Page 1 of 13 Pages
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
----------------------------------------------------------------------
SCHEDULE 13G
Information Statement pursuant to Rule 13d-1 and 13d-2
(AMMENDMENT NO.)*
FOMENTO ECONOMICO MEXICANO S
---------------------------------------------
(NAME OF ISSUER)
COMMON STOCK
---------------------------------------------
(TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES)
344419106
---------------------------------------------
(CUSIP NUMBER)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement :_:
(A fee is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous
statement on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five
percent of the class of securities described in Item 1; and (2) has
filed no amendment subsequent thereto reporting beneficial ownership
of five percent or less of such class.) (See Rule 13d-7.)
* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person`s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class
of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information
which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not
be deemed to be 'filed' for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 ('Act') or otherwise subject to the liabilities
of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions
of the Act (however, see the Notes).
(CONTINUED ON FOLLOWING PAGE(S))
-------------------- --------------------
CUSIP NO. 344419106 13G Page 2 of 13 Pages
-------------------- --------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1- NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
AXA Assurances I.A.R.D. Mutuelle
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
-------------------------------------------------------------------
2- CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP * (A) [ ]
(B) [X]
-------------------------------------------------------------------
3- SEC USE ONLY
-------------------------------------------------------------------
4- CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
France
-------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
AS OF September 30, 1998 BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
-----------------------------------------------
5- SOLE VOTING POWER
532,560
-----------------------------------------------
6- SHARED VOTING POWER
65,000
-----------------------------------------------
7- SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
628,860
-----------------------------------------------
8- SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
--------------------------------------------------------------------
9- AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
628,860
(Not to be construed as an admission of beneficial ownership)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
10- CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES * |------|
|------|
-------------------------------------------------------------------
11- PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
15.9%
-------------------------------------------------------------------
12- TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON *
IC
--------------------------------------------------------------------
* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
-------------------- --------------------
CUSIP NO. 344419106 13G Page 3 of 13 Pages
-------------------- --------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1- NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
AXA Assurances Vie Mutuelle
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
-------------------------------------------------------------------
2- CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP * (A) [ ]
(B) [X]
-------------------------------------------------------------------
3- SEC USE ONLY
-------------------------------------------------------------------
4- CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
France
--------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
AS OF September 30, 1998 BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
-----------------------------------------------
5- SOLE VOTING POWER
532,560
-----------------------------------------------
6- SHARED VOTING POWER
65,000
-----------------------------------------------
7- SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
628,860
-----------------------------------------------
8- SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
--------------------------------------------------------------------
9- AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
628,860
(Not to be construed as an admission of beneficial ownership)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
10- CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES * |------|
|------|
-------------------------------------------------------------------
11- PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
15.9%
-------------------------------------------------------------------
12- TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON *
IC
--------------------------------------------------------------------
* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
-------------------- --------------------
CUSIP NO. 344419106 13G Page 4 of 13 Pages
-------------------- --------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1- NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
Alpha Assurances Vie Mutuelle
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
-------------------------------------------------------------------
2- CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP * (A) [ ]
(B) [X]
-------------------------------------------------------------------
3- SEC USE ONLY
-------------------------------------------------------------------
4- CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
France
--------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
AS OF September 30, 1998 BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
-----------------------------------------------
5- SOLE VOTING POWER
532,560
-----------------------------------------------
6- SHARED VOTING POWER
65,000
-----------------------------------------------
7- SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
628,860
-----------------------------------------------
8- SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
--------------------------------------------------------------------
9- AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
628,860
(Not to be construed as an admission of beneficial ownership)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
10- CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES * |------|
|------|
-------------------------------------------------------------------
11- PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
15.9%
-------------------------------------------------------------------
12- TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON *
IC
--------------------------------------------------------------------
* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
-------------------- --------------------
CUSIP NO. 344419106 13G Page 5 of 13 Pages
-------------------- --------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1- NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
AXA Courtage Assurance Mutuelle
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
-------------------------------------------------------------------
2- CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP * (A) [ ]
(B) [X]
-------------------------------------------------------------------
3- SEC USE ONLY
-------------------------------------------------------------------
4- CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
France
--------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
AS OF September 30, 1998 BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
-----------------------------------------------
5- SOLE VOTING POWER
532,560
-----------------------------------------------
6- SHARED VOTING POWER
65,000
-----------------------------------------------
7- SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
628,860
-----------------------------------------------
8- SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
--------------------------------------------------------------------
9- AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
628,860
(Not to be construed as an admission of beneficial ownership)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
10- CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES * |------|
|------|
-------------------------------------------------------------------
11- PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
15.9%
-------------------------------------------------------------------
12- TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON *
IC
--------------------------------------------------------------------
* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
-------------------- --------------------
CUSIP NO. 344419106 13G Page 6 of 13 Pages
-------------------- --------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1- NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
AXA-UAP
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
-------------------------------------------------------------------
2- CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP * (A) [ ]
(B) [ ]
-------------------------------------------------------------------
3- SEC USE ONLY
-------------------------------------------------------------------
4- CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
France
--------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
AS OF September 30, 1998 BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
-----------------------------------------------
5- SOLE VOTING POWER
532,560
-----------------------------------------------
6- SHARED VOTING POWER
65,000
-----------------------------------------------
7- SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
628,860
-----------------------------------------------
8- SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
--------------------------------------------------------------------
9- AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
628,860
(Not to be construed as an admission of beneficial ownership)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
10- CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES * |------|
|------|
-------------------------------------------------------------------
11- PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
15.9%
-------------------------------------------------------------------
12- TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON *
HC
--------------------------------------------------------------------
* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
-------------------- --------------------
CUSIP NO. 344419106 13G Page 7 of 13 Pages
-------------------- --------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1- NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
THE EQUITABLE COMPANIES INCORPORATED
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
13-3623351
-------------------------------------------------------------------
2- CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP * (A) [ ]
(B) [ ]
-------------------------------------------------------------------
3- SEC USE ONLY
-------------------------------------------------------------------
4- CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
State of Delaware
--------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
AS OF September 30, 1998 BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
-----------------------------------------------
5- SOLE VOTING POWER
532,560
-----------------------------------------------
6- SHARED VOTING POWER
65,000
-----------------------------------------------
7- SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
628,860
-----------------------------------------------
8- SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
--------------------------------------------------------------------
9- AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
628,860
-------------------------------------------------------------------
10- CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES * |------|
|------|
-------------------------------------------------------------------
11- PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
15.9%
-------------------------------------------------------------------
12- TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON *
HC
--------------------------------------------------------------------
* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
Item 1(a) Name of Issuer: Page 8 of 13 Pages
--------------
FOMENTO ECONOMICO MEXICANO S
Item 1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
-----------------------------------------------
General Anava No. 601 Poniente
Colonia Bella Vista
Monterrey, NL,
Item 2(a) Name of Person Filing:
---------------------
Alpha Assurances Vie Mutuelle,
AXA Assurances I.A.R.D Mutuelle,
AXA Assurances Vie Mutuelle,
and AXA Courtage Assurance Mutuelle,
as a group (collectively, the 'Mutuelles AXA').
AXA-UAP
The Equitable Companies Incorporated
(the 'Equitable Companies')
(Please contact Patrick Meehan at (212) 641-8234
with any questions.)
Item 2(b) Address of Principal Business Office:
------------------------------------
Alpha Assurances Vie Mutuelle
100-101 Terrasse Boieldieu
92042 Paris La Defense France
AXA Assurances I.A.R.D Mutuelle and
AXA Assurances Vie Mutuelle
21, rue de Chateaudun
75009 Paris France
AXA Courtage Assurance Mutuelle
26, rue Louis le Grand
75002 Paris France
AXA-UAP
9 Place Vendome
75001 Paris France
The Equitable Companies Incorporated
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10104
Page 9 of 13 Pages
Item 2(c) Citizenship:
-----------
Mutuelles AXA and AXA-UAP France
Equitable Companies - Delaware
Item 2(d) Title of Class of Securities:
----------------------------
Common Stock
Item 2(e) CUSIP Number:
------------
344419106
Item 3. Type of Reporting Person:
------------------------
Equitable Companies as a parent holding company,
in accordance with 240.13d-1 (b)(ii)(G).
The Mutuelles AXA, as a group, acting as a parent
holding company.
AXA-UAP as a parent holding company.
Page 10 of 13 Pages
Item 4. Ownership as of September 30, 1998:
------------------------------
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned:
-------------------------
628,860 shares of common stock beneficially owned including:
No. of Shares
---------------------
The Mutuelles AXA, as a group 0
AXA-UAP 0
AXA-UAP Entity or Entities:
(Each of the Mutuelles AXA, as a group, and AXA-UAP expressly declares
that the filing of this Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an admission
that it is, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, the beneficial
owner of any securities covered by this Schedule 13G).
The Equitable Companies Incorporated 0
Subsidiaries:
------------
Alliance Capital Management L.P.
acquired solely for investment purposes on
behalf of client discretionary investment
advisory accounts:
Common Stock 623,860 623,860
----------
The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States
acquired solely for investment purposes:
Common Stock 5,000 5,000
---------- -----------
Total 628,860
===========
(Each of the above subsidiaries of The Equitable operates under
independent management and makes independent decisions.)
(b) Percent of Class: 15.9%
---------------- ===========
ITEM 4. Ownership as of 9/30/98(CONT.) Page 11 of 13 Pages
(c) Deemed Voting Power and Disposition Power:
-----------------------------------------
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
Deemed Deemed Deemed Deemed
to have to have to have to have
Sole Power Shared Power Sole Power Shared Power
to Vote to Vote to Dispose to Dispose
or to or to or to or to
Direct Direct Direct the Direct the
the Vote the Vote Disposition Disposition
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
The Mutuelles AXA,
as a group 0 0 0 0
AXA-UAP 0 0 0 0
AXA-UAP Entity
or Entities:
------------------
NONE
The Equitable
Companies
Incorporated 0 0 0 0
Subsidiaries:
------------
Alliance Capital
Management L.P.
527,560 65,000 623,860 0
The Equitable
Life Assurance
Society of the
United States
5,000 0 5,000 0
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
TOTAL 532,560 65,000 628,860 0
============ ============ ============ ============
(Each of the above subsidiaries of the Equitable Companies operates under
independent management and makes independent voting and investment decisions).
Page 12 of 13 Pages
Item 5.
Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class:
---------------------------------------------
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date
hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of
more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following.
( )
Item 6.
Ownership of More than Five Percent on behalf of Another Person. N/A
----------------------------------------------------------------
Item 7.
Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which Acquired
------------------------------------------------------------------
the Security Being Reporting on by the Parent Holding Company:
-------------------------------------------------------------
This Schedule 13G is being filed by Equitable Companies; AXA-UAP,
which beneficially owns a majority interest in Equitable Companies;
and the Mutuelles AXA, which as a group control AXA-UAP:
( ) in the Mutuelles AXAs' capacity, as a group, acting as a parent
holding company with respect to the holdings of the following
AXA-UAP entity or entities;
( ) in AXA-UAP's capacity as a parent holding company with respect
to the holdings of the following AXA-UAP entity or entities:
(X) in EQUITABLE COMPANIES capacity as a parent holding company
with respect to the holdings of its following subsidiaries:
(X) Alliance Capital Management L.P.
(13-3434400), an investment adviser registered under Section
203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
(X) The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States
(13-5570651), an insurance company, a broker-dealer registered
under Section 15 of the Securities and Exchange Actof 1934
and an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Page 13 of 13 Pages
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. N/A
---------------------------------------------------------
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group: N/A
------------------------------
Item 10. Certification:
-------------
By signing below I certify that to the best of my knowledge and
belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary
course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not
have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer
of such securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a
participant in any transaction having such purposes or effect.
Signature
---------
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement
is true, complete and correct.
Date: October 13, 1998 THE EQUITABLE COMPANIES INCORPORATED*
/s/ Alvin H. Fenichel
--------------------------------------------
Alvin H. Fenichel
Senior Vice President
and Controller
*Pursuant to the Joint Filing Agreement with respect to Schedule 13G
attached hereto as Exhibit I, among The Equitable Companies Incorporated,
Alpha Assurances Vie Mutuelle, AXA Assurances I.A.R.D Mutuelle, AXA
Assurances Vie Mutuelle, AXA Courtage Assurance Mutuelle, and AXA-UAP,
this statement Schedule 13G is filed on behalf of each of them.
EXHIBIT I
JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
----------------------
Each of the undersigned hereby agrees that the
Schedule 13G filed herewith is filed jointly, pursuant to
Rule 13d-1(f)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended on behalf of each of them.
Dated: October 13, 1998
The Equitable Companies Incorporated
BY: /s/ Alvin H. Fenichel
-------------------------
Alvin H. Fenichel
Senior Vice President
and Controller
AXA Assurances I.A.R.D. Mutuelle; AXA Assurances Vie Mutuelle;
Alpha Assurances Vie Mutuelle; AXA Courtage Assurance Mutuelle,
as a group, and AXA-UAP
Signed on behalf of each of the above entities
BY: /s/ Alvin H. Fenichel
-----------------------------------------
Alvin H. Fenichel
Attorney-in-Fact
(Executed pursuant to Powers of Attorney)
