SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE MONTH OF JULY
2004
FOMENTO ECONOMICO MEXICANO, S.A. DE C.V.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Mexican Economic Development, Inc.
(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
United Mexican States
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
General Anaya No. 601 Pte.
Colonia Bella Vista
Monterrey, NL 64410 Mexico
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will
file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F of Form 40-F.)
Form 20-F x Form 40-F
--- ---
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the
information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)
Yes No x
--- ---
(If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to
the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82--.)
FEMSA Announces Successful Bond Issuance in Mexican Market
MONTERREY, Mexico--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 7, 2004--Fomento Economico
Mexicano, S.A. de C.V. ("FEMSA") (NYSE:FMX) (BMV:FEMSA UBD) (BMV:FEMSA UB), the
Leader in Latin Beverages, announced the successful issuance of Ps. 2.500
billion in bonds (Certificados Bursatiles) in the Mexican market.
The issuance was completed in two tranches. One tranche was for a 5-year,
Ps. 1.250 billion note bearing an interest rate of 89 basis points over the
91-day Treasury notes, known as CETES. Another tranche was for a 4-year, Ps.
1.250 billion note with a yield to maturity of 45 basis points over the 28-day
interbank lending rate, known as TIIE.
Coming out of a period of high volatility in the fixed income market, both
tranches set aggressive benchmarks and signaled the effective reopening of the
Mexican bond market. These issues were granted the maximum credit rating by all
three major credit rating agencies, and achieved very aggressive pricing by an
eager investor pool.
FEMSA is taking advantage of high liquidity in Mexican debt capital
markets. The proceeds from this issuance will be complemented with bank
financing at highly competitive rates, and will be used to buy back a 30% stake
in FEMSA's beer division for $ 1.245 billion from Interbrew.
FEMSA is the leading beverage company in Latin America. It controls an
integrated beverage platform that comprises the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the
region, Coca- Cola FEMSA; the second-largest brewer in Mexico and important beer
exporter to the United States, FEMSA Cerveza; and Oxxo, the largest and
fastest-growing convenience store chain in Mexico with over 2,800 stores.
CONTACT: FEMSA
Investors Contact:
Juan F. Fonseca, (52) 818-328-6245
juan.fonseca@femsa.com.mx
or
Alan Alanis, (52) 818-328-6211
alan.alanis@femsa.com.mx
or
Media Contact:
Jaime Toussaint, (52) 818-328-6202
jtouelo@femsa.com.mx
or
Carolina Alvear, (52) 818-328-6046
calvsev@femsa.com.mx
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
FOMENTO ECONOMICO MEXICANO, S.A. DE C.V.
By: /s/ Federico Reyes
----------------------
Federico Reyes
Chief Financial Officer
Date: July 7, 2004