Executive Board of the Company and authorised for issue on 14 February 2012 and will be submitted for adoption to the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 19 April 2012.

 

(b) Basis of measurement

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis except for the following:

 

   

Available-for-sale investments

 

   

Derivative financial instruments

 

   

Liabilities for equity-settled share-based payment arrangements

 

   

Long-term interest-bearing liabilities on which fair value hedge accounting is applied

 

   

The defined benefit assets

 

   

The financial statements of subsidiaries whose functional currency is the currency of a hyperinflationary economy are stated in terms of the measuring unit current at the end of the reporting period.

The methods used to measure fair values are discussed further in note 4.

 

(c) Functional and presentation currency

These consolidated financial statements are presented in euro, which is the Company’s functional currency. All financial information presented in euro has been rounded to the nearest million unless stated otherwise.

 

(d) Use of estimates and judgements

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with IFRSs requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expenses. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimates are revised and in any future periods affected.

In particular, information about assumptions and estimation uncertainties and critical judgements in applying accounting policies that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the consolidated financial statements are described in the following notes:

Note 6 Acquisitions and disposals of subsidiaries and non-controlling interests

Note 15 Intangible assets

Note 16 Investments in associates and joint ventures

Note 17 Other investments and receivables

Note 18 Deferred tax assets and liabilities

Note 28 Employee benefits

Note 29 Share-based payments – Long-Term Variable award (LTV)

Note 30 Provisions

Note 32 Financial risk management and financial instruments

Note 34 Contingencies.

 

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Table of Contents
Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

(e) Changes in accounting policies

Accounting for employee benefits

On 1 January 2011 HEINEKEN changed its accounting policy with respect to the recognition of actuarial gains and losses arising from defined benefit plans. After the policy change, HEINEKEN recognises all actuarial gains and losses arising immediately in other comprehensive income (OCI). In prior years, HEINEKEN applied the corridor method. To the extent that any cumulative unrecognised actuarial gain or loss exceeds ten percent of the greater of the present value of the defined benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets, that portion was recognised in profit or loss over the expected average remaining working lives of the employees participating in the plan. Otherwise, the actuarial gain or loss was not recognised. As such, this change means that deferral of actuarial gains and losses within the corridor are no longer applied.

HEINEKEN believes this accounting policy change provides more relevant information as all amounts will be recognised on balance, which is consistent with industry practice and in accordance with the amended reporting standard of Employee Benefits as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board on 16 June 2011.

The change in accounting policy was recognised retrospectively in accordance with IAS 8 ‘Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors’, and comparatives have been restated. This results in a EUR15 million and EUR11 million positive impact on ‘Results from operating activities’ and ‘Net profit’ for the year ended 31 December 2010, respectively. The adjustment results in a EUR296 million decline in ‘Total Equity’ for the full year 2010 on Group level. No statement of financial position as at 1 January 2010 has been included. The information included below provides insight in all balance sheet items affected by this change in policy.

The following table summarises the transitional adjustments on implementation of the new accounting policy for the full year 2010:

 

In millions of EUR

   Employee Benefit
obligation
     Deferred Tax
Assets
     Retained
earnings/profit
or loss
 

Balance as reported at 1 January 2010

     634         561         4,408   

Effect of policy change on 1 January 2010 retained earnings

     548         151         (397

Restated balance at 1 January 2010

     1,182         712         4,011   

Balance as reported at 31 December 2010

     687         429         5,125   

Effect of policy change during 2010 on retained earnings

     410         113         (307

P&L impact for the period 2010

     —           —           11   

Restated balance at 31 December 2010

     1,097         542         4,829   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The 2010 amounts as included in the notes to these consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended 31 December 2010 have been restated as a result of this policy change.

3. Significant accounting policies

General

The accounting policies set out below have been applied consistently to all periods presented in these consolidated financial statements and have been applied consistently by HEINEKEN entities.

 

(a) Basis of consolidation

 

(i) Business combinations

Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method as at the acquisition date, which is the date on which control is transferred to the Group. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. In assessing control, the Group takes into consideration potential voting rights that currently are exercisable.

The Group measures goodwill at the acquisition date as the fair value of the consideration transferred plus the fair value of any previously-held equity interest in the acquiree and the recognised amount of any non-controlling interests in the acquiree, less the net recognised amount (generally fair value) of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. When the excess is negative, a bargain purchase gain is recognised immediately in profit or loss.

The consideration transferred does not includes amounts related to the settlement of pre-existing relationships. Such amounts are generally recognised in profit or loss.

Costs related to the acquisition, other than those associated with the issue of debt or equity securities, that the Group incurs in connection with a business combination are expensed as incurred.

Any contingent consideration payable is recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. If the contingent consideration is classified as equity, it is not remeasured and settlement is accounted for within equity. Otherwise, subsequent changes to the fair value of the contingent considerations are recognised in profit or loss.

 

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(ii) Acquisitions of non-controlling interests

Acquisitions of non-controlling interests are accounted for as transactions with owners in their capacity as owners and therefore no goodwill is recognised as a result. Adjustments to non-controlling interests arising from transactions that do not involve the loss of control are based on a proportionate amount of the net assets of the subsidiary.

 

(iii) Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by HEINEKEN. Control exists when HEINEKEN has the power, directly or indirectly, to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. In assessing control, potential voting rights that currently are exercisable or convertible are taken into account. The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases. Accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by HEINEKEN. Losses applicable to the non-controlling interests in a subsidiary are allocated to the non-controlling interests even if doing so causes the non-controlling interests to have a deficit balance.

 

(iv) Special Purpose Entities (SPEs)

An SPE is consolidated if, based on an evaluation of the substance of its relationship with HEINEKEN and the SPE’s risks and rewards, HEINEKEN concludes that it controls the SPE. SPEs controlled by HEINEKEN were established under terms that impose strict limitations on the decision-making powers of the SPE’s management and that result in HEINEKEN receiving the majority of the benefits related to the SPE’s operations and net assets, being exposed to the majority of risks incident to the SPE’s activities, and retaining the majority of the residual or ownership risks related to the SPEs or their assets.

 

(v) Loss of control

Upon the loss of control, HEINEKEN derecognises the assets and liabilities of the subsidiary, any non-controlling interests and the other components of equity related to the subsidiary. Any surplus or deficit arising on the loss of control is recognised in profit or loss. If HEINEKEN retains any interest in the previous subsidiary, then such interest is measured at fair value at the date that control is lost. Subsequently it is accounted for as an equity-accounted investee or as an available-for-sale financial asset depending on the level of influence retained.

 

(vi) Investments in associates and joint ventures

Investments in associates are those entities in which HEINEKEN has significant influence, but not control, over the financial and operating policies. Significant influence is presumed to exist when the Group holds between 20 and 50 per cent of the voting power of another entity. Joint ventures are those entities over whose activities HEINEKEN has joint control, established by contractual agreement and requiring unanimous consent for strategic financial and operating decisions.

Investments in associates and joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method (equity-accounted investees) and are recognised initially at cost. The cost of the investment includes transaction costs.

The consolidated financial statements include HEINEKEN’s share of the profit or loss and other comprehensive income, after adjustments to align the accounting policies with those of HEINEKEN, from the date that significant influence or joint control commences until the date that significant influence or joint control ceases.

When HEINEKEN’s share of losses exceeds the carrying amount of the associate, including any long-term investments, the carrying amount is reduced to nil and recognition of further losses is discontinued except to the extent that HEINEKEN has an obligation or has made a payment on behalf of the associate or joint venture.

 

(vii) Transactions eliminated on consolidation

Intra-HEINEKEN balances and transactions, and any unrealised gains and losses or income and expenses arising from intra-HEINEKEN transactions, are eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements. Unrealised gains arising from transactions with equity-accounted associates and JVs are eliminated against the investment to the extent of HEINEKEN’s interest in the investee. Unrealised losses are eliminated in the same way as unrealised gains, but only to the extent that there is no evidence of impairment.

 

(b) Foreign currency

 

(i) Foreign currency transactions

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated to the respective functional currencies of HEINEKEN entities at the exchange rates at the dates of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the reporting date are retranslated to the functional currency at the exchange rate at that date. The foreign currency gain or loss arising on monetary items is the difference between amortised cost in the functional currency at the beginning of the period, adjusted for effective interest and payments during the period, and the amortised cost in foreign currency translated at the exchange rate at the end of the reporting period.

Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies that are measured at fair value are retranslated to the functional currency at the exchange rate at the date that the fair value was determined.

Non-monetary items in a foreign currency that are measured in terms of historical cost are translated using the exchange rate at the date of the transaction. Foreign currency differences arising on retranslation are recognised in profit or loss, except for differences arising on the retranslation of available-for-sale (equity) investments and foreign currency differences arising on the retranslation of a financial liability designated as a hedge of a net investment, which are recognised in other comprehensive income.

Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies that are measured at cost remain translated into the functional currency at historical exchange rates.

 

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(ii) Foreign operations

The assets and liabilities of foreign operations, including goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on acquisition, are translated to euro at exchange rates at the reporting date. The income and expenses of foreign operations, excluding foreign operations in hyperinflationary economies, are translated to euro at exchange rates approximating the exchange rates ruling at the dates of the transactions. Group entities, with a functional currency being the currency of a hyperinflationary economy, first restate their financial statements in accordance with IAS 29, Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies (see ‘Reporting in hyperinflationary economies’ below). The related income, costs and balance sheet amounts are translated at the foreign exchange rate ruling at the balance sheet date.

Foreign currency differences are recognised in other comprehensive income and are presented within equity in the translation reserve. However, if the operation is a non-wholly-owned subsidiary, then the relevant proportionate share of the translation difference is allocated to the non-controlling interests. When a foreign operation is disposed of such that control, significant influence or joint control is lost, the cumulative amount in the translation reserve related to that foreign operation is reclassified to profit or loss as part of the gain or loss on disposal. When HEINEKEN disposes of only part of its interest in a subsidiary that includes a foreign operation while retaining control, the relevant proportion of the cumulative amount is reattributed to non-controlling interests. When HEINEKEN disposes of only part of its investment in an associate or joint venture that includes a foreign operation while retaining significant influence or joint control, the relevant proportion of the cumulative amount is reclassified to profit or loss.

Foreign exchange gains and losses arising from a monetary item receivable from or payable to a foreign operation, the settlement of which is neither planned nor likely in the foreseeable future, are considered to form part of a net investment in a foreign operation and are recognised in other comprehensive income, and are presented within equity in the translation reserve.

The following exchange rates, for the most important countries in which HEINEKEN has operations, were used while preparing these consolidated financial statements:

 

     Year-end      Year-end      Average      Average  

In EUR

   2011      2010      2011      2010  

BRL

     0.4139         0.4509         0.4298         0.4289   

GBP

     1.1972         1.1618         1.1522         1.1657   

MXN

     0.0554         0.0604         0.0578         0.0598   

NGN

     0.0049         0.0050         0.0047         0.0051   

PLN

     0.2243         0.2516         0.2427         0.2503   

RUB

     0.0239         0.0245         0.0245         0.0248   

USD

     0.7729         0.7484         0.7184         0.7543   

 

(iii) Reporting in hyperinflationary economies

When the economy of a country in which we operate is deemed hyperinflationary and the functional currency of a Group entity is the currency of that hyperinflationary economy, the financial statements of such Group entities are adjusted so that they are stated in terms of the measuring unit current at the end of the reporting period. This involves restatement of income and expenses to reflect changes in the general price index from the start of the reporting period and, restatement of non-monetary items in the balance sheet, such as P, P & E to reflect current purchasing power as at the period end using a general price index from the date when they were first recognised. Comparative amounts are not adjusted. Any differences arising were recorded in equity on adoption.

 

(iv) Hedge of net investments in foreign operations

Foreign currency differences arising on the retranslation of a financial liability designated as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation are recognised in other comprehensive income to the extent that the hedge is effective and regardless of whether the net investment is held directly or through an intermediate parent. These differences are presented within equity in the translation reserve. To the extent that the hedge is ineffective, such differences are recognised in profit or loss. When the hedged part of a net investment is disposed of, the relevant amount in the translation reserve is transferred to profit or loss as part of the profit or loss on disposal.

 

(c) Non-derivative financial instruments

 

(i) General

Non-derivative financial instruments comprise investments in equity and debt securities, trade and other receivables, cash and cash equivalents, loans and borrowings, and trade and other payables.

Non-derivative financial instruments are recognised initially at fair value plus, for instruments not at fair value through profit or loss, any directly attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition non-derivative financial instruments are measured as described hereafter.

If HEINEKEN has a legal right to offset financial assets with financial liabilities and if HEINEKEN intends either to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously then financial assets and liabilities are presented in the statement of financial position as a net amount.

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances and call deposits. Bank overdrafts form an integral part of HEINEKEN’s cash management are included as a component of cash and cash equivalents for the purpose of the statement of cash flows.

Accounting policies for interest income, interest expenses and other net finance income and expenses are discussed in note 3r.

 

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(ii) Held-to-maturity investments

If HEINEKEN has the positive intent and ability to hold debt securities to maturity, they are classified as held-to-maturity. Debt securities are loans and long-term receivables and are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses. Investments held-to-maturity are recognised or derecognised on the day they are transferred to or by HEINEKEN.

 

(iii) Available-for-sale investments

HEINEKEN’s investments in equity securities and certain debt securities are classified as available-for-sale. Subsequent to initial recognition, they are measured at fair value and changes therein – other than impairment losses (see note 3i(i)), and foreign currency differences on available-for-sale monetary items (see note 3b(i)) – are recognised in other comprehensive income and presented within equity in the fair value reserve. When these investments are derecognised, the relevant cumulative gain or loss in the fair value reserve is transferred to profit or loss.

Where these investments are interest-bearing, interest calculated using the effective interest method is recognised in the profit or loss. Available-for-sale investments are recognised or derecognised by HEINEKEN on the date it commits to purchase or sell the investments.

 

(iv) Investments at fair value through profit or loss

An investment is classified at fair value through profit or loss if it is classified as held for trading or is designated as such upon initial recognition. Investments are designated at fair value through profit or loss if HEINEKEN manages such investments and makes purchase and sale decisions based on their fair value in accordance with HEINEKEN’s documented risk management or investment strategy. Upon initial recognition, attributable transaction costs are recognised in profit or loss as incurred.

Investments at fair value through profit or loss are measured at fair value, with changes therein recognised in profit or loss as part of the other net finance income/(expenses). Investments at fair value through profit and loss are recognised or derecognised by HEINEKEN on the date it commits to purchase or sell the investments.

 

(v) Other

Other non-derivative financial instruments are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses. Included in non-derivative financial instruments are advances to customers. Subsequently, the advances are amortised over the term of the contract as a reduction of revenue.

 

(d) Derivative financial instruments (including hedge accounting)

 

(i) General

HEINEKEN uses derivatives in the ordinary course of business in order to manage market risks. Generally HEINEKEN seeks to apply hedge accounting in order to minimise the effects of foreign currency, interest rate or commodity price fluctuations in profit or loss.

Derivatives that can be used are interest rate swaps, forward rate agreements, caps and floors, commodity swaps, spot and forward exchange contracts and options. Transactions are entered into with a limited number of counterparties with strong credit ratings. Foreign currency, interest rate and commodity hedging operations are governed by internal policies and rules approved and monitored by the Executive Board.

Derivative financial instruments are recognised initially at fair value, with attributable transaction costs recognised in profit or loss as incurred. Derivatives for which hedge accounting is not applied are accounted for as instruments at fair value through profit or loss. When derivatives qualify for hedge accounting, subsequent measurement is at fair value, and changes therein accounted for as described in 3b(iv), 3d(ii) and 3d(iii).

 

(ii) Cash flow hedges

Changes in the fair value of the derivative hedging instrument designated as a cash flow hedge are recognised in other comprehensive income and presented in the hedging reserve within equity to the extent that the hedge is effective. To the extent that the hedge is ineffective, changes in fair value are recognised in profit or loss.

If the hedging instrument no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, expires or is sold, terminated or exercised, then hedge accounting is discontinued and the cumulative unrealised gain or loss previously recognised in other comprehensive income and presented in the hedging reserve in equity, is recognised in profit or loss immediately, or when a hedging instrument is terminated, but the hedged transaction still is expected to occur, the cumulative gain or loss at that point remains in other comprehensive income and is recognised in accordance with the above-mentioned policy when the transaction occurs. When the hedged item is a non-financial asset, the amount recognised in other comprehensive income is transferred to the carrying amount of the asset when it is recognised. In other cases the amount recognised in other comprehensive income is transferred to the same line of profit or loss in the same period that the hedged item affects profit or loss.

 

(iii) Fair value hedges

Changes in the fair value of a derivative hedging instrument designated as a fair value hedge are recognised in profit or loss. The hedged item also is stated at fair value in respect of the risk being hedged; the gain or loss attributable to the hedged risk is recognised in profit or loss and adjusts the carrying amount of the hedged item.

If the hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, the adjustment to the carrying amount of a hedged item for which the effective interest method is used is amortised to profit or loss over the period to maturity.

 

(iv) Separable embedded derivatives

Embedded derivatives are separated from the host contract and accounted for separately if the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract and the embedded derivative are not closely related, a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative would meet the definition of a derivative, and the combined instrument is not measured at fair value through profit or loss. Changes in the fair value of separable embedded derivatives are recognised immediately in profit or loss.

 

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(e) Share capital

 

(i) Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of ordinary shares are recognised as a deduction from equity, net of any tax effects.

 

(ii) Repurchase of share capital (treasury shares)

When share capital recognised as equity is repurchased, the amount of the consideration paid, which includes directly attributable costs, is net of any tax effects recognised as a deduction from equity. Repurchased shares are classified as treasury shares and are presented in the reserve for own shares.

When treasury shares are sold or reissued subsequently, the amount received is recognised as an increase inequity, and the resulting surplus or deficit on the transaction is transferred to or from retained earnings.

 

(iii) Dividends

Dividends are recognised as a liability in the period in which they are declared.

 

(f) Property, Plant and Equipment (P, P & E)

 

(i) Owned assets

Items of P, P & E are measured at cost less government grants received (refer (q)), accumulated depreciation (refer (iv)) and accumulated impairment losses (3i(ii)).

Cost comprises the initial purchase price increased with expenditures that are directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset (like transports and non-recoverable taxes). The cost of self-constructed assets includes the cost of materials and direct labour and any other costs directly attributable to bringing the asset to a working condition for its intended use (like an appropriate proportion of production overheads), and the costs of dismantling and removing the items and restoring the site on which they are located. Borrowing costs related to the acquisition or construction of qualifying assets are capitalised as part of the cost of that asset. Cost also may include transfers from equity of any gain or loss on qualifying cash flow hedges of foreign currency purchases of P, P & E.

Spare parts that are acquired as part of an equipment purchase and only to be used in connection with this specific equipment are capitalised and amortised as part of the equipment. For example, purchased software that is integral to the functionality of the related equipment is capitalised as part of that equipment. In all other cases spare parts are carried as inventory and recognised in profit and loss as consumed. Where an item of P, P & E comprises major components having different useful lives, they are accounted for as separate items (major components) of P, P & E.

Returnable bottles and kegs in circulation are recorded within P, P & E and a corresponding liability is recorded in respect of the obligation to repay the customers’ deposits. Deposits paid by customers for returnable items are reflected in the consolidated statement of financial position within current liabilities.

 

(ii) Leased assets

Leases in terms of which HEINEKEN assumes substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as finance leases. Upon initial recognition P, P & E acquired by way of finance lease is measured at an amount equal to the lower of its fair value and the present value of the minimum lease payments at inception of the lease. Lease payments are apportioned between the outstanding liability and finance charges so as to achieve a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.

Other leases are operating leases and are not recognised in HEINEKEN’s statement of financial position. Payments made under operating leases are charged to profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. When an operating lease is terminated before the lease period has expired, any payment required to be made to the lessor by way of penalty is recognised as an expense in the period in which termination takes place.

 

(iii) Subsequent expenditure

The cost of replacing a part of an item of P, P & E is recognised in the carrying amount of the item or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, if it is probable that the future economic benefits embodied within the part will flow to HEINEKEN and its cost can be measured reliably. The carrying amount of the replaced part is derecognised. The costs of the day-to-day servicing of P, P & E are recognised in profit or loss when incurred.

 

(iv) Depreciation

Depreciation is calculated over the depreciable amount, which is the cost of an asset, or other amount substituted for cost, less its residual value.

Land is not depreciated as it is deemed to have an infinite life. Depreciation on other P, P & E is charged to profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of items of P, P & E, and major components that are accounted for separately, since this most closely reflects the expected pattern of consumption of the future economic benefits embodied in the asset. Assets under construction are not depreciated. Leased assets are depreciated over the shorter of the lease term and their useful lives unless it is reasonable certain that HEINEKEN will obtain ownership by the end of the lease term. The estimated useful lives for the current and comparative years are as follows:

 

•      Buildings

     30 – 40 years   

•      Plant and equipment

     10 – 30 years   

•      Other fixed assets

     3 – 10 years   

Where parts of an item of P, P & E have different useful lives, they are accounted for as separate items of P, P & E.

The depreciation methods, residual value as well as the useful lives are reassessed, and adjusted if appropriate, at each financial year-end.

 

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(v) Gains and losses on sale

Net gains on sale of items of P, P & E are presented in profit or loss as other income. Net losses on sale are included in depreciation. Net gains and losses are recognised in profit or loss when the significant risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the buyer, recovery of the consideration is probable, the associated costs can be estimated reliably, and there is no continuing management involvement with the P, P & E.

 

(g) Intangible assets

 

(i) Goodwill

Goodwill arises on the acquisition of subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures and represents the excess of the cost of the acquisition over HEINEKEN’s interest in net fair value of the net identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the acquiree.

Goodwill on acquisitions of subsidiaries is included in ‘intangible assets’. Goodwill arising on the acquisition of associates and joint ventures is included in the carrying amount of the associate, respectively the joint ventures. In respect of acquisitions prior to 1 October 2003, goodwill is included on the basis of deemed cost, being the amount recorded under previous GAAP. Goodwill on acquisitions purchased before 1 January 2003 has been deducted from equity.

Goodwill arising on the acquisition of a non-controlling interest in a subsidiary represents the excess of the cost of the additional investment over the carrying amount of the interest in the net assets acquired at the date of exchange.

Goodwill is measured at cost less accumulated impairment losses (refer accounting policy 3i(ii)). Goodwill is allocated to individual or groups of cash-generating units (CGUs) for the purpose of impairment testing and is tested annually for impairment. Negative goodwill is recognised directly in profit or loss as other income.

 

(ii) Brands

Brands acquired, separately or as part of a business combination, are capitalised if they meet the definition of an intangible asset and the recognition criteria are satisfied.

Brands acquired as part of a business combination are valued at fair value based on the royalty relief method. Brands acquired separately are measured at cost.

Strategic brands are well-known international/local brands with a strong market position and an established brand name. Strategic brands are amortised on an individual basis over the estimated useful life of the brand. Other brands are amortised on a portfolio basis per country.

 

(iii) Customer-related and contract-based intangibles

Customer-related and contract-based intangibles are capitalised if they meet the definition of an intangible asset and the recognition criteria are satisfied. If the amounts are not material these are included in the brand valuation. The relationship between brands and customer-related intangibles is carefully considered so that brands and customer-related intangibles are not both recognised on the basis of the same cash flows.

Customer-related and contract-based intangibles acquired as part of a business combination are valued at fair value. Customer-related and contract-based intangibles acquired separately are measured at cost.

Customer-related and contract-based intangibles are amortised over the remaining useful life of the customer relationships or the period of the contractual arrangements.

 

(iv) Software, research and development and other intangible assets

Purchased software is measured at cost less accumulated amortisation (refer (vi)) and impairment losses (refer accounting policy 3i(ii)). Expenditure on internally developed software is capitalised when the expenditure qualifies as development activities, otherwise it is recognised in profit or loss when incurred.

Expenditure on research activities, undertaken with the prospect of gaining new technical knowledge and understanding, is recognised in profit or loss when incurred.

Development activities involve a plan or design for the production of new or substantially improved products, software and processes. Development expenditure is capitalised only if development costs can be measured reliably, the product or process is technically and commercially feasible, future economic benefits are probable, and HEINEKEN intends to and has sufficient resources to complete development and to use or sell the asset. The expenditure capitalised includes the cost of materials, direct labour and overhead costs that are directly attributable to preparing the asset for its intended use, and capitalised borrowing costs. Other development expenditure is recognised in profit or loss when incurred.

Capitalised development expenditure is measured at cost less accumulated amortisation (refer (vi)) and accumulated impairment losses (refer accounting policy 3i(ii)).

Other intangible assets that are acquired by HEINEKEN and have finite useful lives, are measured at cost less accumulated amortisation (refer (vi)) and impairment losses (refer accounting policy 3i(ii)). Expenditure on internally generated goodwill and brands is recognised in profit or loss when incurred.

 

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(v) Subsequent expenditure

Subsequent expenditure is capitalised only when it increases the future economic benefits embodied in the specific asset to which it relates. All other expenditure is expensed when incurred.

 

(vi) Amortisation

Amortisation is calculated over the cost of the asset, or other amount substituted for cost, less its residual value. Intangible assets with a finite life are amortised on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, other than goodwill, from the date they are available for use, since this most closely reflects the expected pattern of consumption of the future economic benefits embodied in the asset. The estimated useful lives are as follows:

 

•      Strategic brands

     40 – 50 years   

•      Other brands

     15 – 25 years   

•      Customer-related and contract-based intangibles

     5 – 20 years   

•      Software

     3 – 7 years   

•      Capitalised development costs

     3 years   

Amortisation methods, useful lives and residual values are reviewed at each reporting date and adjusted if appropriate.

 

(vii) Gains and losses on sale

Net gains on sale of intangible assets are presented in profit or loss as other income. Net losses on sale are included in amortisation. Net gains and losses are recognised in profit or loss when the significant risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the buyer, recovery of the consideration is probable, the associated costs can be estimated reliably, and there is no continuing management involvement with the intangible assets.

 

(h) Inventories

 

(i) General

Inventories are measured at the lower of cost and net realisable value. The cost of inventories is based on the weighted average cost formula, and includes expenditure incurred in acquiring the inventories, production or conversion costs and other costs incurred in bringing them to their existing location and condition. Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less the estimated costs of completion and selling expenses.

 

(ii) Finished products and work in progress

Finished products and work in progress are measured at manufacturing cost based on weighted averages and takes into account the production stage reached. Costs include an appropriate share of direct production overheads based on normal operating capacity.

 

(iii) Other inventories and spare parts

The cost of other inventories is based on weighted averages. Spare parts are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Value reductions and usage of parts are charged to profit or loss. Spare parts that are acquired as part of an equipment purchase and only to be used in connection with this specific equipment are initially capitalised and depreciated as part of the equipment.

 

(i) Impairment

 

(i) Financial assets

A financial asset is assessed at each reporting date to determine whether there is any objective evidence that it is impaired. A financial asset is considered to be impaired if objective evidence indicates that one or more events have had a negative effect on the estimated future cash flows of that asset that can be estimated reliably.

An impairment loss in respect of a financial asset measured at amortised cost is calculated as the difference between its carrying amount, and the present value of the estimated future cash flows discounted at the original effective interest rate. An impairment loss in respect of an available-for-sale financial asset is calculated by reference to its current fair value.

Individually significant financial assets are tested for impairment on an individual basis. The remaining financial assets are assessed collectively in groups that share similar credit risk characteristics.

All impairment losses are recognised in profit or loss. Any cumulative loss in respect of an available-for-sale financial asset recognised previously in other comprehensive income and presented in the fair value reserve in equity is transferred to profit or loss.

An impairment loss is reversed if the reversal can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment loss was recognised. For financial assets measured at amortised cost and available-for-sale financial assets that are debt securities, the reversal is recognised in profit or loss. For available-for-sale financial assets that are equity securities, the reversal is recognised in other comprehensive income.

 

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(ii) Non-financial assets

The carrying amounts of HEINEKEN’s non-financial assets, other than inventories (refer accounting policy (h) and deferred tax assets (refer accounting policy (s)), are reviewed at each reporting date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication exists then the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated. For goodwill and intangible assets that are not yet available for use, the recoverable amount is estimated each year at the same time.

The recoverable amount of an asset or CGU is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset or CGU.

For the purpose of impairment testing, assets that cannot be tested individually are grouped together into the smallest group of assets that generates cash inflows from continuing use that are largely independent of the cash inflows of other assets or groups of assets (the ‘CGU’).

For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill acquired in a business combination, is allocated to each of the acquirer’s CGUs, or groups of CGUs, that is expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination. Each unit or group of units to which the goodwill is allocated represents the lowest level within the entity at which the goodwill is monitored for internal management purposes. Goodwill is monitored on regional, sub regional or country level depending on the characteristics of the acquisition, the synergies to be achieved and the level of integration.

An impairment loss is recognised if the carrying amount of an asset or its CGU exceeds its recoverable amount. A CGU is the smallest identifiable asset group that generates cash flows that largely are independent from other assets and groups. Impairment losses are recognised in profit or loss. Impairment losses recognised in respect of CGU are allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the units and then to reduce the carrying amounts of the other assets in the unit (group of units) on a pro rata basis. An impairment loss in respect of goodwill is not reversed. In respect of other assets, impairment losses recognised in prior periods are assessed at each reporting date for any indications that the loss has decreased or no longer exists. An impairment loss is reversed if there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount. An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset’s carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortisation, if no impairment loss had been recognised.

Goodwill that forms part of the carrying amount of an investment in an associate and joint venture is not recognised separately, and therefore is not tested for impairment separately. Instead, the entire amount of the investment in an associate and joint venture is tested for impairment as a single asset when there is objective evidence that the investment in an associate may be impaired.

 

(j) Non-current assets held for sale

Non-current assets, or disposal groups comprising assets and liabilities, that are expected to be recovered primarily through sale rather than through continuing use, are classified as held for sale. Immediately before classification as held for sale, the assets, or components of a disposal group, are measured at the lower of their carrying amount and fair value less cost to sell. Any impairment loss on a disposal group is first allocated to goodwill, and then to remaining assets and liabilities on a pro rata basis, except that no loss is allocated to inventories, financial assets, deferred tax assets and employee benefit assets, which continue to be measured in accordance with HEINEKEN’s accounting policies. Impairment losses on initial classification as held for sale and subsequent gains or losses on remeasurement are recognised in profit or loss. Gains are not recognised in excess of any cumulative impairment loss.

Intangible assets and P, P & E once classified as held for sale are not amortised or depreciated. In addition, equity accounting of equity-accounted investees ceases once classified as held for sale or distribution.

 

(k) Employee benefits

 

(i) Defined contribution plans

A defined contribution plan is a post-employment benefit plan (pension plan) under which the Group pays fixed contributions into a separate entity. The Group has no legal or constructive obligations to pay further contributions if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.

Obligations for contributions to defined contribution pension plans are recognised as an employee benefit expense in profit or loss in the periods during which services are rendered by employees. Prepaid contributions are recognised as an asset to the extent that a cash refund or a reduction in future payments is available. Contributions to a defined contribution plan that are due more than 12 months after the end of the period in which the employee renders the service are discounted to their present value.

 

(ii) Defined benefit plans

A defined benefit plan is a post-employment benefit plan (pension plan) that is not a defined contribution plan. Typically defined benefit plans define an amount of pension benefit that an employee will receive on retirement, usually dependent on one or more factors such as age, years of service and compensation.

HEINEKEN’s net obligation in respect of defined benefit pension plans is calculated separately for each plan by estimating the amount of future benefit that employees have earned in return for their service in the current and prior periods; that benefit is discounted to determine its present value. Any unrecognised past service costs and the fair value of any plan assets are deducted. The discount rate is the yield at balance sheet date on AA-rated bonds that have maturity dates approximating the terms of HEINEKEN’s obligations and that are denominated in the same currency in which the benefits are expected to be paid.

The calculations are performed annually by qualified actuaries using the projected unit credit method. When the calculation results in a benefit to HEINEKEN, the recognised asset is limited to the net total of any unrecognised past service costs and the present value of economic benefits available in the form of any future refunds from the plan or reductions in future contributions to the plan. In order to calculate the present value of economic benefits, consideration is given to any minimum funding requirements that apply to any plan in the Group. An economic benefit is available to the Group if it is realisable during the life of the plan, or on settlement of the plan liabilities.

When the benefits of a plan are improved, the portion of the increased benefit relating to past service by employees is recognised as an expense in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the average period until the benefits become vested. To the extent that the benefits vest immediately, the expense is recognised immediately in profit or loss.

HEINEKEN recognises all actuarial gains and losses arising from defined benefit plans immediately in other comprehensive income and all expenses related to defined benefit plans in personnel expenses in profit or loss.

 

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(iii) Other long-term employee benefits

HEINEKEN’s net obligation in respect of long-term employee benefits, other than pension plans, is the amount of future benefit that employees have earned in return for their service in the current and prior periods; that benefit is discounted to determine its present value, and the fair value of any related assets is deducted. The discount rate is the yield at balance sheet date on high-quality credit-rated bonds that have maturity dates approximating the terms of HEINEKEN’s obligations. The obligation is calculated using the projected unit credit method. Any actuarial gains and losses are recognised in other comprehensive income in the period in which they arise.

 

(iv) Termination benefits

Termination benefits are payable when employment is terminated by the Group before the normal retirement date, or whenever an employee accepts voluntary redundancy in exchange for these benefits.

Termination benefits are recognised as an expense when HEINEKEN is demonstrably committed to either terminating the employment of current employees according to a detailed formal plan without possibility of withdrawal, or providing termination benefits as a result of an offer made to encourage voluntary redundancy. Termination benefits for voluntary redundancies are recognised if HEINEKEN has made an offer encouraging voluntary redundancy, it is probable that the offer will be accepted, and the number of acceptances can be estimated reliably.

Benefits falling due more than 12 months after the balance sheet date are discounted to their present value.

 

(v) Share-based payment plan (LTV)

As from 1 January 2005 HEINEKEN established a share plan for the Executive Board and as from 1 January 2006 HEINEKEN also established a share plan for senior management (see note 29).

The grant date fair value of the share rights granted is recognised as personnel expenses with a corresponding increase in equity (equity-settled), over the period that the employees become unconditionally entitled to the share rights. The costs of the share plan for both the Executive Board and senior management members are spread evenly over the performance period.

At each balance sheet date, HEINEKEN revises its estimates of the number of share rights that are expected to vest, for the 100 per cent internal performance conditions of the share plan 2010 – 2012 and the share plan 2011– 2013 of the senior management members and the Executive Board and for the 75 per cent internal performance conditions of the share plan 2008– 2010 and 2009 – 2011 of the senior management members. It recognises the impact of the revision of original estimates – only applicable for internal performance conditions, if any, in profit or loss, with a corresponding adjustment to equity. The fair value for the share plan 2009 – 2011 is measured at grant date using the Monte Carlo model taking into account the terms and conditions of the plan.

 

(vi) Matching share entitlement

As from 21 April 2011 HEINEKEN established a matching share entitlement for the Executive Board. The grant date fair value of the matching shares is recognised as personnel expenses in the income statement as it is deemed an equity settled incentive.

 

(vii) Short-term employee benefits

Short-term employee benefit obligations are measured on an undiscounted basis and are expensed as the related service is provided.

A liability is recognised for the amount expected to be paid under short-term benefits if the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation to pay this amount as a result of past service provided by the employee and the obligation can be estimated reliably.

 

(l) Provisions

 

(i) General

A provision is recognised if, as a result of a past event, HEINEKEN has a present legal or constructive obligation that can be estimated reliably, and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation. Provisions are measured at the present value of the expenditures to be expected to be required to settle the obligation using a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the obligation. The increase in the provision due to passage of time is recognised as part of the net finance expenses.

 

(ii) Restructuring

A provision for restructuring is recognised when HEINEKEN has approved a detailed and formal restructuring plan, and the restructuring has either commenced or has been announced publicly. Future operating losses are not provided for. The provision includes the benefit commitments in connection with early retirement and redundancy schemes.

 

(iii) Onerous contracts

A provision for onerous contracts is recognised when the expected benefits to be derived by HEINEKEN from a contract are lower than the unavoidable cost of meeting its obligations under the contract. The provision is measured at the present value of the lower of the expected cost of terminating the contract and the expected net cost of continuing with the contract. Before a provision is established, HEINEKEN recognises any impairment loss on the assets associated with that contract.

 

(iv) Other

The other provisions, not being provisions for restructuring or onerous contracts, consist mainly of surety and guarantees, litigation and claims and environmental provisions.

 

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(m) Loans and borrowings

Loans and borrowings are recognised initially at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred. Loans and borrowings are subsequently stated at amortised cost; any difference between the proceeds (net of transaction costs) and the redemption value is recognised in profit or loss over the period of the borrowings using the effective interest method. Loans and borrowings included in a fair value hedge are stated at fair value in respect of the risk being hedged.

Loans and borrowings for which the Group has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after the balance sheet date, are classified as non-current liabilities.

 

(n) Revenue

 

(i) Products sold

Revenue from the sale of products in the ordinary course of business is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, net of sales tax, excise duties, returns, customer discounts and other sales-related discounts. Revenue from the sale of products is recognised in profit or loss when the amount of revenue can be measured reliably, the significant risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the buyer, recovery of the consideration is probable, the associated costs and possible return of products can be estimated reliably, and there is no continuing management involvement with the products.

If it is probable that discounts will be granted and the amount can be measured reliably, then the discount is recognised as a reduction of revenue as the sales are recognised.

 

(ii) Other revenue

Other revenues are proceeds from royalties, rental income, pub management services and technical services to third parties, net of sales tax. Royalties are recognised in profit or loss on an accrual basis in accordance with the substance of the relevant agreement. Rental income, pub management services and technical services are recognised in profit or loss when the services have been delivered.

 

(o) Other income

Other income are gains from sale of P, P & E, intangible assets and (interests in) subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, net of sales tax. They are recognised in profit or loss when ownership has been transferred to the buyer.

 

(p) Expenses

 

(i) Operating lease payments

Payments made under operating leases are recognised in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Lease incentives received are recognised in profit or loss as an integral part of the total lease expense, over the term of the lease.

 

(ii) Finance lease payments

Minimum lease payments under finance leases are apportioned between the finance expense and the reduction of the outstanding liability. The finance expense is allocated to each period during the lease term so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Contingent lease payments are accounted for by revising the minimum lease payments over the remaining term of the lease when the lease adjustment is confirmed.

 

(q) Government grants

Government grants are recognised at their fair value when it is reasonably assured that HEINEKEN will comply with the conditions attaching to them and the grants will be received.

Government grants relating to P, P & E are deducted from the carrying amount of the asset.

Government grants relating to costs are deferred and recognised in profit or loss over the period necessary to match them with the costs that they are intended to compensate.

 

(r) Interest income, interest expenses and other net finance income and expenses

Interest income and expenses are recognised as they accrue in profit or loss, using the effective interest method unless collectability is in doubt.

Borrowing costs that are not directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of a qualifying asset are recognised in profit or loss using the effective interest method.

Other net finance income and expenses comprises dividend income, gains and losses on the disposal of available-for-sale investments, changes in the fair value of investments designated at fair value through profit or loss and held for trading investments, changes in fair value of hedging instruments that are recognised in profit or loss, unwinding of the discount on provisions and impairment losses recognised on investments. Dividend income is recognised in profit or loss on the date that HEINEKEN’s right to receive payment is established, which in the case of quoted securities is the ex-dividend date.

Foreign currency gains and losses are reported on a net basis in the other net finance income and expenses.

 

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(s) Income tax

Income tax comprises current and deferred tax. Current tax and deferred tax are recognised in profit or loss except to the extent that it relates to a business combination, or items recognised directly in equity or in other comprehensive income.

Current tax is the expected income tax payable or receivable in respect of taxable profit or loss for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantially enacted at the balance sheet date, and any adjustment to income tax payable in respect of profits of previous years. Current tax payable also includes any tax liability arising from the declaration of dividends.

Deferred tax is recognised in respect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and their tax bases.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not recognised for the following temporary differences: (i) the initial recognition of goodwill, (ii) the initial recognition of assets or liabilities in a transaction that is not a business combination and that affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss, (iii) differences relating to investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates resulting from translation of foreign operations and (iv) differences relating to investments in subsidiaries and joint ventures to the extent that the Company is able to control the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference and they will probably not reverse in the foreseeable future.

Deferred tax is determined using tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or substantially enacted by the balance sheet date and are expected to apply when the related deferred tax asset is realised or the deferred tax liability is settled.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset if there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax liabilities and assets, and they relate to income taxes levied by the same tax authority on the same taxable entity, or on different taxable entities which intend either to settle current tax liabilities and assets on a net basis, or to realise the assets and settle the liabilities simultaneously.

In determining the amount of current and deferred tax the Company takes into account the impact of uncertain tax positions and whether additional taxes and interest may be due. The Company believes that its accruals for tax liabilities are adequate for all open tax years based on its assessment of many factors, including interpretations of tax law and prior experience. This assessment relies on estimates and assumptions and may involve a series of judgements about future events. New information may become available that causes the Company to change its judgement regarding the adequacy of existing tax liabilities; such changes to tax liabilities will impact tax expense in the period that such a determination is made.

A deferred tax asset is recognised for unused tax losses, tax credits and deductible temporary differences, to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which they can be utilised. Deferred tax assets are reviewed at each balance sheet date and are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realised.

 

(t) Discontinued operations

A discontinued operation is a component of the Group’s business that represents a separate major line of business or geographical area of operations that has been disposed of or is held for sale or distribution, or is a subsidiary acquired exclusively with a view to resale. Classification as a discontinued operation occurs upon disposal or when the operation meets the criteria to be classified as held for sale, if earlier. When an operation is classified as a discontinued operation, the comparative statement of comprehensive income is re-presented as if the operation had been discontinued from the start of the comparative year.

 

(u) Earnings per share

HEINEKEN presents basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) data for its ordinary shares. Basic EPS is calculated by dividing the profit or loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period including the weighted average of outstanding ASDI, adjusted for the weighted average of own shares purchased in the year. Diluted EPS is determined by adjusting the profit or loss attributable to ordinary shareholders and the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding including weighted average of outstanding ASDI, adjusted for the weighted average of own shares purchased in the year, for the effects of all dilutive potential ordinary shares, which comprise share rights granted to employees.

 

(v) Cash flow statement

The cash flow statement is prepared using the indirect method. Changes in balance sheet items that have not resulted in cash flows such as translation differences, fair value changes, equity-settled share-based payments and other non-cash items, have been eliminated for the purpose of preparing this statement. Assets and liabilities acquired as part of a business combination are included in investing activities (net of cash acquired). Dividends paid to ordinary shareholders are included in financing activities. Dividends received are classified as operating activities. Interest paid is also included in operating activities.

 

(w) Operating segments

Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the Executive Board, who is considered to be the Group’s chief operating decision maker. An operating segment is a component of HEINEKEN that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses, including revenues and expenses that relate to transactions with any of HEINEKEN’s other components. All operating segments’ operating results are reviewed regularly by the Executive Board to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and to assess its performance, and for which discrete financial information is available.

Inter-segment transfers or transactions are entered into under the normal commercial terms and conditions that would also be available to unrelated third parties.

Segment results, assets and liabilities that are reported to the Executive Board include items directly attributable to a segment as well as those that can be allocated on a reasonable basis. Unallocated result items comprise net finance expenses and income tax expenses. Unallocated assets comprise current other investments and cash call deposits.

Segment capital expenditure is the total cost incurred during the period to acquire P, P & E, and intangible assets other than goodwill.

 

(x) Emission rights

Emission rights are related to the emission of CO2, which relates to the production of energy. These rights are freely tradable. Bought emission rights and liabilities due to production of CO2 are measured at cost, including any directly attributable expenditure. Emission rights received for free are also recorded at cost, i.e. with a zero value.

 

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(y) Recently issued IFRS

 

(i) Standards effective in 2011 and reflected in these consolidated financial statements

 

   

IAS 19 Pensions and IFRIC 14 (amendments effective 1 January 2011) – The limit on a Defined Benefit Assets, Minimum Funding Requirements and their Interaction. These amendments remove unintended consequences arising from the treatment of prepayments where there is a minimum funding requirement. These amendments result in prepayments of contributions in certain circumstances being recognised as an asset rather than an expense.

 

   

IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosure (amendments effective 1 January 2011). The amendments add an explicit statement that qualitative disclosure should be made to better enable users to evaluate an entity’s exposure to risk arising from financial instruments. These amendments are reflected in disclosure note 32 Financial Instruments.

Other standards and interpretations effective from 1 January 2011 did not have a significant impact on the Company.

 

(ii) New relevant standards and interpretations not yet adopted

The following new standards and interpretations to existing standards relevant to HEINEKEN are not yet effective for the year ended 31 December 2011, and have not been applied in preparing these consolidated financial statements. None of these is expected to have a significant effect on the consolidated financial statements of HEINEKEN, except for IAS 19 Employee benefits and IFRS 9 Financial Instruments, which becomes mandatory for the Group’s 2013 consolidated financial statements. HEINEKEN is in the process of evaluating the impact of the applicability of the new standards. HEINEKEN does not plan to early adopt these standards and the extent of the impact has not been determined:

 

   

IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements was amended in June 2011 for Presentation of Items of Other Comprehensive Income with an effective date of 1 July 2012.

 

   

IAS 12 Deferred Tax: Recovery of Underlying Assets. The amendments introduce an exception to the general measurement requirements of IAS 12 Income Taxes in respect of investment properties measured at fair value. The measurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities, in this limited circumstance, is based on a rebuttable presumption that the carrying amount of the investment property will be recovered entirely through sale. The presumption can be rebutted only if the investment property is depreciable and held within a business model whose objective is to consume substantially all of the asset’s economic benefits over the life of the asset.

 

   

IAS 19 Employee Benefits was amended. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013, but has not yet been endorsed by the EU. HEINEKEN is in the process of evaluating the impact of the applicability of the new standard.

 

   

IAS 27 Separate financial statements contains accounting and disclosure requirements for investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates when an entity prepares separate financial statements. The standard requires an entity preparing separate financial statements to account for those investments at cost or in accordance with IFRS 9 Financial Instruments. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013.

 

   

IAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures prescribes the accounting for investments in associates and sets out the requirements for the application of the equity method when accounting for investments in associates and joint ventures. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013. This amendment is in line with the new IFRS 11, which no longer gives entities the choice in accounting treatment for joint ventures, only the equity method is allowed. HEINEKEN already applied the equity method since 2008.

 

   

IFRS 7 Disclosures – Transfers of Financial Assets. The amendments introduce new disclosure requirements about transfers of financial assets, including disclosures for:

 

   

financial assets that are not derecognised in their entirety; and

 

   

financial assets that are derecognised in their entirety but for which the entity retains continuing involvement.

 

   

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments is part of the IASB’s wider project to replace IAS 39 ‘Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement’. IFRS 9 retains but simplifies the mixed measurement model and establishes two primary measurement categories for financial assets, amortised cost and fair value. The basis of classification depends on the entity’s business model and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial asset. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015, but has not yet been endorsed by the EU. HEINEKEN is in the process of evaluating the impact of the applicability of the new standard.

 

   

IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements establishes principles for the presentation and preparation of consolidated financial statements when an entity controls one or more other entities. This IFRS supersedes IAS 27 Consolidated and separate financial statements and SIC-12 Consolidation – Special purpose entities and is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013.

 

   

IFRS 11 Joint arrangements establish principles for financial reporting by parties to a joint arrangement. This IFRS supersedes IAS 31 Interest in Joint Ventures and SIC-13 Jointly Controlled Entities – Non-monetary contributions by ventures and is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013. Under IFRS 11 the structure of the arrangement is no longer the only determinant for the accounting treatment and entities do no longer have a choice in accounting treatment. HEINEKEN is in the process of evaluating the impact of the applicability of the new standard.

 

   

IFRS 12 Disclosure of interests in other entities applies to entities that have an interest in a subsidiary, a joint arrangement, an associate or an unconsolidated structured entity. The IFRS is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013. This IFRS integrates and make consistent the disclosure requirements for all entities mentioned above.

 

   

IFRS 13 Fair value measurement defines fair value; sets out in a single IFRS a framework for measuring fair value; and requires disclosures about fair value measurements. The IFRS is to be applied for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013. The IFRS explains how to measure fair value for financial reporting. It does not require fair value measurements in addition to those already required or permitted by other IFRSs and is not intended to establish valuation standards or affect valuation practices outside financial reporting.

 

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4. Determination of fair values

 

(i) General

A number of HEINEKEN’s accounting policies and disclosures require the determination of fair value, for both financial and non-financial assets and liabilities. Fair values have been determined for measurement and/or disclosure purposes based on the following methods. When applicable, further information about the assumptions made in determining fair values or for the purpose of impairment testing is disclosed in the notes specific to that asset or liability.

 

(ii) Property, plant and equipment

The fair value of P, P & E recognised as a result of a business combination is based on the quoted market prices for similar items when available and replacement cost when appropriate.

 

(iii) Intangible assets

The fair value of brands acquired in a business combination is based on the ‘relief of royalty’ method. The fair value of customer relationships acquired in a business combination is determined using the multi-period excess earnings method, whereby the subject asset is valued after deducting a fair return on all other assets that are part of creating the related cash flows. The fair value of other intangible assets is based on the discounted cash flows expected to be derived from the use and eventual sale of the assets.

 

(iv) Inventories

The fair value of inventories acquired in a business combination is determined based on its estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less the estimated costs of completion and sale, and a reasonable profit margin based on the effort required to complete and sell the inventories.

 

(v) Investments in equity and debt securities

The fair value of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, held-to-maturity investments and available-for-sale financial assets is determined by reference to their quoted closing bid price at the reporting date, or if unquoted, determined using an appropriate valuation technique. The fair value of held-to-maturity investments is determined for disclosure purposes only. In case the quoted price does not exist at the date of exchange or in case the quoted price exists at the date of exchange but was not used as the cost, the investments are valued indirectly based on discounted cash flow models.

 

(vi) Trade and other receivables

The fair value of trade and other receivables is estimated at the present value of future cash flows, discounted at the market rate of interest at the reporting date. This fair value is determined for disclosure purposes or when acquired in a business combination.

(vii) Derivative financial instruments

The fair value of derivative financial instruments is based on their listed market price, if available. If a listed market price is not available, then fair value is in general estimated by discounting the difference between the cash flows based on contractual price and the cash flows based on current price for the residual maturity of the contract using a risk-free interest rate (based on inter-bank interest rates).

Fair values reflect the credit risk of the instrument and include adjustments to take account of the credit risk of the Group entity and counterparty when appropriate.

 

(viii) Non-derivative financial instruments

Fair value, which is determined for disclosure purposes or when fair value hedge accounting is applied, is calculated based on the present value of future principal and interest cash flows, discounted at the market rate of interest at the reporting date. For finance leases the market rate of interest is determined by reference to similar lease agreements.

Fair values reflect the credit risk of the instrument and include adjustments to take account of the credit risk of the Group entity and counterparty when appropriate.

 

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5. Operating segments

HEINEKEN distinguishes the following six reportable segments:

 

   

Western Europe

 

   

Central and Eastern Europe

 

   

The Americas

 

   

Africa and the Middle East

 

   

Asia Pacific

 

   

Head Office and Other/eliminations.

The first five reportable segments as stated above are the Group’s business regions. These business regions are each managed separately by a Regional President. The Regional President is directly accountable for the functioning of the segment’s assets, liabilities and results of the region and reports regularly to the Executive Board (the chief operating decision maker) to discuss operating activities, regional forecasts and regional results. The Head Office operating segment falls directly under the responsibility of the Executive Board. For each of the six reportable segments, the Executive Board reviews internal management reports on a monthly basis.

Information regarding the results of each reportable segment is included in the table on the next page. Performance is measured based on EBIT (beia), as included in the internal management reports that are reviewed by the Executive Board. EBIT (beia) is defined as earnings before interest and taxes and net finance expenses, before exceptional items and amortisation of brands and customer relationships. Exceptional items are defined as items of income and expense of such size, nature or incidence, that in view of management their disclosure is relevant to explain the performance of HEINEKEN for the period. EBIT and EBIT (beia) are not financial measures calculated in accordance with IFRS. EBIT (beia) is used to measure performance as management believes that this measurement is the most relevant in evaluating the results of these regions.

HEINEKEN has multiple distribution models to deliver goods to end customers. There is no reliance on major clients. Deliveries to end consumers are done in some countries via own wholesalers or own pubs, in other markets directly and in some others via third parties. As such, distribution models are country specific and on consolidated level diverse. In addition, these various distribution models are not centrally managed or monitored. Consequently, the Executive Board is not allocating resources and assessing the performance based on business type information and therefore no segment information is provided on business type.

Inter-segment pricing is determined on an arm’s-length basis. As net finance expenses and income tax expenses are monitored on a consolidated level (and not on an individual regional basis) and regional presidents are not accountable for that, net finance expenses and income tax expenses are not provided per reportable segment.

Starting 1st of January 2011 Empaque (our Mexican packaging business) was transferred from the America’s region to Head Office as this managerial resides under Global Supply Chain situated in Head Office. Also, in 2011 HEINEKEN reallocated certain management costs from regions to Head Office reflecting a change in the Company’s operating framework from regional to global reporting lines for certain roles within global functions. As a consequence the comparative figures have been restated.

 

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Information about reportable segments

 

      Note      Western Europe      Central and
Eastern Europe
     The Americas  

In millions of EUR

      2011      2010*      2011      2010*      2011     2010*  

Revenue

                   

Third party revenue1

        7,158         7,284         3,209         3,130         4,002        3,284   

Interregional revenue

        594         610         20         13         27        12   

Total revenue

        7,752         7,894         3,229         3,143         4,029        3,296   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income

        48         71         7         8         1        —     

Results from operating activities

        820         786         318         345         493        429   

Net finance expenses

                   

Share of profit of associates and joint ventures and impairments thereof

        3         3         17         21         77        75   

Income tax expenses

                   

Profit

                   

Attributable to:

                   

Equity holders of the Company (net profit)

                   

Non-controlling interest

                   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBIT reconciliation

                   

EBIT

        823         789         335         366         570        504   

eia2

        139         136         11         12         85        96   

EBIT (beia)

     27         962         925         346         378         655        600   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Beer volumes2

                   

Consolidated beer volume

        45,380         45,394         45,377         42,237         50,497        37,843   

Joint Ventures’ volume

        —           —           7,303         7,229         9,663        9,195   

Licences

        300         284         —           —           65        173   

Group volume

        45,680         45,678         52,680         49,466         60,225        47,211   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Current segment assets

        1,843         2,104         985         961         1,045        1,011   

Other Non-current segment assets

        8,186         8,019         3,365         3,622         5,619        5,965   

Investment in associates and joint ventures

        23         28         165         134         711        758   

Total segment assets

        10,052         10,151         4,515         4,717         7,375        7,734   

Unallocated assets

                   

Total assets

                   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment liabilities

        3,723         3,444         1,160         1,145         1,068        987   

Unallocated liabilities

                   

Total equity

                   

Total equity and liabilities

                   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Purchase of P, P & E

        215         205         170         158         199        117   

Acquisition of goodwill

        —           4         1         —           4        1,495   

Purchases of intangible assets

        11         5         9         4         20        24   

Depreciation of P, P & E

        343         381         234         253         183        131   

Impairment and reversal of impairment of P, P & E

        —           1         2         9         (5     —     

Amortisation intangible assets

        100         90         18         22         93        69   

Impairment intangible assets

        —           15         3         1         —          —     

 

1 

Includes other revenue of EUR463 million in 2011 and EUR439 million in 2010.

2 

For definition see ‘Glossary’ Note that these are both non GAAP measures and therefore un-audited.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Information about reportable segments continued

 

     Africa and the
Middle East
     Asia Pacific     Head Office &
Other/
Eliminations
    Consolidated  
     2011      2010*      2011      2010*     2011     2010*     2011     2010*  

Revenue

                   

Third party revenue

     2,223         1,982         216         206        315        247        17,123        16,133   
Interregional revenue      —           6         —           —          (641     (641     —          —     
Total revenue      2,223         1,988         216         206        (326     (394     17,123        16,133   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Other income      3         —           5         158        —          2        64        239   
Results from operating activities      533         531         64         203        (13     4        2,215        2,298   
Net finance expenses                     (430     (509

Share of profit of associates and joint ventures and impairments thereof

     35         28         112         79        (4     (13     240        193   
Income tax expenses                     (465     (403
Profit                     1,560        1,579   
Attributable to:                    
Equity holders of the Company (net profit)                     1,430        1,447   
Non-controlling interest                     130        132   
Non-controlling interest                     1,560        1,579   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
EBIT reconciliation                    

EBIT

     568         559         176         282        (17     (9     2,455        2,491   
eia      2         1         —           (158     5        45        242        132   
EBIT (beia)      570         560         176         124        (12     36        2,697        2,623   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Beer volumes

                   
Consolidated beer volume      22,029         19,070         1,309         1,328        —          —          164,592        145,872   
Joint Ventures’ volume      5,706         5,399         24,410         22,181        —          —          47,082        44,004   
Licences      1,093         1,204         769         806        —          —          2,227        2,467   
Group volume      28,828         25,673         26,488         24,315        —          —          213,901        192,343   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Current segment assets      854         639         91         74        (124     (536     4,694        4,253   
Other Non-current segment assets      1,867         1,272         2         12        1,143        1,242        20,182        20,132   
Investment in associates and joint ventures      272         262         536         507        57        (16     1,764        1,673   
Total segment assets      2,993         2,173         629         593        1,076        690        26,640        26,058   

Unallocated assets

                    487        604   

Total assets

                    27,127        26,662   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment liabilities

     653         532         36         33        508        625        7,148        6,766   

Unallocated liabilities

                    9,887        9,676   

Total equity

                    10,092        10,220   

Total equity and liabilities

                    27,127        26,662   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Purchase of P, P & E

     202         163         —           1        14        4        800        648   
Acquisition of goodwill      282         1         —           —          —          248        287        1,748   
Purchases of intangible assets      —           9         —           —          16        14        56        56   
Depreciation of P, P & E      140         100         —           1        36        27        936        893   
Impairment and reversal of impairment of P, P & E      3         2         —           —          —          2        —          14   
Amortisation intangible assets      6         4         —           —          12        7        229        192   
Impairment intangible assets      —           —           —           —          —          —          3        16   

 

* Comparatives have been adjusted due to the transfer of Empaque causing the move of an amount of EUR54 million of EBIT from the Americas region to Head Office; the centralisation of the Regional Head Offices resulting in a shift of EUR43 million EBIT from regions to Head Office; the policy change in Employee Benefits, causing an increase of EUR15 million in EBIT (EUR11 million in region Western Europe and EUR4 million in the Americas region)

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

6. Acquisitions and disposals of subsidiaries and non-controlling interests

Acquisition of the beer operations of Sona Group

On 12 January 2011, HEINEKEN announced that it had acquired from Lewiston Investments SA (‘Seller’) two holding companies which together own the Sona brewery group. The two holding companies had controlling interests in Sona Systems Associates Business Management Limited (‘Sona Systems’), which held certain assets of Sona Breweries Plc (‘Sona’) and International Beer and Beverages (Nigeria) Limited (‘IBBI’), Champion Breweries Plc (‘Champion’), Benue Brewery Limited (‘Benue’) and Life Brewery Company Limited (‘Life’) (together referred to as the ‘acquired businesses’).

Due to the integration of the newly acquired businesses with our existing activities separate financial information on Sona activities is not available anymore.

The following summarises the major classes of consideration transferred, and the recognised amounts of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date.

 

In millions of EUR*

      

Property, plant & equipment

     162   

Intangible assets

     56   

Other investments

     1   

Inventories

     19   

Trade and other receivables

     2   

Cash and cash equivalents

     2   

Assets acquired

     242   
  

 

 

 

 

In millions of EUR*

      

Employee benefits

     6   

Provisions

     2   

Deferred tax liabilities

     44   

Bank overdraft

     —     

Loans and borrowings (current)

     76   

Tax liabilities (current)

     12   

Trade and other current liabilities

     21   

Liabilities assumed

     161   
  

 

 

 

Total net identifiable assets

     81   
  

 

 

 

 

Consideration transferred

     289   

Recognition indemnification receivable

     (12

Non-controlling interests

     (1

Net identifiable assets acquired

     (81

Goodwill on acquisition

     195   
  

 

 

 

 

* Amounts were converted into euros at the rate of EUR/NGN192.6782. Additionally, certain amounts provided in US dollar were converted into euros based on the following exchange rate EUR/USD 1.2903.

The purchase price accounting for the acquired businesses is prepared on a final basis. The outcome indicates goodwill of EUR195 million. The derived goodwill includes synergies mainly related to the available production capacity.

Goodwill has been allocated to Nigeria in the Africa and Middle East region and is held in NGN. The rationale for the allocation is that the acquisition provides access to the Nigerian market: access to additional capacity, consolidate market share within a fast-growing market and improved profitability through synergy. The entire amount of goodwill is not expected to be tax deductible.

Between HEINEKEN and the Seller certain indemnifications were agreed on, that primarily relate to tax and legal matters existing at the date of acquisition. Our assessment of these contingencies indicates an indemnification receivable of EUR12 million that is considered an included element of the business combination. The purchase price for the acquired businesses was based on an estimate of the net debt and working capital position of the acquired businesses as at 11 January 2011 (the date of the completion of the acquisition). HEINEKEN and the Seller have determined the exact net debt and working capital position of the acquired businesses as at 11 January 2011 by reference to agreed accounting principles and there will be no adjustment to the final purchase price. Non-controlling interests are recognised based on their proportional interest in the net identifiable assets acquired of Champion, Benue and Life for a total of EUR1 million.

In this year acquisition-related costs of EUR1 million have been recognised in the income statement.

 

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Acquisition of two breweries in Ethiopia

On 11 August 2011, HEINEKEN announced that it had acquired from the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (‘Seller’) two breweries named Bedele and Harar (together referred to as the ‘acquired business’).

The acquired businesses contributed revenue of EUR13 million and results from operating activities of EUR1.5 million (EBIT) for the five-month period from 4 August 2011 to 31 December 2011. For the financial statements of HEINEKEN the additional 8 months would not have been material.

The following summarises the major classes of consideration transferred, and the recognised amounts of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date.

 

In millions of EUR*

      

Property, plant & equipment

     27   

Intangible assets

     8   

Inventories

     8   

Trade and other receivables

     3   

Cash and cash equivalents

     1   

Assets acquired

     47   
  

 

 

 

 

In millions of EUR*

      

Deferred tax liabilities

     8   

Trade and other current liabilities

     12   

Liabilities assumed

     20   
  

 

 

 

Total net identifiable assets

     27   
  

 

 

 

 

Consideration transferred

     115   

Net identifiable assets acquired

     (27

Goodwill on acquisition

     88   
  

 

 

 

 

* Amounts were converted into euros at the rate of EUR/ETB 24,492 and EUR/USD 1.426 for the statement of financial position.

The purchase price accounting for the acquired business is prepared on a provisional basis. The outcome indicates goodwill of EUR88 million. The derived goodwill includes synergies mainly related to market access and the available production capacity.

Goodwill has been allocated to Ethiopia in the Africa and Middle East region and is held in ETB. The rationale for the allocation is that the acquisition provides access to the Ethiopian market: access to additional capacity, consolidate market share within a fast-growing market and improved profitability through synergy. The entire amount of goodwill is not expected to be tax deductible.

Acquisition-related costs of EUR2.5 million have been recognised in the income statement for the period ended 31 December 2011.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Acquisition of pubs in the UK

On 2 December 2011, HEINEKEN announced that it had acquired from The Royal Bank of Scotland (‘RBS’) (‘Seller’) the Galaxy Pub Estate (‘Galaxy’) in the UK (referred to as the ‘acquired business’). The following summarises the major classes of consideration transferred, and the recognised amounts of assets and assumed liabilities at the acquisition date. Management agreements that were in place were settled upon acquisition.

 

In millions of EUR*

      

Property, plant & equipment

     441   

Cash and cash equivalents

     —     

Assets acquired

     441   
  

 

 

 

 

In millions of EUR*

      

Liabilities assumed

     —     

Total net identifiable assets

     441   
  

 

 

 

 

Consideration transferred

     480   

Settlement of pre-existing relationship

     (39

Net identifiable assets acquired

     (441

Goodwill on acquisition

     —     
  

 

 

 

 

* Amounts were converted into euros at the rate of EUR/GBP 0.859 for the statement of financial position.

The purchase price accounting for the acquired business is prepared on a provisional basis. The outcome indicates no goodwill as the fair value of the assets acquired approximates the consideration transferred. The rationale for the acquisition is to further drive volume growth and to strengthen the leading position in the UK beer and cider market. The acquisition creates a strong platform from which HEINEKEN is building leadership in the high value UK on-trade channel and will mainly impacts net result. The early amortisation and termination of associated contracts under the acquisition gave rise to a one-off, pre-tax expense of EUR36 million.

Acquisition related cost of EUR3 million have been recognised in the income statement for the period ended 31 December 2011.

Provisional accounting FEMSA acquisition in 2010

The FEMSA acquisition accounting has been concluded during the first half year of 2011. A final adjustment was made to provisional accounting for the FEMSA acquisition. Total impact resulted in an increase of goodwill of EUR4 million, the comparatives have not been restated. The adjustment resulted from the filing of a tax return in March 2011, which was EUR6 million lower, a negative impact of EUR12 million due to a legal provision and recognition of certain employee benefits for EUR10 million. In 2010 FEMSA results were included from 1 May 2010 onwards (8 months) and have been fully consolidated in 2011 (12 months).

Disposals

Disposal of interest without losing control

On 12 May 2010 HEINEKEN acquired an additional interest in Commonwealth Brewery Limited (CBL) and Burns House Limited (BHL) situated in the Bahamas, increasing its ownership to 100 per cent in both entities. This acquisition was subject to government approval that 25 per cent of the combined entities would be disposed of. During the period which ended 31 December 2011, HEINEKEN disposed of 25 per cent of its 100 per cent interest in CBL (which had acquired 100 per cent of BHL prior to this), for an amount of EUR43 million through an initial public offering (IPO) in the Bahamas. As a result, its ownership decreased to 75 per cent. After the disposal of this non-controlling interest, HEINEKEN maintains a controlling interest in CBL. There is no impact on net result, the impact is recognised in equity.

7. Assets (or disposal groups) classified as held for sale

Other assets classified as held for sale represent land and buildings following the commitment of HEINEKEN to a plan to sell certain land and buildings in the UK and our associate in Kazakhstan. Efforts to sell these assets have commenced and are expected to be completed during 2012.

Assets classified as held for sale

 

In millions of EUR

   2011      2010  

Current assets

     —           —     

Non-current assets

     99         6   
     99         6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

8. Other income

 

In millions of EUR

   2011      2010  

Net gain on sale of property, plant & equipment

     35         37   

Net gain on sale of intangible assets

     24         13   

Net gain on sale of subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates

     5         189   
     64         239   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

In 2010 HEINEKEN transferred in total a 78.3 per cent stake in PT Multi Bintang Indonesia (MBI) and HEINEKEN’s 87 per cent stake in Grande Brasserie de Nouvelle-Caledonie S.A. (GBNC) to its JV Asia Pacific Breweries (APB). As a result of the transaction a gain of EUR157 million before tax was recognised in net gain on sale of subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates.

9. Raw materials, consumables and services

 

In millions of EUR

   2011     2010  

Raw materials

     1,576        1,474   

Non-returnable packaging

     2,075        1,863   

Goods for resale

     1,498        1,655   

Inventory movements

     (8     (8

Marketing and selling expenses

     2,186        2,072   

Transport expenses

     1,056        979   

Energy and water

     525        442   

Repair and maintenance

     417        375   

Other expenses

     1,641        1,439   
     10,966        10,291   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other expenses include rentals of EUR241 million (2010: EUR224 million), consultant expenses of EUR166 million (2010: EUR126 million), telecom and office automation of EUR159 million (2010: EUR156 million), travel expenses of EUR137 million (2010: EUR120 million) and other fixed expenses of EUR938 million (2010: EUR813 million).

10. Personnel expenses

 

In millions of EUR

   Note      2011      2010  

Wages and salaries

        1,891         1,787   

Compulsory social security contributions

        333         317   

Contributions to defined contribution plans

        24         16   

Expenses related to defined benefit plans

     28         56         89   

Increase in other long-term employee benefits

        11         9   

Equity-settled share-based payment plan

     29         11         15   

Other personnel expenses

        512         432   
        2,838         2,665   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Restructuring costs in Spain for an amount of EUR53 million are included in other personnel expenses.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

The average number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees during the year was:

 

     2011      2010  

The Netherlands

     4,032         3,861   

Other Western Europe

     14,707         15,751   

Central and Eastern Europe

     17,424         18,043   

The Americas

     16,414         17,164   

Africa and the Middle East

     11,396         10,607   

Asia Pacific

     279         304   

HEINEKEN N.V. and subsidiaries

     64,252         65,730   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

11. Amortisation, depreciation and impairments

 

In millions of EUR

   Note      2011      2010  

Property, plant & equipment

     14         936         907   

Intangible assets

     15         232         208   

Impairment on available-for-sale assets

        —           3   
        1,168         1,118   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

12. Net finance income and expenses

Recognised in profit or loss

 

In millions of EUR

   2011     2010  

Interest income

     70        100   

Interest expenses

     (494     (590

Dividend income on available-for-sale investments

     2        1   

Dividend income on investments held for trading

     11        7   

Net gain/(loss) on disposal of available-for-sale investments

     1        —     

Net change in fair value of derivatives

     96        (75

Net foreign exchange gain/(loss)

     (107     61   

Impairment losses on available-for-sale investments

     —          (3

Unwinding discount on provisions

     (7     (7

Other net financial income/(expenses)

     (2     (3

Other net finance income/(expenses)

     (6     (19

Net finance income/(expenses)

     (430     (509
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Recognised in other comprehensive income

 

In millions of EUR

   2011     2010*  

Foreign currency translation differences for foreign operations

     (493     390   

Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges

     (21     43   

Effective portion of cash flow hedges transferred to profit or loss

     (11     45   

Ineffective portion of cash flow hedges transferred to profit or loss

     —          9   

Net change in fair value of available-for-sale investments

     71        11   

Net change in fair value available-for-sale investments transferred to profit or loss

     (1     (17

Actuarial (gains) and losses

     (93     99   

Share of other comprehensive income of associates/joint ventures

     (5     (29
     (553     551   

Recognised in:

    

Fair value reserve

     69        (10

Hedging reserve

     (42     97   

Translation reserve

     (482     358   

Other

     (98     106   
     (553     551   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Comparatives have been adjusted due to the accounting policy change in employee benefits (see note 2e)

The negative impact of foreign currency translation differences for foreign operations in other comprehensive income is mainly due to the impact of devaluation of the Mexican peso on the net assets and goodwill measured in Mexican peso of total EUR295 million. Remaining impact is related to the depreciation of the Polish zloty, the Chilean peso, Nigerian naira and Belarusian ruble, partly offset by the revaluation of the US dollar and the British pound.

13. Income tax expense

Recognised in profit or loss

 

In millions of EUR

   2011     2010*  

Current tax expense

    

Current year

     502        502   

Under/(over) provided in prior years

     (26     52   
     476        554   

Deferred tax expense

    

Origination and reversal of temporary differences

     17        (19

Previously unrecognised deductible temporary differences

     (9     (2

Changes in tax rate

     1        3   

Utilisation/(benefit) of tax losses recognised

     (19     (39

Under/(over) provided in prior years

     (1     (94
     (11     (151

Total income tax expense in profit or loss

     465        403   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Reconciliation of the effective tax rate

 

In millions of EUR

   2011     2010*  

Profit before income tax

     2,025        1,982   

Share of net profit of associates and joint ventures and impairments thereof

     (240     (193

Profit before income tax excluding share of profit of associates and joint ventures (inclusive impairments thereof)

     1,785        1,789   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     %     2011     %     2010*  

Income tax using the Company’s domestic tax rate

     25.0        446        25.5        456   

Effect of tax rates in foreign jurisdictions

     3.5        62        1.9        34   

Effect of non-deductible expenses

     3.2        58        4.0        72   

Effect of tax incentives and exempt income

     (6.0     (107     (8.2     (146

Recognition of previously unrecognised temporary differences

     (0.5     (9     (0.1     (2

Utilisation or recognition of previously unrecognised tax losses

     (0.3     (5     (1.2     (21

Unrecognised current year tax losses

     1.0        18        0.8        15   

Effect of changes in tax rate

     0.1        1        0.2        3   

Withholding taxes

     1.5        26        1.4        25   

Under/(over) provided in prior years

     (1.5     (27     (2.3     (42

Other reconciling items

     0.1        2        0.5        9   
     26.1        465        22.5        403   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Comparatives have been adjusted due to the accounting policy change in employee benefits (see note 2e)

The reported tax rate is 26.1 per cent (2010: 22.5 per cent) and includes the effect of the release of tax provisions after having reached agreement with the tax authorities, mainly explaining the under/over provided amount as part of the current tax expense. The reported 2010 tax rate included the tax-exempt transfer of PT Multi Bintang Indonesia (MBI) and Grande Brasserie de Nouvelle-Caledonie S.A. (GBNC).

Income tax recognised in other comprehensive income

 

In millions of EUR

   Note      2011      2010  

Changes in fair value

        —           (5

Changes in hedging reserve

        13         (38

Changes in translation reserve

        11         —     

Other

        16         (38
     24         40         (81
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

14. Property, plant and equipment

 

In millions of EUR

   Note      Land and
buildings
    Plant and
equipment
    Other fixed
assets
    Under
construction
    Total  

Cost

             

Balance as at 1 January 2010

        3,460        5,337        3,518        315        12,630   

Changes in consolidation

        745        635        253        72        1,705   

Purchases

        38        82        249        279        648   

Transfer of completed projects under construction

        106        142        104        (352     —     

Transfer to/(from) assets classified as held for sale

        26        34        39        2        101   

Disposals

        (49     (130     (285     (1     (465

Effect of movements in exchange rates

        71        107        61        15        254   

Balance as at 31 December 2010

        4,397        6,207        3,939        330        14,873   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as at 1 January 2011

        4,397        6,207        3,939        330        14,873   

Changes in consolidation

     6         505        89        (31     3        566   

Purchases

        55        99        320        326        800   

Transfer of completed projects under construction

        82        90        150        (322     —     

Transfer to/(from) assets classified as held for sale

        (65     —          —          —          (65

Disposals

        (35     (92     (255     (6     (388

Effect of hyperinflation

        2        11        2        2        17   

Effect of movements in exchange rates

        (71     (127     (73     (1     (272

Balance as at 31 December 2011

        4,870        6,277        4,052        332        15,531   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Depreciation and impairment losses

             

Balance as at 1 January 2010

        (1,405     (2,875     (2,333     —          (6,613

Changes in consolidation

        12        31        35        —          78   

Depreciation charge for the year

     11         (117     (342     (434     —          (893

Impairment losses

     11         (15     (19     (6     —          (40

Reversal impairment losses

     11         4        21        1        —          26   

Transfer (to)/from assets classified as held for sale

        (6     (14     (23     —          (43

Disposals

        37        128        263        —          428   

Effect of movements in exchange rates

        (36     (54     (39     —          (129

Balance as at 31 December 2010

        (1,526     (3,124     (2,536     —          (7,186
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as at 1 January 2011

        (1,526     (3,124     (2,536     —          (7,186

Changes in consolidation

     6         —          4        14        —          18   

Depreciation charge for the year

     11         (128     (356     (452     —          (936

Impairment losses

     11         —          —          (8     —          (8

Reversal impairment losses

     11         —          3        5        —          8   

Transfer (to)/from assets classified as held for sale

        3        —          —          —          3   

Disposals

        18        92        224        —          334   

Effect of movements in exchange rates

        11        42        43        —          96   

Balance as at 31 December 2011

        (1,622     (3,339     (2,710     —          (7,671
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Carrying amount

             

As at 1 January 2010

        2,055        2,462        1,185        315        6,017   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As at 31 December 2010

        2,871        3,083        1,403        330        7,687   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As at 1 January 2011

        2,871        3,083        1,403        330        7,687   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As at 31 December 2011

        3,248        2,938        1,342        332        7,860   

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Impairment losses

In 2011 a total impairment loss of EUR8 million (2010: EUR40 million) was charged to profit or loss.

Financial lease assets

The Group leases P, P & E under a number of finance lease agreements. At 31 December 2011 the net carrying amount of leased P,P & E was EUR39 million (2010: EUR95 million). During the year, the Group acquired leased assets of EUR6 million (2010: EUR17 million).

Security to authorities

Certain P, P & E for EUR137 million (2010: EUR149 million) has been pledged to the authorities in a number of countries as security for the payment of taxation, particularly excise duties on beers, non-alcoholic beverages and spirits and import duties. This mainly relates to Brazil (see note 34).

Property, plant and equipment under construction

P, P & E under construction mainly relates to expansion of the brewing capacity in Mexico, the UK, and Nigeria.

Capitalised borrowing costs

During 2011 no borrowing costs have been capitalised (2010: EUR nil).

15. Intangible assets

 

In millions of EUR

   Note      Goodwill     Brands     Customer-
related
intangibles
    Contract-
based
intangibles
    Software,
research and
development
and other
    Total  

Cost

               

Balance as at 1 January 2010

        5,713        1,382        351        124        259        7,829   

Changes in consolidation

        1,748        924        943        86        39        3,740   

Purchases/internally developed

        —          —          —          —          56        56   

Disposals

        (1     (8     —          —          (16     (25

Transfers to assets held for sale

        —          —          —          —          3        3   

Effect of movements in exchange rates

        132        23        (10     12        3        160   

Balance as at 31 December 2010

        7,592        2,321        1,284        222        344        11,763   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as at 1 January 2011

        7,592        2,321        1,284        222        344        11,763   

Changes in consolidation

     6         287        8        18        38        —          351   

Purchased/internally developed

        —          —          —          6        50        56   

Disposals

        —          —          —          (91     (6     (97

Effect of movements in exchange rates

        (70     (57     (74     (13     (10     (224

Balance as at 31 December 2011

        7,809        2,272        1,228        162        378        11,849   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Amortisation and impairment losses

               

Balance as at 1 January 2010

        (280     (108     (74     (50     (182     (694

Changes in consolidation

        —          —          —          25        3        28   

Amortisation charge for the year

     11         —          (54     (88     (16     (34     (192

Impairment losses

     11         —          (1     —          (15     —          (16

Disposals

        1        2        —          —          10        13   

Transfers to assets held for sale

        —          —          —          —          (2     (2

Effect of movements in exchange rates

        —          (2     (1     (4     (3     (10

Balance as at 31 December 2010

        (279     (163     (163     (60     (208     (873
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

In millions of EUR

   Note      Goodwill     Brands     Customer-
related
intangibles
    Contract-
based
intangibles
    Software,
research and
development
and other
    Total  

Balance as at 1 January 2011

        (279     (163     (163     (60     (208     (873

Changes in consolidation

     6         —          —          —          1        (1     —     

Amortisation charge for the year

     11         —          (59     (110     (24     (36     (229

Impairment losses

     11         —          (1     —          —          (2     (3

Disposals

        —          (1     —          91        1        91   

Effect of movements in exchange rates

        —          3        5        (11     3        —     

Balance as at 31 December 2011

        (279     (221     (268     (3     (243     (1,014
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Carrying amount

               

As at 1 January 2010

        5,433        1,274        277        74        77        7,135   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As at 31 December 2010

        7,313        2,158        1,121        162        136        10,890   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As at 1 January 2011

        7,313        2,158        1,121        162        136        10,890   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As at 31 December 2011

        7,530        2,051        960        159        135        10,835   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Brands and customer-related/contract-based intangibles

The main brands capitalised are the brands acquired in 2008: Scottish & Newcastle (Fosters and Strongbow) and 2010: Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma (Dos Equis, Tecate and Sol). The main customer-related and contract-based intangibles were acquired in 2010 and are related to customer relationships with retailers in Mexico (constituting either by way of a contractual agreement or by way of non-contractual relations).

Impairment tests for cash-generating units containing goodwill

For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill in respect of Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe (excluding Russia) and the Americas (excluding Brazil) is allocated and monitored on a regional basis. In respect of less integrated Operating Companies of Russia, Brazil and Africa and the Middle East, goodwill is allocated and monitored on an individual country basis.

The aggregate carrying amounts of goodwill allocated to each CGU are as follows:

 

In millions of EUR

   2011      2010*  

Western Europe

     3,396         3,328   

Central and Eastern Europe (excluding Russia)

     1,394         1,494   

Russia

     102         105   

The Americas (excluding Brazil)

     1,743         1,751   

Brazil

     111         110   

Africa and the Middle East (aggregated)

     528         245   

Head Office and others

     256         280   
     7,530         7,313   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* Comparatives have been adjusted due to the transfer of Empaque from the Americas region to Head Office.

Throughout the year total goodwill mainly increased due to the acquisition of the Sona and Ethiopian beer business and net foreign currency differences.

Goodwill is tested for impairments annually. The recoverable amounts of the CGUs are based on value-in-use calculations. Value in use was determined by discounting the future cash flows generated from the continuing use of the unit using a pre-tax discount rate.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

The key assumptions used for the value-in-use calculations are as follows:

 

   

Cash flows were projected based on actual operating results and the three-year business plan. Cash flows for a further seven-year period were extrapolated using expected annual per country volume growth rates, which are based on external sources. Management believes that this forecasted period is justified due to the long-term nature of the beer business and past experiences.

 

   

The beer price growth per year after the first three-year period is assumed to be at specific per country expected annual long-term inflation, based on external sources.

 

   

Cash flows after the first ten-year period were extrapolated using a perpetual growth rate equal to the expected annual long-term inflation, in order to calculate the terminal recoverable amount.

 

   

A per CGU-specific pre-tax Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) was applied in determining the recoverable amount of the units.

The values assigned to the key assumptions used for the value in use calculations are as follows:

 

     Pre-
tax WACC
    Expected annual long-
term inflation

2015-2021
    Expected volume
growth rates
2015-2021
 

Western Europe

     8.3     2.1     (0.4 )% 

Central and Eastern Europe (excluding Russia)

     12.3     2.7     1.7

Russia

     14.8     4.8     1.9

The Americas (excluding Brazil)

     10.1     2.5     1.8

Brazil

     16.1     4.3     3.0

Africa and Middle East

     10.7-21.4     2.7-8.4     1.1-5.9

Head Office and others

     8.3-12.6     2.1-3.6     (0.4)-2.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The values assigned to the key assumptions represent management’s assessment of future trends in the beer industry and are based on both external sources and internal sources (historical data).

HEINEKEN applied its methodology to determine CGU specific WACC’s to perform its annual impairment testing on a consistent basis. The trend and outcome of several WACC’s, for amongst others the Western Europe CGU, turned out lower than expected based on the current economic climate and associated outlooks. HEINEKEN does not believe the risk profile in Western Europe is significantly lower than in prior years. The lower WACC for 2011 is mainly driven by lower observed risk-free rates reflecting the capital flee towards safer deemed economies. HEINEKEN performed an additional impairment sensitivity calculation and concluded that applying a different WACC would not result in a materially different outcome. The WACC’s disclosed are based on our internal consistent methodology.

Sensitivity to changes in assumptions

Limited headroom is available in our CGU’s Russia and Brazil, however the outcome of a sensitivity analysis of a 100 basis points adverse change in key assumptions (lower growth rates or higher discount rates respectively) did not result in a materially different outcome of the impairment test.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

16. Investments in associates and joint ventures

HEINEKEN has the following (direct and indirect) significant investments in associates and joint ventures:

 

     Country      Ownership
2011
    Ownership
2010
 

Joint ventures

       

Brau Holding International GmbH & Co KgaA

     Germany         49.9     49.9

Zagorka Brewery A.D.

     Bulgaria         49.4     49.4

Brewinvest S.A.

     Greece         50.0     50.0

Pivara Skopje A.D.

     FYR Macedonia         48.2     27.6

Brasseries du Congo S.A.

     Congo         50.0     50.0

Asia Pacific Investment Pte. Ltd.

     Singapore         50.0     50.0

Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd.

     Singapore         41.9     41.9

Compania Cervecerias Unidas S.A.

     Chile         33.1     33.1

Tempo Beverages Ltd.

     Israel         40.0     40.0

HEINEKEN Lion Australia Pty.

     Australia         50.0     50.0

Sirocco FZCo

     Dubai         50.0     50.0

Diageo HEINEKEN Namibia B.V.

     Namibia         50.0     50.0

United Breweries Limited

     India         37.5     37.5

Millennium Alcobev Private Limited**

     India         —          68.8

DHN Drinks (Pty) Ltd.

     South Africa         44.5     44.5

Sedibeng Brewery Pty Ltd.*

     South Africa         75.0     75.0

UB Nizam Breweries Pvt. Ltd**

     India         —          50.0

UB Ajanta Breweries Pvt. Ltd

     India         50.0     50.0

Associates

       

Cerveceria Costa Rica S.A.

     Costa Rica         25.0     25.0

JSC FE Efes Karaganda Brewery***

     Kazakhstan         28.0     28.0
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* HEINEKEN has joint control as the contract and ownership details determine that for certain main operating and financial decisions unanimous approval is required. As a result this investment is not consolidated.
** In 2011 these entities ceased to exist, they were merged into United Breweries Limited.
*** This entity is classified as Held for Sale (see note 7)

Reporting date

The reporting date of the financial statements of all HEINEKEN entities and joint ventures disclosed are the same as for the Company except for

(i) Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd., HEINEKEN Lion Australia Pty. and Asia Pacific Investment Pte. Ltd which have a 30 September reporting date (the APB results are included with a three-month delay in reporting);

(ii) DHN Drinks (Pty) Ltd. which has a 30 June reporting date, and;

(iii) United Breweries Limited and Millennium Alcobev Private Limited which have a 31 March reporting date. The results of (ii) and (iii) have been adjusted to include numbers for the full financial year ended 31 December 2011.

 

Share of profit of associates and joint ventures and impairments thereof

 

In millions of EUR

   2011      2010  

Income associates

     25         28   

Income joint ventures

     215         165   

Impairments

     —           —     
     240         193   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

In the year APB (the JV of HEINEKEN and its partner Fraser and Neave) completed the sale of Kingway Brewery for SGD205 million (EUR116 million) of which SGD72 million (EUR41 million) was recorded as income by APB. As HEINEKEN has a share of 45.95 per cent a capital gain of SGD33 million (EUR19 million) is included in the share of profit of JV’s.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Summary financial information for equity accounted joint ventures and associates

 

In millions of EUR

   Joint ventures
2011
    Joint ventures
2010
    Associates
2011
    Associates
2010
 

Non-current assets

     1,708        1,696        73        50   

Current assets

     1,005        869        52        51   

Non-current liabilities

     (581     (611     (25     (28

Current liabilities

     (725     (684     (30     (23

Revenue

     2,313        2,108        153        547   

Expenses

     (1,914     (1,887     (117     (420
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

In the above table HEINEKEN represents its share of the aggregated amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses for its Joint Ventures and Associates for the year ended 31 December.

17. Other investments and receivables

 

In millions of EUR

   Note      2011      2010  

Non-current other investments

        

Loans and advances to customers

     32         384         455   

Indemnification receivable

     32         156         145   

Other receivables

     32         178         174   

Held-to-maturity investments

     32         5         4   

Available-for-sale investments

     32         264         190   

Non-current derivatives

     32         142         135   
        1,129         1,103   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Current other investments

        

Investments held for trading

     32         14         17   
        14         17   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Included in loans are loans to customers with a carrying amount of EUR120 million as at 31 December 2011 (2010: EUR166 million). Effective interest rates range from 6 to 12 per cent. EUR72 million (2010: EUR100 million) matures between one and five years and EUR48 million (2010: EUR66 million) after five years.

The indemnification receivable represents the receivable on FEMSA and Lewiston investments and is a mirroring of the corresponding indemnified liabilities originating from the acquisition of the beer operations of FEMSA and Sona.

The other receivables mainly originate from the acquisition of the beer operations of FEMSA and represent a receivable on the Brazilian Authorities on which interest is calculated in accordance with Brazilian legislation. Collection of this receivable is expected to be beyond a period of five years.

The main available-for-sale investments are S.A. Des Brasseries du Cameroun, Consorcio Cervecero de Nicaragua S.A., Desnoes & Geddes Ltd., Brasserie Nationale d’Haiti S.A. and Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana. As far as these investments are listed they are measured at their quoted market price. For others the value in use or multiples are used. Debt securities (which are interest-bearing) with a carrying amount of EUR20 million (2010: EUR21 million) are included in available-for-sale investments.

Sensitivity analysis – equity price risk

An amount of EUR95 million as at 31 December 2011 (2010: EUR87 million) of available-for-sale investments and investments held for trading is listed on stock exchanges. An impact of 1 per cent increase or decrease in the share price at the reporting date would not result in a material impact on a consolidated Group level.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

18. Deferred tax assets and liabilities

Recognised deferred tax assets and liabilities

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are attributable to the following items:

 

In millions of EUR

         Assets           Liabilities           Net  
   2011     2010     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Property, plant & equipment

     93        86        (590     (550     (497     (464

Intangible assets

     51        62        (733     (789     (682     (727

Investments

     91        87        (6     (9     85        78   

Inventories

     16        33        (5     (6     11        27   

Loans and borrowings

     3        1        —          (2     3        (1

Employee benefits

     252        254        12        11        264        265   

Provisions

     150        133        1        1        151        134   

Other items

     146        77        (138     (51     8        26   

Tax losses carry-forwards

     237        213        —          —          237        213   

Tax assets/(liabilities)

     1,039        946        (1,459     (1,395     (420     (449

Set-off of tax

     (565     (404     565        404        —          —     

Net tax assets/(liabilities)

     474        542        (894     (991     (420     (449
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Tax losses carry-forwards

HEINEKEN has losses carry-forwards for an amount of EUR1,920 million as at 31 December 2011 (2010: EUR1,833 million), which expire in the following years:

 

In millions of EUR

   2011     2010  

2011

     —          11   

2012

     5        8   

2013

     6        32   

2014

     28        30   

2015

     23        32   

2016

     36        —     

After 2016 respectively 2015 but not unlimited

     372        314   

Unlimited

     1,450        1,406   
     1,920        1,833   

Recognised as deferred tax assets gross

     (859     (807

Unrecognised

     1,061        1,026   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The unrecognised losses relate to entities for which it is not probable that taxable profit will be available to offset these losses. The majority of the unrecognised losses were acquired as part of the beer operations of FEMSA in 2010.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Movement in deferred tax on temporary differences during the year

 

In millions of EUR

   Balance
1 January
2010
    Policy
change
     Changes in
consolidation
    Effect of
movements
in foreign
exchange
    Recognised
in income
    Recognised
in equity
    Transfers     Balance
31 December
2010
 

Property, plant & equipment

     (330     —           (161     —          28        —          (1     (464

Intangible assets

     (269     —           (475     3        17        —          (3     (727

Investments

     9        —           54        (3     18        —          —          78   

Inventories

     11        —           (4     (1     20        —          1        27   

Loans and borrowings

     1        —           (1     —          (1     —          —          (1

Employee benefits

     116        151         53        (2     (15     (38     —          265   

Provisions

     92        —           14        (2     30        —          —          134   

Other items

     8        —           40        (2     15        (43     8        26   

Tax losses carry-forwards

     137        —           33        5        39        —          (1     213   

Net tax assets/(liabilities)

     (225     151         (447     (2     151        (81     4        (449
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

In millions of EUR

   Balance
1 January
2011
    Changes in
consolidation
    Effect of
movements
in foreign
exchange
    Recognised
in income
    Recognised
in equity
     Transfers     Balance
31 December
2011
 

Property, plant & equipment

     (464     (41     20        (10     —           (2     (497

Intangible assets

     (727     (18     38        25        —           —          (682

Investments

     78        —          (7     14        —           —          85   

Inventories

     27        —          —          (16     —           —          11   

Loans and borrowings

     (1     —          2        2        —           —          3   

Employee benefits

     265        —          —          (17     16         —          264   

Provisions

     134        1        —          13        —           3        151   

Other items

     26        —          (5     (19     8         (2     8   

Tax losses carry-forwards

     213        7        (2     19        —           —          237   

Net tax assets/(liabilities)

     (449     (51     46        11        24         (1     (420
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

19. Inventories

 

In millions of EUR

   2011      2010  

Raw materials

     263         241   

Work in progress

     150         147   

Finished products

     354         261   

Goods for resale

     205         231   

Non-returnable packaging

     143         120   

Other inventories and spare parts

     237         206   
     1,352         1,206   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

During 2011 and 2010 no write-down of inventories to net realisable value was required.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

20. Trade and other receivables

 

In millions of EUR

   Note      2011      2010  

Trade receivables due from associates and joint ventures

        42         102   

Trade receivables

        1,657         1,680   

Other receivables

        524         481   

Derivatives

        37         10   
     32         2,260         2,273   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

A net impairment loss of EUR57 million (2010: EUR115 million) in respect of trade and other receivables was included in expenses for raw materials, consumables and services.

21. Cash and cash equivalents

 

In millions of EUR

   Note      2011     2010  

Cash and cash equivalents

     32         813        610   

Bank overdrafts

     25         (207     (132

Cash and cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows

        606        478   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

22. Capital and reserves

Share issuance

On 30 April 2010 HEINEKEN issued 86,028,019 ordinary shares with a nominal value of EUR1.60, as a result of which the issued share capital consists of 576,002,613 shares. To these shares a share premium value was assigned of EUR2,701 million based on the quoted market price value of 43,009,699 shares HEINEKEN and 43,018,320 shares HEINEKEN Holding N.V. combined being the share consideration paid to Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA) for its beer operations.

Allotted Share Delivery Instrument

In addition to the shares issued to FEMSA, HEINEKEN also committed itself to deliver 29,172,504 additional shares to FEMSA (the ‘Allotted Shares’) over a period of no longer than five years. This financial instrument is classified to be equity as the number of shares is fixed. HEINEKEN had the option to accelerate the delivery of the Allotted Shares at its discretion. Pending delivery of the Allotted Shares, HEINEKEN paid a coupon on each undelivered Allotted Share such that FEMSA was compensated, on an after tax basis, for dividends FEMSA would have received had all such Allotted Shares been delivered to FEMSA on or prior to the record date for such dividends.

On 3 October 2011, HEINEKEN announced that the share repurchase programme in connection with the acquisition of FEMSA had been completed. During the period of 1 January through 31 December 2011 HEINEKEN acquired 18,407,246 shares with an average quoted market price of EUR36.67. During the year 2011 all these shares were delivered to FEMSA under the ASDI.

Share capital

 

In millions of EUR

   Ordinary shares  
   2011      2010  

On issue as at 1 January

     922         784   

Issued

     —           138   

On issue as at 31 December

     922         922   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As at 31 December 2011 the issued share capital comprised 576,002,613 ordinary shares (2010: 576,002,613). The ordinary shares have a par value of EUR1.60. All issued shares are fully paid.

The Company’s authorised capital amounts to EUR2.5 billion, comprising of 1,562,500,000 shares.

The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time to time and are entitled to one vote per share at meetings of the Company. In respect of the Company’s shares that are held by HEINEKEN (see next page), rights are suspended.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Translation reserve

The translation reserve comprises foreign currency differences arising from the translation of the financial statements of foreign operations of the Group (excluding amounts attributable to non-controlling interests) as well as value changes of the hedging instruments in the net investment hedges. HEINEKEN considers this a legal reserve.

Inflation in Belarus has been at relatively high levels in recent years. In the third quarter of 2011 cumulative three year inflation exceeded 100 per cent. This, combined with other indicators, results in HEINEKEN deeming Belarus as a hyperinflationary economy under IAS 29, Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies. IAS 29 is applied to the historical cost financial statements of our Belarusian operations from the beginning of 2011.

The restated financial statements of our Belarusian operations are translated to euro at the closing rate at the end of the reporting period. Differences arising on translation to euro are recognised in the translation reserve. The Consumer Price Index end of 2011 was 224.9 (2009: 100; 2010: 107.8) and increased in 2011 by 108.7.

The impact on equity is a net amount of EUR14 million, PP&E remeasurement of EUR18 million with offset in deferred tax liabilities for EUR4 million. The impact on the income statement for 2011 is not material.

Hedging reserve

This reserve comprises the effective portion of the cumulative net change in the fair value of cash flow hedging instruments where the hedged transaction has not yet occurred. HEINEKEN considers this a legal reserve.

Fair value reserve

This reserve comprises the cumulative net change in the fair value of available-for-sale investments until the investment is derecognised or impaired. HEINEKEN considers this a legal reserve.

Other legal reserves

These reserves relate to the share of profit of joint ventures and associates over the distribution of which HEINEKEN does not have control. The movement in these reserves reflects retained earnings of joint ventures and associates minus dividends received. In case of a legal or other restriction which causes that retained earnings of subsidiaries cannot be freely distributed, a legal reserve is recognised for the restricted part.

Reserve for own shares

The reserve for the Company’s own shares comprises the cost of the Company’s shares held by HEINEKEN. As at 31 December 2011, HEINEKEN held 1,265,140 of the Company’s shares (2010: 1,630,258), all of which are LTV shares in 2011.

The coupon paid on the ASDI in 2011 amounts to EUR15 million (2010: EUR7 million).

LTV

During the period of 1 January through 31 December 2011 HEINEKEN acquired 330.000 shares for LTV delivery with an average quoted market price of EUR40.91 for a total of EUR14 million.

Share purchase mandate

There are no outstanding share purchase mandates per 31 December 2011 (2010: EUR96 million). The current liability presented in accordance with IAS 32.23 per 31 December 2010 of EUR96 million was reversed in full.

Dividends

The following dividends were declared and paid by HEINEKEN:

 

In millions of EUR

   2011      2010  

Final dividend previous year EUR0.50, respectively EUR0.40 per qualifying ordinary share

     299         195   

Interim dividend current year EUR0.30, respectively EUR0.26 per qualifying ordinary share

     175         156   

Total dividend declared and paid

     474         351   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

HEINEKEN’s policy is for an annual dividend payout of 30–35 per cent of Net profit BEIA. The interim dividend is fixed at 40 per cent of the total dividend of the previous year.

After the balance sheet date the Executive Board proposed the following dividends. The dividends, taking into account the interim dividends declared and paid, have not been provided for.

 

In millions of EUR

   2011      2010  

per qualifying ordinary share EUR0.83 (2010: EUR0.76)

     477         438   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

23. Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share

The calculation of basic earnings per share as at 31 December 2011 is based on the profit attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company (net profit) of EUR1,430 million (2010: EUR1,447 million) and a weighted average number of ordinary shares – basic outstanding during the year ended 31 December 2011 of 585,100,381 (2010: 562,234,726). Basic earnings per share for the year amounts to EUR2.44 (2010: EUR2.57).

Weighted average number of shares – basic

 

     2011     2010  

Number of shares basic 1 January

     576,002,613        489,974,594   

Effect of LTV own shares held

     (1,177,321     (1,152,409

Effect of undelivered ASDI shares

     10,275,089        14,726,761   

Effect of new shares issued

     —          58,685,780   

Weighted number of basic shares for the year

     585,100,381        562,234,726   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

ASDI

Allotted Share Delivery Instrument (ASDI) represents HEINEKEN’S obligation to deliver shares to FEMSA, either through issuance and/or purchasing of its own shares in the open market, which was concluded in 2011. EPS is impacted by ASDI as in the formula, calculating EPS, the net profit is divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares. In this weighted average number of ordinary shares, the weighted average of outstanding ASDI is included. This means that the ASDI leads to a lower basic EPS until the year all shares have been repurchased.

Diluted earnings per share

The calculation of diluted earnings per share as at 31 December 2011 was based on the profit attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company (net profit) of EUR1,430 million (2010: EUR1,447 million) and a weighted average number of ordinary shares – basic outstanding after adjustment for the effects of all dilutive potential ordinary shares of 586,277,702 (2010: 563,387,135). Diluted earnings per share for the year amounted to EUR2.44 (2010: EUR2.57).

Weighted average number of shares – diluted

 

     2011      2010  

Weighted number of basic shares for the year

     585,100,381         562,234,726   

Effect of LTV own shares held

     1,177,321         1,152,409   

Weighted average diluted shares for the year

     586,277,702         563,387,135   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

24. Income tax on other comprehensive income

 

In millions of EUR

   2011     2010*  
   Amount
before tax
    Tax      Amount
net of
tax
    Amount
before tax
    Tax     Amount
net of
tax
 

Other comprehensive income

             

Foreign currency translation differences for foreign operations

     (504     11         (493     390        —          390   

Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedge

     (31     10         (21     61        (18     43   

Effective portion of cash flow hedges transferred to profit or loss

     (14     3         (11     65        (20     45   

Ineffective portion of cash flow hedges transferred to profit or loss

     —          —           —          9        —          9   

Net change in fair value available-for-sale investments

     71        —           71        16        (5     11   

Net change in fair value available-for-sale investments transferred to profit or loss

     (1     —           (1     (17     —          (17

Actuarial gains and losses

     (109     16         (93     137        (38     99   

Share of other comprehensive income of associates/joint ventures

     (5     —           (5     (29     —          (29

Total other comprehensive income

     (593     40         (553     632        (81     551   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Comparatives have been adjusted due to the accounting policy change in employee benefits (see note 2e)

The difference between the income tax on other comprehensive income and the deferred tax on equity (note 18) in 2011 can be explained by current tax on other comprehensive income.

25. Loans and borrowings

This note provides information about the contractual terms of HEINEKEN’S interest-bearing loans and borrowings. For more information about HEINEKEN’S exposure to interest rate risk and foreign currency risk, see note 32.

Non-current liabilities

 

In millions of EUR

   Note      2011      2010  

Secured bank loans

        37         48   

Unsecured bank loans

        3,607         3,260   

Unsecured bond issues

        2,493         2,482   

Finance lease liabilities

     26         33         47   

Other non-current interest-bearing liabilities

        1,825         1,895   

Non-current interest-bearing liabilities

        7,995         7,732   

Non-current derivatives

        177         291   

Non-current non-interest-bearing liabilities

        27         55   
        8,199         8,078   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Current interest-bearing liabilities

 

In millions of EUR

   Note      2011      2010  

Current portion of secured bank loans

        13         11   

Current portion of unsecured bank loans

        329         346   

Current portion of finance lease liabilities

     26         6         48   

Current portion of other non-current interest-bearing liabilities

        184         32   

Total current portion of non-current interest-bearing liabilities

        532         437   

Deposits from third parties (mainly employee loans)

        449         425   
        981         862   

Bank overdrafts

     21         207         132   
        1,188         994   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net interest-bearing debt position

 

In millions of EUR

   Note      2011     2010  

Non-current interest-bearing liabilities

        7,995        7,732   

Current portion of non-current interest-bearing liabilities

        532        437   

Deposits from third parties (mainly employee loans)

        449        425   
        8,976        8,594   

Bank overdrafts

     21         207        132   
        9,183        8,726   

Cash, cash equivalents and current other investments

        (828     (627

Net interest-bearing debt position

        8,355        8,099   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-current liabilities

 

In millions of EUR

   Secured bank
loans
    Unsecured
bank loans
    Unsecured
bond issues
     Finance lease
liabilities
    Other non-current
interest-bearing
liabilities
    Non-current
derivatives
    Non-current
non-interest-
bearing
liabilities
    Total  

Balance as at 1 January 2011

     48        3,260        2,482         47        1,895        291        55        8,078   

Consolidation changes

     —          —          —           —          (24     —          —          (24

Effect of movements in exchange rates

     (1     (35     —           —          18        (4     (9     (31

Transfers to current liabilities

     (6     (802     3         (4     (169     (57     (7     (1,042

Charge to/(from) profit or loss i/r derivatives

     —          —          —           —          —          (8     —          (8

Charge to/(from) equity i/r derivatives

     —          —          —           —          —          (26     —          (26

Proceeds

     1        1,711        —           1        75        —          (9     1,779   

Repayments

     (5     (568     3         (11     (3     (19     (17     (620

Other

     —          41        5         —          33        —          14        93   

Balance as at 31 December 2011

     37        3,607        2,493         33        1,825        177        27        8,199   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents
Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Terms and debt repayment schedule

Terms and conditions of outstanding non-current and current loans and borrowings were as follows:

 

In millions of EUR

  

Category

   Currency      Nominal
interest rate %
     Repayment      Carrying
amount
2011
     Face value
2011
     Carrying
amount
2010
     Face value
2010
 

Secured bank loans

   Bank facilities      GBP         1.9         2016         17         17         23         23   

Secured bank loans

   Various      various         various         various         33         33         36         36   

Unsecured bank loans

   2008 Syndicated Bank Facility      EUR         0.4-1.7         2013        1,305         1,313         1,708         1,709   

Unsecured bank loans

   Bank Facility      EUR         6.0         2013-2016         329         329         434         434   

Unsecured bank loans

   German Schuldschein notes      EUR         1.0-6.0         2016         111         111         111         111   

Unsecured bank loans

   German Schuldschein notes      EUR         1.0-6.0         2012         102         102         102         102   

Unsecured bank loans

   German Schuldschein notes      EUR         1.0-6.0         2016         207         207         207         207   

Unsecured bank loans

   2008 Syndicated Bank Facility      GBP         0.4-1.2         2013         287         287         336         340   

Unsecured bank loans

   Bank Facilities      PLN         5.4-5.6         2013-2014         72         72         60         60   

Unsecured bank loans

   2011 Syndicated Bank Facilities      USD         0.8         2016         450         450         —           —     

Unsecured bank loans

   2011 Syndicated Bank Facilities      GBP         0.8         2016         422         422         —           —     

Unsecured bank loans

   2011 Syndicated Bank Facilities      EUR         0.8         2016         107         107         —           —     

Unsecured bank loans

   Bank Facilities      USD         0.8         2012-2013         93         93         167         172   

Unsecured bank loans

   Bank Facilities      MXN         4.5-10.6         2012-2013         183         176         444         445   

Unsecured bank loans

   Bank facilities      NGN         12.5-17.3         2012-2016         228         228         —           —     

Unsecured bank loans

   Various      various         various         various         40         40         37         37   

Unsecured bond

   Issue under EMTN programme      GBP         7.3         2015         476         479         461         465   

Unsecured bond

   Eurobond on Luxembourg Stock Exchange      EUR         5.0         2013         599         600         599         600   

Unsecured bond

   Issue under EMTN programme      EUR         7.1         2014         1,000         1,000         1,009         1,000   

Unsecured bond

   Issue under EMTN programme      EUR         4.6         2016         398         400         397         400   

Unsecured bond issues

   n/a      various         various         various         20         20         16         16   

Other interest-bearing liabilities

   2010 US private placement      USD         4.6         2018         559         561         541         546   

Other interest-bearing liabilities

   2002 S&N US private placement      USD         5.4-5.6         2012-2014         632         580         616         569   

Other interest-bearing liabilities

   2005 S&N US private placement      USD         5.4         2015         258         232         247         225   

Other interest-bearing liabilities

   2008 US private placement      USD         5.9-6.3         2015-2018         341         342         331         333   

Other interest-bearing liabilities

   2011 US private placement      USD         2.8         2017         69         70         —           —     

Other interest-bearing liabilities

   2008 US private placement      EUR         7.25         2016         30         30         30         33   

Other interest-bearing liabilities

   Various      various         various         various         120         120         162         158   

Deposits from third parties

   n/a      various         various         various         449         449         425         425   

Finance lease liabilities

   n/a      various         various         various         39         39         95         100   
                 8,976         8,909         8,594         8,546   
              

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Revolving Credit Facility

On 5 May 2011, HEINEKEN N.V. announced the successful closing of a new Revolving Credit Facility for an amount of EUR2 billion with a syndicate of 17 banks. The new self-arranged credit line has a tenor of five years with two 1-year extension options and can be used for general corporate purposes. The new Revolving Credit Facility replaces the existing EUR2 billion facility. As at 31 December 2011, the committed available financing headroom was approximately EUR1.3 billion, including cash available at Group level.

On 27 October 2011, HEINEKEN issued USD90 million of notes with a 6-year maturity, further improving the currency and maturity profile of its long-term debt.

EMTN Programme

In September 2008, HEINEKEN established a Euro Medium Term Note (“EMTN”) Programme which was subsequently updated in September 2009 and September 2010. The programme allows HEINEKEN from time to time to issue Notes. Currently approximately EUR1.9 billion of Notes is outstanding under the programme. The programme can be used for issuance up to one year after its latest update. The EMTN Programme and all HEINEKEN N.V. bonds are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. HEINEKEN still has a capacity of EUR3.1 billion under this programme. HEINEKEN is in the process of updating the programme.

Incurrence covenant

HEINEKEN has an incurrence covenant in some of its financing facilities. This incurrence covenant is calculated by dividing Net Debt (calculated in accordance with the consolidation method of the 2007 Annual Accounts) by EBITDA (beia) (also calculated in accordance with the consolidation method of the 2007 Annual Accounts and including the pro-forma full-year EBITDA of any acquisitions made in 2011). As at 31 December 2011 this ratio was 2.1 (2010: 2.1). If the ratio would be beyond a level of 3.5, the incurrence covenant would prevent us from conducting further significant debt financed acquisitions.

26. Finance lease liabilities

Finance lease liabilities are payable as follows:

 

     Future
minimum
lease
payments
     Interest     Present value
of minimum
lease
payments
     Future
minimum
lease
payments
     Interest     Present value
of minimum
lease
payments
 

In millions of EUR

   2011      2011     2011      2010      2010     2010  

Less than one year

     7         (1     6         49         (1     48   

Between one and five years

     27         (1     26         39         (3     36   

More than five years

     7         —          7         13         (2     11   
     41         (2     39         101         (6     95   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

27. Non-GAAP measures

In the internal management reports HEINEKEN measures its performance primarily based on EBIT and EBIT (beia), these are non-GAAP measures not calculated in accordance with IFRS. A similar non-GAAP adjustment can be made to the IFRS profit or loss as defined in IAS 1 paragraph 7 being the total of income less expense. Exceptional items are defined as items of income and expense of such size, nature or incidence, that in the view of management their disclosure is relevant to explain the performance of HEINEKEN for the period. The table below presents the relationship with IFRS terms, the results from operating activities and profit and HEINEKEN non-GAAP measures being EBIT, EBIT (beia) and profit (beia) for the financial year 2011.

 

In millions of EUR

   2011*     2010*  

Results from operating activities

     2,215        2,298   

Share of profit of associates and joint ventures and impairments thereof (net of income tax)

     240        193   

HEINEKEN EBIT

     2,455        2,491   

Exceptional items and amortisation included in EBIT

     242        132   

HEINEKEN EBIT (beia)

     2,697        2,623   

Profit attributable to equity holders of the Company

     1,430        1,447   

Exceptional items and amortisation included in EBIT

     242        132   

Exceptional items included in finance costs

     (14     (5

Exceptional items included in tax expense

     (74     (118

HEINEKEN net profit beia

     1,584        1,456   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* unaudited

The exceptional items included in EBIT contain the amortisation of brands and customer relations for EUR170 million (2010: EUR142 million). The EU fine reduction of EUR21 million (gain), gain on sale of brands EUR24 million, redundancies and contract settlements for EUR81 million and the early amortisation and termination of contracts for EUR36 million relating to the Galaxy pub estate.

Exceptional items in the other net financing costs reflects fair value movements on interest rate swaps made by Scottish & Newcastle in the past that do not qualify for hedge accounting under IFRS. The tax expense exceptional items are for EUR47 million (2010: EUR39 million) related to amortisation of brands and customer relations and the remainder relates to the other exceptional items included in EBIT.

EBIT and EBIT (beia) are not financial measures calculated in accordance with IFRS. The presentation on these financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies due to differences in the ways the measures are calculated.

28. Employee benefits

 

In millions of EUR

   2011     2010*  

Present value of unfunded obligations

     96        118   

Present value of funded obligations

     6,804        6,525   

Total present value of obligations

     6,900        6,643   

Fair value of plan assets

     (5,860     (5,646

Present value of net obligations

     1,040        997   

Asset ceiling items

     14        —     

Recognised liability for defined benefit obligations

     1,054        997   

Other long-term employee benefits

     120        100   
     1,174        1,097   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Comparatives have been adjusted due to the accounting policy change in employee benefits (see note 2e)

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Plan assets comprise:

 

In millions of EUR

   2011      2010  

Equity securities

     2,520         2,484   

Government bonds

     2,534         2,421   

Properties and real estate

     410         436   

Other plan assets

     396         305   
     5,860         5,646   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The primary goal of the HEINEKEN pension funds is to monitor the mix of debt and equity securities in its investment portfolio based on market expectations. Material investments within the portfolio are managed on an individual basis.

Liability for defined benefit obligations

HEINEKEN makes contributions to a number of defined benefit plans that provide pension benefits for employees upon retirement in a number of countries being mainly the Netherlands and the UK (83 per cent of the total DBO). Other countries with a defined benefit plan are: Ireland, Greece, Austria, Italy, France, Spain, Mexico, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal and Nigeria. In other countries the pension plans are defined contribution plans and/or similar arrangements for employees.

In the UK the defined benefit scheme for employees (actives) was closed in 2011 and was replaced by a defined contribution scheme. The remaining defined benefit schemes in the UK are now closed for new entrants.

Other long-term employee benefits mainly relate to long-term bonus plans, termination benefits, medical plans and jubilee benefits.

Movements in the present value of the defined benefit obligations

 

In millions of EUR

   2011     2010  

Defined benefit obligations as at 1 January

     6,643        5,935   

Changes in consolidation and reclassification

     —          286   

Effect of movements in exchange rates

     75        131   

Benefits paid

     (307     (298

Employee contributions

     24        19   

Current service costs and interest on obligation

     411        411   

Past service costs

     (5     (9

Effect of any curtailment or settlement

     (35     (15

Actuarial (gains)/losses in other comprehensive income

     94        183   

Defined benefit obligations as at 31 December

     6,900        6,643   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Movements in the present value of plan assets

 

In millions of EUR

   2011     2010  

Fair value of plan assets as at 1 January

     5,646        4,858   

Changes in consolidation and reclassification

     —          115   

Effect of movements in exchange rates

     76        127   

Contributions paid into the plan

     145        226   

Benefits paid

     (307     (298

Expected return on plan assets

     315        298   

Actuarial gains/(losses) in other comprehensive income

     (15     320   

Fair value of plan assets as at 31 December

     5,860        5,646   

Actual return on plan assets

     307        618   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Expense recognised in profit or loss

 

In millions of EUR

   Note      2011     2010*  

Current service costs

        71        77   

Interest on obligation

        340        334   

Expected return on plan assets

        (315     (298

Past service costs

        (5     (9

Effect of any curtailment or settlement

        (35     (15
     10         56        89   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Comparatives have been adjusted due to the accounting policy change in employee benefits (see note 2e)

Actuarial gains and losses recognised in other comprehensive income

 

In millions of EUR

   Note    2011      2010  

Amount accumulated in retained earnings at 1 January

        410         547   

Recognised during the year

        109         (137

Amount accumulated in retained earnings at 31 December

        519         410   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Principal actuarial assumptions as at the balance sheet date

The defined benefit plans in the Netherlands and the UK cover 87.2 per cent of the present value of the plan assets (2010: 86.8 per cent), 82.8 per cent of the present value of the defined benefit obligations (2010: 81.7 per cent) and 57.8 per cent of the present value of net obligations (2010: 52.9 per cent) as at 31 December 2011. The table below presents the expected return on plan assets compared to the actual return on plan assets for our main defined benefit plans.

 

     The Netherlands      UK  

In millions of EUR

   2011     2010      2011      2010  

Expected return on plan assets

     125        121         152         145   

Actual return on plan assets

     62        275         226         304   

Variance

     (63     154         74         159   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the Netherlands and the UK the following actuarial assumptions apply as at 31 December:

 

     The Netherlands      UK  
     2011      2010      2011*      2010  

Discount rate as at 31 December

     4.6         5.1         4.7         5.4   

Expected return on plan assets as at 1 January

     5.5         5.7         6.2         6.4   

Future salary increases

     3         3         —           4.6   

Future pension increases

     1         1.5         3         3   

Medical cost trend rate

     —           —           —           7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* The UK plan closed for future accruals leading to certain assumptions being equal to zero.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

For the other defined benefit plans the following actuarial assumptions apply as per 31 December:

 

     Other Western, Central
and Eastern Europe
     The Americas      Africa and the
Middle East
 
     2011      2010      2011      2010      2011      2010  

Discount rate as at 31 December

     2.9–4.8         2.4–5.8         7.6–10.7         7–7.6         13         7–10   

Expected return on plan assets as at 1 January

     3.3–7.3         2.9–7.3         7.6         6.5–8.2         —           —     

Future salary increases

     1–10         1–10         3.8         3.8–5.5         12         5–10   

Future pension increases

     1–2.1         1–2.1         2.9         2.8–3         —           —     

Medical cost trend rate

     3.5         3.5–4.5         5.1         5.1         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Assumptions regarding future mortality rates are based on published statistics and mortality tables. For the Netherlands the rates are obtained from the ‘AG-Prognosetafel 2010-2060’, fully generational. Correction factors from TowersWatson are applied on these. For the UK the rates are obtained from the Continious Mortality Investigation 2011 projection model.

The overall expected long-term rate of return on assets is 5.5 per cent (2010: 6 per cent), which is based on the asset mix and the expected rate of return on each major asset class, as managed by the pension funds.

Assumed healthcare cost trend rates have no effect on the amounts recognised in profit or loss. A one percentage point change in assumed healthcare cost trend rates would not have any effect on profit or loss neither on the statement of financial position as at 31 December 2011.

Based on the most recent triannual review finalised in early 2010, HEINEKEN has agreed a 12-year plan aiming to fund the recovery of the Scottish & Newcastle pension fund through additional Company contributions. These could total GBP504 million of which GBP35 million has been paid to December 2011. As at 31 December 2011 the IAS 19 present value of the net obligations of the Scottish & Newcastle pension fund represents a GBP465 million (EUR557 million) deficit. No additional liability has to be recognised as the net present value of the minimum funding requirement does not exceed the net obligation. The start of the next review of the funding position and the recovery plan will take place no later than around year-end 2012 and is not expected to be finalised beginning 2013.

The Group expects the 2012 contributions to be paid for the defined benefit plan to be in line with 2011.

Historical information

 

In millions of EUR

   2011     2010     2009     2008     2007  

Present value of the defined benefit obligation

     6,900        6,643        5,936        4,963        2,858   

Fair value of plan assets

     (5,860     (5,646     (4,858     (4,231     (2,535

Deficit in the plan

     1,040        997        1,078        732        323   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Experience adjustments arising on plan liabilities, losses/(gains)

     (30     (24     (116     71        (4

Experience adjustments arising on plan assets, (losses)/gains

     (15     320        313        (817     16   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

29. Share-based payments – Long-Term Variable Award

As from 1 January 2005 HEINEKEN established a performance-based share plan (Long-Term Variable award; LTV) for the Executive Board. As from 1 January 2006 a similar plan was established for senior management. Under this LTV share rights are awarded to incumbents on an annual basis. The vesting of these rights is subject to the performance of HEINEKEN N.V. on specific performance conditions over a three year period.

The LTV 2009 – 2011 performance condition for the Executive Board is Relative Total Shareholder Return (RTSR) or TSR performance in comparison with the TSR performance of a selected peer group. The LTV 2009-2011 performance conditions for senior management are RTSR (25 per cent) and internal financial measures (75 per cent).

The performance conditions for LTV 2010-2012 and LTV 2011-2013 are the same for the Executive Board and senior management and comprise solely of internal financial measures, being Organic Gross Profit beia growth, Organic EBIT beia growth, Earnings Per Share (EPS) beia growth and Free Operating Cash Flow.

At target performance, 100 per cent of the awarded shares vest. At threshold performance, 50 per cent of the awarded shares vest. At maximum performance 200 per cent of the awarded shares vest for the Executive Board as well as senior managers contracted by the US and 175 per cent vest for all other senior managers.

The performance period for share rights granted in 2009 was from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2011. The performance period for share rights granted in 2010 is from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2012. The performance period for the share rights granted in 2011 is from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013. The vesting date for the Executive Board is within five business days, and for senior management the latest of 1 April and 20 business days, after the publication of the annual results of 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively.

As HEINEKEN will withhold the tax related to vesting on behalf of the individual employees, the number of HEINEKEN N.V. shares to be received by the Executive Board and senior management will be a net number.

The terms and conditions of the share rights granted are as follows:

 

Grant date/employees entitled

   Number*      Based on share
price
    

Vesting conditions

   Contractual life
of rights
 

Share rights granted to Executive Board in 2009

     53,083         21.90       Continued service and RTSR performance      3 years   

Share rights granted to senior management in 2009

     562,862         21.90       Continued service, 75% internal performance conditions and 25% RTSR performance      3 years   

Share rights granted to Executive Board in 2010

     55,229         33.27       Continued service, 100% internal performance conditions      3 years   

Share rights granted to senior management in 2010

     516,765         33.27       Continued service, 100% internal performance conditions      3 years   

Share rights granted to Executive Board in 2011

     65,072         36.69       Continued service, 100% internal performance conditions      3 years   

Share rights granted to senior management in 2011

     730,090         36.69       Continued service, 100% internal performance conditions      3 years   
  

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

* The number of shares is based on target performance.

Based on RTSR and internal performance, it is expected that approximately 593,428 shares will vest in 2012 for senior management.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

The number -as corrected for the expected performance for the various awards- and weighted average share price per share under the LTV of senior management are as follows:

 

     Weighted average
share price 2011
     Number of share
rights 2011
    Weighted average
share price 2010
     Number of share
rights 2010*
 

Outstanding as at 1 January

     30.11         1,575,880        30.35         1,481,269   

Granted during the year

     36.69         795,162        33.27         571,994   

Forfeited during the year

     31.73         (119,856     30.89         (94,817

Vested during the year

     44.22         (234,485     36.03         (253,377

Performance adjustment

     —           (470,187     —           (129,189

Outstanding as at 31 December

     29.14         1,546,514        30.11         1,575,880   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* The 2010 figures are restated to reflect the performance adjustment in number of shares.

No vesting occurred under the 2008 – 2010 LTV of the Executive Board. A total of 234,485 (gross) shares vested under the 2008 – 2010 LTV of senior management.

Additionally, under extraordinary share plans 52,746 shares were granted and 17,864 (gross) shares vested. These extraordinary grants only have a service condition and vest between 1 and 5 years. The expenses relating to these expected additional grants are recognised in profit or loss during the vesting period. Expenses recognised in 2011 are EUR0.4 million (2010: EUR0.5 million).

The fair value of services received in return for share rights granted is based on the fair value of shares granted, measured using the Monte Carlo model (applicable for the LTV 2009 – 2011 LTV plan), with following inputs:

 

In EUR

   Executive Board 2009     Senior
management
2009
 

Fair value at grant date

     512,359        8,478,659   

Expected volatility

     22.8     22.8

Expected dividends

     2.1     2.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Personnel expenses

 

In millions of EUR

   Note      2011      2010  

Share rights granted in 2008

        —           3   

Share rights granted in 2009

        5         5   

Share rights granted in 2010

        1         7   

Share rights granted in 2011

        5         —     

Total expense recognised as personnel expenses

     10         11         15   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

30. Provisions

 

In millions of EUR

   Note      Restructuring     Onerous
contracts
    Other     Total  

Balance as at 1 January 2011

        112        55        431        598   

Changes in consolidation

     6         —          —          15        15   

Provisions made during the year

        108        8        53        169   

Provisions used during the year

        (61     (20     (42     (123

Provisions reversed during the year

        (10     (3     (61     (74

Effect of movements in exchange rates

        —          —          (13     (13

Unwinding of discounts

        2        2        13        17   

Balance as at 31 December 2011

        151        42        396        589   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-current

        84        30        335        449   

Current

        67        12        61        140   
        151        42        396        589   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Restructuring

The provision for restructuring of EUR151 million mainly relates to restructuring programmes in Spain, the Netherlands and the UK.

Other provisions

Included are, amongst others, surety and guarantees provided EUR27 million (2010: EUR56 million) and litigation and claims EUR207 million (2010: EUR230 million).

31. Trade and other payables

 

In millions of EUR

   Note      2011      2010  

Trade payables

        2,009         1,660   

Returnable packaging deposits

        490         434   

Taxation and social security contributions

        665         652   

Dividend

        33         53   

Interest

        100         97   

Derivatives

        164         66   

Share purchase mandate

        —           96   

Other payables

        243         298   

Accruals and deferred income

        920         909   
     32         4,624         4,265   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

32. Financial risk management and financial instruments

Overview

HEINEKEN has exposure to the following risks from its use of financial instruments, as they arise in the normal course of HEINEKEN’s business:

 

   

Credit risk

 

   

Liquidity risk

 

   

Market risk.

This note presents information about HEINEKEN’s exposure to each of the above risks, and it summarises HEINEKEN’s policies and processes that are in place for measuring and managing risk, including those related to capital management. Further quantitative disclosures are included throughout these consolidated financial statements.

Risk management framework

The Executive Board, under the supervision of the Supervisory Board, has overall responsibility and sets rules for HEINEKEN’s risk management and control systems. They are reviewed regularly to reflect changes in market conditions and the Group’s activities. The Executive Board oversees the adequacy and functioning of the entire system of risk management and internal control, assisted by Group departments.

The Global Treasury function focuses primarily on the management of financial risk and financial resources. Some of the risk management strategies include the use of derivatives, primarily in the form of spot and forward exchange contracts and interest rate swaps, but options can be used as well. It is the Group policy that no speculative transactions are entered into.

Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to HEINEKEN if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations, and arises principally from HEINEKEN’s receivables from customers and investment securities.

The economic crisis has impacted our regular business activities and performance, in particular in consumer spending and solvency. However, the business impact differed across the regions and operations. Local management has assessed the risk exposure following Group instructions and is taking action to mitigate the higher than usual risks. Intensified and continuous focus is being given in the areas of customers (managing trade receivables and loans) and suppliers (financial position of critical suppliers).

As at the balance sheet date there were no significant concentrations of credit risk. The maximum exposure to credit risk is represented by the carrying amount of each financial instrument, including derivative financial instruments, in the consolidated statement of financial position.

Loans to customers

HEINEKEN’s exposure to credit risk is mainly influenced by the individual characteristics of each customer. HEINEKEN’s held-to-maturity investments includes loans to customers, issued based on a loan contract. Loans to customers are ideally secured by, amongst others, rights on property or intangible assets, such as the right to take possession of the premises of the customer. Interest rates calculated by HEINEKEN are at least based on the risk-free rate plus a margin, which takes into account the risk profile of the customer and value of security given.

HEINEKEN establishes an allowance for impairment of loans that represents its estimate of incurred losses. The main components of this allowance are a specific loss component that relates to individually significant exposures, and a collective loss component established for groups of similar customers in respect of losses that have been incurred but not yet identified. The collective loss allowance is determined based on historical data of payment statistics.

In a few countries the issue of new loans is outsourced to third parties. In most cases, HEINEKEN issues sureties (guarantees) to the third party for the risk of default by the customer.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Trade and other receivables

HEINEKEN’s local management has credit policies in place and the exposure to credit risk is monitored on an ongoing basis. Under the credit policies all customers requiring credit over a certain amount are reviewed and new customers are analysed individually for creditworthiness before HEINEKEN’s standard payment and delivery terms and conditions are offered. HEINEKEN’s review includes external ratings, where available, and in some cases bank references. Purchase limits are established for each customer and these limits are reviewed regularly. As a result of the deteriorating economic circumstances since 2008, certain purchase limits have been redefined. Customers that fail to meet HEINEKEN’s benchmark creditworthiness may transact with HEINEKEN only on a prepayment basis.

In monitoring customer credit risk, customers are, on a country base, grouped according to their credit characteristics, including whether they are an individual or legal entity, which type of distribution channel they represent, geographic location, industry, ageing profile, maturity and existence of previous financial difficulties. Customers that are graded as ‘high risk’ are placed on a restricted customer list, and future sales are made on a prepayment basis only with approval of Management.

HEINEKEN has multiple distribution models to deliver goods to end customers. Deliveries are done in some countries via own wholesalers, in other markets directly and in some others via third parties. As such distribution models are country specific and on consolidated level diverse, as such the results and the balance sheet items cannot be split between types of customers on a consolidated basis. The various distribution models are also not centrally managed or monitored.

HEINEKEN establishes an allowance for impairment that represents its estimate of incurred losses in respect of trade and other receivables and investments. The components of this allowance are a specific loss component and a collective loss component.

Advances to customers

Advances to customers relate to an upfront cash-discount to customers. The advances are amortised over the term of the contract as a reduction of revenue.

In monitoring customer credit risk, refer to the paragraph above relating to trade and other receivables.

Investments

HEINEKEN limits its exposure to credit risk by only investing available cash balances in liquid securities and only with counterparties that have a credit rating of at least single A or equivalent for short-term transactions and AA- for long-term transactions. HEINEKEN actively monitors these credit ratings.

Guarantees

HEINEKEN’s policy is to avoid issuing guarantees where possible unless this leads to substantial benefits for the Group. In cases where HEINEKEN does provide guarantees, such as to banks for loans (to third parties), HEINEKEN aims to receive security from the third party.

HEINEKEN N.V. has issued a joint and several liability statement to the provisions of Section 403, Part 9, Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code with respect to legal entities established in the Netherlands.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Exposure to credit risk

The carrying amount of financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date was:

 

In millions of EUR

   Note      2011      2010  

Loans and advances to customers

     17         384         455   

Indemnification receivable

     17         156         145   

Other long-term receivables

     17         178         174   

Held-to-maturity investments

     17         5         4   

Available-for-sale investments

     17         264         190   

Non-current derivatives

     17         142         135   

Investments held for trading

     17         14         17   

Trade and other receivables, excluding current derivatives

     20         2,223         2,263   

Current derivatives

     20         37         10   

Cash and cash equivalents

     21         813         610   
        4,216         4,003   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

The maximum exposure to credit risk for trade and other receivables (excluding derivatives) at the reporting date by geographic region was:

 

In millions of EUR

   2011      2010  

Western Europe

     1,038         997   

Central and Eastern Europe

     448         458   

The Americas

     405         497   

Africa and the Middle East

     166         151   

Asia Pacific

     19         19   

Head Office/eliminations

     147         141   
     2,223         2,263   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Impairment losses

The ageing of trade and other receivables (excluding derivatives) at the reporting date was:

 

In millions of EUR

   Gross 2011      Impairment 2011     Gross 2010      Impairment 2010  

Not past due

     1,909         (67     1,894         (49

Past due 0 – 30 days

     233         (17     250         (21

Past due 31 – 120 days

     210         (83     271         (106

More than 120 days

     349         (311     294         (270
     2,701         (478     2,709         (446
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

The movement in the allowance for impairment in respect of trade and other receivables (excluding derivatives) during the year was as follows:

 

In millions of EUR

   2011     2010  

Balance as at 1 January

     446        378   

Impairment loss recognised

     104        168   

Allowance used

     (17     (52

Allowance released

     (47     (53

Effect of movements in exchange rates

     (8     5   

Balance as at 31 December

     478        446   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The movement in the allowance for impairment in respect of loans during the year was as follows:

 

In millions of EUR

   2011     2010  

Balance as at 1 January

     171        165   

Changes in consolidation

     —          (8

Impairment loss recognised

     10        37   

Allowance used

     (3     (23

Allowance released

     (9     (2

Effect of movements in exchange rates

     1        2   

Balance as at 31 December

     170        171   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Impairment losses recognised for trade and other receivables (excluding derivatives) and loans are part of the other non-cash items in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

The income statement impact of EUR1 million (2010: EUR35 million) in respect of loans and the income statement impact of EUR57 million (2010: EUR115 million) in respect of trade receivables (excluding derivatives) were included in expenses for raw materials, consumables and services.

The allowance accounts in respect of trade and other receivables and held-to-maturity investments are used to record impairment losses, unless HEINEKEN is satisfied that no recovery of the amount owing is possible, at that point the amount considered irrecoverable is written off against the financial asset.

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that HEINEKEN will encounter difficulty in meeting the obligations associated with its financial liabilities that are settled by delivering cash or another financial asset. HEINEKEN’s approach to managing liquidity is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will always have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when due, under both normal and stressed conditions, without incurring unacceptable losses or risking damage to HEINEKEN’s reputation.

Recent times have proven the credit markets situation could be such that it is difficult to generate capital to finance long-term growth of the Company. Although currently the situation is more stable, the Company has a clear focus on ensuring sufficient access to capital markets to finance long-term growth and to refinance maturing debt obligations. Financing strategies are under continuous evaluation. In addition, the Company focuses on a further fine-tuning of the maturity profile of its long-term debts with its forecasted operating cash flows. Strong cost and cash management and controls over investment proposals are in place to ensure effective and efficient allocation of financial resources.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Contractual maturities

The following are the contractual maturities of non-derivative financial liabilities and derivative financial assets and liabilities, including interest payments and excluding the impact of netting agreements:

 

In millions of EUR

   Carrying
amount
    Contractual
cash flows
    Less than
1 year
    1-2 years     2-5 years     2011
More than
5 years
 

Financial liabilities

            

Interest-bearing liabilities

     9,183        (10,287     (1,543     (2,864     (4,794     (1,086

Non-interest-bearing liabilities

     27        (20     7        (16     (5     (6

Trade and other payables, excluding interest, dividends and derivatives

     4,327        (4,327     (4,327     —          —          —     

Derivative financial (assets) and liabilities

            

Interest rate swaps used for hedge accounting, net

     (12     9        (42     26        (42     67   

Forward exchange contracts used for hedge accounting, net

     46        (43     (35     (8     —          —     

Commodity derivatives used for hedge accounting, net

     26        (26     (22     (4     —          —     

Derivatives not used for hedge accounting, net

     102        (97     (86     (10     (1     —     
     13,699        (14,791     (6,048     (2,876     (4,842     (1,025
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The total carrying amount and contractual cash flows of derivatives are included in trade and other receivables (note 20) and trade and other payables (note 31) and non-current non-interest bearing liabilities (note 25).

 

In millions of EUR

   Carrying
amount
     Contractual
cash flows
    Less than
1 year
    1-2 years     2-5 years     2010
More than
5 years
 

Financial liabilities

             

Interest-bearing liabilities

     8,726         (10,073     (1,316     (830     (6,087     (1,840

Non-interest-bearing liabilities

     55         (58     (38     (7     (11     (2

Trade and other payables, excluding interest, dividends and derivatives

     4,049         (4,073     (4,073                     

Derivative financial (assets) and liabilities

             

Interest rate swaps used for hedge accounting, net

     123         (87     (25     (31     (78     47   

Forward exchange contracts used for hedge accounting, net

     7         (16     (20     4                 

Commodity derivatives used for hedge accounting, net

     7         (7     (8     3        (2       

Derivatives not used for hedge accounting, net

     75         (121     (77     (15     (29       
     13,042         (14,435     (5,557     (876     (6,207     (1,795
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The total carrying amount and contractual cash flows of derivatives are included in trade and other receivables (note 20), other investments (note 17), trade and other payables (note 31) and non-current non-interest-bearing liabilities (note 25).

Market risk

Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices, such as foreign exchange rates, interest rates, commodity prices and equity prices will affect HEINEKEN’s income or the value of its holdings of financial instruments. The objective of market risk management is to manage and control market risk exposures within acceptable parameters, whilst optimising the return on risk.

HEINEKEN uses derivatives in the ordinary course of business, and also incurs financial liabilities, in order to manage market risks. Generally, HEINEKEN seeks to apply hedge accounting or make use of natural hedges in order to minimise the effects of foreign currency fluctuations in profit or loss.

Derivatives that can be used are interest rate swaps, forward rate agreements, caps and floors, commodity swaps, spot and forward exchange contracts and options. Transactions are entered into with a limited number of counterparties with strong credit ratings. Foreign currency, interest rate and commodity hedging operations are governed by internal policies and rules approved and monitored by the Executive Board.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Foreign currency risk

HEINEKEN is exposed to foreign currency risk on sales, purchases and borrowings that are denominated in a currency other than the respective functional currencies of HEINEKEN entities. The main currencies that give rise to this risk are the US dollar, euro and British pound.

In managing foreign currency risk, HEINEKEN aims to reduce the impact of short-term fluctuations on earnings. Over the longer term, however, permanent changes in foreign exchange rates would have an impact on profit.

HEINEKEN hedges up to 90 per cent of its mainly intra-HEINEKEN US dollar cash flows on the basis of rolling cash flow forecasts in respect to forecasted sales and purchases. Cash flows in other foreign currencies are also hedged on the basis of rolling cash flow forecasts. HEINEKEN mainly uses forward exchange contracts to hedge its foreign currency risk. The majority of the forward exchange contracts have maturities of less than one year after the balance sheet date.

The Company has a clear policy on hedging transactional exchange risks, which postpones the impact on financial results. Translation exchange risks are hedged to a limited extent, as the underlying currency positions are generally considered to be long-term in nature. The result of the net investment hedging is recognised in the translation reserve as can be seen in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

It is HEINEKEN’s policy to provide intra-HEINEKEN financing in the functional currency of subsidiaries where possible to prevent foreign currency exposure on subsidiary level. The resulting exposure at Group level is hedged by means of forward exchange contracts. Intra-HEINEKEN financing in foreign currencies is mainly in British pounds, US dollars, Swiss franc and Polish zloty. In some cases HEINEKEN elects to treat intra-HEINEKEN financing with a permanent character as equity and does not hedge the foreign currency exposure.

The principal amounts of HEINEKEN’s British pound, Polish zloty, Mexican peso and Egyptian pound bank loans and bond issues are used to hedge local operations, which generate cash flows that have the same respective functional currencies. Corresponding interest on these borrowings is also denominated in currencies that match the cash flows generated by the underlying operations of HEINEKEN. This provides an economic hedge without derivatives being entered into.

In respect of other monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currencies of the Company and the various foreign operations, HEINEKEN ensures that its net exposure is kept to an acceptable level by buying or selling foreign currencies at spot rates when necessary to address short-term imbalances.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Exposure to foreign currency risk

HEINEKEN’s transactional exposure to the British pound, US dollar and euro was as follows based on notional amounts. The euro column relates to transactional exposure to the euro within subsidiaries which are reporting in other currencies.

 

                 2011                 2010  

In millions

   EUR     GBP     USD     EUR     GBP     USD  

Financial Assets

            

Trade and other receivables

     14        1        12        11        —          6   

Cash and cash equivalents

     52        60        21        40        —          6   

Intragroup assets

     4        455        1,384        —          355        1,203   

Financial Liabilities

            

Interest bearing borrowings

     (50     (1,050     (3,082     (54     (746     (2,217

Non-interest-bearing liabilities

     —          —          (75     —          —          —     

Trade and other payables

     (61     —          (34     (46     —          (2

Intragroup liabilities

     (314     —          (502     (259     —          (490

Gross balance sheet exposure

     (355     (534     (2,276     (308     (391     (1,494

Estimated forecast sales next year

     119        16        1,041        129        1        947   

Estimated forecast purchases next year

     (442     —          (723     (463     (1     (539

Gross exposure

     (678     (518     (1,958     (642     (391     (1,086

Net notional amount forward exchange contracts

     (851     535        1,161        (915     396        1,448   

Net exposure

     (1,529     17        (797     (1,557     5        362   

Sensitivity analysis

            

Equity

     15        —          14        (5     —          38   

Profit or loss

     —          —          —          —          (1     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Included in the US dollar amounts are intra-HEINEKEN cash flows. Within the net notional amount forward exchange contracts, the cross-currency interest rate swaps of HEINEKEN UK forms the largest component.

Sensitivity analysis

A 10 per cent strengthening of the euro against the British pound and US dollar or in case of the euro a strengthening of the euro against all other currencies as at 31 December would have increased (decreased) equity and profit by the amounts shown above. This analysis assumes that all other variables, in particular interest rates, remain constant. The analysis is performed on the same basis for 2010.

A 10 per cent weakening of the euro against the British pound and US dollar or in case of the euro a weakening of the euro against all other currencies as at 31 December would have had the equal but opposite effect on the basis that all other variables remain constant.

Interest rate risk

In managing interest rate risk, HEINEKEN aims to reduce the impact of short-term fluctuations on earnings. Over the longer term, however, permanent changes in interest rates would have an impact on profit.

HEINEKEN opts for a mix of fixed and variable interest rates in its financing operations, combined with the use of interest rate instruments. Currently HEINEKEN’s interest rate position is more weighted towards fixed rather than floating. Interest rate instruments that can be used are interest rate swaps, forward rate agreements, caps and floors.

Swap maturity follows the maturity of the related loans and borrowings and have swap rates for the fixed leg ranging from 1.0 to 8.1 per cent (2010: from 2.0 to 8.8 per cent).

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Interest rate risk – Profile

At the reporting date the interest rate profile of HEINEKEN’S interest-bearing financial instruments was as follows:

 

In millions of EUR

   2011     2010  

Fixed rate instruments

    

Financial assets

     95        84   

Financial liabilities

     (5,253     (5,275

Interest rate swaps floating to fixed

     (1,051     (456
     (6,209     (5,647
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Variable rate instruments

    

Financial assets

     431        633   

Financial liabilities

     (3,177     (2,786

Interest rate swaps fixed to floating

     1,051        456   
     (1,695     (1,697
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair value sensitivity analysis for fixed rate instruments

During 2011, HEINEKEN opted to apply fair value hedge accounting on certain fixed rate financial liabilities. The fair value movements on these instruments are recognised in profit or loss. The change in fair value on these instruments was EUR(30) million in 2011 (2010: EUR(67) million), which was offset by the change in fair value of the hedge accounting instruments, which was EUR39 million (2010: EUR70 million).

A change of 100 basis points in interest rates at the reporting date would have increased (decreased) equity and profit or loss by the amounts shown below (after tax).

 

In millions of EUR

   100 bp increase     Profit or loss
100 bp decrease
    100 bp increase     Equity
100 bp decrease
 

31 December 2011

        

Instruments designated at fair value

     29        (29     29        (29

Interest rate swaps

     (20     21        (2     2   

Fair value sensitivity (net)

     9        (8     27        (27
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

31 December 2010

        

Instruments designated at fair value

     39        (40     40        (40

Interest rate swaps

     (25     27        (4     5   

Fair value sensitivity (net)

     14        (13     36        (35
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As part of the acquisition of Scottish & Newcastle in 2008, HEINEKEN took over a specific portfolio of euro floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps of which currently EUR690 million is still outstanding. Although interest rate risk is hedged economically, it is not possible to apply hedge accounting on this portfolio. A movement in interest rates will therefore lead to a fair value movement in the profit or loss under the other net financing income/(expenses). Any related non-cash income or expenses in our profit or loss are expected to reverse over time.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Cash flow sensitivity analysis for variable rate instruments

A change of 100 basis points in interest rates constantly applied during the reporting period would have increased (decreased) equity and profit or loss by the amounts shown below (after tax). This analysis assumes that all other variables, in particular foreign currency rates, remain constant and excludes any possible change in fair value of derivatives at period-end because of a change in interest rates. The analysis is performed on the same basis for 2010.

 

In millions of EUR

   100 bp increase     Profit or loss
100 bp decrease
    100 bp increase     Equity
100 bp Decrease
 

31 December 2011

        

Variable rate instruments

     (20     20        (20     20   

Net interest rate swaps fixed to floating

     8        (8     8        (8

Cash flow sensitivity (net)

     (12     12        (12     12   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

31 December 2010

        

Variable rate instruments

     (16     16        (16     16   

Net interest rate swaps fixed to floating

     3        (3     3        (3

Cash flow sensitivity (net)

     (13     13        (13     13   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commodity price risk

Commodity price risk is the risk that changes in commodity prices will affect HEINEKEN’S income. The objective of commodity price risk management is to manage and control commodity risk exposures within acceptable parameters, whilst optimising the return on risk. The main commodity exposure relates to the purchase of cans, glass bottles, malt and utilities. Commodity price risk is in principle addressed by negotiating fixed prices in supplier contracts with various contract durations. So far, commodity hedging with financial counterparties by the Company is limited to the incidental sale of surplus CO2 emission rights and to aluminium hedging and, to a limited extent, gas hedging, which is done in accordance with risk policies. HEINEKEN does not enter into commodity contracts other than to meet HEINEKEN’S expected usage and sale requirements. As at 31 December 2011, the market value of aluminium swaps was EUR(22) million (2010: EUR12 million).

Cash flow hedges

The following table indicates the periods in which the cash flows associated with derivatives that are cash flow hedges, are expected to occur.

 

In millions of EUR

   Carrying
amount
    Expected
cash flows
    Less than
1 year
    1-2 years     2-5 years     2011
More than
5 years
 

Interest rate swaps:

            

Assets

     170        1,904        120        107        726        951   

Liabilities

     (48     (1,786     (136     (108     (658     (884

Forward exchange contracts:

            

Assets

     15        1,078        871        207        —          —     

Liabilities

     (49     (1,111     (896     (215     —          —     

Commodity derivatives:

            

Assets

     11        11        11        —          —          —     

Liabilities

     (36     (36     (32     (4     —          —     
     63        60        (62     (13     68        67   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The periods in which the cash flows associated with forward exchange contracts that are cash flow hedges are expected to impact profit or loss is on average two months earlier than the occurrence of the cash flows as in the above table.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

In millions of EUR

   Carrying
amount
    Expected cash
flows
    Less than
1 year
    1-2 years     2-5 years     2010
More than
5 years
 

Interest rate swaps:

            

Assets

     89        1,902        95        90        715        1,002   

Liabilities

     (105     (1,921     (158     (118     (690     (955

Forward exchange contracts:

            

Assets

     10        1,093        805        288        —          —     

Liabilities

     (18     (1,117     (833     (284     —          —     

Commodity derivatives:

            

Assets

     26        27        8        18        1        —     

Liabilities

     (33     (33     (15     (15     (3     —     
     (31     (49     (98     (21     23        47   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair value hedges/net investment hedges

The following table indicates the periods in which the cash flows associated with derivatives that are fair value hedges or net investment hedges are expected to occur.

 

In millions of EUR

   Carrying
amount
    Expected cash
flows
    Less than
1 year
    1-2 years     2-5 years     2011
More than
5 years
 

Interest rate swaps:

            

Assets

     27        967        171        49        747        —     

Liabilities

     (136     (1,059     (180     (22     (857     —     

Forward exchange contracts:

            

Assets

     —          177        177        —          —          —     

Liabilities

     (12     (187     (187     —          —          —     
     (121     (102     (19     27        (110     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

In millions of EUR

   Carrying
amount
    Expected cash
flows
    Less than
1 year
    1-2 years     2-5 years     2010
More than
5 years
 

Interest rate swaps:

            

Assets

     32        1,009        64        176        769        —     

Liabilities

     (139     (1,077     (26     (179     (872     —     

Forward exchange contracts:

            

Assets

     1        317        317        —          —          —     

Liabilities

     —          (309     (309     —          —          —     
     (106     (60     46        (3     (103     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Capital management

There were no major changes in HEINEKEN’s approach to capital management during the year. The Executive Board’s policy is to maintain a strong capital base so as to maintain investor, creditor and market confidence and to sustain future development of business and acquisitions. Capital is herein defined as equity attributable to equity holders of the Company (total equity minus non-controlling interests).

HEINEKEN is not subject to externally imposed capital requirements other than the legal reserves explained in note 22. Shares are purchased to meet the requirements under the Long-Term Incentive Plan as further explained in note 29.

Fair values

The fair values of financial assets and liabilities that differ from the carrying amounts shown in the statement of financial position are as follows:

 

In millions of EUR

   Carrying amount
2011
    Fair value
2011
    Carrying amount
2010
    Fair value
2010
 

Bank loans

     (3,986     (4,017     (3,665     (3,734

Unsecured bond issues

     (2,493     (2,727     (2,482     (2,739

Finance lease liabilities

     (39     (39     (95     (95

Other interest-bearing liabilities

     (2,009     (2,039     (1,927     (2,260
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basis for determining fair values

The significant methods and assumptions used in estimating the fair values of financial instruments reflected in the table above are discussed in note 4.

Fair value hierarchy

IFRS 7 requires disclosure of fair value measurements by level of the following fair value measurement hierarchy:

 

   

Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1)

 

   

Inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (that is, as prices) or indirectly (that is, derived from prices) (level 2)

 

   

Inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs) (level 3).

 

31 December 2010

   Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  

Available-for-sale investments

     81         —           183   

Non-current derivative assets

     —           142         —     

Current derivative assets

     —           37         —     

Investments held for trading

     14         —           —     
     95         179         183   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Non-current derivative liabilities

     —           177         —     

Current derivative liabilities

     —           164         —     
     —           341         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

31 December 2010

   Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  

Available-for-sale investments

     70         —           120   

Non-current derivative assets

     —           135         —     

Current derivative assets

     —           10         —     

Investments held for trading

     17         —           —     
     87         145         120   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Non-current derivative liabilities

     —           291         —     

Current derivative liabilities

     —           66         —     
     —           357         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

In millions of EUR

          2011      2010  

Available-for-sale investments based on Level 3

        

Balance as at 1 January

        120         162   

Fair value adjustments recognised in other comprehensive income

        61         (8

Disposals

        —           (26

Transfers

        2         (8

Balance as at 31 December

        183         120   

33. Off-balance sheet commitments

 

In millions of EUR

   Total
2011
     Less than 1
year
     1-5 years      More than
5 years
     Total 2010  

Lease & operational lease commitments

     503         124         258         121         433   

Property, plant & equipment ordered

     50         45         2         3         49   

Raw materials purchase contracts

     3,843         1,413         2,134         296         4,503   

Other off-balance sheet obligations

     2,589         509         1,277         803         1,943   

Off-balance sheet obligations

     6,985         2,091         3,671         1,223         6,928   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Undrawn committed bank facilities

     1,274         233         1,041         —           2,188   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

HEINEKEN leases buildings, cars and equipment in the ordinary course of business.

Raw material contracts include long-term purchase contracts with suppliers in which prices are fixed or will be agreed based upon predefined price formulas. These contracts mainly relate to malt, bottles and cans.

During the year ended 31 December 2011 EUR241 million (2010: EUR224 million) was recognised as an expense in profit or loss in respect of operating leases and rent.

Other off-balance sheet obligations mainly include distribution, rental, service and sponsorship contracts.

Committed bank facilities are credit facilities on which a commitment fee is paid as compensation for the bank’s requirement to reserve capital. For the details of these committed bank facilities see note 25. The bank is legally obliged to provide the facility under the terms and conditions of the agreement.

34. Contingencies

Netherlands

HEINEKEN is involved in an antitrust case initiated by the European Commission for particular violations of the European Union competition law. By decision of 18 April 2007 the European Commission concluded that HEINEKEN and 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 in March 2000. HEINEKEN fully cooperated with the authorities in this investigation. As a result of its decision, the European Commission imposed a fine on HEINEKEN of EUR219 million in April 2007.

On 4 July 2007 HEINEKEN filed an appeal with the European Court of First Instance against the decision of the 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 fine was paid in 2007 and was treated as an expense in the 2007 Annual Report.

In its judgment of 16 June 2011 the European Court of First Instance largely upheld the decision of the European Commission. However, the original fine was reduced by EUR21 million. On 26 August 2011 HEINEKEN appealed with the European Court of Justice against the judgment of the European Court of First Instance. A final decision is expected in 2013.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Brazil

As part of the acquisition of the beer operations of FEMSA, HEINEKEN also inherited existing legal proceedings with labour unions, tax authorities and other parties of its, now wholly-owned, subsidiary Cervejarias Kaiser (HEINEKEN Brazil). The proceedings have arisen in the ordinary course of business and are common to the current economic and legal environment of Brazil. The proceedings have partly been provided for, see note 30. The contingent amount being claimed against HEINEKEN Brazil resulting from such proceedings as at 31 December 2011 is EUR848 million. Such contingencies were classified by legal counsel as less than probable but more than remote of being settled against HEINEKEN Brazil. However, HEINEKEN believes that the ultimate resolution of such legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position or result of operations. HEINEKEN does not expect any significant liability to arise from these contingencies. A significant part of the aforementioned contingencies (EUR364 million) are tax related and qualify for indemnification by FEMSA, see note 17.

As is customary in Brazil, HEINEKEN Brazil has been requested by the tax authorities to collateralise tax contingencies currently in litigation amounting to EUR280 million by either pledging fixed assets or entering into available lines of credit which cover such contingencies.

Guarantees

 

In millions of EUR

   Total 2011      Less than 1
year
     1-5 years      More than
5 years
     Total 2010  

Guarantees to banks for loans (to third parties)

     339         208         91         40         384   

Other guarantees

     372         128         7         237         271   

Guarantees

     711         336         98         277         655   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Guarantees to banks for loans relate to loans to customers, which are given by external parties in the ordinary course of business of HEINEKEN. HEINEKEN provides guarantees to the banks to cover the risk related to these loans.

35. Related parties

Identification of related parties

HEINEKEN has a related party relationship with its associates and joint ventures (refer note 16), HEINEKEN Holding N.V., HEINEKEN pension funds (refer note 28), Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA), employees (refer note 25) and with its key management personnel (Executive Board and the Supervisory Board). For our shareholder structure reference is made to the section ‘Shareholder Information’.

Key management remuneration

 

In millions of EUR

   2011      2010**  

Executive Board

     7.5         6.4   

Supervisory Board

     0.9         0.5   

Total

     8.4         6.9   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Executive Board

The remuneration of the members of the Executive Board comprises a fixed component and a variable component. The variable component is made up of a Short-Term Variable pay and a Long-Term Variable award. The Short-Term Variable pay is based on financial and operational measures and on individual leadership targets as set by the Supervisory Board. It will be subject to the approval of the General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on 19 April 2012. It is partly paid out in shares that are blocked over a period of five calendar years. After the 5 calendar years HEINEKEN will match the blocked shares 1:1 which we refer to as the matching share entitlement. For the Long-Term Variable award see note 29. The separate remuneration report is stated on page 60.

As at 31 December 2011, J.F.M.L. van Boxmeer held 25,369 Company shares and D.R. Hooft Graafland 14,818 (2010: J.F.M.L. van Boxmeer 9,244 and D.R. Hooft Graafland 6,544 shares). D.R. Hooft Graafland held 3,052 shares of HEINEKEN Holding N.V. as at 31 December 2011 (2010: 3,052 shares).

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Executive Board

 

     Fixed Salary      Short-Term
Variable Pay
     Matching Share
Entitlement**
     Long-Term
Variable award*
     Pension Plan      Total  

In thousands of EUR

   2011      2010      2011      2010      2011      2010      2011      2010      2011      2010      2011      2010**  

J.F.M.L. van Boxmeer

     1,050         950         1,764         1,306         882         653         669         595         590         464         4,955         3,968   

D.R. Hooft Graafland

     650         650         780         670         390         335         355         326         399         404         2,574         2,385   

Total

     1,700         1,600         2,544         1,976         1,272         988         1,024         921         989         868         7,529         6,353   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* The remuneration reported as part of LTV is based on IFRS accounting policies and does not reflect the value of vested performance shares.
** Under agenda item 4c of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on 21 April 2011 it was proposed to amend the short-term incentive for the Executive Board. A matching share entitlement was introduced already per pay-out over 2010. In our 2011 financial statement this has been reflected in the 2010 remuneration as the matching entitlement relates to the 2010 performance.

The matching share entitlement for 2010 is based on 2010 performance and was granted upon adoption of the remuneration policy by the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. The matching share entitlement for 2011 is based on 2011 performance. The granted matching shares vest immediately and as such EUR2.3 million was recognised in the 2011 income statement, consisting of EUR1.0 million for 2010 and EUR1.3 million for 2011.

No vesting occurred under the 2008 – 2010 LTV of the Executive Board.

Supervisory Board

The individual members of the Supervisory Board received the following remuneration:

 

In thousands of EUR

   2011      2010  

C.J.A. van Lede

     160         67   

J.A. Fernández Carbajal**

     85         35   

M. Das

     85         52   

M.R. de Carvalho

     135         53   

J.M. Hessels

     75         50   

J.M. de Jong

     80         53   

A.M. Fentener van Vlissingen

     80         50   

M.E. Minnick

     70         48   

V.C.O.B.J. Navarre

     75         48   

J.G. Astaburuaga Sanjinés**

     75         35   

I.C. MacLaurin*

     —           15   

Total

     920         506   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* Stepped down as at 22 April 2010.
** Appointed as at 30 April 2010.

On the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on 21 April 2011 it was proposed, under agenda item 5, to increase the remuneration of our Supervisory Board. The fees initially established on 1 January 2006 were updated as per 1 January 2011 to reflect the increased size and global footprint of HEINEKEN and also to align to the market practice in Europe (excl. UK). In 2010 Mr. C.J.A. van Lede and Mr. M.R. de Carvalho both received EUR45 thousand from HEINEKEN Holding N.V. for attending meetings of the board of Directors of HEINEKEN Holding N.V. in their position of member of the Preparatory Committee. As of 2011 this fee is included in the fees as stated above and paid by HEINEKEN N.V.

M.R. de Carvalho held 8 shares of HEINEKEN N.V. as at 31 December 2011 (2010: 8 shares). As at 31 December 2011 and 2010, the Supervisory Board members did not hold any of the Company’s bonds or option rights. C.J.A. van Lede held 2,656 and M.R. de Carvalho held 8 shares of HEINEKEN Holding N.V. as at 31 December 2011 (2010: C.J.A. van Lede 2,656 and M.R. de Carvalho 8 shares).

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Other related party transactions

 

     Transaction value      Balance outstanding
as at 31 December
 

In millions of EUR

   2011      2010      2011      2010  

Sale of products and services

           

To associates and joint ventures

     98         93         35         12   

To FEMSA

     572         298         77         78   
     670         391         112         90   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Raw materials, consumables and services

           

Goods for resale – joint ventures

     2         —           —           —     

Other expenses – joint ventures

     —           —           —           1   

Other expenses FEMSA

     128         54         13         —     
     130         54         13         1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

HEINEKEN Holding N.V.

In 2011, an amount of EUR586,942 (2010: EUR7.4 million) was paid to HEINEKEN Holding N.V. for management services for the HEINEKEN Group, the decrease in comparison to 2010 was caused by the acquisition of FEMSA and related services performed by HEINEKEN Holding N.V. in 2010.

This payment is based on an agreement of 1977 as amended in 2001, providing that HEINEKEN N.V. reimburses HEINEKEN Holding N.V. for its costs. Best practice provision III.6.4 of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code of 10 December 2008 has been observed in this regard.

FEMSA

As consideration for HEINEKEN’S acquisition of the beer operations of Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA). FEMSA, became a major shareholder of HEINEKEN N.V. Therefore, several existing contracts between FEMSA and former FEMSA-owned companies acquired by HEINEKEN have become related-party contracts. The total revenue amount related to these related-party relationships amounts to EUR572 million.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

36. HEINEKEN entities

Control of HEINEKEN

The shares and options of the Company are traded on Euronext Amsterdam, where the Company is included in the main AEX index. HEINEKEN Holding N.V. Amsterdam has an interest of 50.005 per cent in the issued capital of the Company. The financial statements of the Company are included in the consolidated financial statements of HEINEKEN Holding N.V.

A declaration of joint and several liability pursuant to the provisions of Section 403, Part 9, Book 2, of the Dutch Civil Code has been issued with respect to legal entities established in the Netherlands marked with a • below.

Significant subsidiaries

 

            Ownership interest  
     Country of incorporation      2011     2010  

• HEINEKEN Nederlands Beheer B.V.

     The Netherlands         100     100

• HEINEKEN Brouwerijen B.V.

     The Netherlands         100     100

• HEINEKEN CEE Investments B.V.

     The Netherlands         100     100

• HEINEKEN Nederland B.V.

     The Netherlands         100     100

• HEINEKEN International B.V.

     The Netherlands         100     100

• HEINEKEN Supply Chain B.V.

     The Netherlands         100     100

• Amstel Brouwerij B.V.

     The Netherlands         100     100

• Amstel Internationaal B.V.

     The Netherlands         100     100

• Vrumona B.V.

     The Netherlands         100     100

• Invebra Holland B.V.

     The Netherlands         100     100

• B.V. Beleggingsmaatschappij Limba

     The Netherlands         100     100

• Brand Bierbrouwerij B.V.

     The Netherlands         100     100

• HEINEKEN CEE Holdings B.V.

     The Netherlands         100     100

• Brasinvest B.V.

     The Netherlands         100     100

• HEINEKEN Beer Systems B.V.

     The Netherlands         100     100

Central Europe Beverages B.V.

     The Netherlands         72     72

HEINEKEN France S.A.S.

     France         100     100

HEINEKEN UK Ltd.

     United Kingdom         100     100

Sociedade Central de Cervejas et Bebidas S.A.

     Portugal         98.7     98.7

Oy Hartwell Ab.

     Finland         100     100

HEINEKEN España S.A.

     Spain         98.7     98.7

HEINEKEN Italia S.p.A.

     Italy         100     100

Athenian Brewery S.A.

     Greece         98.8     98.8

Brau Union AG

     Austria         100     100

Brau Union Österreich AG

     Austria         100     100

Grupa Zywiec S.A.

     Poland         61.9     61.9

HEINEKEN Ireland Ltd.1

     Ireland         100     100

HEINEKEN Hungária Sorgyárak Zrt.

     Hungary         100     100

HEINEKEN Slovensko a.s.

     Slovakia         100     100

HEINEKEN Switzerland AG

     Switzerland         100     100

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Significant subsidiaries continued

 

            Ownership interest  
     Country of incorporation      2011     2010  

Karlovacka Pivovara d.o.o.

     Croatia         100     100

Mouterij Albert N.V.

     Belgium         100     100

Ibecor S.A.

     Belgium         100     100

N.V. Brouwerijen Alken-Maes Brasseries S.A.

     Belgium         99.9     99.9

LLC HEINEKEN Breweries

     Russia         100     100

HEINEKEN USA Inc.

     United States         100     100
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

HEINEKEN Ceská republika a.s.

     Czech Republic         100     100

HEINEKEN Romania S.A.

     Romania         98.4     98.6

FCJSC HEINEKEN Breweries

     Belarus         100     100

OJSC, Rechitsapivo

     Belarus         96.2     95.4

Commonwealth Brewery Ltd.

     Bahamas         75     100

Windward & Leeward Brewery Ltd.

     St Lucia         72.7     72.7

Cervecerias Baru-Panama S.A.

     Panama         74.9     74.9

Nigerian Breweries Plc.

     Nigeria         54.1     54.1

Al Ahram Beverages Company S.A.E.

     Egypt         99.9     99.9

Brasserie Lorraine S.A.

     Martinique         100     100

Surinaamse Brouwerij N.V.

     Surinam         76.2     76.2

Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Holding, S.A. de C.V.

     Mexico         100     100

Fabricas Monterrey, S.A. de C.V.

     Mexico         100     100

Silices de Veracruz, S.A. de C.V.

     Mexico         100     100

Cervejarias Kaiser Brazil S.A.

     Brazil         100     100

Consolidated Breweries Ltd.

     Nigeria         50.5     50.5

Brasserie Almaza S.A.L.

     Lebanon         67.0     67.0

Brasseries, Limonaderies et Malteries ‘Bralima’ S.A.R.L.

     D.R. Congo         95.0     95.0

Brasseries et Limonaderies du Rwanda ‘Bralirwa’ S.A.

     Rwanda         75.0     75.0

Brasseries et Limonaderies du Burundi ‘Brarudi’ S.A.

     Burundi         59.3     59.3

Brasseries de Bourbon S.A.

     Réunion         85.7     85.7

Sierra Leone Brewery Ltd.

     Sierra Leone         83.1     83.1

Tango s.a.r.l.

     Algeria         100     100

Société Nouvelle des Boissons Gazeuses S.A. (‘SNBG’)

     Tunisia         74.5     74.5

Société Nouvelle de Brasserie S.A. ‘Sonobra’

     Tunisia         49.9     49.9
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

1 

In accordance with Article 17 of the Republic of Ireland Companies (Amendment) Act 1986, the Company issued an irrevocable guarantee for the year ended 31 December 2011 and 2010 regarding the liabilities of HEINEKEN Ireland Ltd., HEINEKEN Ireland Sales Ltd., West Cork Bottling Ltd., Western Beverages Ltd., Beamish and Crawford Ltd. and Nash Beverages Ltd as referred to in Article 5(l) of the Republic of Ireland Companies (Amendment) Act 1986.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

37. Subsequent events

Acquisition of business in Haiti

On 14 December 2011 HEINEKEN announced its intention to increase its shareholding in Brasserie Nationale d’Haiti S.A. (Brana), the country’s leading brewer from 22.5 per cent to 95 per cent. The transaction closed on 17 January 2012 and has been funded from existing resources.

 

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Heineken N.V. financial statements    Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued     

 

Executive and Supervisory Board statement

The members of the Supervisory Board signed the financial statements in order to comply with their statutory obligation pursuant to Article 2:101 paragraph 2 Civil Code.

The members of the Executive Board signed the financial statements in order to comply with their statutory obligation pursuant to Article 2:101 paragraph 2 Civil Code and Article 5:25c paragraph 2 sub c Financial Markets Supervision Act.

 

Amsterdam, 14 February 2012   

Executive Board

   Supervisory Board  
   Van Boxmeer      Van Lede   
   Hooft Graafland      Fernández Carbajal   
        Das   
        de Carvalho   
        Hessels   
        De Jong   
        Fentener van Vlissingen   
        Minnick   
        Navarre   
        Astaburuaga Sanjinés   

 

F-144

Corporate Governance Agreement

Exhibit 1.4

Execution Version

 

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AGREEMENT

 

 

relating to

HEINEKEN HOLDING N.V.

and

HEINEKEN N.V.

between

HEINEKEN HOLDING N.V.

HEINEKEN N.V.

L’ARCHE GREEN N.V.

CB EQUITY LLP

and

FOMENTO ECONÓMICO MEXICANO, S.A.B. DE C.V.

30 April 2010

 

1


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Clause 1

  

Interpretation

     5   

Clause 2

  

Composition of the H-Supervisory Board

     6   

Clause 3

  

Composition of the HH-Board of Directors

     7   

Clause 4

  

H-Supervisory Board Regulations

     8   

Clause 5

  

Subsidiary and Committees

     9   

Clause 6

  

Composition of the Preparatory Committee of the H-Supervisory Board

     9   

Clause 7

  

Establishment of the Americas Committee

     9   

Clause 8

  

Loss of Nomination Rights

     9   

Clause 9

  

Standstill

     11   

Clause 10

  

Reverse Standstill

     12   

Clause 11

  

Restrictions on Transfer

     12   

Clause 12

  

Femsa Anti-Dilution Rights

     15   

Clause 13

  

[deliberately blank]

     15   

 

2


Clause 14

  

Non-Solicit

     15   

Clause 15

  

Term

     16   

Clause 16

  

Representations and Warranties

     16   

Clause 17

  

Information

     17   

Clause 18

  

Confidentiality

     18   

Clause 19

  

Miscellaneous

     19   

Clause 20

  

Governing law and jurisdiction

     21   

Schedule 1

  

– Definitions

     27   

Schedule 2

  

– [deliberately blank]

     34   

Schedule 3

  

– HH-Articles

     35   

Schedule 4

  

– H-Articles

     50   

Schedule 5

  

– H-Supervisory Board Regulations

     67   

Schedule 6

  

– Preparatory Committee Regulations

     87   

Schedule 7

  

– Americas Committee Regulations

     91   

Schedule 8

  

– [deliberately blank]

     93   

Schedule 9

  

– Further Information to be provided

     94   

Schedule 10

  

– Form of Joinder

     95   

 

3


THIS CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is dated 30 April 2010 and made by and between:

 

1. HEINEKEN HOLDING N.V., a public company (naamloze vennootschap) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands, having its official seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and its place of business at Tweede Weteringplantsoen 5, 1017 ZD Amsterdam, the Netherlands (“Holding”);

 

2. HEINEKEN N.V., a public company (naamloze vennootschap) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands, having its official seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and its place of business at Tweede Weteringplantsoen 21, 1017 ZD Amsterdam, the Netherlands (“HNV”);

 

3. L’ARCHE GREEN N.V., a public company (naamloze vennootschap) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands, having its official seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and its place of business at Tweede Weteringplantsoen 5, 1017 ZD Amsterdam, the Netherlands (“L’Arche Green”);

 

4. CB EQUITY LLP, a legal entity incorporated under the laws of the United Kingdom, having its registered office at The Quadrant, 118 London Road, Kingston, Surrey, KT2 6QJ, United Kingdom;

 

5. FOMENTO ECONÓMICO MEXICANO, S.A.B. DE C.V., a legal entity incorporated under the laws of Mexico, having its official seat in Monterrey, Mexico and its place of business at General Anaya 601 Poniente, Colonia Bella Vista, Monterrey, NL 64410, Mexico (“Femsa”).

The parties mentioned under numbers 1 through 5 are hereinafter also referred to as the “Parties” and each of them a “Party”. The parties mentioned under numbers 1 through 3 are hereinafter also referred to as the “Heineken Parties”. The parties mentioned under numbers 4 and 5 are hereinafter also referred to as the “Femsa Parties”.

WHEREAS:

 

A. On 11 January 2010, HNV, Holding, Femsa, Compañía Internacional de Bebidas, S.A. de C.V. (“Compañía Internacional de Bebidas”) and Grupo Industrial Emprex, S.A. de C.V. (“Grupo Industrial”) entered into that certain share exchange agreement (the “Share Exchange Agreement”) pursuant to which they agreed to an international business combination involving the beer business of Femsa.

 

B. By a letter dated April 14, 2010, Femsa, Compañía Internacional de Bedidas and Grupo Industrial provided notice to HNV and Holding that, pursuant to Section 10.10 of the Share Exchange Agreement, they designated CB EQUITY to be the transferee of the Heineken Exchange Shares, Heineken Holding Holding Exchange Shares and the Allotted Shares, to be delivered pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Share Exchange Agreement.

 

C. On the date hereof, the Femsa Parties, Compañía Internacional de Bebidas, Grupo Industrial, HNV and Holding have completed and closed the transactions set forth in the Share Exchange Agreement and, as a result of the transactions contemplated therein, HNV has acquired 100% of the share capital of Femsa Beer Subsidiary and the Femsa Parties (through CB EQUITY) have acquired in exchange therefor (i) 43,009,699 newly issued ordinary shares of HNV plus (ii) 29,172,504 Allotted Shares plus (iii) 43,018,320 newly issued ordinary shares of Holding (the “Transaction”).

 

D. As a result of the foregoing, the Femsa Parties (through CB EQUITY) hold 7.47% of the HNV Shares (excluding any Allotted Shares) and 14.9% of the Holding Shares.

 

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E. As provided in the Share Exchange Agreement and as a reflection of the interests of Femsa as a major shareholder in HNV and Holding, the Parties have agreed that Femsa shall be entitled to participation in the governance of HNV and Holding on the basis set out in this Agreement, particularly through the appointment of one member to the board of directors (comprising 5 members) of Holding (“HH-Board of Directors”) and through the appointment of two members to the supervisory board (comprising 10 members) of HNV (“H-Supervisory Board”).

 

F. The governance of Holding and HNV is set forth in the articles of association of Holding (the “HH-Articles”) and the articles of association of HNV (the “H-Articles”), copies of which are attached hereto as Schedule 3 and Schedule 4.

DECLARE TO HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Clause 1 Interpretation

 

1.1 In this Agreement, its recitals and Schedules, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms set out in Schedule 1 shall have the meanings given in Schedule 1.

 

1.2 In this Agreement, its recitals and Schedules, unless indicated to the contrary:

 

  (a) a reference to a Clause or schedule is a reference to a clause of or schedule to this Agreement;

 

  (b) a reference to a document is a reference to that document as from time to time supplemented or varied;

 

  (c) the recitals and Schedules form an integral part of this Agreement;

 

  (d) the headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement;

 

  (e) a reference to a provision of law or applicable regulation shall be construed so as to include a reference to any provision which from time to time, before the date of this Agreement, modified, re-enacted, amended, extended, consolidated or replaced that provision and any subordinate legislation made under any such provision before the date of this Agreement;

 

  (f) words denoting the singular number shall include the plural, the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender and the neuter, and vice versa;

 

  (g) references to a “company” shall be construed so as to include any company, corporation or other body corporate, wherever and however incorporated or established;

 

  (h) references to a “person” shall be construed so as to include any individual, firm, company, government, state or agency of a state, local or municipal authority or governmental body or any trust (including any beneficiary of any trust), joint venture, association, partnership or other organisation of any nature (in each case, whether or not having separate legal personality), and that person’s legal personal representatives, successors and lawful assigns; and

 

  (i)

where, under the terms of this Agreement, any party accepts an obligation to use “best endeavours” in and towards the fulfilment of any objective or occurrence, the full extent of the party’s obligation shall be to

 

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  take all such lawful steps which a prudent, determined and reasonable person, intent on the fulfilment of such obligation, would take but without incurring any material cost or material liability which is not reasonably proportionate to the benefit intended to be conferred on the other party by the fulfilment of the obligation.

Clause 2 Composition of the H-Supervisory Board

 

2.1 On 22 April 2010, HNV held and convened a general meeting of shareholders of HNV whereby the shareholders of HNV approved the Transaction in accordance with the H-Articles and article 2:107a of the Dutch Civil Code and voted to appoint two initial Femsa nominees to be members of the H-Supervisory Board (the individuals so appointed and any replacements thereof nominated and appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, the “First Femsa H-Representative”, and the “Second Femsa H-Representative”, and together the “Femsa H-Representatives”), with such appointment to be effective simultaneously with the closing of the Transaction. The appointments of the initial Femsa H-Representatives nominated by Femsa (being Mr. José Antonio Fernández Carbajal and Mr. Javier Astaburuaga Sanjines) have been approved by the general meeting of shareholders of HNV in accordance with this Agreement and the H-Articles.

 

2.2 The number of members of the H-Supervisory Board shall be determined by the H-Supervisory Board. At the date hereof, the H-Supervisory Board consists of ten (10) members and the Femsa H-Representatives shall be two (2) of such ten (10) members.

 

2.3 For the duration of, and subject to the terms of, this Agreement, Femsa shall be entitled to nominate at least two (2) members for appointment to the H-Supervisory Board, the initial two members being appointed in accordance with Clause 2.1. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the number of H-Supervisory Board members to be nominated by Femsa is based on the assumption that the H-Supervisory Board consists of ten (10) members. Regardless of any increase or decrease in the total number of members of the H-Supervisory Board, and subject to Clause 8 and the remaining provisions of this Agreement, Femsa shall at all times be entitled to nominate the whole number of members which is closest to two-tenths (20%) of the total number of members of the H-Supervisory Board from time to time provided that Femsa shall at all times be entitled to nominate at least two (2) members.

 

2.4 So long as Femsa maintains its right to nominate the Femsa H-Representatives in accordance with this Agreement, Holding shall vote all of its HNV Shares in favour of the proposition that (i) a Femsa H-Representative duly qualified and nominated as a member of the H-Supervisory Board pursuant to this Agreement shall be appointed by the general meeting of shareholders of HNV in accordance with such nomination, (ii) the general meeting of shareholders of HNV shall promptly suspend or dismiss a Femsa H-Representative as member of the H-Supervisory Board if a proposal to that effect is made by Femsa and (iii) subject to Clause 2.8, no Femsa H-Representatives shall be suspended or dismissed by the general meeting of shareholders of HNV as a member of the H-Supervisory Board without the approval of Femsa.

 

2.5 A person can only serve as the First Femsa H-Representative if:

 

  (a) such person is a member of the board of directors of Femsa; and

 

  (b) such person is a party to the Trust Agreement or a Direct Lineal Descendant; and

 

  (c) such person’s profile, expertise and background comply with the profile of a member of the H-Supervisory Board, attached as Annex A to the H-Supervisory Board Regulations; and

 

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  (d) such person also serves as the Femsa HH-Representative; and

 

  (e) such person shall undertake to be bound by this Agreement and shall sign a copy thereof as proof of his acceptance thereof, substantially in the form of the Joinder attached hereto as Schedule 10 (the “Form of Joinder”).

 

2.6 A person can only serve as the Second Femsa H-Representative if:

 

  (a) such person is either a member of the board of directors of Femsa or a member of the management team of Femsa (not directly responsible for the management of KOF or Femsa Comercio); and

 

  (b) such person’s profile, expertise and background comply with the profile of a member of the H-Supervisory Board, attached as Annex A to the H-Supervisory Board Regulations; and

 

  (c) such person shall undertake to be bound by this Agreement and shall sign a copy thereof as proof of his acceptance thereof, substantially in the form of the Joinder attached hereto as Schedule 10 (the “Form of Joinder”).

 

2.7 The Parties agree that the initial First Femsa H-Representative will be Mr. José Antonio Fernández Carbajal and the initial Second Femsa H-Representative will be Mr. Javier Astaburuaga Sanjines (such nominations to take effect from the date of this Agreement).

 

2.8 In the event that (A) a First Femsa H-Representative fails to meet the qualifications of sub (a), (b) and (c) of Clause 2.5, or (B) a Second Femsa H-Representative fails to meet the qualifications of sub (a) and (b) of Clause 2.6, then Femsa shall procure that such Femsa H-Representative shall promptly resign as a member of the H-Supervisory Board and shall nominate a replacement who meets the relevant qualifications of Clauses 2.5 or 2.6, as applicable.

 

2.9 The First Femsa H-Representative shall be designated as vice-chairman of the H-Supervisory Board.

 

2.10 Each present member and each new member of the H-Supervisory Board shall sign a Form of Joinder to this Agreement as an acknowledgement that he or she is bound by the provisions hereof and that he or she shall fulfil his or her duties and exercise his or her rights in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and that he or she shall act in a manner consistent with, and as required to give effect to, the provisions of this Agreement.

 

2.11 Holding undertakes to act and vote in any general meeting of shareholders of HNV in the manner consistent with, and as required to give effect to, the provisions of this Agreement.

Clause 3 Composition of the HH-Board of Directors

 

3.1 On 22 April 2010 Holding held and convened a general meeting of shareholders of Holding whereby the shareholders of Holding approved the Transaction in accordance with the HH-Articles and article 2:107a of the Dutch Civil Code and voted to appoint an initial Femsa nominee to be a member of the HH-Board of Directors (an individual so appointed, a “Femsa HH-Representative”). The approval described in this Clause 3.1 includes the affirmative support of Holding shareholders Stichting Beheer and Stichting Priores. The appointment of the initial Femsa HH-Representative (being Mr. José Antonio Fernández Carbajal has been approved by the general meeting of shareholders of Holding in accordance with this Agreement and the HH-Articles.

 

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3.2 For the duration of and subject to the terms of this Agreement, Femsa shall be entitled to nominate one (1) member for appointment to the HH-Board of Directors, the initial member being appointed in accordance with Clause 3.1. So long as Femsa maintains its right to nominate the Femsa HH Representative in accordance with this Agreement, L’Arche Green shall vote all of its Holding Shares in favour of the proposition that (i) a Femsa HH-Representative duly qualified and nominated as member of the HH-Board of Directors pursuant to this Agreement shall be appointed by the general meeting of shareholders of Holding in accordance with such nomination, (ii) the general meeting of shareholders of Holding shall promptly suspend or dismiss a Femsa HH-Representative as member of the HH-Board of Directors if a proposal to that effect is made by Femsa and (iii) subject to Clause 3.4, no Femsa HH-Representative shall be suspended or dismissed by the general meeting of shareholders of Holding as a member of the HH-Board of Directors without the approval of Femsa. Stichting Beheer and Stichting Priores have agreed to give their affirmative support to sub clause (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Clause 3.2 for as long as Femsa maintains its right to nominate the Femsa-HH Representative in accordance with this Agreement.

 

3.3 A person can only serve as Femsa HH-Representative if such person:

 

  (a) is the First Femsa H-Representative; and

 

  (b) otherwise satisfies the professional and reputational standards to be a member of the HH-Board of Directors as the HH-Board of Directors shall determine in its reasonable judgment.

 

3.4 In the event that a Femsa HH-Representative fails to meet the qualifications of sub (a) and (b) of Clause 3.3 then Femsa shall procure that such Femsa HH-Representative shall promptly resign as a member of the HH-Board of Directors and shall nominate a replacement who meets the qualifications of Clause 3.3.

 

3.5 Each present member and each new member of the HH-Board of Directors shall sign a Form of Joinder to this Agreement as an acknowledgement that he or she is bound by the provisions thereof and that he or she shall fulfil his or her duties and exercise his or her rights in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and that he or she shall act in the manner consistent with, and as required to give effect to, the provisions of this Agreement.

 

3.6 L’Arche Green undertakes to act and vote in any general meeting of shareholders of Holding in the manner consistent with, and as required to give effect to, the provisions of this Agreement.

Clause 4 H-Supervisory Board Regulations

 

4.1 The internal rules of procedure of the H-Supervisory Board are set out in the regulations of the H-Supervisory Board, as set out in Schedule 5 to this Agreement (the “H-Supervisory Board Regulations”).

 

4.2 Femsa shall use its best endeavours to procure that each Femsa H-Representative in office as a member of the H-Supervisory Board, shall undertake to be bound by the H-Supervisory Board Regulations and, to the extent consistent with the practice of existing board members, shall sign a copy thereof as proof of his acceptance of such regulations. In addition, the Parties agree that each new member of the H-Supervisory Board shall at the time of his appointment sign the H-Supervisory Board Regulations and shall be bound by the provisions thereof and fulfil his duties and exercise his rights in accordance with such H-Supervisory Board Regulations.

 

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Clause 5 Committees

 

5.1 Any Femsa H-Representative shall not sit on more than three committees of the H-Supervisory Board at the same time.

 

5.2 For so long as Femsa has the right to nominate two Femsa H-Representatives, Femsa shall be entitled to nominate one Femsa H-Representative as a member of the Selection and Appointment Committee of the H-Supervisory Board, one Femsa H-Representative as a member of the Audit Committee and one Femsa H-Representative as a member of the Americas Committee.

Clause 6 Composition of the Preparatory Committee of the H-Supervisory Board

 

6.1 From and after the date hereof, the preparatory committee of the H-Supervisory Board (the “Preparatory Committee”) shall consist of four (4) members, one of whom shall be the First Femsa H-Representative, acting in his position as vice-chairman of the Supervisory Board.

 

6.2 The internal rules of procedure of the Preparatory Committee are set out in the H-Supervisory Board Regulations and the regulations of the Preparatory Committee, as set out in Schedule 6 to this Agreement (the “Preparatory Committee Regulations”).

 

6.3 Femsa shall procure that each successive First Femsa H-Representative who takes up office as a member of the Preparatory Committee shall undertake to be bound by the Preparatory Committee Regulations and shall, to the extent consistent with the practice of existing board members, sign a copy thereof as proof of his acceptance of such regulations. In addition, the Parties agree to procure that each new member of the Preparatory Committee shall at the time of his appointment sign the Preparatory Committee Regulations and shall be bound by the provisions thereof and fulfil his duties and exercise his rights in accordance with such Preparatory Committee Regulations.

Clause 7 Establishment of the Americas Committee

 

7.1 The H-Supervisory Board has established an “Americas Committee” to oversee the strategic direction of the business of the Heineken Group, assess new business opportunities in the Americas region and delegate particular responsibilities to such committee. Only H-Supervisory Board members shall be members of the Americas Committee.

 

7.2 As at the date thereof, the Americas Committee consists of three (3) members and the First Femsa H-Representative shall be chairman of the Americas Committee. The Parties agree that the first such chairman will be Mr. José Antonio Fernández Carbajal (such nomination to take effect from the date of this Agreement).

 

7.3 The internal rules of procedure of the Americas Committee are set out in the regulations of the Americas Committee, a copy of which is attached hereto as Schedule 7 (the “Americas Committee Regulations”), which have been adopted by the H-Supervisory Board.

Clause 8 Loss of Nomination Rights

 

8.1 Femsa shall maintain the right to nominate two members of the H-Supervisory Board and all of its ancillary governance rights in relation to HNV, unless and until any of the following events occur:

 

  (i) Femsa or its Affiliates cease to be the legal or Beneficial Owner of an Economic Interest representing not less than 14% of HNV;

 

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  (ii) either Femsa Party fails to be in material compliance with the Principal Terms of this Agreement;

 

  (iii) there is a loss of Control of Femsa by the Voting Trust (including without limitation the termination or a declaration of nullity of the Voting Trust by a competent court) except in circumstances where (A) all of the interests of the Voting Trust in Femsa are acquired by some or all of the Trust Beneficiaries or any vehicle or undertaking which is owned by, or holds its interests in, Femsa exclusively on behalf of some or all of the Trust Beneficiaries or (B) the Trust Beneficiaries otherwise continue to Control Femsa;

 

  (iv) any person other than the Trust Beneficiaries becomes a party to the Trust Agreement or enters into any other arrangement pursuant to which such person holds or shares voting power over any of the shares in Femsa which are subject to the Trust Agreement, unless (A) one or more of the Trust Beneficiaries collectively continue to have the power, directly or indirectly, to control the election of a majority of the directors of Femsa and (B) none of the Trust Beneficiaries has any agreement or arrangement with any such other person (other than a nominee or Trust Beneficiary) the effect of which would be to give such other person the ability to exercise voting power over the shares in Femsa which are subject to the Trust Agreement; or

 

  (v) a Change of Control occurs,

and, subject to Clauses 8.2 and 8.3, upon the occurrence of any event described in subsections (i) through (v) of this Clause 8.1,

 

  (a) Femsa shall procure that the Femsa H-Representatives shall promptly resign as members of the H-Supervisory Board; and

 

  (b) Femsa shall immediately cease to be entitled to nominate any persons for election to the H-Supervisory Board,

provided, however that if:

(A) an event occurs under Clause 8.1(iii) and/or (iv); and/or

(B) a Change of Control occurs in which the person acquiring Control of Femsa, together with any Affiliates of such acquiring person, is not engaged (and does not thereafter become engaged) anywhere in the world in the manufacture of the Heineken Products (as such term is defined in the Share Exchange Agreement), then

Femsa shall maintain the right to appoint one Femsa nominee to be a member of the H-Supervisory Board (being the Second Femsa H-Representative) for so long as Femsa is not in breach of Clauses 8.1(ii) and (iii) and Clause 8.2.

 

8.2 For so long as the Femsa Parties and/or their Affiliates are the legal or Beneficial Owner of an Economic Interest representing not less than 7% of HNV, Femsa shall maintain the right to nominate one member (and only one member) of the H-Supervisory Board (being the First Femsa H-Representative) and all of its ancillary governance rights in relation to HNV (as set out in Clauses 5-7). The events described in this Clause 8.2 and Clause 8.1(ii) shall apply mutatis mutandis with the same ramifications as described in sub (a) and (b) of Clause 8.1.

 

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8.3 If at any time the aggregate shareholdings of the Femsa Parties and/or their Affiliates shall decrease below the threshold set out in Clauses 8.1(i) or 8.2 (as the case may be), Femsa shall have 30 (thirty) Trading Days after the occurrence of such decrease in which to remedy any such decrease and provided that the shareholding is restored to such threshold percentage or more within 30 (thirty) Trading Days after the occurrence of such decrease, Femsa’s nomination rights pursuant to Clause 2 and all ancillary governance rights shall be restored and for the purpose of any Clause in this Agreement, Femsa shall be deemed to have retained at all times its right to nominate two members of the H-Supervisory Board and all ancillary governance rights (as set out in Clauses 5-7).

 

8.4 Femsa shall maintain the right to nominate a member to the HH-Board of Directors unless and until it ceases to have the right to appoint the First Femsa H-Representative under Clauses 8.2 and 8.3. Upon the loss of such right:

 

  (a) Femsa shall procure that the Femsa HH-Representative shall promptly resign as member if the HH Board of Directors; and

 

  (b) Femsa shall immediately cease to be entitled to nominate any persons for election as member on the HH-Board of Directors.

Clause 9 Standstill

 

9.1 Except as provided in Clause 9.2 and Clause 9.3, the Femsa Parties agree and undertake towards HNV, Holding and L’Arche Green that they shall not, and shall procure that no member of the Femsa Group shall, directly or indirectly, acquire, offer or propose to acquire or agree to acquire, whether by purchase, tender or exchange offer, through the acquisition of control of another person (whether by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise), by joining a partnership, syndicate or other group or otherwise, an Economic Interest of more than 20% in HNV or more than 20% of all outstanding Holding Shares (in each case, such capped percentages to be referred to as a “Voting Ownership Cap”) and, in relation to HNV, such Voting Ownership Cap shall be deemed to take account of all HNV Shares held as treasury shares, it being understood that for purposes of this Agreement, such ownership includes ownership by any member of the Femsa Group who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares (i) voting power which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security; and/or (ii) investment power which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition, of such security (in either case, “Beneficial Ownership”); provided that for purposes of determining Beneficial Ownership, a person shall be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of any securities which may be acquired by such person pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

 

9.2 If at any time the Femsa Group exceeds the relevant Voting Ownership Cap, then the Femsa Parties shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable (but in no event longer than sixty (60) days after the occurrence of such event), forthwith sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of (“Transfer”) such number of Shares sufficient to reduce the amount of HNV Shares or Holding Shares owned by them and members of the Femsa Group so as to comply with the applicable Voting Ownership Cap.

 

9.3 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in no event may either Femsa Party or any members of the Femsa Group, directly or indirectly, including through any agreement or arrangement, exercise any voting rights, during the term of this Agreement, in respect of any Shares Beneficially Owned by either of them and any members of the Femsa Group, if and to the extent such shares are in excess of the applicable Voting Ownership Cap.

 

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9.4 Neither Femsa Party shall be considered in breach of this Agreement and the provisions set out in Clauses 9.1 through 9.3 of this Agreement shall not apply:

 

  (a) if as a result of a share buy back programme, repurchase or cancellation of Shares by HNV or Holding, the Femsa Parties and any member of the Femsa Group are in possession of Shares in excess of the applicable Voting Ownership Cap; or

 

  (b) if a Third Party has announced or made an Offer for all of the HNV Shares or Holding Shares not then held by the Third Party or any person acting in concert with the Third Party and which is recommended to the shareholders of HNV by the H-Supervisory Board or to the shareholders of Holding by the HH-Board of Directors and which would (were such Offer to become or be declared unconditional in all respects) result in the Third Party and any person acting in concert with the Third Party in the aggregate owning more than 50% of all issued and outstanding HNV Shares or Holding Shares as the case may be.

Clause 10 Reverse Standstill

The Heineken Parties shall not (and shall procure that no member of the Heineken Group shall) without the written consent of Femsa, directly or indirectly, either alone or acting in concert with others, acquire any interest in any of the securities of Femsa; provided however that the restriction set out in this Clause 10 shall no longer apply if a Third Party Unconnected With HNV makes an Offer for Femsa which, if implemented, would result in a Change of Control.

Clause 11 Restrictions on Transfer

 

11.1 The right of either Femsa Party and/or any member of the Femsa Group to Transfer their Shares is subject to the restrictions set forth in this Clause 11, and no Transfer of such Shares by a Femsa Party or any member of the Femsa Group may be effected except in compliance with this Clause 11.

 

11.2 From the date hereof through and including the fifth anniversary of this Agreement, without the prior written consent of HNV and Holding, each Femsa Party shall not, and the Femsa Parties shall procure that any member of the Femsa Group shall not, Transfer, or agree to Transfer, directly or indirectly, any of their Shares; provided that the foregoing restriction shall not at any time be applicable to:

 

  (a) transfers to either Femsa Party or to an Affiliate of Femsa which, in either event, signs a deed of adherence to be bound by this Agreement as fully as if it were an initial signatory hereto; or

 

  (b) transfers from and after the third anniversary of this Agreement provided, however, that the Femsa Parties and/or Femsa’s Affiliates shall not Transfer HNV Shares and/or Holding Shares representing more than 1% of all outstanding Shares of each of Holding and HNV in any calendar quarter; or

 

  (c) transfers from and after the third anniversary of this Agreement, in any private block sale outside the facilities of a stock exchange so long as L’Arche Green (as to Holding Shares) or Holding (as to HNV Shares) is first given the opportunity to acquire such shares at the market price thereof upon written notice (the “Sale Notice”) not less than 30 (thirty) business days prior to the proposed date of sale, in accordance with Clause 11.4; or

 

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  (d) pledges or grants of a security interest in any Shares in favour of financial institutions and, in case such security rights would be foreclosed in accordance with their terms and conditions, any Transfers resulting therefrom, provided that:

 

  i. such Transfers are notified in writing to, and acknowledged by, HNV or Holding (as the case may be) and HNV or Holding (as the case may be) undertakes to give such acknowledgement promptly provided that such Transfers are in compliance with the terms of this Clause 11.2(d); and

 

  ii. are made in the context of any arrangement or agreement that is on arm’s length terms; and

 

  iii. the Femsa Parties shall grant such security interests only on terms that, in the event of any foreclosure or exercise by such financial institution of such security interest, the financial institution shall ensure any disposals of the Shares are effected via Orderly Market Arrangements; or

 

  (e) any disposal pursuant to an offer by Holding or HNV made generally to the public to (re)purchase Shares; or

 

  (f) any disposal required by law or by any competent authority and which is expressed to be required in relation to the Shares; or

 

  (g) from and after the first anniversary of this Agreement, any disposal required in order to:

 

  i. maintain Femsa’s exemption from, or in order for Femsa otherwise not to be subject to, the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940 (“40 Act”), as amended; or

 

  ii. avoid classification as a “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) within the meaning of Section 1297 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder;

in each case subject to such disposals being effected via Orderly Market Arrangements, and provided that Femsa has not failed to use commercially reasonable endeavours to maintain its exemption from the 40 Act or to avoid becoming a PFIC; or

 

  (h) any disposal to ensure that Femsa or its Affiliates (either alone or together with its Affiliates or any person acting in concert with each of them) is not obliged or required to make any mandatory offer to acquire Shares.

 

11.3 The restrictions set out in Clause 11.2 shall not apply in the event that a Third Party has announced or made an Offer for all of the HNV Shares or Holding Shares, as the case may be, not then held by the Third Party or any person acting in concert with the Third Party and which would (were such Offer to become or be declared unconditional in all respects) result in the Third Party and any person acting in concert with the Third Party in the aggregate owning more than 50% of all HNV Shares or Holding Shares, as the case may be.

 

11.4 In the event of any sale contemplated under Clause 11.2(c) hereof, the applicable Femsa Party shall give the Sale Notice stating its bona fide intention to sell such Holding Shares and/or HNV Shares and the number of such Shares to be so sold and:

 

  (a) within twenty (20) days after receipt of a Sale Notice, any Heineken Party may elect to purchase or otherwise acquire, all or any portion of the Shares described in the Sale Notice. The price at which the Heineken Parties may purchase or otherwise acquire such Shares shall be the average of the Volume Weighted Average Prices of the relevant Shares, as applicable, for the seven consecutive Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the Sale Notice, and shall be paid in Euro; and

 

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  (b) if all the Shares described in the Sale Notice are not elected to be purchased by the Heineken Parties as provided above, the applicable Femsa Party and/or any member of the Femsa Group may, during the sixty (60) day period following the expiration of the period to elect to purchase the Shares described in Clause 11.4(a), offer and sell the remaining portion of the Shares to any person in a private block sale as described in Clause 11.2(c). If the applicable Femsa Party and/or any member of the Femsa Group do not sell the remaining Shares within such sixty (60) day period, the rights provided to the Heineken Parties hereunder shall be deemed to be revived and any sale of Shares by the Femsa Parties and/or any member of the Femsa Group shall not be permitted except in accordance with this Clause 11.4.

 

11.5 Following the third anniversary of the date of this Agreement, Femsa shall be permitted to dividend or distribute to its shareholders any Holding Shares and/or HNV Shares without the prior written consent of Holding or HNV. Upon any such distribution which results in the Voting Trust being the legal or Beneficial Owner of an Economic Interest representing 7% or more of HNV and the Voting Trust entering into a deed of adherence to be bound to this Agreement as fully as if it were an initial signatory hereto, the Voting Trust shall be vested in all of the rights of Femsa to appoint the First Femsa H-Representative, who shall be appointed as member of the H-Supervisory Board and a member of the HH-Board of Directors. The Voting Trust shall maintain the right to nominate the First Femsa H-Representative and all of the governance rights in relation to HNV ancillary thereto, unless and until any of the following events occur:

 

  (a) the Voting Trust ceases to be the legal or Beneficial Owner of an Economic Interest representing 7% or more of HNV; or

 

  (b) the Voting Trust fails to be in material compliance with the Principal Terms of this Agreement (via the deed of adherence); or

 

  (c) the Voting Trust is terminated, dissolved or declared null by a competent court or otherwise, except in circumstances where (A) all of the interests of the Trust in HNV are acquired by some or all of the Trust Beneficiaries or any vehicle or undertaking which is owned by, or holds its interests in the HNV Shares exclusively on behalf of some or all of the Trust Beneficiaries, or (B) the Trust Beneficiaries otherwise continue to control the exercise of the votes of at least 67% of the Shares previously held by the Voting Trust; or

 

  (d) any person other than the Trust Beneficiaries becomes a party to the Trust Agreement or enters into any other arrangement pursuant to which such person holds or shares voting power over any of the HNV Shares unless one or more of the Trust Beneficiaries continue(s) to control the exercise of the votes of at least 67% of the Shares held by the Voting Trust.

 

11.6 Each of HNV and Holding (as the case may be) undertakes to maintain the exemption from registration under Rule 12g3-2b of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act 1934, as amended, if they continue to be eligible therefor, unless either HNV or Holding elect to become subject to the periodic reporting or other informational requirements under the U.S Securities Exchange Act 1934, as amended, in which case it will file reports and other information required thereunder with the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

11.7 If at any future date Femsa determines, subject to the terms of this Agreement, to dividend or distribute any of the Shares then HNV and Holding shall at the request of Femsa discuss the provision of reasonable assistance to Femsa in connection with compliance with any regulatory requirements of such dividend or distribution and HNV and Holding shall provide the reasonable assistance but this shall not require HNV or Holding to become subject to the registration, reporting or listing requirements of any jurisdiction or stock exchange.

 

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Clause 12 Femsa Anti-Dilution Rights

 

12.1 From the date of this Agreement, if Holding or HNV determines to issue any Shares for cash, it shall, unless Femsa otherwise gives its prior written consent, offer to the Femsa Parties the right to subscribe, on the same terms, including as to timing, as others to whom such Shares are offered for subscription, for such number of those Shares as is equal to the Femsa Parties’ percentage shareholding in Holding or HNV (as the case may be) immediately prior to such issue, provided that in the event that the total number of Shares to be offered to the Femsa Parties includes a fraction, such number shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number.

 

12.2 The provisions of Clause 12.1 shall not apply in relation to:

 

  (a) any issue of Shares for a consideration other than cash (other than an issue of Shares in exchange for the shares of a vehicle the assets of which comprise substantially cash); or

 

  (b) the grant of options or awards under any share incentive schemes and the issue of Shares pursuant to the exercise of rights or grant of awards under such schemes; or

 

  (c) the issue of Shares to directors on the boards of Holding and/or HNV pursuant to their terms of appointment.

 

12.3 If any mandatory merger or other regulatory clearances are required in any relevant jurisdiction before either Femsa Party (or any of their Affiliates) can obtain the benefit of any provision of this Clause 12 Holding and HNV shall, within the constraints of its timetable for the relevant issue, use all reasonable endeavours to obtain, and shall provide Femsa (or any of its Affiliates) with all reasonable assistance in obtaining, such mandatory merger or other regulatory clearances.

 

12.4 Neither Holding nor HNV shall propose or recommend or vote in favour of or otherwise support any amendment to (i) the HH-Articles or (ii) the H-Articles, the H-Supervisory Board Regulations, the Americas Committee Regulations or the Preparatory Committee Regulations respectively which would be inconsistent with, or in violation of, any of the provisions of this Agreement.

Clause 13 [deliberately blank]

Clause 14 Non-Solicit

Until the second anniversary of the date of this Agreement, HNV shall not and shall procure that its Affiliates shall not solicit, recruit or hire any person who at any time on or after the date of this Agreement is a Femsa Group Employee (as hereinafter defined); provided, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (i) a general solicitation to the public of general advertising or similar methods of solicitation by search firms not specifically directed at Femsa Group Employees or (ii) HNV or any of its Affiliates from soliciting, recruiting or hiring any Femsa Group Employee who has ceased to be employed or retained by Femsa, or any of its Affiliates for at least 12 months, except as provided in the Ancillary Agreements (as defined in the Share Exchange Agreement). For purposes of this Clause 14, “Femsa Group Employees” means, collectively, officers, directors and senior or managerial executives of Femsa and its Affiliates, excluding the Femsa Beer Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries.

 

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Clause 15 Term

At such time as Femsa and the Voting Trust cease to have the right to nominate any Femsa H-Representatives or Femsa HH-Representative, then:

 

  (a) without prejudice to Clause 8.3, Femsa or the Voting Trust (as the case may be) shall, if so requested by HNV or Holding respectively, procure forthwith the resignation of the Femsa H-Representative(s) or Femsa HH-Representative (as the case may be) from the H-Supervisory Board and the HH-Board of Directors, respectively; and

 

  (b) Clauses 9, 18 and 20 shall continue in effect for the periods stated therein and if no period is stated for as long as Femsa and its Affiliates own any HNV Shares, and all other provisions of this Agreement shall cease to be of any effect, provided that Clause 11 shall also continue in effect for the period stated therein if Femsa and the Voting Trust ceases to have the right to nominate any Femsa H- Representatives or Femsa HH-Representative solely as a result of being in breach of Clause 8.1(ii).

Clause 16 Representations and Warranties

 

16.1 Each Femsa Party, hereby represents and warrants as follows:

 

  (a) Authorization; Enforceability. Such Femsa Party has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of such Femsa Party, to the extent required by such Femsa Party. This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Femsa Party, enforceable against such Femsa Party in accordance with its terms.

 

  (b) No Conflicts, Consents.

 

  1. The execution, delivery and performance by such Femsa Party of this Agreement does not and will not: (i) conflict with or violate the certificate of incorporation or bylaws or equivalent organizational documents of such Femsa Party; (ii) conflict with or violate any law applicable to such Femsa Party or by which any property or asset of such Femsa Party is bound or affected; or (iii) result in any breach of, constitute a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under or require any consent of or notice to any person pursuant to any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise, instrument, obligation or other contract to which such Femsa Party is a party or by which such Femsa Party or any of its properties, assets or rights are bound or affected.

 

  2. Except as otherwise contemplated under the Share Exchange Agreement, such Femsa Party is not required to file, seek or obtain any notice, authorization, approval, order, permit or consent of or with any governmental authority in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by Femsa of this Agreement.

 

16.2 Each Heineken Party, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants as follows:

 

  (a) Authorization; Enforceability. Such Heineken Party has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of such Heineken Party, to the extent required by such Heineken Party. This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Heineken Party, enforceable against such Heineken Party in accordance with its terms.

 

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  (b) No Conflicts, Consents.

 

  1. The execution, delivery and performance by such Heineken Party of this Agreement does not and will not: (i) conflict with or violate the certificate of incorporation or bylaws or equivalent organizational documents of such Heineken Party; (ii) conflict with or violate any law applicable to such Heineken Party or by which any property or asset such Heineken Party bound or affected; or (iii) result in any breach of, constitute a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under or require any consent of or notice to any Person pursuant to any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise, instrument, obligation or other contract to which such Heineken Party is a party or by which such Heineken Party or any of its properties, assets or rights are bound or affected.

 

  2. Except as otherwise contemplated under the Share Exchange Agreement, such Heineken Party is not required to file, seek or obtain any notice, authorization, approval, order, permit or consent of or with any governmental authority in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Heineken Party of this Agreement.

Clause 17 Information

 

17.1 Each Femsa Party, on the one hand, and Holding and HNV, on the other hand, will supply to the other such information as is reasonably required by the other for accounting, tax, disclosure or other purposes at such times as required to comply with regulatory requirements or as reasonably requested by the other (it being understood in the case of information requested by the Femsa Parties or Holding or HNV that such other information shall be in the form reasonably determined by a Femsa Party or Holding or HNV (as the case may be)) to be appropriate in the circumstances taking into account the purpose for which such Femsa Party or Holding or HNV requires the information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, HNV and Holding shall not be required to supply information requested by a Femsa Party that, in the reasonable opinion of Holding or HNV, as the case may be, or the reasonable opinion of their respective legal counsel, (i) qualifies as “inside information” within the meaning of the Dutch Act on Financial Supervision (“DFSA”) or (ii) the supply of which would be in breach of article 5:57 of the DFSA.

 

17.2 Subject to Clause 17.1, Femsa shall have the right to receive copies of the following:

 

  (a) the notice and description of any arrangements between L’Arche Green and Holding on the one hand and HNV and any members of the Heineken Group on the other hand; and

 

  (b) the information set out in Schedule 9;

and the Parties will discuss in good faith the manner in which Femsa will receive the information it requires to reconcile HNV and Holding’s financial information for the financial year 2010 with Mexican GAAP for the purposes of its own financial reporting for that financial year.

 

17.3

Each of the Femsa H-Representatives and the Femsa HH-Representative understands and acknowledges that his ability to communicate any information acquired by him in his capacity as a board member in relation to Holding or HNV and any members of the Heineken Group to Femsa or any Affiliate of Femsa (as the case may be) is subject always (i) the limitation of article 5:57 of the DFSA and (ii) there being no ponderous interest within the meaning of article 2:107 of the Dutch Civil Code of HNV or Holding, as the case may be, against such communication and always provided that Femsa or such Affiliate observes its duty of confidentiality under Clause 18. A protocol shall implement the provisions of this Clause 17.3 and detail when and to what extent the Femsa H-Representatives and the Femsa HH-Representative can share information with Femsa in

 

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  accordance with the provisions of this Clause 17.3, their fiduciary duties as a board member of Holding or HNV and their duty of confidentiality contained in Clause 18.3. As soon as practicable following the Closing Date, the Parties shall enter into good faith negotiations to agree upon such protocol.

 

17.4 Holding and HNV shall supply to Femsa (i) as soon as available, their audited consolidated financial statements for each financial year and their consolidated financial statements for each semi-annual period (including a quarterly breakdown) and (ii) at the same time as they are dispatched, all documents made available to their shareholders (or any class of them) or their creditors generally. For the avoidance of doubt, Holding and HNV acknowledge that Femsa may be required to make filings with regulatory authorities in the United States and Mexico that include such audited consolidated financial statements and will cooperate with Femsa, at Femsa’s expense, in (1) providing Femsa reasonable assistance in connection with any required reconciliation of such statements and (2) obtaining any consents from their auditors in connection with such filings.

Clause 18 Confidentiality

 

18.1 Subject to Clause 18.2, the Parties shall not disclose to any person the fact that they have entered into this Agreement, or any of its terms, conditions or other facts related to this Agreement and shall keep confidential all information of a confidential nature regarding the business and financial affairs of the Heineken Group or the Femsa Group (including for the avoidance of doubt, information provided under Clause 17 and/or Schedule 9).

 

18.2 Each Party shall be entitled to disclose confidential information relating to the Heineken Group or the Femsa Group, as applicable, (including, without limitation, information supplied to it pursuant to Clause 17 and/or Schedule 9):

 

  (a) to any of its officers, employees, auditors, bankers or professional advisers, whose position makes it necessary or desirable to know that information in order to assist Femsa or HNV or Holding, as applicable; provided that the recipient thereof agrees to be bound by the same duty of confidentiality as applies to the disclosing Party and that such Party shall be responsible for any breach of confidentiality by such recipient; or

 

  (b) if such information has ceased to be confidential as a result of having become public without breach of this Agreement or any other duty of confidentiality relating to that information of which the relevant Party was aware; or

 

  (c) as may be required by law, rules or regulations or by any relevant securities exchange or governmental authority, regulatory body or antitrust authority to which Femsa or HNV or Holding is subject (wherever situated), including information required to be disclosed in any shareholder circular, or for tax or accounting purposes, whether or not the requirement for disclosure of such information has the force of law; or

 

  (d) as may be required for the purpose of any arbitral or judicial proceedings arising out of this Agreement or the Related Agreements; or

 

  (e) with the consent of the board of directors of the other Party,

 

18.3

Subject to Clause 18.4, the Parties acknowledge that in accordance with applicable law and regulations, all members of the HH-Board of Directors and the H-Supervisory Board shall treat all information and

 

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  documentation acquired in connection with their service or position as a member of the HH-Board of Directors or the H-Supervisory Board, as the case may be, with the necessary discretion and, in the case of confidential information, with appropriate confidentiality. Except as permitted to the Femsa H-Representatives and the Femsa HH-Representative under Clause 17.3, confidential information shall not be disclosed by any such member outside the HH-Board of Directors or the H-Supervisory Board, made public or otherwise made available to third parties, even after resignation from the HH-Board of Directors or the H-Supervisory Board, unless such confidential information can be disclosed by any Party pursuant to Clause 18.2.

 

18.4 Without prejudice to Clause 17.3, the Parties furthermore acknowledge that, in the course of the performance of their respective duties as members of the HH-Board of Directors or the H-Supervisory Board, the Femsa HH-Representative and the Femsa H-Representatives may acquire competitively or commercially sensitive information regarding the business of HNV and that, in order to safeguard such competitively or commercially sensitive information the HH-Board of Directors and the H-Supervisory Board may implement such procedures and screens as they shall in their reasonable judgment upon the advice of legal counsel deem reasonably necessary.

Clause 19 Miscellaneous

 

19.1 Immediately after the date hereof, the following documents shall, insofar as necessary, be amended in order to give effect to the agreements set out in this Agreement:

 

  (a) the H-Articles; and

 

  (b) the H-Supervisory Board Regulations; and

 

  (c) the Preparatory Committee Regulations; and

 

  (d) the HH-Articles; and

 

  (e) the Americas Committee Regulations.

 

19.2 HNV and Holding undertake towards Femsa to take all actions that are necessary or that would help to ensure that the composition of the HH-Board of Directors, the H-Supervisory Board, the Preparatory Committee and the Americas Committee shall be in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement and that this Agreement is otherwise implemented in full upon closing of the Transaction.

 

19.3 In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Agreement, the HH-Articles and the H-Articles (and any other document in connection with the Transaction), all Parties shall use their best endeavours to procure that the HH-Articles and the H-Articles will be amended to reflect the contents of this Agreement to the extent permitted under the laws of the Netherlands.

 

19.4 So long as each Femsa Party is in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, HNV, Holding and L’Arche Green shall procure that without the approval of the Femsa HH-Representative or the Femsa H-Representative, as applicable, neither the HH-Articles nor the H-Articles shall be amended in a manner that would adversely affect or diminish the rights of Femsa under this Agreement.

 

19.5 Each Party waives any rights that it may have under article 6:228, article 6:265 or article 6:230 of the Dutch Civil Code or otherwise, to rescind (ontbinden), to annul (vernietigen) to amend (wijzigen) or to terminate (opzeggen) this Agreement in whole or in part.

 

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19.6 Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under it may be assigned by any of the Parties hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other Parties hereto. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

19.7 Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any person other than the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

19.8 The delivery of fully executed counterparts of this Agreement by each Femsa Party (and any assignee of Femsa pursuant to Section 10.10 of the Share Exchange Agreement) and each Heineken Party shall be a condition to the closing of the Transaction under the Share Exchange Agreement. Unless and until the closing of the Transaction under the Share Exchange Agreement, this Agreement shall be without any force or effect.

 

19.9 The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the Parties shall be entitled to specific performance (nakoming) of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy at law or equity.

 

19.10 For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties hereby confirm that the scope of this Agreement is limited to only those matters expressly provided for herein and that the purpose of the Agreement is for HNV and Holding to allow Femsa participation in the governance of Holding and HNV on the basis set out in this Agreement and in consideration for Femsa’s willingness to combine its beer business with that of HNV in exchange for Shares in accordance with the Share Exchange Agreement and the other transaction documents pursuant thereto. The Parties hereby confirm that other than the obligation of L’Arche Green or Holding, as the case may be, to support the appointment and functioning of the Femsa H-Representatives and the Femsa HH-Representative in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, this Agreement does not have as its scope or purpose, and does not contain any provisions that would:

 

  (a) give either Femsa Party or the Femsa Group any right or control or influence or consultation right or other form of cooperation with L’Arche Green or Holding as to the way L’Arche Green or Holding exercise their governance rights in relation to Holding or HNV;

 

  (b) limit L’Arche Green or Holding in exercising all rights attached to their Holding Shares or HNV Shares or taking all other strategic and other steps in relation to Holding or HNV independently and at their sole discretion and without any requirement to consult or cooperate with anyone such as Femsa or the Femsa Group and nothing in this Agreement shall restrict the powers of L’Arche Green or Holding in this respect;

 

  (c) give L’Arche Green or Holding any right or control or influence or other form of cooperation with Femsa or the Femsa Group as to the way Femsa or the Femsa Group will exercise the voting rights attached to their Holding Shares or HNV Shares or as to how the Femsa H-Representatives or the Femsa HH-Representative will perform their duties;

 

  (d) limit Femsa or the Femsa Group in exercising all voting rights attached to their Holding Shares or HNV Shares independently and at their sole discretion and without any requirement to consult or cooperate with anyone such as L’Arche Green or Holding and nothing in this Agreement shall restrict the powers of Femsa or the Femsa Group in this respect; or

 

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  (e) create a cooperation among the Parties with the objective that Femsa or the Femsa Group, or any of Femsa and Holding or Femsa and L’Arche Green acting jointly will acquire any preponderant influence (overwegende zeggenschap) within the meaning of the DFSA over HNV or Holding.

Clause 20 Governing law and jurisdiction

 

20.1 This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the Parties hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted exclusively in accordance with the laws of the Netherlands.

 

20.2 All disputes in connection with this Agreement shall be finally settled by arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (the “Arbitral Rules”). The arbitral tribunal shall be composed of three arbitrators, one appointed by the Heineken Parties and one appointed by Femsa, in accordance with the Arbitral Rules. The place of arbitration shall New York, N.Y., United States of America. The language of the arbitration will be English. The arbitrators shall make their award according to the rules of law. The costs of arbitration shall be split equally between Femsa, on the one hand, and the Heineken Parties, on the other hand, or as otherwise apportioned in the arbitration award. Judgement upon the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

 

20.3 Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude any Party from obtaining interim relief from an authorised court of law. Each of HNV and Holding hereby irrevocably and unconditionally authorise Femsa in accordance with article 2:346 under c of the Dutch Civil Code to initiate inquiry proceedings before the Enterprise Chamber (Ondernemingskamer) of the Court of Appeal in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

 

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In witness whereof this Agreement was executed by the Parties on the date first above written,

 

/s/ Helene S. Cohen

CB Equity LLP

By: Helene S. Cohen

[Signature Page to Corporate Governance Agreement]

 

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In witness whereof this Agreement was executed by the Parties on the date first above written,

 

/s/ Carlos Eduardo Aldrete Ancira

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.

By: Carlos Eduardo Aldrete Ancira

[Signature Page to Corporate Governance Agreement]

 

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In witness whereof this Agreement was executed by the Parties on the date first above written,

 

/s/ J.F.M.L. van Boxmeer

   

/s/ D.R. Hooft Graafland

Heineken N.V.     Heineken N.V.
By: J.F.M.L. van Boxmeer     By: D.R. Hooft Graafland

[Signature Page to Corporate Governance Agreement]

 

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In witness whereof this Agreement was executed by the Parties on the date first above written,

 

/s/ C.L. de Carvalho

   

/s/ M. Das

Heineken Holding N.V.     Heineken Holding N.V.
By: C.L. de Carvalho     By: M. Das

[Signature Page to Corporate Governance Agreement]

 

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In witness whereof this Agreement was executed by the Parties on the date first above written,

 

/s/ M. Das

L’Arche Green N.V.
By: M. Das

[Signature Page to Corporate Governance Agreement]

 

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Schedule 1 – Definitions

 

“Affiliate”    means with respect to any person, any person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such person, but in the context of Femsa shall not include the Coca Cola company and shall include the Voting Trust and the Trust Beneficiaries. For the purposes of this definition, “control” and “controlled”, when used with respect to any person, means that such person and persons acting together with such person have the right, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, to exercise or control the exercise of more than 50% of the votes of equity holders in that entity;
“Agreement”    means this agreement and all of its Schedules;
“Allotted Share Delivery Instrument”    means the Allotted Share delivery agreement by and between HNV, Femsa and CB Equity LLP, to be entered into on the date of this Agreement;
“Allotted Shares”    means the shares of HNV which remain from time to time undelivered under the Allotted Share Delivery Instrument;
“Americas Committee”    means a committee of the H-Supervisory Board that has been, inter alia, established to oversee the strategic direction of the business of the Heineken Group;
“Americas Committee Regulations”    means the internal rules of procedure of the Americas Committee as set out in Schedule 7;
“Arbitral rules”    has the meaning ascribed to it in Clause 20.2;
“Beneficial Owner”    means the holder of Beneficial Ownership;
“Beneficial Ownership”    has the meaning ascribed to it in Clause 9.1;

 

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“Change of Control”    means any person and persons acting in concert with such person acquiring Control of Femsa including but not limited to by means of tender offers (ofertas públicas de compra), provided however that a transfer of Control from one Affiliate of Femsa to another shall not constitute a Change of Control;
“Closing”    has the meaning given in the Share Exchange Agreement;
“Control”   

means in relation to Femsa:

 

(a)    direct or indirect ownership of more than 50% of the B shares in Femsa or any class of securities having the power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of Femsa; or

 

(b)    the right, directly or indirectly, to exercise or control the exercise of more than 50% of the votes of the B shares in Femsa or any class of securities of Femsa having the power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of Femsa;

“Controlling Families”    means the Garza Laguera Gonda family, the Calderon Rojas family, the Bailleres family, the Garza Garza family, the Michel Suberville family, the Guichard Michel family and the David Michel family;
“DFSA”    has the meaning ascribed to in Clause 17.1;
“Direct Lineal Descendants”    means the direct lineal descendants of the Controlling Families and spouses of such direct lineal descendants, together with the parents of the members of the Controlling Families;
“Economic Interest”    means an economic interest in HNV (whether direct or indirect (including via a shareholding in Holding)), which shall be deemed for the purposes of this calculation to include any Allotted Shares, and in relation to such Allotted Shares on the assumption that (i) such Allotted Shares will be existing (and not newly issued) HNV Shares and (ii) that any shares that have been settled in cash pursuant to the Allotted Share Delivery Instrument shall be deemed to be held by Femsa;
“Financial Information”    has the meaning ascribed to it in Clause 17.2;

 

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“First Femsa H-Representative”    has the meaning ascribed to it in Clause 2.1;
“Femsa”    means a legal entity incorporated under the laws of Mexico, having its official seat in Monterrey, Mexico and its place of business at General Anaya 601 Poniente, Colonia Bella Vista, Monterrey, NL 64410, Mexico;
“Femsa Beer Subsidiary”    means Emprex Cerveza, S.A de C.V.;
“Femsa Group”    means the Femsa Parties and their Subsidiaries;
“Femsa Group Employees”    has the meaning ascribed to it in Clause 14;
“Femsa H-Representative”    means the First Femsa H-Representative or the Second Femsa H-Representative, as the case may be;
“Femsa HH-Representative”    has the meaning ascribed to it in Clause 3.1;
“Femsa Parties”    means Femsa and CB EQUITY LLP.
“H-Articles”    means the articles of association of HNV;
“HH-Articles”    means the articles of association of Holding;
“HH-Board of Directors”    means the board of directors of Holding;

 

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“H-Supervisory Board”    means the supervisory board of HNV;
“H-Supervisory Board Regulations”    means the internal rules of procedure of the H-Supervisory Board as set out in Schedule 5;
“Holding”    means a public company (naamloze vennootschap) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands, having its official seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and its place of business at Tweede Weteringplantsoen 5, 1017 ZD Amsterdam, the Netherlands;
“Holding Shares”    means any and all issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the share capital of Holding;
“Heineken Group”    means HNV and Holding and their respective Subsidiaries, including the Femsa Beer Subsidiary;
“Heineken Parties”    means Holding, HNV and L’Arche Green;
“HNV”    means a public company (naamloze vennootschap) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands, having its official seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and its place of business at Tweede Weteringplantsoen 21, 1017 ZD Amsterdam, the Netherlands;
“HNV Shares”    means any and all issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the share capital of HNV;
“L’Arche Green”    means a public company (naamloze vennootschap) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands, having its official seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and its place of business at Tweede Weteringplantsoen 5, 1017 ZD Amsterdam, the Netherlands;
“Offer”    means a public takeover bid for the Shares in accordance with the provisions of the DFSA;
“Orderly Market Arrangements”    means any sale of Shares through the facilities of a stock exchange on which either the HNV Shares or the Holding Shares are listed through a broker to be nominated by HNV or Holding;

 

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“Party”    means a party to this Agreement;
“Preparatory Committee”    means the preparatory committee of the H-Supervisory Board;
“Preparatory Committee Regulations”    means the internal rules of the Preparatory Committee;
“Principal Terms”    means the terms and provisions set forth in Clauses 2.8, 3.4, 8.1(a), 9 and 11 of this Agreement;
“Second Femsa H-Representative”    has the meaning ascribed to it in Clause 2.1;
“Sale Notice”    has the meaning ascribed to it in Clause 11.2(c);
“Shares”    means HNV Shares and/or Holding Shares as the case may be;
“Share Exchange Agreement”    has the meaning ascribed to it in recital A;
“Subsidiary”    means, with respect to any person, any corporation or other organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, of which (a) at least a majority of the securities or other interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing similar functions with respect to such corporation or other organization is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such person or by any one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such person and one or more of its Subsidiaries or (b) such person or any other Subsidiary of such person is a general partner (excluding any such partnership where such Person or any Subsidiary of such person does not have a majority of the voting interest in such partnership);

 

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“Third Party Unconnected With HNV”    means any person unconnected with, not acting in accordance with the directions of, or not acting pursuant to an arrangement or understanding with, HNV or Holding or any member of the Heineken Group or any person acting in concert with HNV or Holding or any member of the Heineken Group;
“Third Party”    means any person unconnected with, not acting in accordance with the directions of, or not acting pursuant to an arrangement or understanding with, Femsa or any person acting in concert with Femsa;
“Trading Days”    means any day on which Euronext Amsterdam is open for trading (but shall not include any such day where Femsa would be prohibited from dealing by any law or regulation);
“Transaction”    has the meaning ascribed to it in recital C;
“Transfer”    has the meaning ascribed to it in Clause 9.2;
“Trust Agreement”    means the Trust Agreement dated as of 8 August 2005 and entered into by Banco Invex, S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple, Invex Grupo Financiero as trustee and the Trust Beneficiaries;
“Trust Beneficiaries”   

means the parties to the Trust Agreement who are “Fideicomitentes-Fideicomisarios” at the date of this Agreement and persons who become parties to the Trust Agreement by virtue of being:

 

(i) Direct Lineal Descendants, including any trusts of which such persons are the sole beneficiaries and (any companies controlled, directly or indirectly, by such persons); or

 

(ii) Trust Successors; or

 

(iii) Trust Company Successors;

“Trust Company Successors”    means (i) any company that succeeds to or acquires the business or assets of a company that is a party, from time to time, to the Trust Agreement; or (ii) the shareholders from time to time of such a company;
“Trust Successors”    means (i) any trust, company or entity that succeeds to or acquires the assets of a trust that is a party, from time to time, to the Trust Agreement; or (ii) the beneficiaries of such a trust or any entity acting on their behalf;

 

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“Volume Weighted Average Price”    means, on any date, the volume weighted average sale price per Holding Share or HNV Share, as applicable, on such date on Euronext Amsterdam;
“Voting Ownership Cap”    has the meaning ascribed to it in Clause 9.1;
“Voting Trust”    means the voting trust established pursuant to the Trust Agreement.

 

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Articles of Association

Approved by Royal Decree of 27 January 1873, Nr. 19, last amended by deed of 11 May 2009 executed before prof. D.F.M.M. Zaman, civil law notary established in Rotterdam. As regards the above mentioned amendment of the Articles of Association a ministerial statement of no objection was granted on 7 May 2009 under number N.V. 2.080.

Note about translation

This document is an English translation of a document prepared in Dutch. In preparing this document, an attempt has been made to translate as literally as possible without jeopardizing the overall continuity of the text. Inevitably, however, differences may occur in translation and if they do, the Dutch text will govern by law.

In this translation, Dutch legal concepts are expressed in English terms and not in their original Dutch terms. The concepts concerned may not be identical to concepts described by the English terms as such terms may be understood under the laws of other jurisdictions.

 

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Preliminary Article Definitions.

 

Definitions   In these Articles of Association the following words shall have the following meanings:
Share   a    

a “Share”:

a share in the capital of the Company;

Shareholder   b    

a “Shareholder”:

a holder of one or more Shares (which expressly does not include Euroclear Nederland), as well as a participant to a Collective Depot of Shares;

Member Institution   c    

a “Member Institution”:

a member institution (“aangesloten instelling”) within the meaning of the Netherlands Giro Securities Transactions Act (“Wet giraal effectenverkeer”) (“GSTA”);

Accountant   d    

an “Accountant”:

a chartered accountant (“registeraccountant”) or other accountant as referred to in Article 393 Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code, or an organisation in which such accountants work together;

Shareholders’ Body   e    

the “Shareholders’ Body”:

the body of the Company consisting of Shareholders entitled to vote together with pledgees and usufructuaries to whom voting rights attributable to Shares accrue;

General Meeting of Shareholders   f    

a “General Meeting of Shareholders”:

a meeting of Shareholders and other persons entitled to attend meetings of Shareholders;

Participant   g    

a “Participant”:

a participant to a Collective Depot (“verzameldepot”), within the meaning of the GSTA;

Subsidiary   h    

a “Subsidiary”:

a subsidiary of the Company as referred to in Article 24a Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code;

Euroclear Nederland   i     “Euroclear Nederland”: the central instititute within the meaning of the GSTA, being the Netherlands Central Institute for Giro Transactions (“Nederlands Centraal Instituut voor Giraal Effectenverkeer B.V. ”);
Euronext   j    

“Euronext”:

Euronext Amsterdam N.V.;

Giro Depot   k    

a “Giro Depot”:

a Giro Depot withing the meaning of the GSTA;

Group Company   l    

a “Group Company”:

a group company of the Company as referred to in Article 24b Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code;

Financial Statements   m    

the “Financial Statements”:

the balance sheet, the income statement with explanatory notes and if the Company prepares consolidated financial statements, the consolidated financial statements;

Official Price List   n    

the “Official Price List”:

the Official Price List of, or an official substitution thereof in the name of Euronext;

Executive Board   o    

the “Executive Board”:

the Executive Board of the Company;

Supervisory Board   p    

the “Supervisory Board”:

the Supervisory Board of the Company;

In writing   q    

“in writing”:

by letter, by telecopier or e-mail or by any other legible and reproducible electronically sent message, provided that the identity of the sender can be sufficiently established;

Company Body   r    

a “Company Body”:

the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board or the Shareholders’ Body;

Collective Note   s    

“Collective Note”:

the share certificate that embodies all bearer Shares;

Collective Depot   t    

“Collective Depot”:

a collective depot within the meaning of the GSTA.

 

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Article 1 Name. Seat.      
Name. Seat.   1   The name of the Company is: Heineken N.V.
  2   The official seat of the Company is in Amsterdam.
Article 2 Objects.      
Objects   The objects of the Company are to participate in and to manage other enterprises, companies and consortiums, the financing thereof and to provide security for debts of Group Companies and everything connected therewith or conducive thereto, all of this in the broadest sense.
Article 3 Duration.      
Duration   The Company commenced on the first day of January eighteenhundred and seventy-three and has been entered into for an indefinite period of time.

Article 4 Capital. Issuance of Shares. Pre-emptive rights. Payment.

Own Shares. Depositary Receipts. Capital decrease.

Authorised capital

Par value

  1   The authorised capital of the Company amounts to two billion five hundred million euros (EUR 2,500,000,000), divided into one billion five hundred sixty-two million five hundred thousand (1,562,500,000) Shares of one euro and sixty eurocent (EUR 1.60) each.

Issuance of shares

 

Price of issuance

 

Payment. Share premium

 

Payment in foreign currency

  2   Without prejudice to the provisions of the law, Shares shall be issued pursuant to a resolution of the Shareholders’ Body. The price and further conditions of the issuance shall be determined in the resolution to issue. Subject to the provisions in Article 80 paragraph 2 Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code, the price of issuance may not be lower than par. The full nominal value of each Share must be paid upon issuance and in the event the Share is acquired for a higher amount, the balance between those amounts (share premium). In as far as no other contribution has been agreed upon, payment on a Share shall be made in cash. Payment in foreign currency may take place only with the approval of the Company.
Pre-emptive right   3   On issuance of Shares, each Shareholder shall have a right of pre-emption in proportion to the aggregate of his Shares, subject to the provisions in Article 96a paragraph 1 Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code.
Restriction or exclusion of
pre-emptive right
    Without prejudice to the provisions of the law, the right of pre-emption may be restricted or excluded by resolution of the Shareholders’ Body. If a proposal is submitted to the Shareholders’ Body to restrict or exclude the right of pre-emption, the proposal shall include a written explanation of the reasons for the proposal and the choice of the proposed price of issuance.
Own shares   4  

The Company may not acquire its own Shares.

 

The acquisition by the Company of not fully paid in Shares in its own capital or depositary receipts therefor shall be void. The Company may only acquire fully paid up Shares in its own capital or depositary receipts therefor other than for no consideration, in the event:

Conditions of acquisition     a   the shareholders’ equity after deducting the acquisition price, is not less than the paid-in and called-up part of the capital increased by the reserves that must be maintained by virtue of the law;
    b   the nominal amount of the Shares in its capital or depositary receipts the Company acquires, holds or holds in pledge, or is held by a Subsidiary, does not exceed half of the issued capital.
    With respect to the provision under a, the amount of the shareholders’ equity according to the most recently adopted balance sheet, decreased with the acquisition price of Shares in the capital of the Company or depositary receipts therefor, the amount of loans as referred to in paragraph 5 second sentence and such distributions out of the profits or reserves to others as have become due by the Company and its

 

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    Subsidiaries after the balance sheet date, shall be decisive. If more than six months have expired since the end of any financial year without the Financial Statements having been adopted, then acquisition in accordance with this section is not permitted. Acquisition other than for no consideration is permitted only if the Shareholders’
Authorisation acquisition     Body has authorised the Executive Board to that effect. Such authorisation shall be valid for not more than eighteen months. The Shareholders’ Body shall determine in the resolution granting such authorisation how many Shares or depositary receipts therefor may be acquired, in what manner they may be acquired and between which limits the price must be.
Acquisition by virtue of personnel participation regulation     Subject authorisation is not required if the Company acquires Shares in its own capital that are destined to be transferred to employees of the Company or of a Group Company, pursuant to a regulation in force for them, provided subject Shares are included in the price list of a stock exchange.
Prohibited act on acquisition of shares by others   5   With a view to others taking or acquiring Shares in its capital or depositary receipts therefor, the Company is not allowed to extend loans, provide security, give a price guarantee, otherwise render itself answerable or bind itself besides or for third parties, be it severally or otherwise. With a view to the aforementioned, the Company may also not grant loans, unless the Executive Board resolves thereto and the further conditions as laid down in the law have been met. The prohibition as referred to in the previous two sentences also applies to its Subsidiaries, but shall not apply if the Shares or the depositary receipts therefor, are taken or acquired by or for employees employed by the Company or a Group Company.
No right to dividend on own shares   6   a   The Company may not derive any right to dividend on Shares in its own capital. Upon the calculation of the distribution of profits, subject Shares shall not be taken into account, unless at the time of acquisition of the Shares by the Company the right of usufruct had already been created on subject Shares;
No voting right on own shares     b   The Company may not cast a vote for Shares it holds in its own capital or on depositary receipts therefor held by the Company or on which it has a right of usufruct or a right of pledge. Nor may the pledgee or the usufructuary cast a vote on a Share held by the Company, if the right has been created by the Company. The stipulations of paragraph b shall correspondingly apply to Shares or depositary receipts therefor held by Subsidiaries, or on which Subsidiaries have created a right of usufruct or a right of pledge; and
Decrease quorum     c   Upon establishing whether a certain part of the capital is represented or whether a certain part of the capital represents a majority, the capital is decreased by the amount of Shares for which no vote may be cast.
Alienation of own shares   7   Only after having obtained approval by the Supervisory Board, the Executive Board may alienate Shares the Company holds in its own capital or depositary receipts therefor held by the Company.
Co-operation to issuance of depositary receipts   8   The Company may only cooperate to the issuance of depositary receipts of Shares pursuant to a resolution of the Shareholders’ Body.
Capital decrease   9   With due observance of the relevant provisions of the law, the Shareholders’ Body may resolve to decrease the issued capital of the Company.
Legal Acts as referred to in Article 94   10   The Executive Board is authorized to perform the legal acts referred to in Article 94, paragraph 1 of Book 2 of the Civil Code, without prior approval of the Shareholders’ Body. The abovementioned legal acts may only be performed with the prior approval of the Supervisory Board.

 

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5

 

 

Article 5 Shares. Selection bearer Shares or registered Shares.

Bearer Shares. Collective Note.

 

Registered shares

Bearer shares

 

Exchanging shares

  1   Upon request, a person who subscribes for Shares on the issuance thereof, shall acquire registered Shares. If such subscription in writing is not made, the person subscribing for Shares shall acquire rights relating to bearer Shares in the manner as described below. Exchanging bearer Shares for registered Shares or vice versa is always possible, provided the Shareholder requests the Executive Board to that effect in writing.

 

Collective note for bearer shares Euroclear Nederland

 

 

2

 

 

All issued bearer Shares are embodied in the Collective Note.

 

 

3

 

 

The Collective Note is destined to be kept on behalf of those entitled by Euroclear Nederland. Without prejudice to the stipulations of Article 13 paragraph 4 of these Articles of Association, Euroclear Nederland in its capacity of manager of the Giro Depot of bearer Shares, shall irrevocably be charged with the management of the Collective Note, and Euroclear Nederland shall irrevocable be authorised on behalf of the entitled parties to do everything that is necessary, including to accept, to transfer and to cooperate to the making of additions to and the striking off of the Collective Note. As long as the Collective Note is deposited with Euroclear Nederland, Euroclear Nederland shall (a) credit for a Share in the Giro Depot of bearer Shares every affiliated institution as designated by one or more entitled parties, that corresponds with the right of those entitled parties and (b) credit the Collective Depot of every affiliated institution as designated by one or more entitled parties accordingly, with the class of bearer Shares concerned.

 

Addition to the collective note

  4   Upon issuance of bearer Shares, Euroclear Nederland shall (a) upon request of the Company procure the newly issued Shares to be added to the Collective Note, resulting in the increase of the number of bearer Shares thus embodied by the Collective Note and Euroclear Nederland shall (b) credit for the newly issued bearer Shares the Giro Depot of bearer Shares of every affiliated institution as designated by one or more entitled parties, that corresponds with the right of the entitled parties and (c) credit every affiliated institution as designated by one or more entitled parties accordingly in the Collective Depot with that affiliated institution of the bearer Shares concerned.

 

Conversion of bearer shares into registered shares

  5   In the event an entitled party desires one or more bearer Shares to be converted into registered Shares, the Shares concerned shall (a) be transferred by Euroclear Nederland to the entitled party and (the deed of) subject transfer shall be served on the Company, or the transfer shall be acknowledged by the Company, (b) the Company shall register the entitled party in the Shareholders register as holder of the registered Shares concerned, (c) Euroclear Nederland shall procure the Shares concerned to be stricken off of the Collective Note, resulting into the decrease of the number of bearer Shares thus embodied by the Collective Note, (d) Euroclear Nederland shall debit for a Share in the Giro Depot of bearer Shares the affiliated institution as designated by the entitled party, that corresponds with the Shares stricken off of the Collective Note and (e) the affiliated institution shall debit the entitled party accordingly in the Collective Depot with that affiliated institution of the bearer Shares concerned.

 

Conversion of registered shares into bearer shares

  6   If an entitled party to one or more registered Shares desires to convert these into bearer Shares, subject Shares shall (a) be transferred by the entitled party to Euroclear Nederland and the (deed of) transfer shall be served on the Company, or the transfer shall be acknowledged by the Company, (b) the entitled party’s registration shall be cancelled from the Shareholders register by the Company, (c) Euroclear Nederland shall procure the addition of the Shares concerned to the Collective Depot, resulting into the increase of the number of bearer Shares thus embodied by the Collective Note, (d) Euroclear Nederland shall credit for a Share in the Giro Depot of bearer Shares the affiliated institution as designated by the entitled party, that corresponds with the

 

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6

 

 

    Shares added to the Collective Note and (e) the affiliated institution shall credit the entitled party accordingly in the Collective Depot with that affiliated institution of the bearer Shares concerned.

 

Delivery of bearer shares

  7   A request for delivery of bearer Shares by a Participant pertains a request to register the Shares concerned. The stipulation in paragraph 5 shall correspondingly apply. Subject request may only concern the number of Shares to which the Participant is entitled.
Signing of collective note   8   The Collective Note shall be signed by two members of the Executive Board or by one or more persons thereto authorised by the Executive Board.
Article 6 Registered Shares. Shareholders register. Transfer of Shares.

 

Registered shares. No share certificates Shareholders register

  1  

For registered Shares, no Share certificates shall be issued.

 

  2   The Executive Board shall keep a register in which shall be recorded the names and addresses of all holders of registered Shares and which shall be kept with due observance of the relevant stipulations of the law. The names and addresses of pledgees and usufructuaries of Shares shall also be entered in the register, as well as a note indicating which rights attached to such Shares accrue to them. Each usufructuary and pledgee is obliged to inform the Company in writing of his address. The register shall be regularly updated. In the event the registered Shares belong to a Collective Depot or Giro Depot, the register may include the name and the address of the affiliated institution respectively Euroclear Nederland, stating the date on which the Shares commenced to belong to the Collective Depot respectively Giro Depot and the date of acknowledgement or serving of the deed.

 

Non-negotiable extract from shareholders register

  3   Upon request each holder of a registered Share, usufructuary or pledgee shall be furnished free of charge, with an extract from the register regarding his entitlement to a Share, stating the rights attached to the Share as referred to in paragraph 2. The extract shall not be negotiable.

 

Recordings in the shareholders register

  4   Each transfer of registered Shares, each conversion of registered Shares into bearer Shares and each conversion of bearer Shares into registered Shares shall be recorded in the register. All recordings and entries in the register shall be signed off by two members of the Executive Board or by one or more persons thereto authorised by the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall deposit the register at the office of the Company for inspection by the Shareholders, as well as the usufructuaries and pledgees to whom the rights as referred to in paragraph 4 of the Articles 88 and 89 Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code accrue. The previous sentence does not apply to that part of the register which is kept outside the Netherlands in compliance with the applicable legislation there or as a result of stock exchange regulations.

 

Transfer of registered shares

  5   a   The transfer of a registered Share, or of a restricted right thereon shall require a deed drawn up for that purpose and, unless the Company is itself a party to that deed, written acknowledgement of the transfer by the Company. Acknowledgement shall be effected in the deed, or by an officially dated statement of acknowledgement on the deed or on a copy or extract certified by a civil law notary or by the transferor. Official service of said deed or said copy or extract on the Company shall rank as acknowledgement.

 

Creation right of pledge

    b   A right of pledge may be created also without acknowledgement by or service of the deed on the Company. Then Article 239 Book 3 of the Dutch Civil Code shall correspondingly apply, whereby the notice of the pledge as referred to in paragraph 3 of subject Article, shall be replaced by acknowledgement by or service of the deed on the Company.

 

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Partition registered share  

6       The provisions of paragraph 5 under a of subject Article shall correspondingly apply to:

Creation and transfer

of right of usufruct and right of pledge

 

a       the partition of a registered Share in joint ownership;

 

 

b       the creation and transfer of a right of usufruct and the creation of a right of pledge in a registered Share.

Article 7 Executive Board. Appointment. Suspension and dismissal. Remuneration
Executive Board  

1       The Company is managed by an Executive Board under the supervision of a Supervisory Board.

Number of members Appointment  

2       The Executive Board shall be constituted of two or more members. The Shareholders’ Body appoints the members of the Executive Board from a non binding nomination for each appointment to be drawn up by the Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board shall be authorised to also draw up a (non-binding) nomination for the appointment of a member of the Executive Board, without there being a vacancy.

Nomination in convocation notice  

3       The nomination shall be included in the convocation notice for the General Meeting of Shareholders, in which the appointment shall be brought forward.

Appointment proposal by one or more shareholders  

4       In the event one or more Shareholders, representing at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the issued capital, submit a written proposal to the Supervisory Board for the appointment of one or more members of the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board shall be obliged to discuss and to resolve on subject proposal within sixty (60) days of the receipt thereof. If the Supervisory Board accepts the proposal, then the Supervisory Board shall draw up (a) non binding nomination(s), stating subject persons.

 

5       The Shareholders’ Body shall be free in its appointment in the event the required nomination has not been drawn up within a term of sixty (60) days, to be calculated from the date on which the Supervisory Board was invited to draw up the required nomination.

Remuneration policy  

6       The Company has a policy regarding the remuneration of the Executive Board. The policy is adopted by the Shareholders’ Body upon proposal by the Supervisory Board. The remuneration policy shall at least contain the subjects as laid down in Article 283c up to and including e of Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code, in as far as these subjects concern the Executive Board.

Determination remuneration  

7       The remuneration of the members of the Executive Board shall be determined by the Supervisory Board, with due observance of the remuneration policy as adopted by the Shareholders’ Body and the relevant statutory stipulations.

Suspension and dismissal  

8       Members of the Executive Board may be suspended or dismissed by the Shareholders’ Body at any time upon a resolution adopted with an absolute majority of the votes cast, if subject majority at least represents one/third of the issued capital.

Second meeting  

9       If the required quorum is not present or represented, a new meeting shall be convened where the resolution may be adopted with an absolute majority of the votes cast, irrespective of the part of the capital represented.

Suspension  

10     Members of the Executive Board may be suspended by the Supervisory Board at any time.

Duration suspension  

11     A suspension after having been extended one or more times, in the aggregate may not last longer than three months.

Indemnification  

12     The Company indemnifies every member of the Executive Board, as well as every former member of the Executive Board against:

 

(i)     substantiated costs made within the bounds of reasonableness with respect to conducting a defence (including lawyers fees), at law and otherwise, against third party claims for reimbursement of damages, or payment of fines, (judicially imposed) penalty payments and such like; and

 

(ii)    financial consequences of court rulings and resolutions of governmental authorities and amounts due relating to settlements that actually and in reasonableness have been paid by him to third parties,

 

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  due to an act or failing to act in the performance of his duties as member of the Executive Board or any other function he performs at the request of the Company. In the event and in as far as a Dutch judge has established by final and conclusive decision that the act or the failing to act could be characterised as seriously culpable, a member of the Executive Board can not claim indemnification. Moreover a member of the Executive Board can not claim indemnification in the event and in as far the loss of capital is covered by an insurance and the insurer has paid for the loss of capital, or in the event the loss involved is not covered by any insurance due to a cause attributable to the member of the Executive Board concerned. The Company may take out insurance against liability on behalf of the persons involved. By means of agreement the Supervisory Board may further implement the aforementioned.
Article 8 Executive Board. Duties. Decision making process.
Duties  

1       Subject to the restrictions imposed by these Articles of Association, the Executive Board shall be charged with the management of the Company.

Rules decision-making process  

2       After consultation with the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board may establish regulations pertaining inter alia to the decision making process and the procedure of the Executive Board.

Chairman  

3       The Supervisory Board appoints one of the members of the Executive Board as chairman of the Executive Board.

Provision of required information by the Executive Board  

4       The Executive Board shall provide the Supervisory Board in due time with the information required for the performance of its duties.

 

5       At least once a year the Executive Board shall inform the Supervisory Board in writing of the broad outline of the strategic management, the general and financial risks and the management and control system of the Company.

Approval by the Supervisory Board  

6       Without prejudice to any other applicable provisions of the law or these Articles of Association, the Executive Board shall require the approval of the Supervisory Board for resolutions relating to:

 

a       acquiring, alienating or encumbering participations in public companies (“naamloze vennootschappen”), or other legal entities;

 

b       exercising voting rights for shares in public companies or other legal entities;

 

c       issuance of Shares and granting rights to subscribe for Shares, as well as restricting or excluding pre-emptive rights;

 

d       acquiring and alienation of own Shares or depositary receipts therefor;

 

e       contracting debenture loans;

 

f        acts in law, such as entering into agreements by which the Company binds itself as guarantor and instituting legal proceedings, of which the interest for the Company amounts to more than five hundred thousand euro (EUR 500,000);

 

g       distribution of interim dividends;

 

h       the operational and financial objectives of the Company;

 

i        the strategy which must bring about the realisation of the objectives;

 

j        preconditions which are observed for the strategy regarding for instance the financial ratios;

 

k       granting personal loans, guarantees and such like to members of the Executive Board, or members of the Supervisory Board;

 

l        transactions involving conflicts of interest of members of the Executive Board which are of material interest for the Company and/or for the member of the Executive Board concerned;

 

m      the granting of loans as referred to in article 4 paragraph 5.

Approval of the Shareholders’ Body  

7       Without prejudice to the stipulations of the previous paragraph and the other restrictions of the management authority of the Executive Board included in these Articles of Association or the law, the Executive Board shall require the prior approval

 

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of the Shareholders’ Body for resolutions relating to an important change of the identity or the character of the Company or enterprises, at least including:

 

a       the transfer of the enterprise, or the transfer of practically the entire enterprise of the Company to a third party;

 

b       the entering into or the termination of a lasting co-operation of the Company or a Subsidiary with another legal entity or company or as fully liable partner in a limited partnership (“commanditaire vennootschap”) or general partnership (“vennootschap onder firma”), if such co-operation or termination is of fundamental importance to the Company;

 

c       acquiring or disposing of a participation in the capital of a company by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company amounting to at least one third of the amount of the assets according to the Company’s consolidated balance sheet plus explanatary notes as laid down in the latest adopted Financial Statements of the Company.

Article 9 Executive Board. Representation.

Conflict of interests. Absence or inability to act.

Representation  

1       The Company shall be represented by the Executive Board. If the Executive Board comprises of two or more members, the Company shall be represented by two members of the Executive Board acting jointly, or by a member of the Executive Board acting jointly with an officer as referred to in Article 9.2.

Appointing functionaries with general or limited representational powers  

2       The Executive Board may appoint officers with general or limited power to represent the Company and it may revoke or change subject appointment at any time. Each officer shall be competent to represent the Company, subject to the restrictions imposed on him. The Executive Board shall determine each officer’s title.

Conflict of interest  

3       In the event of a conflict of interest between the Company and a member of the Executive Board, the Company shall be represented by the member of the Executive Board or of the Supervisory Board thereto designated by the Supervisory Board.

Absence or prevention  

4       In the event of absence or inability to act of one or more Executive Board members, the remaining members respectively the remaining member of the Executive Board shall temporarily be entrusted with the entire management of the Company. In the event of absence or inability to act of the entire Executive Board, the management of the Company shall temporarily be entrusted to the delegated member of the Supervisory Board, unless the Supervisory Board resolves to temporarily charge one or more persons, whether or not from among its members, with the management of the Company.

Article 10 Supervisory Board. Appointment. Suspension and dismissal. Remuneration.
Number of members  

1       The Company has a Supervisory Board consisting of three or more members. With due observance of the limit as laid down in the previous sentence, the number of members of the Supervisory Board shall be determined by the Supervisory Board.

Profile  

2       The Supervisory Board shall draw up a profile regarding its size and composition, taking into account the nature of the enterprise, its activities and desired expertise and background of the Supervisory Board members.

Appointment  

3       Members of the Supervisory Board shall be appointed by the Shareholders’ Body. A member of the Supervisory Board shall be appointed for a maximum period of four years, provided that, unless a member of the Supervisory Board retires sooner, his term shall expire on the date of the next General Meeting of Shareholders to be held in the fourth year following the year of his appointment. A retiring member of the Supervisory Board may only be re-appointed twice. Subject restriction does not apply to: (i) relations by blood or affinity of Mr A.H. Heineken, former chairman of the Executive Board; and (ii) persons that are also members of the Board of Directors of Heineken Holding N.V.

 

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    The Supervisory Board shall draw up a rotation plan for the members of the Supervisory Board.
  4   The appointment of members of the Supervisory Board shall take place from a non-binding nomination to be drawn up by the Supervisory Board. Article 7 paragraph 2 second sentence, and paragraphs 3 through 5 shall correspondingly apply to the appointment of a member of the Supervisory Board.
Suspension and dismissal   5   The members of the Supervisory Board may be suspended or dismissed by the Shareholders’ Body. The provisions of Article 7, paragraphs 8, 9 and 11 shall correspondingly apply.
Remuneration   6   The remuneration of each member of the Supervisory Board shall be determined by the Shareholders’ Body.
Indemnification   7   The Company indemnifies every member of the Supervisory Board, as well as every former member of the Supervisory Board against:
    (i)   substantiated costs made within the bounds of reasonableness with respect to conducting a defence (including lawyers fees), at law and otherwise, against third party claims for reimbursement of damages, or payments of fines, (judicially imposed) penalty payments and such like; and
    (ii)   financial consequences of court rulings and resolutions of governmental authorities and amounts due relating to settlements that actually and in reasonableness have been paid by him to third parties,
    due to an act or failing to act in the performance of the duties as member of the Supervisory Board or any other function he performs at the request of the Company. In the event and in as far as a Dutch judge has established by final and conclusive decision that the act or the failing to act could be characterised as seriously culpable, a member of the Supervisory Board can not claim indemnification. Moreover a member of the Supervisory Board can not claim indemnification in the event and in as far as the loss of capital is covered by an insurance and the insurer has paid for the loss of capital, or in the event the loss involved is not covered by any insurance due to a cause attributable to the member of the Supervisory Board concerned. The Company may take out insurance against liability on behalf of the persons involved. By means of agreement the Executive Board may further implement the aforementioned.
Article 11 Supervisory Board. Duties and powers. Working procedures and decision-making.
Supervisory duties   1   The Supervisory Board is responsible for the supervision of the management by the Executive Board and of the general course of affairs in the Company and the business connected with it. It shall assist the Executive Board with advice. In performing their duties, the Supervisory Board members shall act in accordance with the interest of the Company and of the business connected with it.
  2   The Supervisory Board shall have access to the buildings and premises of the Company and shall be authorised to inspect the books and records of the Company. The Supervisory Board may designate one or more persons from among its members or an expert to exercise these powers. The Supervisory Board may also otherwise be assisted by experts.
Appointment chairman and vice-chairman   3   The Supervisory Board shall appoint from among its members a chairman and a vice-chairman.
Delegated Supervisory Board member   4   The Shareholders’ Body may appoint one of the members of the Supervisory Board as delegated member of the Supervisory Board. The delegation of powers to the delegated member of the Supervisory Board may not exceed the duties of the Supervisory Board and does not comprise the management of the Company. It intends to effect a more intensive supervision and advice and more regular consultation with the Executive Board. The Supervisory Board may grant a special remuneration to the delegated member of the Supervisory Board.

 

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Authorisation to be represented by a co-member   5   A member of the Supervisory Board may have himself represented by a co-member holding a proxy in writing.
Meeting   6   The Supervisory Board shall meet whenever the chairman, the vice-chairman, the delegated Supervisory Board member, or two Supervisory Board members, deem(s) such necessary. The Supervisory Board meetings shall be attended by one or more members of the Executive Board if these are invited to attend.
Resolutions outside a meeting     The Supervisory Board may also adopt resolutions without holding a meeting, provided the proposal in question has been submitted to all members of the Supervisory Board and none has objected to this form of decision-making. A resolution thus adopted shall be reported in the subsequent meeting of the Supervisory Board.
Rules decision-making process   7   The Supervisory Board shall lay down rules regarding the decision making process and the working methods of the Supervisory Board. In that respect the Supervisory Board may determine – among other things – with which duty each member of the Supervisory Board shall specifically be charged. The rules regarding the decision making process and the division of duties shall be laid down in regulations.
Adopting resolutions by simple majority   8   Except for the stipulations as laid down in paragraph 9 of this Article, the Supervisory Board resolves with a simple majority of the votes cast.
Quorum presence of the delegated member of the Supervisory Board   9   Resolutions requiring the approval of the Supervisory Board as referred to in Article 8 paragraph 6 under a, b and c may be adopted in any case only by a majority of the members of the Supervisory Board in function, in any case including the delegated member of the Supervisory Board, if appointed. Upon granting the approval for exercising the voting right as referred to in Article 8 paragraph 6 under b, the Supervisory Board shall also determine the manner in which subject voting right must be exercised.
Article 12 Financial year. Financial Statements. Appropriation of profits.
Financial year Drawing up financial statements   1   The financial year of the Company shall be the calendar year. The Company books shall be closed on the thirty first day of December of each year. Annually not later than four months after the end of the financial year, the Executive Board shall prepare the Financial Statements and shall deposit the same accompanied by the annual report for inspection by the Shareholders at the Company’s office.
Signing of financial statements   2   The Financial Statements as drawn up by the Executive Board shall be submitted to the Supervisory Board timely within the term as referred to in paragraph 1 third sentence. Subsequently the aforementioned documents shall be signed by all the members of the Executive Board and all the members of the Supervisory Board and submitted with the Executive Board’s annual report and the Supervisory Board’s report to the annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held not later than in June for the adoption of the Financial Statements. If the signature of one or more of them is lacking, this shall be stated and reasons for this omission shall be given.
Discharge   3   In the General Meeting of Shareholders in which it is resolved to adopt the Financial Statements, a separate proposal shall be brought forward to discharge the members of the Executive Board for their management and of the members of the Supervisory Board for their supervision thereon, to the extent of such management being apparent from the Financial Statements.
Profit   4   The profits of a financial year shall mean the credit balance of the income statement as adopted by the Shareholders’ Body.
Profit out of the distributable reserves   5   Distributions of profit may take place in as far as the equity of the Company exceeds the amount of the paid-in and called up part of the issued capital, increased with the reserves which shall be maintained by virtue of the law.
Distribution after adoption financial statements   6   Provided the stipulations of the previous paragraph are met, distribution of profit shall take place within a month after the Financial Statements having been adopted.
Dividend   7   Of the profits, payment shall first be made, if possible, of a dividend of six percent (6%) of the issued part of the authorised capital. The remaining amount shall be at the disposal of the Shareholders’ Body.

 

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Interim dividend   8   With due observance of the stipulations of the law and subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board, the Executive Board may resolve to pay an interim dividend chargeable to the dividend to be expected over the financial year in question.
Distribution in kind of shares   9   At the request of the Executive Board which is subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board, the Shareholders’ Body may resolve to make a distribution in kind of Shares in the capital of the Company and to make distributions chargeable to one or more reserves that need not be maintained by virtue of the law.
Article 13 General Meetings of Shareholders.
Annual General Meeting of Shareholders   1   Annually, within six months after the end of the financial year, the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders shall be held, in which – unless in accordance with the law the term has been extended – inter alia the following items shall be brought forward:
    a   the discussion of the annual report;
    b   the discussion and adoption of the Financial Statements;
    c   discharge of the members of the Executive Board for their management;
    d   discharge of the members of the Supervisory Board for their supervision on the management;
    e   reservation and distribution policy (the height and destination of the reservation, the height and form of the dividend);
    f   appropriation of profits;
    g   any substantial change in the corporate governance structure of the Company;
    h   the (re-)appointment of the external Accountant or, in as far as applicable, another expert appointed thereto by virtue of the law;
    i   possible other proposals brought forward by one or more holders of Shares with due observance of paragraph 8 of this Article, the Supervisory Board or the Executive Board, and furthermore with due observance of additional relevant provisions of the law and the Articles of Association.
Place of meetings   2   The General Meetings of Shareholders shall be held in Amsterdam.
Convocations   3   The Executive Board or the Supervisory Board shall convene the General Meetings of Shareholders at least fourteen (14) days in advance – not including the day of convocation and the day of the meeting – by means of announcement in at least one nationwide daily newspaper in the Netherlands and in the Official Price List. Convocation of holders of bearer Shares may furthermore be made by any other electronically made public announcement (such as on the Company’s website), provided it is directly and without interruption accessible up to the start of the meeting. Convocation of holders of registered Shares shall be made by letters to the addresses of the holders of registered Shares, as shown in the shareholders register. Convocation of a holder of registered Shares may furthermore, provided such holder has consented thereto, be made by means of a legible and reproducible electronically sent message to the address indicated for that purpose by such holder of registered Shares to the Company. The obligation to convoke by notice in a nationwide daily newspaper and in the Official Price List shall no longer exist, if and to the extent the obligation thereto does no longer exist pursuant to the General Rules of Euronext (or any regulation replacing these). Any notification shall include the agenda of the meeting or the announcement that it is available for inspection by the Shareholders at the offices of the Company.
Meeting rights   4   Each Shareholder shall be entitled, either personally or by proxy authorised in writing, to attend the General Meeting of Shareholders, to address the meeting and to exercise his voting rights. The Executive Board may determine that the powers set out in the preceding sentence, may also be exercised by means of electronic communication. If a Shareholder participates by means of electronic communication, it shall be required that the electronic communication allows for identification of such Shareholder and for such Shareholder to directly take notice of the proceedings in

 

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    the meeting and to cast votes. Furthermore, it shall be required that the electronic communication allows for the Shareholder to participate in discussions in the meeting. The Executive Board may subject the use of the electronic communication and the manner in which the requirements mentioned in this Article should be satisfied, to conditions. Conditions set by the Executive Board in relation to the use of the electronic communication shall be indicated in the convocation mentioned in paragraph 3 of this Article.
  5   With respect to the voting right and the right to participate in a meeting attached to bearer Shares, the Company shall, correspondingly applying Article 88 and 89 of Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code, also recognise as a Shareholder such person as shall be mentioned in a written statement of a Member Institution to the effect that the number of bearer Shares mentioned in such statement belongs to such Member Institution’s Collective Depot and that the person mentioned in such statement is a Participant in its Collective Depot, and will remain to be so, until the conclusion of the meeting, provided that such statement is filed in time at the place stated in the notice convening the meeting, against a receipt, which receipt will serve as a ticket of admission for the meeting.
Notice     The notice of the meeting shall state the date on which the notice of the Member Institution must ultimately be filed. Such date may not be earlier than the seventh day prior to the day of the General Meeting of Shareholders.
Record date   6   The Executive Board may determine in the convocation notice for a General Meeting of Shareholders that a record date as referred to in Article 2:119 of the Dutch Civil Code is set. The Executive Board may furthermore set a record date as referred to in Article 2:117b of the Dutch Civil Code. The record date shall be set no earlier than the thirtieth day prior to the meeting. If the Executive Board has decided to set a registration record date, the statement of the member institution referred to in Article 13 paragraph 5 shall only have to include that the bearer Shares mentioned in the statement formed part of the collective depot of the Member Institution involved at that specific time of registration and that the person mentioned in the statement was a participant in its Collective Depot at that specific time of registration for the number of Shares mentioned. The convocation notice shall state the record date, as referred above, and the manner in which those entitled to attend and/or vote in the meeting can be registered and the manner in which they may exercise their rights.
Power of attorney   7   The powers set out in Article 13 paragraph 4 may be exercised by proxy authorised in writing, provided that the written proxy is received by the Executive Board no later than on the date indicated for that purpose in the convocation notice. Each person entitled to vote or otherwise entitled to attend a meeting or such person’s representative, shall, whether or not by means of electronic communication, sign the attendance list, stating the number of Shares and votes represented by such person.”.
Extraordinary General Meeting   8   An extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders shall be held if the Executive Board or the Supervisory Board has convened such a meeting; the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board shall moreover be obliged to convene an extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders, to be held within four weeks after receipt of a request to that effect made by the holders, collectively holding at least one quarter of the issued Share capital. This meeting shall deal with the subjects as stated by those who wish to hold the meeting.
Placing of subjects on the agenda by shareholders   9   If the Executive Board has been requested in writing not later than sixty (60) days prior to the date of the General Meeting of Shareholders, to deal with a subject by one or more holders of Shares who solely or jointly (i) represent at least one per cent (1%) of the issued capital, or (ii) at least represent a value of fifty million euro (EUR 50,000,000), then the subject will be included in the convocation or announced in a similar way, unless this would be contrary to an overriding interest of the Company.

 

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Providing information   10   The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board shall provide the Shareholders’ Body with all requested information, unless this would be contrary to an overriding interest of the Company. If the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board invoke an overriding interest, they must give reasons.
Circular letter shareholders   11   The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board shall inform the General Meeting of Shareholders by means of a circular letter or explanatory note in the agenda on all the facts and circumstances that are relevant for the proposals on the agenda in as far these concern an approval, delegation or authorisation to be granted.
Article 14 General Meetings of Shareholders. Chairman. Decision-making. Minutes.
Chairman meetings   1   All General Meetings of Shareholders shall be presided over by the chairman or the vice-chairman of the Supervisory Board, or in his absence, by one of the Supervisory Board members present at the meeting, to be designated by them in mutual consultation. If no members of the Supervisory Board are present, the meeting shall provide its own chairman.
Manner of voting   2   The chairman determines the manner of voting.
Resolutions   3   At all General Meetings of Shareholders resolutions shall be adopted by an absolute majority of the votes cast, except for those cases in which the law or these Articles of Association prescribe a greater majority.
One vote per share Votes cast electronically   4   Each Share confers the right to issue one vote. The Executive Board may determine in the convocation notice that any vote cast prior to the General Meeting of Shareholders by means of electronic communication, shall be deemed to be a vote cast in the General Meeting of Shareholders. Such a vote may not be cast prior to the ultimate allowed registration record date mentioned in Article 13 paragraph 6. A Shareholder who has cast his vote prior to the General Meeting of Shareholders by means of electronic communication, remains entitled to, whether or not represented by a holder of a written proxy, participate in the General Meeting of Shareholders and to address the General Meeting of Shareholders Once cast, a vote can not be revoked. Those who, at a moment indicated for that purpose by the Executive Board in the convocation of a General Meeting of Shareholders, have the rights to attend the General Meeting of Shareholders and to exercise voting rights therein and are registered as such in a register designated for that purpose by the Executive Board, shall for the purpose of the preceding provision of this paragraph be deemed to have the rights to attend the General Meeting of Shareholders and to exercise voting rights therein, regardless who, at the moment of the General Meeting of Shareholders holds the Shares concerned.
Voting right also valid for other interest   5   Votes are also validly cast for Shares held by those, whom for a different reason than as Shareholder of the Company, by virtue of the resolution would be granted any right towards the Company, or would be discharged from any obligation towards the Company.
Blank votes   6   Blank votes shall be considered as not having been cast.
Conclusive opinion chairman   7   The opinion expressed by the chairman in the General Meeting of Shareholders on the result of a vote is conclusive. The same applies to the contents of an adopted resolution in as far as the voting concerned a proposal which had not been recorded in writing. However if the opinion is contested immediately after it having been pronounced, a new vote shall take place if the majority, or, if the original vote had not taken place by roll-call or in writing, one holder of voting rights present demands a new vote. Through subject new vote the legal consequences of the original vote shall be annulled.
Minutes of meeting   8   The proceedings in the General Meetings of Shareholders shall be recorded in minutes taken by a secretary to be designated by the Shareholders’ Body, which minutes shall be confirmed and signed by the chairman of the meeting and by the person who took minutes.
Notarial record of the proceedings   9   In the event that a notarial record of the proceedings of a General Meeting of Shareholders is drawn up, the countersigning by the chairman or by a Shareholder designated by the chairman shall suffice.

 

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  10   Upon request the record of the General Meeting of Shareholders as referred to in paragraph 8 or 9 shall be submitted to Shareholders ultimately within three months after the conclusion of the meeting.
Article 15 Amendment of the Articles of Association and dissolution.
Resolutions to amend the Articles of Association and to dissolve   1   A resolution to amend the Articles of Association or to dissolve the Company may only be adopted in a General Meeting of Shareholders, in which at least half of the issued capital is represented and exclusively either at the proposal of the Supervisory Board or at the proposal of the Executive Board which has been approved by the Supervisory Board, or at the proposal of one or more Shareholders representing at least half of the issued capital.
Announcement proposal for amendment of the Articles of Association   2   When a proposal to amend the Articles of Association is to be made to the Shareholders’ Body, such shall be stated in the convocation, whereas at the same time a copy of the proposal stating the proposed amendment verbatim, shall be deposited at the offices of the Company for inspection by each Shareholder until the conclusion of the General Meeting of Shareholders.
Second meeting   3   When the required capital is not represented at a meeting, a second meeting shall be held within four weeks after the first General Meeting of Shareholders, in which a resolution as referred to in the first sentence of this Article may be adopted, regardless of the capital represented, but at a proposal as aforementioned. The convocation for subject General Meeting of Shareholders may first be issued after the date on which the initial General Meeting of Shareholders was held.
Article 16 Liquidation.
  1   In the event of the dissolution of the Company by virtue of a resolution of the Shareholders’ Body, the members of the Executive Board shall be charged with the liquidation under the supervision of the Supervisory Board, unless the Shareholders’ Body, at a proposal by the Supervisory Board should charge a special committee with the liquidation.
Liquidation   2   In its resolution to dissolve the Company, the Shareholders’ Body shall also determine the remuneration of the liquidators and the Supervisory Board, if the latter would be charged with supervision of the dissolution, which remuneration may comprise an amount equal to a percentage of the balance of the liquidation to be determined by the Shareholders’ Body.
Remuneration   3   The liquidation shall otherwise be subject to the relevant statutory provisions.
Article 17 Convocations and notifications.
Convocations and notifications   Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 96a paragraph 4 of the Dutch Civil Code, all convocation notices for General Meetings of Shareholders, all announcements relating to dividends and other distributions and all other notifications to Shareholders shall take place by announcement in at least one nationwide daily newspaper, in the Official Price List and on the website of the Company. The obligation to make an announcement in a nationwide daily newspaper in the Netherlands and in the Official Price List, as well as in the Official Price List shall no longer exist, if and to the extent the obligation thereto does no longer exist pursuant to the law or to the General Rules of Euronext (or any regulation replacing these).
Transitory provision    
  The transitory provisions in the Articles of Association as these read prior to the amendment of the Articles of Association of the twenty-sixth day of April two thousand five becoming effective remain fully applicable. References to the Articles of Association in such transitory provisions also refer to the Articles of Association as these read prior to the amendment of the Articles of Association of the twenty-sixth day of April two thousand five becoming effective.

 

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Schedule 5 – H-Supervisory Board Regulations

 

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Regulations

(Terms of Reference)

for the Supervisory Board of Heineken N.V.

Adopted at the meeting of the Supervisory Board of Heineken N.V. of 25 August 2009.

Definitions:

The terms used in these Regulations are defined as follows:

 

- the Company:

Heineken N.V.;

 

- the Supervisory Board:

the Company’s Supervisory Board;

 

- the Chairman:

the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Heineken N.V.;

 

- the Vice-Chairman:

the Vice-Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Heineken N.V.;

 

- the Executive Board:

the Company’s Executive Board;

 

- the General Meeting:

the General Meeting of Shareholders of Heineken N.V.;

 

- the Dutch Corporate Governance Code:

the Dutch Corporate Governance Code of 10 December 2008.

 

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CONTENT:

 

article 1:

  

Status and contents of the Regulations

article 2:

  

Responsibilities of the Supervisory Board

article 3:

  

Composition, expertise and independence of the Supervisory Board

article 4:

  

Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Company Secretary

article 5:

  

Functions and committees of the Supervisory Board

article 6:

  

(Re)appointment, term and resignation

article 7:

  

Remuneration, loans and investing in shares

article 8:

  

Induction programme and ongoing education and training

article 9:

  

Supervisory Board meetings (attendance, minutes, recurring subjects) and resolutions

article 10:

  

Conflict of interest

article 11:

  

Whistleblowers

article 12:

  

Information, relationship with the Executive Board

article 13:

  

Information, relationship with the shareholders

article 14:

  

The external auditor

article 15:

  

Corporate Governance

article 16:

  

Confidentiality

article 17:

  

Non-compliance, amendment

article 18:

  

Other provisions

The contents of these regulations are public and are posted on the Company’s website: www.heinekeninternational.com

 

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Status and contents of the Regulations

Article 1

 

1.1 These Regulations are complementary to the rules and regulations (from time to time) applicable to the Supervisory Board under primary and secondary legislation, the Dutch Corporate Governance Code, the regulations (terms of references of the Committees and the Company’s Articles of Association.

 

1.2 Where these Regulations are inconsistent with primary and secondary legislation or the Company’s Articles of Association, the law or, as the case may be, the Articles of Association shall prevail. Where these Regulations conform to the Articles of Association but are inconsistent with primary and secondary legislation, the latter shall prevail. If one or more provisions of these Regulations are or become invalid, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions. The Supervisory Board shall replace the invalid provisions by those which are valid and the effect of which, given the contents and purpose of these Regulations, is to the greatest extent possible similar to that of the invalid provisions.

 

1.3 The following annexes are attached to, and form an integral part of these Regulations:

 

Annex A:

  

the profile of the Supervisory Board’s size and composition;

Annex B:   

the Regulations governing the Audit Committee of the Supervisory Board;

Annex C:   

the Regulations governing the Remuneration Committee of the Supervisory Board;

Annex D:

  

the Regulations governing the Selection and Appointment Committee of the Supervisory Board;

Annex E:

  

the Regulations governing the Voorbereidings (Preparatory) Committee of the Supervisory Board.

 

1.4 The Executive Board unanimously declared that:

 

  a. it will comply with, and be bound by the obligations arising from, these Regulations to the extent that they apply to it and its members;

 

  b. on appointment of new members it will cause such members to issue a declaration as referred to in a) above.

 

1.5 The external auditor of the Company declared that it will comply with, and be bound by the obligations arising from, these Regulations to the extent they apply to him/her.

 

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Responsibilities of the Supervisory Board

Article 2

 

2.1 In compliance with the relevant provisions in primary and secondary legislation, the Dutch Corporate Governance Code and the Articles of Association, the role of the Supervisory Board is to supervise the management by the Executive Board as well as the general course of affairs at the Company and its affiliated enterprises. The Supervisory Board assists the Executive Board with advice. In discharging its role the Supervisory Board shall be guided by the interests of the Company and its affiliated enterprises and shall take into account the relevant interests of the Company’s stakeholders. The Supervisory Board shall also have due regard for corporate social responsibility issues that are relevant to the enterprise. The Supervisory Board is responsible for the quality of its own performance.

 

2.2 The legal and statutory authorities of the Supervisory Board rest with the Supervisory Board as a whole and are exercised under joint responsibility.

 

2.3 The duties of the Supervisory Board shall also include:

 

  a. exercising supervision and advising the Executive Board on:

 

  i. the achievement of the Company’s objectives;

 

  ii. the corporate strategy and the risks connected to the business activities;

 

  iii. the design and effectiveness of the internal risk-management and control systems;

 

  iv. the financial reporting process;

 

  v. compliance with primary and secondary legislation;

 

  vi. the Company-shareholder relationship; and

 

  vii. corporate social responsibility issues that are relevant to the enterprise.

 

  b. disclosing, observing and maintaining the Company’s corporate governance structure;

 

  c. approving the resolutions mentioned in Article 8, section 6 of the Articles of Association;

 

  d. selecting and nominating for appointment (by the General Meeting) the Company’s external auditor;

 

  e. selecting and nominating for appointment (by the General Meeting) members of the Executive Board, proposing for adoption (by the General Meeting) the remuneration policy for Executive Board members, determining the remuneration (duly observing the afore-mentioned remuneration policy) as well as the contract conditions of the Executive Board members;

 

  f. selecting and nominating for appointment (by the General Meeting) the members of the Supervisory Board as well as proposing the fee for its members for adoption (by the General Meeting);

 

  g. evaluating and assessing the functioning of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board as well as their individual members and its committees (including an assessment of the functioning of the committees, the profile of the Supervisory Board and the induction, training and education programme);

 

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  h. dealing with, and deciding on, reported (potential) conflicts of interest as referred to in article 10 between the Company on the one hand and Supervisory Board members and/or Executive Board members and/or the external auditor on the other;

 

  i. approving resolutions to conclude transactions between the Company and natural or legal persons holding at least 10% of the Company’s shares, insofar as such transactions are of material importance to the Company.

 

  j. dealing with, and deciding on, reported alleged irregularities affecting the functioning of Executive Board members as referred to in article 11.

 

  k. ensuring that the Executive Board complies with the internal procedures relating to the publication of all financial information;

 

  l. ensuring that the Executive Board fulfils its responsibility for the quality and completeness of publicly disclosed financial reports.

 

2.4 The annual statements of the Company shall include a report of the Supervisory Board. In this report the Supervisory Board describes its activities in the financial year and which includes the specific statements and information required by the Dutch Corporate Governance Code.

The following information about each Supervisory Board member shall be included in the report of the Supervisory Board (a) gender, (b) age, (c) profession, (d) principal position, (e) nationality, (f) other positions, in so far as they are relevant to the performance of the duties of the Supervisory Board member, (g) date of initial appointment and (h) the current term of office.

 

2.5 The Supervisory Board shall determine the remuneration of the individual members of the Executive Board on a proposal by the Remuneration Committee, within the scope of the remuneration policy adopted by the General Meeting.

 

2.6 The report of the Supervisory Board shall include the principal points of the remuneration report concerning the remuneration policy of the Company. This shall describe transparently and in clear and understandable terms the remuneration policy that has been pursued and give an overview of the remuneration policy to be pursued. The full remuneration of the Executive Board, broken down into its various components shall be presented in the remuneration report in clear and understandable terms. It shall contain an account of the manner in which the remuneration policy has been implemented in the past financial year, as well as an overview of the remuneration policy planned by the Supervisory Board for the next financial year and subsequent years. The report shall explain how the chosen remuneration policy contributes to the achievement of the long-term objectives of the Company and its affiliated enterprises in keeping with the risk profile.

The Remuneration Report will contain the information as required by the Dutch Corporate Governance Code (11.2.10 to 11.2.15).

 

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The remuneration report of the Supervisory Board shall, be posted on the Company’s website.

 

2.6 The remuneration policy, based on the requirements as stated in in paragraph II.2 of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code (in as far as Heineken applies the provisions) proposed for the next financial year and subsequent years as specified in the remuneration report shall be submitted to the General Meeting for adoption. Every material change in the remuneration policy shall also be submitted to the General Meeting for adoption. Schemes whereby Executive Board members are remunerated in the form of shares or rights to subscribe for shares, and major changes to such schemes, shall be submitted to the General Meeting for approval.

Composition, expertise and independence of the Supervisory Board

Article 3

 

3.1 The Supervisory Board consists of such number of members as determined in accordance with the Articles of Association. (Articles of Association: the Supervisory Board consists of three or more members and with due observance of this limit, the Supervisory Board shall determine the number of members. Profile Supervisory Board: the maximum number will be 10).

 

3.2 In consultation with the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board shall draw up a profile of its size and composition, taking into account the nature of the business, its activities and the desired expertise and background. The profile shall deal with the aspects of diversity in the composition of the Supervisory Board that are relevant to the Company and shall state what specific objective is pursued by the board in relation to diversity. In so far as the existing situation differs from the intended situation, the Supervisory Board shall account for this in the report of the Supervisory Board and shall indicate how and within what period it expects to achieve this aim. This profile shall be evaluated from time to time. The profile is a public document, which is available for inspection at the Company’s offices and shall be posted on the Company’s website.

The profile of the Supervisory Board is attached as Annex A.

 

3.3 Each Supervisory Board member shall be capable to assess the broad outline of the overall policy. Each Supervisory Board member shall have the specific expertise required for the fulfilment of the duties designated to him within the framework of the Supervisory Board profile. The composition of the Supervisory Board shall be such that it is able to fulfil its duties properly. The Supervisory Board shall aim for a diverse composition in terms of such factors as gender and age. A Supervisory Board member shall be reappointed only after careful consideration. The profile referred to shall also be applied in the case of re-appointment.

 

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3.4 At least one member of the Supervisory Board shall be a financial expert, with relevant knowledge and experience of financial administration and accounting for listed companies or other large legal entities.

 

3.5 The number of supervisory boards of which an individual may be a member, along with other (additional) functions, shall be limited to such an extent that the proper performance of his duties is assured. This aspect shall be paid attention to not only when submitting a nomination for appointment or reappointment in the Supervisory Board, but also when a Supervisory Board member accepts other functions during the period of his membership. Each Supervisory Board member shall ensure that all his (additional) functions are always known to the Supervisory Board. In any event, the number of supervisory boards of Dutch listed companies of which an individual may be a member shall be limited to five, for which purpose the chairmanship of a supervisory board counts double.

 

3.6 The composition of the Supervisory Board shall be such that the members are able to act critically and independently of one another and of the Executive Board and any particular interests.

 

3.7 All Supervisory Board members, with the exception of not more than one member, shall be independent within the meaning of best practice provision III.2.2 of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code as applied from time to time by Heineken N.V.

 

3.8 The report of the Supervisory Board shall contain a statement whether, in view of the Supervisory Board, best practice provision III.2.1 of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code has been fulfilled, and shall also state which Supervisory Board member is not considered to be independent, if any.

 

3.9 No more than one former Executive Board member shall have a seat on the Supervisory Board.

 

3.10 The delegated Supervisory Board member at the Company has permanent status. The authorities assigned to him are those assigned under the Company’s Articles of Association. The delegated member of the Supervisory Board does however not, enter the domain of managing the Company and the delegation does not affect the Supervisory Board’s task and authority.

Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Company Secretary

Article 4

 

4.1 The Supervisory Board appoints a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman from among its members. The Chairman of the Supervisory Board may not be a former member of the Company’s Executive Board.

 

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4.2 The Chairman of the Supervisory Board shall ensure the proper functioning of the Supervisory Board and its Committees and shall act on behalf of the Supervisory Board as the main contact for the Executive Board and for shareholders regarding the functioning of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board members. In his capacity as Chairman he shall ensure the orderly and efficient conduct of the General Meeting. The Chairman of the Supervisory Board is assisted in his role by the Company Secretary.

The Chairman of the Supervisory Board shall ensure that:

 

  a. the members of the Supervisory Board follow their induction, training and education programme;

 

  b. the members of the Supervisory Board receive in good time all information which is necessary for the proper performance of their duties;

 

  c. there is sufficient time for consultation and decision-making by the Supervisory Board;

 

  d. the Committees of the Supervisory Board function properly;

 

  e. the performance of the Executive Board members and the Supervisory Board members is assessed at least once a year;

 

  f. the Supervisory Board elects a Vice-Chairman; and

 

  g. the contacts between the Supervisory Board and both the Executive Board and the external auditor proceed properly.

 

4.3 The Company Secretary shall assist the Supervisory Board. The Company Secretary shall ensure that the correct procedures are followed and that the Supervisory Board acts in accordance with its statutory obligations as well as its obligations under the Articles of Association.

The Company Secretary shall assist the Chairman in the actual organisation of the affairs of the Supervisory Board (information, agenda, evaluation, training programme, etc.).

The Company Secretary shall, either on the recommendation of the Supervisory Board or otherwise, be appointed and dismissed by the Executive Board, after the approval of the Supervisory Board has been obtained.

 

4.4 The vice-chairman of the Supervisory Board shall deputise for the Chairman when the occasion arises. By way of addition to best practice provision III.1.7 of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code, the vice-chairman shall act as contact for individual Supervisory Board members and Executive Board members concerning the functioning of the Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

 

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Functions and Committees of the Supervisory Board

Article 5

 

5.1 The Supervisory Board comprises a Preparatory Committee, a Remuneration Committee, a Selection and Appointment Committee and an Audit Committee. These Committees are subject to their relevant regulations, which are drawn up by the Supervisory Board and which are posted on the Company’s website. These regulations and the composition of the Committees will be posted on the Company’s website. The regulations shall indicate the role and responsibility of the committees concerned and the manner in which it discharges its duties. The regulations may provide that a maximum of one member of each committee may not be independent within the meaning of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code best practice provision III.2.2 (in so far Heineken applies the best practice provision).

The respective regulations (terms of reference) of the Committees are attached as Annexes B, C, D and E.

These Committees perform their duties under the responsibility of the Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board shall receive from each of the Committees a report of its deliberations and findings.

 

5.2 The function of the Committees is to prepare and, if necessary, to carry out the resolutions and the actions to be taken by the Supervisory Board in the domain entrusted to the Committee concerned. The entire Supervisory Board remains responsible for its decisions even if they were prepared by one of the Committees of the Supervisory Board.

 

5.3 Observing relevant guidelines, the Supervisory Board may delegate to the Committees a resolution, to be taken by the Supervisory Board, on a sufficiently defined subject in the domain entrusted to the Committee concerned.

As soon as a Committee, on the basis of such delegation, has taken a resolution, its Chairman shall ensure that all members of the Supervisory Board are informed. The Supervisory Board may at all times revoke both its delegation resolution and the Committee’s resolution taken on the basis of it, unless third parties’ rights or justified interests prevent this.

 

5.4 The Committees are authorised to examine everything belonging to the field of operation of the Committee concerned. To this end, they are authorised to require all necessary information from the Chairman of the Executive Board and to seek external advice.

 

5.5 The Supervisory Board determines the composition of the Committees, according to the Regulations of the Committees.

 

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5.6 The report of the Supervisory Board (annual report) shall state the number of meetings, the composition of the Committees as well as the main items discussed.

(Re)appointment, term and resignation

Article 6

 

6.1 In accordance with the Articles of Association, appointment of Supervisory Board members is done by the General Meeting from a non binding nomination, to be drawn up by the Supervisory Board for each appointment. When submitting such nominations, the Supervisory Board shall comply with the provisions of this article 6.

 

6.2 Yearly a retirement schedule will be drawn up by the Supervisory Board, in order to avoid, as far as possible, a situation in which many Supervisory Board members retire at the same time. The retirement schedule shall be publicly available and shall be posted on the Company’s website.

 

6.3 A Supervisory Board member may hold a seat on the Supervisory Board for three four-year terms at maximum. This does not apply to members who are related by blood or marriage to Mr. A.H. Heineken , former chairman of the Executive Board, and members of the Board of Directors of Heineken Holding N.V.

 

6.4 A Supervisory Board member shall resign in the course of his term in the event of inadequate performance, structural incompatibility of interests or if the Supervisory Board feels that this is otherwise called for.

 

6.5 Persons reaching the age of 70 cannot be appointed as Supervisory Board members. A Supervisory Board member resigns at the first Annual General Meeting that is held after he has reached the age of 70. The Supervisory Board may decide for one or more Supervisory Board members that, and to what extent, the provisions of this paragraph are not applicable to them. The provisions of Article 10 section 3 of the Articles of Association shall apply correspondingly to the Supervisory Board decision referred to in the previous sentence.

 

6.6 A Supervisory Board member, who temporarily takes on the management, where the Executive Board members are absent or unable to discharge their duties, shall resign from the Supervisory Board.

Remuneration, loans and investing in shares

Article 7

 

7.1 The General Meeting shall determine the remuneration of the Supervisory Board members. The remuneration of a Supervisory Board member shall not be dependent on the results of the Company.

 

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7.2 A Supervisory Board member may not be granted any shares and/or options on shares as a form of remuneration.

 

7.3 The Company may not grant its Supervisory Board members any personal loans, guarantees or the like unless in the normal course of business and on terms applicable to the personnel as a whole, and after approval of the Supervisory Board. No remission of loans may be granted.

 

7.4 Any shares held by a Supervisory Board member in the Company are long-term investments.

 

7.5 The members of the Supervisory Board are bound by the Heineken N.V. Rules concerning Inside Information 2007 (as these may be amended or supplemented, concerning transactions in shares and other securities in the Company, Heineken Holding N.V. and other companies mentioned therein.

Induction programme and ongoing education and training

Article 8

After appointment, all Supervisory Board members shall follow an induction programme to be drawn up by the Company in consultation with the Chairman of the Supervisory Board. The programme shall, in any event, cover general financial, social and legal affairs, financial reporting by the Company, any specific aspects that are unique to the Company and its activities, and the responsibilities of a Supervisory Board member. The Supervisory Board shall conduct an annual review to identify any aspects with regard to which the Supervisory Board members require further training or education. The Company shall play a facilitating role in this respect.

Supervisory Board meetings (attendance, minutes, recurring subjects) and resolutions

Article 9

 

9.1 The Supervisory Board shall have at least six meetings with the Executive Board annually. The schedule of meetings is determined annually and in advance. Without prejudice to the foregoing, the Supervisory Board shall meet every time when required under the Articles of Association or these regulations, as well as every time when so requested by the Chairman, the delegated Supervisory Board member, two other Supervisory Board members or the Chairman of the Executive Board.

Supervisory Board members who are frequently absent shall be asked to explain their non-attendance. The report of the Supervisory Board in the annual report shall state which Supervisory Board members have been frequently absent from the Supervisory Board meetings.

 

* The Supervisory Board considers an absence of two times per year as frequent.

 

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9.2 The meetings shall generally be held at the offices of the Company, but may also take place elsewhere. In addition, meetings may be held by telephone or videoconference provided that all participants can hear each other simultaneously.

 

9.3 The Executive Board shall submit to the Supervisory Board for approval:

 

  a. the operational and financial objectives of the Company;

 

  b. the strategy designed to achieve the objectives;

 

  c. the parameters to be applied in relation to the strategy, for example in respect of the financial ratios;

 

  d. corporate social responsibility issues that are relevant to the enterprise; and

 

  e all other proposals for approvals as arranged for in the Articles of Association and the document referred to as ‘Application Article 8, section 6 of the Articles of Association’.

 

9.4 Annually, without prejudice to the above, the Executive Board shall provide the Supervisory Board at the latest in the month of December with a business plan, including a budget, an investment plan, a finance plan and a policy document on acquisitions and participations for the next year for discussion and approval.

 

9.5 The Supervisory Board shall discuss at least once a year, the corporate strategy and the main risks of the business, the result of the assessment by the Executive Board of the design and effectiveness of the internal risk management and control systems as well as any significant changes thereto. These discussions shall be referred to in the Supervisory Board’s report in the annual report.

 

9.6 The Supervisory Board shall discuss, at least once a year on its own, i.e. without the Executive Board being present its own functioning, the functioning of the Committees and its individual members, and the conclusions that must be drawn on the basis thereof. The desired profile, composition and competence of the Supervisory Board shall also be discussed. Moreover the Supervisory Board shall discuss at least once a year without the Executive Board being present both the functioning of the Executive Board as an organ of the Company and the performance of its individual members and the conclusions that must be drawn on the basis thereof. The report of the Supervisory Board shall state how the evaluation of the functioning of the Supervisory Board, the separate committees and the individual Supervisory Board members has been carried out

 

9.7 If the Company, whether solicited or unsolicited, is subjected to a rating process by a rating agency, then the report of the agency concerned – if and insofar as available – shall be discussed by the Supervisory Board.

 

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9.8 Any notice convening a Supervisory Board meeting shall be sent in writing, together with the agenda and other meeting documents, in principle seven days prior to the day of the meeting. In urgent cases, the Chairman may decide that the meeting shall be held earlier. Notice shall, in principle, be sent by the Company Secretary, in consultation with the Chairman.

 

9.9 The Supervisory Board meetings will in general be attended by the members of the Executive Board.

 

9.10 Prior to the notice convening the meeting, the Chairman shall, in principle, consult with the Chairman of the Executive Board about the contents of the agenda.

 

9.11 The meetings shall be presided over by the Chairman. In his absence, the Vice-Chairman shall preside over the meeting.

 

9.12 The Supervisory Board can only take valid resolutions in a meeting if the majority of the Supervisory Board members is present or represented at the meeting, with the proviso that members who have a conflict of interest as referred to in Article 10 shall not be taken into account when calculating this quorum.

 

9.13 Approval of a resolution by the Supervisory Board, as referred to in Article 8, section 6 under a), b) and c) of the Articles of Association, shall require a majority as referred to in Article 9.12, but this majority should in any case include the vote of the delegated member.

 

9.14 A Supervisory Board member may have himself represented by a co-member of the Supervisory Board by written proxy. A Supervisory Board member can act as proxy for no more than one co-member of the Supervisory Board.

 

9.15 The Supervisory Board may also adopt resolutions outside meetings in accordance with Articles 9.12 and 9.13, provided that none of the members of the Supervisory Board object to this manner of decision-making and subject to all members of the Supervisory Board responding in writing, this to include telefax and e-mail. A resolution passed in this manner shall be mentioned in the first subsequent meeting of the Supervisory Board.

 

9.16 Minutes shall be made of the subjects discussed at the Supervisory Board meeting. These minutes shall be adopted at the same or a subsequent Supervisory Board meeting, and signed by the Chairman in witness thereof.

 

9.17 The procedure and the decision-making by the Supervisory Board shall, furthermore, be subject to the relevant provisions of the Articles of Association.

 

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Conflicts of interest

Article 10

 

10.1 Any conflict of interest or apparent conflict of interest between the Company and the Supervisory Board members shall be avoided. Decisions to enter into transactions under which Supervisory Board members would have conflicts of interest that are of material significance to the Company and/or to the relevant Supervisory Board members require the approval of the Supervisory Board.

 

10.2 A Supervisory Board member or an Executive Board member shall immediately report any conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest that is of material significance to the Company and/or to him, to the Chairman of the Supervisory Board and shall provide all relevant information, including information concerning his wife, registered partner or other life companion, foster child and relatives by blood or marriage up to the second degree as defined under Dutch law. If the Chairman of the Supervisory Board has a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest that is of material significance to the Company and/or to him, he shall report this immediately to the Vice-Chairman of the Supervisory Board and shall provide all relevant information, including information concerning his wife, registered partner or other life companion, foster child and relatives by blood or marriage up to the second degree as defined under Dutch law.

 

10.3 The Supervisory Board shall decide whether there is a conflict of interest. The Supervisory Board member concerned may not take part in the assessment by the Supervisory Board of whether a conflict of interest exists. The Executive Board member concerned shall not be present when the Supervisory Board decides whether there is a conflict of interest.

A conflict of interest exists in any event if the Company intends to enter into a transaction with a legal entity:

 

  i. in which a Supervisory Board member or an Executive Board member personally has a material financial interest;

 

  ii. which has an Executive Board member who is related under family law to a member of the Supervisory Board or an Executive Board member of the Company, or in which a member of the Supervisory Board of the Company has a management or

 

  iii. supervisory position.

 

10.4 A Supervisory Board member or an Executive Board member may not take part in a discussion and/or decision-making on a subject or transaction in relation to which he has a conflict of interest with the Company.

 

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10.5 All transactions in which there are conflicts of interest with Supervisory Board members or Executive Board members shall be agreed on terms that are customary in the sector concerned.

Decisions to enter into transactions in which there are conflicts of interest with Supervisory Board members or Executive Board members that are of material significance to the Company and/or to the relevant Supervisory Board members or Executive Board members require the approval of the Supervisory Board. Such transactions shall be published in the annual report, together with a statement of the conflict of interest and a declaration that the best practice provisions III.6.1 to III.6.3 inclusive of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code have been complied with.

 

10.6 All transactions between the Company and legal or natural persons who hold at least ten percent of the shares in the Company shall be agreed on terms that are customary in the sector concerned. Decisions to enter into transactions with such persons that are of material significance to the Company and/or to such persons require the approval of the Supervisory Board. Such transactions shall be published in the annual report, together with a declaration that this article has been observed.

Whistleblowers

Article 11

Alleged irregularities concerning the functioning of Executive Board members shall be reported to the Chairman of the Supervisory Board. To this end the Executive Board shall draw up Regulations. The Regulation ensures that employees should have a possibility to report on alleged irregularities at the Company of a general, operational and financial nature within the Company to the Chairman of the Executive Board or to an official designated by him, without jeopardising their legal position.

The arrangements for whistleblowers shall be posted on the Company’s website.

Information, relationship with the Executive Board

Article 12

 

12.1 The Supervisory Board and its individual members each have their own responsibility for obtaining all information from the Executive Board and the external auditor that the Supervisory Board needs in order to be able to carry out its duties as a supervisory organ. If the Supervisory Board considers it necessary it may obtain information from officers and external advisors of the Company. The Company shall provide the necessary means for this purpose. The Supervisory Board may require certain officers and external advisors attend its meetings.

 

12.2 The Executive Board shall timely provide the Supervisory Board with the necessary information, which the Supervisory Board may need to perform its duties.

 

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12.3 At least once per year, the Executive Board will inform the Supervisory Board in writing about the main features of the corporate strategy, the general and financial risks and the risk management and control systems of the Company.

 

12.4 The Executive Board shall (at least) quarterly provide the Supervisory Board with a report prepared in a format as agreed from time to time and setting out detailed information on inter alia finance, marketing, investments and staff.

 

12.5 If a member of the Supervisory Board should receive information or indications relevant to the Supervisory Board in the proper performance of its supervisory and advisory duties (from a source other than the Executive Board or Supervisory Board), he shall make this information available to the Chairman as soon as possible. The Chairman shall subsequently inform the entire Supervisory Board.

Information, relationship with the shareholders

Article 13

 

13.1 A resolution for approval or authorisations to be passed by the general meeting shall be explained in writing. The explanation will include all facts and circumstances relevant to the approval or authorisation. The notes to the agenda shall be posted on the company’s website.

 

13.2 If not prevented from attending for important reasons, the Supervisory Board members shall participate in the General Meeting. The Supervisory Board shall promote that also the members of the Executive Board participate in the General Meeting.

 

13.3 The Supervisory Board and the Executive Board shall provide the General Meeting with any information, unless an overriding interest (zwaarwichtig belang) of the Company or any law, rules or regulations applicable to the Company prevent it from doing so. The Supervisory Board and the Executive Board shall specify the reasons for invoking such overriding interest.

 

13.4 Resolutions on a major change in the identity or the character of the Company or its enterprise shall be subject to approval of the General Meeting of Shareholders.

 

13.5 The Supervisory Board shall monitor that the Executive Board complies with best practice provision II.1.9.

 

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The external auditor

Article 14

 

14.1 The external auditor is appointed by the General Meeting. The Supervisory Board shall nominate a candidate for this appointment, while both the Audit Committee and the Executive Board advise the Supervisory Board. The remuneration of the external auditor, and instructions to the external auditor to provide non-audit services, shall be approved by the Supervisory Board on the recommendation of the Audit Committee and after consultation with the Executive Board.

 

14.2 The external auditor shall, in any event, attend the meeting of the Supervisory Board, at which the report of the external auditor regarding the audit of the financial statements will be discussed and the financial statements are to be adopted or approved. The external auditor shall report his findings in relation to the audit of the financial statements to the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board simultaneously.

 

14.3 The contacts between the Supervisory Board and the external auditor shall be channelled through the Chairman of the Audit Committee.

 

14.4 The Supervisory Board shall ensure that any recommendations made to the Company by the external auditor are actually observed by the Executive Board.

 

14.5 At least once every four years, the Executive Board and the Audit Committee shall conduct a thorough assessment of the functioning of the external auditor within the various entities and in the different capacities in which the external auditor acts. The main conclusions of this assessment shall be communicated to the General Meeting for the purposes of assessing the nomination for the appointment of the external auditor.

 

14.6 The external auditor shall have a conflict of interest with the Company if:

 

  a. the independence of the external auditor with respect to its audit of the financial statements is compromised by the non-audit activities for the Company as regulated by the prevailing regulations on auditor independence, the Audit Committee pre-approval policy for external audit firm services and the engagement letter from the external auditor;

 

  b. the responsible partner in the external auditors firm has been in charge of the audit activities for the Company for a longer period of time than as described in the prevailing regulations on auditor independence;

 

  c. under applicable law, including the rules of any stock exchange on which the Company’s shares (or depositary receipts thereof) may be listed, such conflicts of interests exists or is deemed to exist;

 

  d. the Supervisory Board at his sole discretion has ruled that such conflict of interest exists or is deemed to exist.

 

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14.7 Each member of the Supervisory Board and Executive Board, as well as the external auditor of the Company, shall immediately report any potential conflict concerning the external auditor to the Chairman. The external auditor of the Company, as well as each member of the Supervisory and Executive Board must provide all information relevant to the conflict of interests to the Chairman.

In all circumstances other then the ones listed under 14.6 c) and d), the Supervisory Board will determine whether a reported (potential) conflict of interest qualifies as a conflict of interest pursuant to which the appointment of the external auditor will have to be reconsidered or other measures must be taken to resolve it. The Chairman shall procure that those measures will be mentioned in the Company’s annual report with reference to the conflict of interests and a declaration that this article 14.7 was complied with.

Corporate Governance

Article 15

 

15.1 The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board are responsible for the Corporate Governance structure of the Company and for compliance with the Dutch Corporate Governance Code.

They are accountable for this to the General Meeting and should provide sound reasons for any non-application of the provisions.

 

15.2 The broad outline of the Corporate Governance structure of the Company shall be explained in a separate chapter (or in a separate document referred to in the annual report) of the annual report, partly by reference to the principles mentioned in the Dutch Corporate Governance Code. In this chapter the Company shall indicate expressly to what extent it applies the best practice provisions in the Dutch Corporate Governance Code and, if it does not do so, why and to what extent it does not apply them.

 

15.3 Each substantial change in the Corporate Governance structure of the Company and in the compliance of the Company with the Dutch Corporate Governance Code shall be submitted to the General Meeting for discussion under a separate agenda item.

Confidentiality

Article 16

Supervisory Board members shall treat all information and documentation acquired within the framework of their position as Supervisory Board member with the necessary discretion and, in the case of classified information, with the appropriate secrecy. Classified information shall not be disclosed outside the Supervisory or Executive Board, made public or otherwise made available to third parties, even after resignation from the Supervisory Board, unless it has been made public by the Company or it has been established that the information is already in the public domain.

 

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Non-compliance, amendment

Article 17

 

17.1 Without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 1.2 and 15, the Supervisory Board may occasionally decide at its sole discretion not to comply with and adhere to these Regulations pursuant to a Supervisory Board resolution to that effect.

 

17.2 Without prejudice to the provision of Articles 1.2 and 15, these Regulations may be amended by resolution of the Supervisory Board to that effect.

Other provisions

Article 18

 

18.1. These regulations have been adopted by the Supervisory Board in its meeting on 25 August 2009 and replace the previous regulations.

Amsterdam, August 2009

 

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Schedule 6 – Preparatory Committee Regulations

 

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REGULATIONS (Terms of Reference) PREPARATORY COMMITTEE

OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD

 

General

These regulations describe the role and the responsibility of the Preparatory Committee, its composition and the way in which it performs its duties. The regulations and the composition of the Preparatory Committee are posted on the company’s website. The Supervisory Board’s report in the annual report mentions the composition of the Preparatory Committee, the number of meetings as well as the most important subjects raised for discussion.

The members of the Preparatory Committee shall act in compliance with primary and secondary legislations, the Dutch Corporate Governance Code of December 2008, the Supervisory Board regulations and the Articles of Association.

 

Article 1 Composition

 

  1. The Preparatory Committee (‘the Committee’) consists of at least three members, including the delegated member of the Supervisory Board if a delegated member has been appointed.

 

  2. The Supervisory Board determines the composition of the Committee, duly observing paragraph 1. The Chairman of the Supervisory Board is also the Chairman of the Preparatory Committee.

 

Article 2 Tasks

 

1. The Committee’s task is to prepare and, if necessary, to execute, resolutions to be adopted by and acts to be performed by the Supervisory Board on the domain entrusted to the Committee. The Supervisory Board remains responsible for the resolutions and acts, even if prepared or executed by the Committee. The domain entrusted to the Committee comprises of the following:

 

  a. decisions concerning the approval required by Article 8, paragraph 6 of the Articles of Association for resolutions by the Executive Board pertaining to:

 

  a). acquiring, alienating or encumbering participations in public companies (“naamloze vennootschappen”) or other legal entities;

 

  b). exercising voting rights for shares in public companies or other legal entities;

 

  c). issuance of Shares and granting rights to subscribe for Shares, as well as restricting or excluding pre-emptive rights;

 

  d). acquiring and alienation of own Shares or depositary receipts therefore;

 

  e. contracting debenture loans;

 

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  f. acts in law, such as entering into agreements by which the Company binds itself as guarantor and instituting legal proceedings, of which the interest for the Company amounts to more than five hundred thousand euro (EUR 500,000).

 

  g. the distribution of interim dividends;

 

  h. the operational and financial objectives of the Company;

 

  i. the strategy which must bring about the realisation of the objectives;

 

  j. preconditions which are observed for the strategy regarding for instance the financial ratios;

 

  k. granting personal loans, guarantees and such like to the members of the Executive Board or members of the Supervisory Board;

 

  l. transactions involving conflicts of interest of members of the Executive Board which are of material interest for the Company and/or for the member of the Executive Board concerned.

 

  m. the granting of loans as referred to in article 4 paragraph 5 of the Articles of Association.

 

  b. supervision of the Executive Board as far as this is not a task of the Audit Committee, the Remuneration Committee or the Selection and Appointment Committee;.

 

  c. other activities assigned by the Supervisory Board.

 

2. Observing relevant guidelines, the Supervisory Board may delegate to the Committee a resolution, to be taken by the Supervisory Board, on a sufficiently defined subject in the domain entrusted to the Committee.

As soon as the Committee, on the basis of such a delegation, has taken the resolution, its Chairman shall ensure that all members of the Supervisory Board are informed. The Supervisory Board may at all times revoke both the delegation and the Committee’s resolution taken on the basis of it, unless third parties’ rights or justified interests prevent this.

 

3. The Committee is entitled to investigate any matters belonging to the domain entrusted to the Committee. The Committee is authorised to require all necessary information from the Chairman of the Executive Board and to seek external advice.

 

Article 3 Meetings/resolutions

 

1. The Committee meets at least four times per year or more if requested by of one its members or the Chairman of the Executive Board.

 

2. The Committee will, in general, invite the Chairman of the Executive Board to attend its meetings. The Committee can request the Chairman of the Executive Board to be accompanied by other members of the Executive Board and/or directors or other employees of the company.

 

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3. The Committee is supported by the Company Secretary, whose tasks shall include at least the following:

 

  i. to timely convene the meetings;

 

  ii. to send the members the agenda and the pertaining appendices, basically one week prior to the meeting;

 

  iii. to take minutes of the meetings; the minutes are adopted at the next meeting;.

 

  iv. to dispatch the draft minutes and/or the adopted minutes of the meeting to the members of both the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board (as soon as possible).

 

4. The Committee takes resolutions delegated to it by unanimous vote of the members present.

Legally valid resolutions can only be taken in a meeting attended by at least two Committee members.

This clause leaves unaffected the provisions of article 11, paragraph 9 of the company’s Articles of Association concerning the required cooperation by the delegated member of the Supervisory Board.

 

5. Subject to written permission of all members of the Committee, the Committee may also take resolutions delegated to it without holding a meeting.

 

6. If it should appear that the Committee is unable to take a resolution delegated to it with the required unanimous vote or written approval, its Chairman shall immediately promote decision making by the Supervisory Board.

 

Article 4 Other provisions

 

1. These Regulations have been adopted by the Supervisory Board in its meeting on 25 August 2009 and will become applicable as per the same date.

 

2. These regulations are not applicable to the extent they conflict with the law or the company’s Articles of Association.

 

3. These regulations replace the regulations adopted by the Supervisory Board in its meeting on 8-9 November 2004.

 

Preparatory Committee (Voorbereidingscommissie) Heineken N.V. August 2009

  page 3

 

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Schedule 7 – Americas Committee Regulations

REGULATIONS (Terms of Reference) AMERICAS COMMITTEE OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD

General

These regulations set forth the composition, attributions and rules of governance of the Americas Committee of the Supervisory Board of Heineken N.V. These regulations and the composition of the Americas Committee shall be posted on the company’s website. The Supervisory Board’s report in the Annual Report shall describe the composition of the Americas Committee, the number of meetings it held during the year as well as the principal subjects discussed.

The members of the Americas Committee shall act in compliance with the Dutch Corporate Governance Code of December 2008, the Supervisory Board regulations, the Articles of Association and all applicable laws.

As a Committee of the Supervisory Board, the Americas Committee shall act by delegation of the Supervisory Board with respect to the matters described below which are entrusted to the Committee. It shall recommend to the Supervisory Board such action as it deems appropriate. Any action taken by the Committee shall be deemed to constitute an act of the Supervisory Board.

Article 1 Composition

 

1. The Americas Committee (‘the Committee’) shall be composed of three members designated by the Supervisory Board from among its members.

 

2. The Committee shall be chaired by the ‘First Femsa H-Representative’.

Article 2 Oversight Responsibilities

 

1. The Committee shall exercise oversight responsibility over the following activities of the Executive Board as they relate to the Americas Region:

 

  a. The overall strategic direction of the business of the Company, including as reflected in the preparation and execution of the Company’s annual and pluri-annual business plans;

 

  b. The periodic review and evaluation of the Company’s financial and operating performance;

 

  c. The periodic review and monitoring of the Company’s organization and management, including transition and succession planning;

 

  d. The review, evaluation and monitoring of growth and development opportunities of the Company, in particular strategic acquisitions and partnerships;

 

  e. Such other matters concerning the Company’s markets, business operations, business relations, governmental and public affairs as the Committee shall see fit and proper or as shall be referred by the Executive Board from time to time.

 

2. The Americas Committee shall periodically report on its activities, findings and recommendations to the Supervisory Board but in no event less frequently than every 6 months.

 

3. The Committee shall have the ability and power to seek information from management and independent auditors of the Company and its subsidiaries in respect of the matter as to which it has oversight as it deems necessary or desirable to perform its duties. Such requests shall be made to the Chairman of the Executive Board.

 

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4. The out-of–pocket reasonable expenses of the Committee and its members incurred in connection with their activities shall be advanced or promptly reimbursed by the Company in accordance with its business expense guidelines and policies in effect from time to time.

Article 3 Meetings/ Resolutions

 

1. The Committee meets at least twice a year or more if requested by one of its members or the Chairman of the Executive Board. Meetings shall be held in Amsterdam, New York or any other place as deemed convenient by the members. The language of the meetings shall be in English, unless all members prefer another language. Minutes shall be drafted in the English language.

 

2. The Committee shall decide whether the Chairman of the Executive Board and the Regional President Americas attends.

 

3. The Committee takes decisions by unanimous vote of the members present. Valid decisions can only be taken in a meeting attended by at least two members of the Committee, one of them the Chairman.

 

4. Subject to written consent of all members of the Committee, the Committee may take decisions by unanimous written consent.

 

5. If it should appear that the Committee is unable to take a decision with the required unanimous vote or written approval, its Chairman shall inform the Supervisory Board.

 

6. The Committee is supported by the Company secretary, whose tasks shall include at least the following:

 

  i. to timely convene the meetings;

 

  ii. to send the members the agenda and the pertaining appendices, one week prior to the meeting;

 

  iii. to take minutes of the meetings; the minutes are adopted at the next meeting;

 

  iv. to dispatch the draft minutes and/or the adopted minutes of the meeting to the members of both Executive Board and the Supervisory Board (as soon as possible).

These regulations have been adopted by the Supervisory Board in its meeting on 22 February 2010 and are applicable as from the same date.

 

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Schedule 8 – [deliberately blank]

 

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Schedule 9 – Further Information to be provided

For so long as the Femsa Parties or their Subsidiaries are the record and Beneficial Owners of an Economic Interest representing not less than 7% of HNV, Holding and HNV shall provide to the Femsa Parties (at the sole cost and expense of Femsa) such information relating to HNV, Holding and such number of the Subsidiaries of HNV and Holding as is required for the Femsa Parties to obtain a tax credit under Mexican tax law in an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the amount necessary to offset the Femsa Parties’ Mexican tax liability on the dividends received from HNV and Holding, and (b) 30% of the Femsa Parties’ direct and indirect share of all taxes of HNV and its Subsidiaries for any financial year; provided that, in relation to any extraordinary dividend (being any one-off dividend paid in addition to HNV’s or Holding’s ordinary course dividends) HNV and/or Holding will, if requested by Femsa, use its reasonable efforts to provide the Femsa Parties (at the sole cost and expense of Femsa) with such additional information to offset the Femsa Parties’ Mexican tax liability on such extraordinary dividend. The Femsa Parties’ share of all taxes of HNV and its Subsidiaries shall be based on the Femsa Parties’ direct and indirect ownership of the entity paying such taxes. The information to be reasonably requested from HNV and Holding may include the following:

1. Documentation setting forth dividends distributed and received by Holding, HNV and their Subsidiaries, including any income tax withheld from such dividend distributions and the corporate income tax paid corresponding to the profits that were distributed, but only to the extent such distributions, amounts withheld, and taxes paid will permit the Femsa Parties to claim a tax credit under Mexican tax law with respect to the dividends paid to the Femsa Parties by Holding and HNV.

2. Documentation that sets forth the direct and indirect ownership of HNV in the stock of the entities whose tax payments are relevant to the tax credits claimed.

3. Copies of the annual income tax returns of the entities whose tax payments are relevant to the tax credits claimed for the tax years in which the relevant dividends are distributed.

4. Financial documentation (e.g., bank account statements, wire transfers confirmations, deposit slips) showing the payment of the income tax for which a tax credit is being sought.

5. If applicable, copies of certificates of income tax withholdings of any dividend payments.

6. Copies of shareholders meeting minutes or other documents under applicable law establishing that the relevant dividends have been approved.

Holding and HNV shall take such actions as may be reasonably requested by the Femsa Parties (but at the sole cost and expense of Femsa) to authenticate or certify any such documents.

 

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Schedule 10 – Form of Joinder

FORM OF JOINDER TO CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AGREEMENT

Reference is hereby made to the Corporate Governance Agreement, dated [30 April, 2010], (the “CGA”) by and between Heineken Holding N.V., a public company (naamloze vennootschap) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands, Heineken N.V., a public company (naamloze vennootschap) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands, L’Arche Green N.V., a public company (naamloze vennootschap) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands, CB Equity LLP, a legal entity incorporated under the laws of the United Kingdom and Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V., a legal entity incorporated under the laws of Mexico. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the CGA.

The undersigned is, or desires to become, a member of the H-Supervisory Board and therefore agrees as follows:

 

1. Agreement to be Bound. Pursuant to and as required by Clause 2.10 of the CGA (and Clause 2.5(e) or Clause 2.6(c) of the CGA, as applicable), the undersigned hereby agrees that upon execution of this joinder, he or she shall become bound by the provisions of the CGA and that he or she shall fulfill his or her duties and exercise his or her rights in accordance with the provisions of the CGA and that he or she shall act in a manner consistent with, and as required to give effect to, the provisions of the CGA.

 

2. Governing Law. This joinder and any rights and obligations created hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted exclusively in accordance with the laws of the Netherlands.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this joinder as of the date indicated below.

 

MEMBER OF H-SUPERVISORY BOARD
By:  

 

 

Name:

 
  Date:  

 

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Significant Subsidiaries

Exhibit 8.1

Significant Subsidiaries

The following table sets forth our significant subsidiaries as of February 29, 2012:

 

Name of Company

   Jurisdiction of
Establishment
   Percentage
Owned
 

CIBSA

   Mexico      100.0

Coca-Cola FEMSA(1)

   Mexico        50.0

Propimex, S. de R.L. de C.V. (a limited liability company; formerly Propimex, S.A. de C.V.)

   Mexico        50.0

Controladora Interamericana de Bebidas, S.A. de C.V.

   Mexico        50.0

Coca-Cola FEMSA de Venezuela, S.A. (formerly Panamco Venezuela, S.A. de C.V.)

   Venezuela        50.0

Spal Industria Brasileira de Bebidas, S.A.

   Brazil        48.9

FEMSA Comercio

   Mexico      100.0

CB Equity

   United Kingdom      100.0

 

(1) Percentage of capital stock. FEMSA owns 63.0% of the capital stock with full voting rights.
CEO Certification pursuant to Section 302

Exhibit 12.1

Certification

I, José Antonio Fernández Carbajal, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B de C.V.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results from operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: April 27, 2012

 

/s/ José Antonio Fernández Carbajal

José Antonio Fernández Carbajal

Chief Executive Officer

CFO Certification pursuant to Section 302

Exhibit 12.2

Certification

I, Javier Astaburuaga Sanjines, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results from operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: April 27, 2012

 

/s/ Javier Astaburuaga Sanjines

Javier Astaburuaga Sanjines

Chief Financial Officer

Officer Certification pursuant to Section 906

Exhibit 13.1

Certification

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

(Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code)

Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code), each of the undersigned officers of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B de C.V. (the “Company”), does hereby certify, to such officer’s knowledge, that:

The Annual Report on form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2011 (the “Form 20-F”) of the Company fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and information contained in the Form 20-F fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results from operations of the Company.

Date: April 27, 2012

 

/s/ José Antonio Fernández Carbajal

José Antonio Fernández Carbajal

Chief Executive Officer

Date: April 27, 2012

 

/s/ Javier Astaburuaga Sanjines

Javier Astaburuaga Sanjines

Chief Financial Officer