SEC Filing | FEMSA

View:

Download DOC

Download PDF

Download XLS

Form F-3

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 8, 2013

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM F-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

Not Applicable

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

General Anaya No. 601 Pte.

Colonia Bella Vista

Monterrey, NL 64410 Mexico

Telephone: (52-81) 8328-6000

(Address and telephone number of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Puglisi & Associates

850 Library Avenue, Suite 204

Newark, Delaware 19711

Telephone: (302) 738-6680

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

Copies to:

Duane McLaughlin

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

One Liberty Plaza

New York, New York 10006

(212) 225-2000

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.

If only securities being registered on this Form are to be offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box: x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering: ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering: ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box: x

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box: ¨

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

Amount

to be

Registered

Proposed Maximum

Offering Price

Per Unit

Proposed Maximum

Aggregate Offering
Price

Amount of

Registration Fee

Debt securities

Warrants

Guarantees of debt securities

See Note (1)

(1)

The registrant is registering an indeterminate amount of securities for offer and sale from time to time at indeterminate offering prices. In reliance on Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee relating to the registration of securities.

PROSPECTUS

LOGO

FOMENTO ECONÓMICO MEXICANO, S.A.B. DE C.V.

DEBT SECURITIES

WARRANTS

GUARANTEES

We may from time to time offer debt securities, warrants to purchase debt securities or guarantees of debt securities issued by others. This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. When we offer securities, the specific terms of the securities, the offering price and the specific manner in which they may be offered, will be described in supplements to this prospectus.

Investment in the securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4 of this prospectus.

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED WITH THE NATIONAL SECURITIES REGISTRY (REGISTRO NACIONAL DE VALORES) MAINTAINED BY THE MEXICAN NATIONAL BANKING AND SECURITIES COMMISSION (COMISIÓN NACIONAL BANCARIA Y DE VALORES, OR “CNBV”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD PUBLICLY IN MEXICO, EXCEPT THAT THE SECURITIES MAY BE OFFERED AND SOLD IN MEXICO, PURSUANT TO THE PRIVATE PLACEMENT EXEMPTION SET FORTH IN ARTICLE 8 OF THE MEXICAN SECURITIES MARKET LAW (LEY DEL MERCADO DE VALORES), TO INSTITUTIONAL AND QUALIFIED INVESTORS. UPON THE ISSUANCE OF ANY SECURITIES, WE WILL NOTIFY THE CNBV OF THE ISSUANCE, INCLUDING THE PRINCIPAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SECURITIES AND THE OFFERING OF THE SECURITIES OUTSIDE MEXICO. SUCH NOTICE WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE CNBV TO COMPLY WITH A LEGAL REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY, AND THE DELIVERY TO AND THE RECEIPT BY THE CNBV OF SUCH NOTICE, DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR IMPLY ANY CERTIFICATION AS TO THE INVESTMENT QUALITY OF THE SECURITIES OR OF OUR SOLVENCY, LIQUIDITY OR CREDIT QUALITY OR THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION SET FORTH IN THIS PROSPECTUS. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS THE EXCLUSIVE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ISSUER AND HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED OR AUTHORIZED BY THE CNBV.

April 8, 2013


ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS			1

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			2

FEMSA			3

RISK FACTORS			4

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES			7

USE OF PROCEEDS			8

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES			9

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS			28

DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEES			29

FORM OF SECURITIES, CLEARING AND SETTLEMENT			30

TAXATION			37

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			42

EXPERTS			44

VALIDITY OF SECURITIES			45

ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES			46

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			47

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE			48

We are responsible for the information contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein. We have not authorized any person to give you any other information, and we take no responsibility for any other information that others may give you. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference are accurate as of any date other than their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. may from time to time offer debt securities, warrants to purchase debt securities or guarantees of debt securities issued by others.

As used in this prospectus, “FEMSA,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise specified.

This prospectus only provides a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will prepare a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the particular offering and the terms of those securities. We may also add, update or change other information contained in this prospectus by means of a prospectus supplement or by incorporating by reference information we file with the SEC. The registration statement that we filed with the SEC includes exhibits that provide more detail on the matters discussed in this prospectus. Before you invest in any securities offered by this prospectus, you should read this prospectus, any related prospectus supplement and the related exhibits filed with the SEC, together with the additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus may contain 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;

•

changes in customer demand;

•

competition; and

•

significant developments in Mexico or international economic or political conditions or changes in the regulatory environment applicable to us, including foreign investment and antitrust regulations.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. 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.

FEMSA

FEMSA is a leading company that participates in the beverage industry through Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V., which we refer to as Coca-Cola FEMSA, the largest franchise bottler of Coca-Cola products in the world; in the retail industry through FEMSA Comercio, S.A. de C.V., which we refer to as FEMSA Comercio, operating OXXO, the largest and fastest-growing chain of small-format 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 178 countries. As of December 31, 2012, FEMSA had total revenues of Ps. 238,309 million.

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. is a sociedad anónima bursátil de capital variable (a listed variable capital stock corporation) organized under the laws of Mexico with its principal executive offices at General Anaya No. 601 Pte., Colonia Bella Vista, Monterrey, Nuevo León 64410, México. Our telephone number at this location is (52-818) 328-6000.

RISK FACTORS

We have set forth risk factors in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have also set forth below certain additional risk factors that relate specifically to securities we may offer using this prospectus. We may include further risk factors in more recent reports on Form 6-K incorporated in this prospectus by reference, or in a prospectus supplement. You should carefully consider all these risk factors in addition to the other information presented or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

Risks Relating to Debt Securities

There may not be a liquid trading market

If an active market for our debt securities does not develop, the price of our debt securities and the ability of a holder of debt securities to find a ready buyer will be adversely affected. As a result, we cannot assure you as to the liquidity of any trading market for our debt securities.

Creditors of our subsidiaries will have priority over the holders of our debt securities in claims to assets of our subsidiaries

The debt securities will be obligations of FEMSA and not of any of our subsidiaries. We conduct substantially all of our business and hold substantially all of our assets through our subsidiaries. Claims of creditors of our subsidiaries, including trade creditors, holders of bonds and banks and other lenders, will have priority over the holders of debt securities of FEMSA in claims to assets of our subsidiaries, and claims of creditors against subsidiaries will have priority over the holders of debt securities in claims to assets of our subsidiaries. In addition, our ability to meet our obligations, including under our debt securities, will depend, in significant part, on our receipt of cash dividends, advances and other payments from our subsidiaries.

Judgments of Mexican courts enforcing our obligations under the debt securities would be payable only in Mexican pesos

If proceedings were brought in Mexico seeking to enforce in Mexico our obligations in respect of debt securities, we would be required to discharge our obligations in Mexico solely in Mexican pesos and not in U.S. dollars or any other foreign currency. Under the Ley Monetaria de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos (the Mexican Monetary Law), an obligation denominated in a currency other than Mexican pesos that is payable in Mexico, whether as a result of the enforcement of a judgment or pursuant to an agreement, may be satisfied in Mexican pesos at the rate of exchange in effect on the date of payment. This rate is currently determined by Banco de México and published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación (the Official Gazette of the Federation). As a result, any amount paid by us in Mexican pesos to holders of debt securities may not be readily convertible into the amount of U.S. dollars or other currency that we are obligated to pay under the applicable indenture or that, if converted, such amounts may not be sufficient to purchase U.S. dollars equal to the amount of principal, interest, and additional interest due under the debt securities. In addition, our obligation to indemnify these holders against exchange losses may be unenforceable in Mexico.

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 the assets of our directors, officers and controlling persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for investors to effect service of process within the United States on such persons or to enforce judgments against them, including in any action based on civil liabilities under the U.S. federal securities laws. Based on the opinion of Carlos Eduardo Aldrete Ancira, our general counsel, the enforceability against these persons in Mexico in actions for enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts of liabilities predicated solely upon the U.S. federal securities laws will be subject to certain requirements provided for in the Mexican Federal Civil Procedure Code and any applicable treaties. Some of the requirements may include personal service of process and that the judgments of U.S. courts are not contrary to Mexican public policy.

The enforceability of our obligations under the debt securities would be affected in the event of bankruptcy

Under Mexico’s Ley de Concursos Mercantiles (Law on Mercantile Reorganization), if we were declared bankrupt or in concurso mercantil (bankruptcy reorganization), our obligations under our debt securities:

•

would be converted into Mexican pesos and then from Mexican pesos into inflation-adjusted units, or Unidades de Inversión;

•

would not be adjusted to take into account any depreciation of the Mexican peso against the U.S. dollar or other currency occurring after such declaration;

•

would cease to accrue interest;

•

would be satisfied at the time claims of all our creditors are satisfied;

•

would be subject to the outcome of, and priorities recognized in, the relevant proceedings; and

•

would be subject to certain statutory preferences, including tax, social security and labor claims and claims of secured creditors.

The collection of interest on interest may not be enforceable in Mexico

Mexican law does not permit the collection of interest on interest and, as a result, the accrual of default interest, if any, on past due ordinary interest accrued in respect of the notes may be unenforceable in Mexico.

Developments in other countries may affect prices for the debt securities and adversely affect our ability to raise additional financing.

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.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The table below presents our consolidated ratios of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated.

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. and Subsidiaries

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

Amounts in Millions of Mexican Pesos, Except Ratios


IFRS	2012		2011
Earnings available for fixed charges:
Income before income taxes and share of the profit of associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method	Ps.	27,530	Ps.	23,552
Distributed income from equity investees		1,697		1,661
Plus:
Fixed charges		3,463		3,249
Amortization of capitalized interest		14		3
Less:
Capitalized interest		38		185
Non-controlling interest		—		—

	Ps.	32,666	Ps.	28,280


Fixed Charges:
Interest expense, net		2,506		2,302
Capitalized interest		38		185
Estimate of the interest within rental expense		919		762

Total fixed charges	Ps.	3,463	Ps.	3,249

*Ratio of earnings to fixed charges*		9.43		8.70

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise disclosed in connection with a particular offering of securities, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, our debt securities will be issued under a base indenture, dated as of April 8, 2013 (the “base indenture”), and supplemental indentures relating to particular series of debt securities (collectively, the “indenture”). The indenture is an agreement between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee.

Our debt securities will not be guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries.

The following section summarizes the material terms that are common to all series of debt securities issued by FEMSA, and to the indenture under which such securities are issued, unless otherwise indicated in this section or in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series. We will describe the particular terms of each series of debt securities offered in a supplement to this prospectus.

Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities and the indenture. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the indenture, including the definition of various terms used in the indenture. For example, we describe the meanings for only the more important terms that have been given special meanings in the indenture. We also include references in parentheses to some sections of the base indenture.

The indenture and the documents relating to each series of debt securities contain the full legal text of the matters summarized in this section. We have filed a copy of the base indenture with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. We will file a copy of the supplemental indentures relating to particular series of debt securities with the SEC. Upon request, we will provide you with a copy of the indenture. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information concerning how to obtain a copy.

In this section, references to “we,” “us” and “our” are to Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. only and do not include our subsidiaries or affiliates. References to “holders” mean those who have debt securities registered in their names on the books that we or the trustee maintain for this purpose, and not those who own beneficial interests in debt securities issued in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company or in debt securities registered in street name. Owners of beneficial interests in debt securities should refer to “Form of Debt Securities, Clearing and Settlement.”

The debt securities will be issued in one or more series. The following discussion of provisions of the debt securities, including, among others, the discussion of provisions described under “—Redemption of Debt Securities,” “—Defaults, Remedies and Waiver of Defaults,” “—Modification and Waiver” and “—Defeasance,” applies to individual series of debt securities.

General

Indenture

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued under an indenture, dated as of April 8, 2013, as supplemented from time to time. The indenture is an agreement between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. The trustee has the following two main roles:

•

First, the trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default in respect of the debt securities. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on your behalf, which we describe under “—Defaults, Remedies and Waiver of Defaults.”

•

Second, the trustee performs administrative duties for us, such as making interest payments and sending notices to holders of debt securities.

Ranking of the Debt Securities

We are a holding company and our principal assets are shares that we hold in our subsidiaries. Our debt securities will be senior unsecured obligations and, as such, will not be secured by any of our assets or properties or any assets or properties of any of our subsidiaries. As a result, by owning the debt securities, you will be one of our unsecured creditors. The debt securities will not be subordinated or senior to any of our other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. In the event of a bankruptcy or liquidation proceeding against us, the debt securities would rank equally in right of payment with all our other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations.

The debt securities will be effectively subordinated to any secured obligations we may incur in the future and to all of the existing and future obligations of our subsidiaries. Claims of creditors of our subsidiaries, including trade creditors and bank and other lenders, will have priority over the holders of the debt securities in claims to assets of our subsidiaries.

Stated Maturity and Maturity

The day on which the principal amount of the debt securities is scheduled to become due is called the “stated maturity” of the principal. The principal may become due before the stated maturity by reason of redemption or acceleration after a default. The day on which the principal actually becomes due, whether at the stated maturity or earlier, is called the “maturity” of the principal.

We also use the terms “stated maturity” and “maturity” to refer to the dates when interest payments become due. For example, we may refer to a regular interest payment date when an installment of interest is scheduled to become due as the “stated maturity” of that installment. When we refer to the “stated maturity” or the “maturity” of the debt securities without specifying a particular payment, we mean the stated maturity or maturity, as the case may be, of the principal.

Rate of Interest of the Debt Securities

The debt securities will bear interest at a fixed or floating rate. If the debt securities bear interest at a floating rate, the floating interest rate formula will be based on one or more base rates plus or minus a fixed amount or multiplied by a specified percentage.

Form and Denominations

The debt securities will be issued only in fully registered book-entry form without coupons and in denominations of U.S. $150,000 and integral multiples of U.S. $2,000 in excess thereof, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. (Section 302)

Except in limited circumstances, the debt securities will be issued in the form of global debt securities. See “Form of Debt Securities, Clearing and Settlement.”

Further Issues

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we reserve the right, from time to time without the consent of holders of a particular series of the debt securities, to issue additional debt securities on terms and conditions substantially identical to those of such series of the debt securities (except as to denomination and as may otherwise be provided in any applicable prospectus supplement). (Section 301)

Payment Provisions

Payments on the Debt Securities

We will pay interest on the debt securities on the interest payment dates stated in the applicable prospectus supplement and at maturity. Each payment of interest due on an interest payment date or at maturity will include interest accrued from and including the last date to which interest has been paid or made available for payment, or from the issue date, if none has been paid or made available for payment, to but excluding the relevant payment date.

For interest due on a debt security on an interest payment date, we will pay the interest to the holder in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date relating to the interest payment date. For interest due, but not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any interest payment date, we will pay the interest to the person or entity entitled to receive the principal of the debt security. (Section 306)

For principal due on a debt security at maturity, we will pay the amount to the holder of the debt security against surrender of the debt security at the proper place of payment. (Section 1001)

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will compute interest on debt securities bearing interest at a fixed rate on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

The regular record dates relating to the interest payment dates for any debt security will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Payments on Global Debt Securities. For debt securities issued in global form, we will make payments on the debt securities in accordance with the applicable procedures of the depositary as in effect from time to time. (Section 1002) Under those procedures, we will make payments through the trustee or a paying agent directly to the depositary, or its nominee, as the registered holder of the global debt security and not to any indirect holders who own beneficial interests in a global debt security. An indirect holder’s right to receive those payments will be governed by the rules and practices of the depositary and its participants.

Payments on Certificated Debt Securities. For debt securities issued in certificated form, we will pay interest that is due on an interest payment date by check mailed on the interest payment date to the holder at the holder’s address shown on the register maintained by the security registrar as of the close of business on the regular record date (Section 202). In addition, if we issue debt securities in certificated form, holders of debt securities in certificated form will be able to receive payment on their debt securities at the office or agency of the Company maintained in New York City or any other place as we may set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. (Section 1002)

Payment When Offices Are Closed

If any payment is due on a debt security on a day that is not a business day, we will make the payment on the day that is the next business day. Payments postponed to the next business day in this situation will be treated under the indenture or the supplemental indenture as if they were made on the original due date. Postponement of this kind will not result in a default under the debt securities, the indenture or the supplemental indenture. If interest on the debt securities is calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, no interest will accrue on the postponed amount from the original due date to the next day that is a business day.

“Business day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is (a) not a day on which banking institutions in New York City or Mexico City generally are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order, as applicable, to close and (b) in the case of debt securities issued in certificated form, a day on which banks and financial institutions are generally open for business in the location of each office of a paying agent, but only with respect to a payment to be made at the office of such paying agent. (Section 101)

Paying Agents

If we issue debt securities in certificated form, we may appoint one or more financial institutions to act as our paying agents, at whose designated offices the debt securities may be surrendered for payment at their maturity. We may add, replace or terminate paying agents from time to time; provided that if any debt securities are issued in certificated form, so long as such debt securities are outstanding, we will maintain a paying agent in New York City. We may also choose to act as our own paying agent. Initially, we have appointed the trustee, at its corporate trust office in New York City, as a paying agent.

Unclaimed Payments

All money paid by us to the trustee or any paying agent that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after the amount is due to a holder will be repaid to us. After that two-year period, the holder may look only to us for payment and not to the trustee, any paying agent or anyone else. (Section 1003)

Payment of Additional Interest

We are required by Mexican law to deduct Mexican withholding taxes from payments of interest (or amounts deemed interest) to holders of debt securities who are not residents of Mexico for tax purposes as described under “Taxation—Mexican Tax Considerations.”

Subject to the limitations and exceptions described below, we will pay to holders of the debt securities all additional interest that may be necessary so that every net payment of interest or principal or premium to the holder will not be less than the amount provided for in the debt securities. By net payment, we mean the amount that we or our paying agent will pay the holder after we deduct or withhold an amount for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges imposed or levied with respect to that payment (or the payment of such additional interest) by a Mexican taxing authority or the taxing authority of any other country under whose laws we or any successor of us (assuming the obligations of the debt securities, the indenture and any applicable supplemental indenture following a merger, consolidation or transfer, lease or conveyance of substantially all of our assets and properties) are organized at the time of payment, except for the United States (each, a “Taxing Jurisdiction”).

Our obligation to pay additional interest is, however, subject to several important exceptions. We will not pay additional interest to or on behalf of any holder or beneficial owner, or to the trustee, for or on account of any of the following:

•

any taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges imposed solely because at any time there is or was a connection between the holder and the Taxing Jurisdiction (other than the mere receipt of a payment or the ownership or holding of a debt security or the enforcement of rights with respect to a debt security);

•

any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property or other similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed with respect to the debt securities;

•

any taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges imposed solely because the holder or any other person fails to comply with any certification, identification or other reporting requirement concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with the Taxing Jurisdiction of the holder or any beneficial owner of the debt security if compliance is required by law, regulation or by an applicable income tax treaty to which such Taxing Jurisdiction is a party and which is effective, as a precondition to exemption from, or reduction in the rate of, the tax, assessment or other governmental charge and we have given the holders at least 30 calendar days’ notice prior to the first payment date with respect to which such certification, identification or reporting requirement is required to the effect that holders will be required to provide such information and identification;

•

any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from payments on the debt securities;

•

any taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges with respect to a debt security presented for payment more than 15 days after the date on which the payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for and notice thereof given to holders, whichever occurs later, except to the extent that the holders of such debt security would have been entitled to such additional interest on presenting such debt security for payment on any date during such 15-day period;

•

any payment on a debt security to a holder that is a fiduciary or partnership or a person other than the sole beneficial owner of any such payment, to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary, a member of such a partnership or the beneficial owner of the payment would not have been entitled to the additional interest had the beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been the holder of such debt security;

•

any taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges that are imposed on a payment to an individual and are required to be made pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income or any other directive implementing the conclusions of the ECOFIN Council meetings of November 26 and 27, 2000, December 13, 2001, and January 21, 2003, or any law or agreement implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such a directive; and

•

any combination of the items in the bullet points above. (Section 1008)

The limitations on our obligations to pay additional interest described in the third bullet point above will not apply if the provision of information, documentation or other evidence described in the applicable bullet point would be materially more onerous, in form, in procedure or in the substance of information disclosed, to a holder or beneficial owner of a debt security, taking into account any relevant differences between U.S. and Mexican law, regulation or administrative practice, or the laws, regulations or administrative practices of any other Taxing Jurisdiction, than comparable information or other reporting requirements imposed under U.S. tax law (including the United States/Mexico Income Tax Treaty), regulations (including proposed regulations) and administrative practice. (Section 1008(a))

Applicable Mexican regulations currently allow us to withhold at a reduced rate, provided that we comply with certain information reporting requirements. Accordingly, the limitations on our obligations to pay additional interest described in the third bullet point above also will not apply with respect to any Mexican withholding taxes unless (a) the provision of the information, documentation or other evidence described in the applicable bullet point is expressly required by the applicable Mexican regulations, (b) we cannot obtain the information, documentation or other evidence necessary to comply with the applicable Mexican regulations on our own through reasonable diligence and (c) we otherwise would meet the requirements for application of the applicable Mexican regulations.

In addition, the limitation described in the third bullet point above does not require that any person that is not a resident of Mexico for tax purposes, including any non-Mexican pension fund, retirement fund or financial institution, register with the Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público (the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, or the “SHCP”) or with the Servicio de Administración Tributaria (the Tax Administration Service or “SAT”) to establish eligibility for an exemption from, or a reduction of, Mexican withholding tax.

We will remit the full amount of any taxes withheld to the applicable taxing authorities in accordance with the applicable law of the Taxing Jurisdiction. We will also provide the trustee with documentation (which may consist of copies of such documentation) reasonably satisfactory to the trustee evidencing the payment of taxes in respect of which we have paid any additional interest. We will provide copies of such documentation to the holders of the debt securities or the relevant paying agent upon request. (Section 1008(a))

In the event that additional interest actually paid with respect to the debt securities pursuant to the preceding paragraphs is based on rates of deduction or withholding of taxes in excess of the appropriate rate applicable to the holder of such debt securities, and as a result thereof such holder is entitled to make a claim for a refund or credit of such excess from the authority imposing such withholding tax, then such holder shall, by accepting such debt securities, be deemed to have assigned and transferred all right, title and interest to any such claim for a refund or credit of such excess to us. However, by making such assignment, the holder makes no representation or warranty that we will be entitled to receive such claim for a refund or credit and incurs no other obligation with respect thereto. (Section 1008(d))

Any reference in this prospectus, the base indenture, any applicable supplemental indenture or the debt securities to principal, premium, if any, interest or any other amount payable in respect of the debt securities by us will be deemed also to refer to any additional interest that may be payable with respect to that amount under the obligations referred to therein. (Section 1008(e))

Redemption of Debt Securities

We will not be permitted to redeem the debt securities before their stated maturity, except as set forth below. The debt securities will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund—meaning that we will not deposit money on a regular basis into any separate account to repay your debt securities. In addition, you will not be entitled to require us to repurchase your debt securities from you before the stated maturity. (Section 1101(a))

Optional Redemption

If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will be entitled, at our option, to redeem some or all of the outstanding debt securities from time to time at the redemption price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. If the debt securities are redeemable only on or after a specified date or upon the satisfaction of additional conditions, the prospectus supplement will specify the date or describe the conditions. In each case we will also pay you accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. Debt securities, or any portion thereof called for redemption, will stop bearing interest on and after the redemption date, unless the redemption payment of such debt security is not paid to you upon surrender. (Sections 301, 1101 and 1104)

Redemption for Taxation Reasons

If either:

•

as a result of any amendment to, or change in, the laws (or any rules or regulations thereunder) of Mexico, or any amendment to or change in an official interpretation or application of such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment to or change of such laws, rules or regulations becomes effective on or after the date of this offering memorandum, we would be obligated on the next succeeding interest payment date, after taking such measures as we may consider reasonable to avoid this requirement, to pay additional interest in excess of that attributable to a withholding tax rate of 4.9% with respect to the debt securities (see “—Payment of Additional Interest” and “Taxation—Mexican Tax Considerations”); or

•

in the event that we or any successor of us (assuming the obligations of the debt securities and the indenture following a merger, consolidation or transfer, lease or conveyance of substantially all of our assets and properties) are organized under the laws of any Taxing Jurisdiction other than Mexico (the date on which we or a successor become subject to any such Taxing Jurisdiction, the “Succession Date”), and as a result of any amendment to, or change in, the laws (or any rules or regulations thereunder) of such Taxing Jurisdiction, or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein affecting taxation, any amendment to or change in an official interpretation or application of such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment to or change of such laws, rules or regulations becomes effective after the Succession Date, we would be obligated on the next succeeding interest payment date, after taking such measures as we may consider reasonable to avoid this requirement, to pay additional interest in excess of that attributable to any withholding tax rate imposed by such Taxing Jurisdiction as of the Succession Date with respect to the debt securities,

then we may, at our option, redeem the debt securities, in whole but not in part, at any time on giving not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the outstanding principal amount of the debt securities being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and any additional interest due thereon up to but not including the date of redemption; provided, however, that (1) no notice of redemption for tax reasons may be given earlier than 90 days prior to the earliest date on which we would be obligated to pay this additional interest if a payment on the debt securities were then due and (2) at the time such notice of redemption is given such obligation to pay such additional interest remains in effect. (Section 1101(c))

Prior to the giving of any notice of redemption for taxation reasons, we will deliver to the trustee:

•

a certificate signed by one of our duly authorized representatives stating that we are entitled to effect the redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to our right of redemption for taxation reasons have occurred; and

•

an opinion of legal counsel (which may be our in-house counsel) of recognized standing to the effect that we have or will become obligated to pay such additional interest as a result of such change or amendment. (Section 1101(d))

This notice, after it is delivered to the holders, will be irrevocable. (Section 1102)

Covenants

The following covenants will apply to us and our subsidiaries for so long as any debt security remains outstanding. These covenants restrict our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to enter into certain transactions. However, these covenants do not limit our ability to incur indebtedness or require us to comply with financial ratios or to maintain specified levels of net worth or liquidity. In addition, these covenants and the indenture generally do not limit the ability of our principal shareholders to reduce their ownership interest in us.

Limitation on Liens

We may not, and we may not allow any of our significant subsidiaries to, create, incur, issue or assume any liens on our property to secure debt where the debt secured by such liens would exceed an aggregate amount equal to the greater of (1) U.S. $2,800.00 million and (2) 16% of our Consolidated Net Tangible Assets less, in each case, the aggregate amount of attributable debt of us and our significant subsidiaries pursuant to the first bullet point under “—Limitation on Sales and Leasebacks,” unless we secure the debt securities equally with, or prior to, the debt secured by such liens. This restriction will not, however, apply to the following:

•

liens on property acquired and existing on the date the property was acquired or arising after such acquisition pursuant to contractual commitments entered into prior to such acquisition and not in contemplation of such acquisition;

•

liens on any property securing debt incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing its purchase price or the cost of its construction, improvement or repair; provided that such lien attaches to the property within 12 months of its acquisition or the completion of its construction, improvement or repair and does not attach to any other property;

•

liens existing on any property of any subsidiary prior to the time that the subsidiary became a subsidiary of ours or liens arising after that time under contractual commitments entered into prior to and not in contemplation of that event;

•

liens on any property securing debt owed by a subsidiary of ours to us or to another of our subsidiaries;

•

liens existing on the date the debt securities are issued;

•

liens resulting from the deposit of funds or evidence of debt in trust for the purpose of defeasing our debt or the debt of any of our subsidiaries;

•

any (i) liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges and (ii) attachment or judgment liens, in each case, the payment of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which such reserves or other appropriate provision, if any, as may be required by International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”) shall have been made;

•

liens on accounts receivable, inventory, or bottles and cases to secure working capital or revolving credit debt incurred in the ordinary course of business;

•

liens resulting from a direct or indirect pledge of any or all of our shares in Heineken N.V. or Heineken Holdings N.V. or any holding company the principal assets of which consist of such shares;

•

any liens on real estate related to retail or commercial locations operated by us or our subsidiaries that is contributed to a trust (a “Real Estate Trust”); and

•

liens arising out of the refinancing, extension, renewal or refunding of any debt described above, provided that the aggregate principal amount of such debt is not increased and such lien does not extend to any additional property. (Section 1006)

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means at any time the total assets (stated net of properly deductible items, to the extent not already deducted in the computation of total assets) appearing on our consolidated balance sheet less all goodwill and intangible assets appearing on such balance sheet, all determined on a consolidated basis at such time in accordance with IFRS. (Section 101)

For purposes of this covenant, the covenant set forth under “—Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions” and the events of default set forth under “—Default, Remedies and Waiver of Default—Events of Default,” “significant subsidiary” means any of our subsidiaries that meets the definition of significant subsidiary under Regulation S-X as promulgated by the SEC. As of December 31, 2012, our significant subsidiaries consisted of Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V., FEMSA Comercio, S.A. de C.V. and CB Equity LLP. (Section 101)

Limitation on Sales and Leasebacks

We may not, and we may not allow any of our significant subsidiaries to, enter into any sale and leaseback transaction without effectively providing that the debt securities will be secured equally and ratably with or prior to the sale and leaseback transaction, unless:

•

the aggregate amount of attributable debt of us and our significant subsidiaries pursuant to this bullet point would not exceed an aggregate amount equal to the greater of (1) U.S. $2,800.00 million or (2) 16% of our Consolidated Net Tangible Assets less, in each case, any secured indebtedness permitted under “—Limitation on Liens” that does not secure the debt securities equally with, or prior to, the debt secured by such liens;

•

we or one of our subsidiaries, within 12 months of the sale and leaseback transaction, retire debt not owed to us or any of our subsidiaries that is not subordinated to the debt securities or invest in equipment, plant facilities or other fixed assets used in the operations of us or any of our subsidiaries, in an aggregate amount equal to the greater of (1) the net proceeds of the sale or transfer of the property or other assets that are the subject of the sale and leaseback transaction and (2) the fair market value of the property leased (Section 1007); or

•

the transaction involves the lease by us or our subsidiaries of real estate contributed to a Real Estate Trust.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, we and/or our subsidiaries may enter into sale and leaseback transactions that solely refinance, extend, renew or refund sale and leaseback transactions permitted under the bullet points above and the restriction described in the preceding paragraph will not apply to such sale and leaseback transactions.

“Sale and leaseback transaction” means a transaction or arrangement between us or one of our subsidiaries and a bank, insurance company or other lender or investor where we or our subsidiary leases property for an initial term of three years or more that was or will be sold by us or our significant subsidiary to that lender or investor for a sale price of U.S. $5 million (or its equivalent in other currencies) or more. (Section 101)

“Attributable debt” means, with respect to any sale and leaseback transaction, the lesser of (1) the fair market value of the asset subject to such transaction and (2) the present value, discounted at a rate per annum equal to the discount rate of a capital lease obligation with a like term in accordance with IFRS, of the obligations of the lessee for net rental payments (excluding amounts on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments and similar charges and contingent rents) during the term of the lease. (Section 101)

Provision of Information

We will furnish the trustee with copies of our annual report and the information, documents and other reports that we are required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including our annual reports on Form 20-F and reports on Form 6-K, within 15 days after we file them with the SEC. In addition, we will make the same information, documents and other reports available, at our expense, to holders who so request in writing. (Section 1005)

If, in the future, we are not required to file such information, documents or other reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, we will furnish to the trustee copies of the audited annual financial statements within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year and copies of the unaudited quarterly financial statements within 60 days of the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each year. (Section 1005)

If any of our senior executive officers becomes aware that a default or event of default or an event that with notice or the lapse of time would be an event of default has occurred and is continuing, as the case may be, we will deliver a certificate to the trustee describing the details thereof and the action we are taking or propose to take. (Section 1004)

If we are not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act at any time when the debt securities are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, we will furnish to any holder of debt securities, or to any prospective purchaser designated by such holder, financial and other information described in Rule 144A(d)(4) with respect to us to the extent required to permit such holder to comply with Rule 144A in connection with any resale of debt securities held by such holder. (Section 1005)

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

We may not consolidate with or merge into any other person or, directly or indirectly, transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets and properties and may not permit any person to consolidate with or merge into us, unless all of the following conditions are met:

•

if we are not the successor person in the transaction, the successor expressly assumes our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture;

•

immediately after the transaction, no default under the debt securities has occurred and is continuing. For this purpose, “default under the debt securities” means an event of default or an event that would be an event of default with respect to the debt securities if the requirements for giving us default notice and for our default having to continue for a specific period of time were disregarded. See “—Defaults, Remedies and Waiver of Defaults”; and

•

we have delivered to the trustee an officer’s certificate and opinion of counsel, each stating, among other things, that the transaction complies with the indenture. (Section 801)

If the conditions described above are satisfied, we will not have to obtain the approval of the holders in order to merge or consolidate or to sell or otherwise dispose of our properties and assets substantially as an entirety. In addition, these conditions will apply only if we wish to merge into or consolidate with another person or sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets and properties. We will not need to satisfy these conditions if we enter into other types of transactions, including any transaction in which we acquire the stock or assets of another person, any transaction that involves a change of control of our company, but in which we do not merge or consolidate, and any transaction in which we sell or otherwise dispose of less than substantially all our assets.

Defaults, Remedies and Waiver of Defaults

You will have special rights if an event of default with respect to the debt securities you hold occurs and is not cured, as described below.

Events of Default

Each of the following will be an “event of default” with respect to any series of the debt securities:

•

we fail to pay interest on any debt security within 30 days after its due date;

•

we fail to pay the principal or premium, if any, of any debt security on its due date;

•

we remain in breach of any covenant in the indenture for the benefit of holders of the debt securities of any series, for 90 days after we receive a notice of default (sent by the trustee at the written request of holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series to us or by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series to us and the trustee) stating that we are in breach;

•

we or any of our significant subsidiaries experience a default or event of default under any instrument relating to debt, prior to its maturity, that results in the failure to pay principal, or in the acceleration, of an aggregate principal amount equal to or greater than U.S.$100 million (or its equivalent in other currencies);

•

a final judgment is rendered against us or any of our significant subsidiaries in an aggregate amount in excess of U.S.$50 million (or its equivalent in other currencies) that is not discharged or bonded in full within 90 days, for 10 days after we receive a notice of this default (sent by the trustee at the written request of holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of such series to us or by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of such series to us and the trustee); or

•

we or any of our significant subsidiaries file for bankruptcy, or other events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or similar proceedings occur relating to us or any of our significant subsidiaries.

Remedies Upon Event of Default

If an event of default with respect to any series of the debt securities occurs and is not cured or waived, the trustee, at the written request of holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of such series, may declare the entire principal amount of all the debt securities to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the principal, any accrued interest and any additional interest shall become due and payable. If, however, an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities occurs because of a bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to us or any of our significant subsidiaries, the entire principal amount of all the debt securities of such series and any accrued interest and any additional interest will be automatically accelerated, without any action by the trustee or any holder and any principal, interest or additional interest will become immediately due and payable. (Section 502)

Each of the situations described in the preceding paragraph is called an acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities. If at any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to any series of debt securities is made and before a judgment for payment has been obtained, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series (except in the event of an event of default arising from bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or similar proceedings) may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, provided that all amounts then due (other than amounts due solely because of such acceleration) have been paid and all other defaults with respect to such series of debt securities have been cured or waived. (Section 502)

If any event of default occurs, the trustee will be obligated to use those of its rights and powers under the indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in doing so, that a prudent person would use under the circumstances in conducting his or her own affairs.

The trustee is not required to take any action under the indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable protection, known as an indemnity, from expenses and liability. Subject to the trustee’s right to receive an indemnity that is reasonably satisfactory to it, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the applicable series of outstanding debt securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee. These majority holders may also direct the trustee in writing in performing any other action under the indenture with respect to the debt securities. (Sections 512 and 603(e))

Before a holder of any debt securities of any series bypasses the trustee and brings its own lawsuit or other formal legal action or takes other steps to enforce its rights or protect its interests relating to the debt securities, the following must occur:

•

the holder must give the trustee written notice that an event of default has occurred with respect to the debt securities of such series and the event of default has not been cured or waived;

•

the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series must make a written request that the trustee take action with respect to the debt securities of such series because of the default and they or other holders must offer to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to the trustee against the cost and other liabilities incurred by complying with such request;

•

the trustee must not have taken action for 60 days after the above steps have been taken; and

•

during those 60 days, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series must not have given the trustee directions that are inconsistent with the written request previously delivered by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series. (Section 507)

A holder will be entitled, however, at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on any debt securities held by that holder on or after its due date. (Section 508)

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and how to declare or cancel an acceleration of the maturity.

Waiver of Default

The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive a past default for all the debt securities of such series. If this happens, the default will be treated as if it had been cured. However, no holder may waive (i) a payment default on any debt security or (ii) a covenant default by which we make any of the changes in “—Modification and Waiver – Changes Requiring Each Holder’s Approval” without obtaining approval of each affected holder of outstanding debt securities of such series. (Section 513)

Modification and Waiver

There are three types of changes we can make to the indenture, any supplemental indenture and the outstanding debt securities under the indenture.

Changes Requiring Each Holder’s Approval

The following changes cannot be made without the approval of each holder of an outstanding debt security affected by the change:

•

a change in the stated maturity of any principal or interest payment on a debt security;

•

a reduction in the principal amount, the interest rate or the redemption price for a debt security;

•

a change in our obligation to pay additional interest;

•

a change in the currency of any payment on a debt security other than as permitted by the debt security;

•

a change in the place of any payment on a debt security;

•

an impairment of the holder’s right to sue for payment of any amount due on its debt security;

•

a reduction in the percentage in principal amount of the debt securities needed to change the indenture or the outstanding debt securities under the indenture; and

•

a reduction in the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities needed to waive our compliance with the indenture, any supplemental indenture or to waive defaults. (Section 902)

Changes Not Requiring Approval

Some changes will not require the approval of holders of debt securities. These changes are limited to specific kinds of changes, like the addition of covenants, events of default or security, and other clarifications and changes that would not adversely affect the holders of outstanding debt securities under the indenture in any material respect. (Section 901)

Changes Requiring Majority Approval

Any other change to the indenture or the debt securities of any series will be required to be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series affected by the change or waiver. The required approval must be given by written consent. (Section 902)

The same majority approval will be required for us to obtain a waiver of certain of our covenants in the indenture and any supplemental indenture. Our covenants include the promises we make about merging, creating liens on our interests and entering into sale and leaseback transactions, which we describe under “—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” and “—Covenants.” If the holders approve a waiver of a covenant, we will not have to comply with it. The holders, however, cannot approve a waiver of any provision in a particular debt security, the indenture or any supplemental indenture, as it affects that debt security, that we cannot change without the approval of the holder of that debt security as described under in “—Changes Requiring Each Holder’s Approval,” unless that holder approves the waiver. (Section 1010)

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we seek to change the indenture, any supplemental indenture or the debt securities or request a waiver.

Defeasance

We may, at our option, elect to terminate (1) all of our obligations with respect to the debt securities (“legal defeasance”), except for certain obligations, including those regarding any trust established for defeasance and obligations relating to the transfer and exchange of the debt securities, the replacement of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, the maintenance of agencies with respect to the debt securities and the rights, powers, trusts, duties, immunities, and indemnities and other provisions in respect of the trustee (Sections 1201 and 1202) or (2) our obligations under certain covenants in the indenture, so that any failure to comply with such obligations will not constitute an event of default (“covenant defeasance”) in respect of a particular series of debt securities. (Sections 1201 and 1203) In order to exercise either legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, we must irrevocably deposit with the trustee U.S. dollars or such other currency in which the debt securities are denominated (the “securities currency”), government obligations of the United States or a government, governmental agency or central bank of the country whose currency is the securities currency, or any combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest (including additional interest) in respect of the debt securities then outstanding on the maturity date of the debt securities, and comply with certain other conditions, including, without limitation, the delivery of opinions of counsel as to specified tax and other matters. (Sections 1201, 1204 and 1205)

If we elect either legal defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to any series of debt securities, we must so elect it with respect to all of the outstanding debt securities of such series. (Section 1201)

Special Rules for Actions by Holders

When holders take any action under the indenture, such as giving a notice of default, declaring an acceleration, approving any change or waiver or giving the trustee an instruction, we will apply the following rules.

Only Outstanding Debt Securities are Eligible for Action by Holders

Only holders of outstanding debt securities of a particular series will be eligible to vote or participate in any action by holders. In addition, we will count only outstanding debt securities of that series in determining whether the various percentage requirements for voting or taking action have been met. For these purposes, a debt security will not be “outstanding” if it has been surrendered for cancellation or if we have deposited or set aside, in trust for its holder, money for its payment or redemption. (Section 101) In addition, any debt securities owned or held by us or any of our affiliates will be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for these purposes.

Determining Record Dates for Action by Holders

We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders that are entitled to take action under the indenture or the supplemental indenture. In some limited circumstances, only the trustee will be entitled to set a record date for action by holders. If we or the trustee set a record date for an approval or other action to be taken by holders, that vote or action may be taken only by persons or entities who are holders on the record date and must be taken during the period that we specify for this purpose, or that the trustee specifies if it sets the record date. We or the trustee, as applicable, may shorten or lengthen this period from time to time. This period, however, may not extend beyond the 180th day after the record date for the action. In addition, record dates for any global debt securities may be set in accordance with procedures established by the depositary from time to time. (Section 104)

Transfer Agents

We may appoint one or more transfer agents, at whose designated offices any debt securities in certificated form may be transferred or exchanged and also surrendered before payment is made at maturity. Initially, we have appointed the trustee, at its corporate trust office in New York City, as transfer agent. We may also choose to act as our own transfer agent. We must notify you of changes in the transfer agent as described under “—Notices.” If we issue debt securities in certificated form, holders of debt securities in certificated form will be able to transfer their debt securities, in whole or in part, by surrendering the debt securities, with a duly completed form of transfer, for registration of transfer at the office of our transfer agent in New York City. We will not charge any fee for the registration or transfer or exchange, except that we may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any applicable tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with the transfer. (Sections 304 and 1002)

Notices

As long as we issue debt securities in global form, notices to be given to holders will be given to DTC, in accordance with its applicable policies as in effect from time to time. If we issue debt securities in certificated form, notices to be given to holders will be sent by mail to the respective addresses of the holders as they appear in the register maintained by the registrar, and will be deemed given when mailed. (Section 106)

Neither the failure to give any notice to a particular holder, nor any defect in a notice given to a particular holder, will affect the sufficiency of any notice given to another holder. (Section 106)

Governing Law

The indenture, any supplemental indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, United States of America. (Section 113)

Submission to Jurisdiction

In connection with any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the debt securities, the indenture or any supplemental indenture (subject to the exceptions described below), we have:

•

submitted to the jurisdiction of any U.S. federal or New York state court in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, and any appellate court thereof;

•

agreed that all claims in respect of such legal action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such U.S. federal or New York state court and waived, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding and any right of jurisdiction on account of our present or future place of residence or domicile; and

•

appointed C T Corporation System, with an office at 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011, United States of America, as process agent, and such agent has accepted such appointment.

The process agent will receive, on our behalf, service of copies of the summons and complaint and any other process which may be served in any such legal action or proceeding brought in such New York state or U.S. federal court sitting in New York City. Service may be made by mailing or delivering a copy of such process to us at the address specified above for the process agent. (Section 115)

A final judgment in any of the above legal actions or proceedings will be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions, in each case, to the extent permitted under the applicable laws of such jurisdiction.

In addition to the foregoing, the holders may serve legal process in any other manner permitted by applicable law. The above provisions do not limit the right of any holder to bring any action or proceeding against us or our properties in other courts where jurisdiction is independently established.

To the extent that we have or hereafter may acquire or have attributed to us any sovereign or other immunity under any law, we have agreed to waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, such immunity from jurisdiction or to service of process in respect of any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the indenture or the debt securities. (Section 115)

Currency Indemnity

Our obligations under the debt securities will be discharged only to the extent that the trustee or the relevant holder is able to purchase the securities currency with any other currency paid to the trustee or that holder in accordance with any judgment or otherwise. If the trustee or the holder cannot purchase the securities currency in the amount originally to be paid, we have agreed to pay the difference. The holder, however, agrees that, if the amount of the securities currency purchased exceeds the amount originally to be paid to such holder, the holder will reimburse the excess to us. (Section 1009)

Our Relationship with the Trustee

The Bank of New York Mellon is initially serving as the trustee for the debt securities. The Bank of New York Mellon or its affiliates may have other business relationships with us from time to time.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants, in one or more series, for the purchase of debt securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with our debt securities and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. In addition to this summary, you should refer to the detailed provisions of the specific warrant agreement for complete terms of the warrants and the warrant agreement. A form of warrant agreement will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.

The warrants will be evidenced by warrant certificates. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the warrant certificates may be traded separately from the debt securities, if any, with which the warrant certificates were issued. Warrant certificates may be exchanged for new warrant certificates of different denominations at the office of an agent that we will appoint. Until a warrant is exercised, the holder of a warrant does not have any of the rights of a holder of our debt securities and is not entitled to any payments on any debt securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants.

A prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus relating to a particular series of warrants will describe the terms of those warrants, including:

•

the title and the aggregate number of warrants;

•

the debt securities for which each warrant is exercisable;

•

the date or dates on which the right to exercise such warrants commence and expire;

•

the price or prices at which such warrants are exercisable;

•

the currency or currencies in which such warrants are exercisable;

•

the periods during which and places at which such warrants are exercisable;

•

the terms of any mandatory or optional call provisions;

•

the price or prices, if any, at which the warrants may be redeemed at the option of the holder or will be redeemed upon expiration;

•

the identity of the warrant agent; and

•

the exchanges, if any, on which such warrants may be listed.

You may exercise warrants by payment to our warrant agent of the exercise price, in each case in such currency or currencies as are specified in the warrant, and giving your identity and the number of warrants to be exercised. Once you pay our warrant agent and deliver the properly completed and executed warrant certificate to our warrant agent at the specified office, our warrant agent will, as soon as practicable, forward securities to you in authorized denominations or share amounts. If you exercise less than all of the warrants evidenced by your warrant certificate, you will be issued a new warrant certificate for the remaining amount of warrants.

DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEES

Under our guarantees of debt securities issued by others, we will irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee the full and punctual payment of principal, premium, if any, interest, additional interest and any other amounts that may become due and payable by the issuer in respect of the series of debt securities that were provided with our guarantees. If the issuer fails to pay any such amount, we will pay the amount that is due and required to be paid.

Set forth below is a summary of the terms of our guarantees. This summary does not purport to be complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the relevant terms of the guarantees.

Our guarantees:

•

will be our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations (including guarantees of subsidiaries’ indebtedness);

•

will be effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured obligations and to all existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries; and

•

do not restrict our ability or the ability of our subsidiaries to incur or guarantee additional indebtedness in the future.

We are a holding company, and our principal assets are shares that we hold in our subsidiaries. Our guarantees will not be secured by any of our assets or properties. As a result, by owning our guarantees, you will be one of our unsecured creditors. The guarantees will not be subordinated to any of our other unsecured obligations. In the event of a bankruptcy or liquidation proceeding against us, the guarantees would rank equally in right of payment with all our other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations (including guarantees of subsidiaries’ indebtedness).

FORM OF SECURITIES, CLEARING AND SETTLEMENT

Global Securities

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following information relates to the form, clearing and settlement of U.S. dollar-denominated debt securities.

We will issue the securities in global form, without interest coupons. Securities issued in global form will be represented, at least initially, by one or more global debt securities. Upon issuance, global securities will be deposited with the trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as DTC’s partnership nominee. Ownership of beneficial interests in each global security will be limited to persons who have accounts with DTC, whom we refer to as DTC participants, or persons who hold interests through DTC participants. We expect that, under procedures established by DTC, ownership of beneficial interests in each global security will be shown on, and transfer of ownership of those interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to interests of DTC participants) and the records of DTC participants (with respect to other owners of beneficial interests in the global securities).

Beneficial interests in the global debt securities may be credited within DTC to its direct and indirect participants, including Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (“Euroclear”) and Clearstream, Luxembourg Banking, société anonyme (“Clearstream, Luxembourg”) on behalf of the owners of such interests.

Investors may hold their interests in the global debt securities directly through DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, if they are participants in those systems, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in those systems.

Beneficial interests in the global debt securities may not be exchanged for securities in physical, certificated form except in the limited circumstances described below.

Book-Entry Procedures for Global Securities

Interests in the global debt securities will be subject to the operations and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg. We provide the following summaries of those operations and procedures solely for the convenience of investors. The operations and procedures of each settlement system are controlled by that settlement system and may be changed at any time. Neither we, the trustee, the security registrar, any paying agent nor any transfer agent is responsible for those operations or procedures.

DTC has advised that it is:

•

a limited purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law;

•

a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law;

•

a member of the U.S. Federal Reserve System;

•

a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and

•

a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

DTC was created to hold debt securities for its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between its participants through electronic computerized book-entry changes to the accounts of its participants. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. Access to DTC’s system is also available to indirect participants, including other securities brokers and dealers, banks, and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC participant, either directly or indirectly. Investors who are not DTC participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through DTC participants or indirect participants in DTC.

So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a global debt security, DTC or its nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by that global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a global debt security:

•

will not be entitled to have securities represented by the global debt security registered in their names;

•

will not receive or be entitled to receive physical, certificated debt securities; and

•

will not be considered the registered owners or holders of the debt securities under the indenture for any purpose, including with respect to the giving of any direction, instruction or approval to the trustee under the indenture.

As a result, each investor who owns a beneficial interest in a global debt security must rely on the procedures of DTC to exercise any rights of a holder of debt securities under the indenture (and, if the investor is not a participant or an indirect participant in DTC, on the procedures of the DTC participant through which the investor owns its interest).

Payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to the securities represented by a global debt security will be made by the trustee to DTC’s nominee as the registered holder of the global debt security. Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for the payment of amounts to owners of beneficial interests in a global debt security, for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of those interests by DTC, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of DTC relating to those interests.

Payments by participants and indirect participants in DTC to the owners of beneficial interests in a global debt security will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of those participants or indirect participants and not of DTC, its nominee or us.

Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected under DTC’s procedures and will be settled in same-day funds. Transfers between participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg will be effected in the ordinary way under the rules and operating procedures of those systems.

Cross-market transfers between DTC participants, on the one hand, and Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg participants, on the other hand, will be effected within DTC through the DTC participants that are acting as depositaries for Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg. To deliver or receive an interest in a global security held in a Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg account, an investor must send transfer instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be, under the rules and procedures of that system and within the established deadlines of that system. If the transaction meets its settlement requirements, Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be, will send instructions to its DTC depositary to take action to effect final settlement by delivering or receiving interests in the relevant global securities in DTC, and making or receiving payment under normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg participants may not deliver instructions directly to the DTC depositaries that are acting for Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg.

Because of time zone differences, the securities account of a Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg participant that purchases an interest in a global security from a DTC participant will be credited on the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg immediately following the DTC settlement date. Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg from the sale of an interest in a global debt security to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg cash account as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg following the DTC settlement date.

DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg have agreed to the above procedures to facilitate transfers of interests in the global securities among participants in those settlement systems. However, the settlement systems are not obligated to perform these procedures and may discontinue or change these procedures at any time. Neither we nor the trustee have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg or their participants or indirect participants of their obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

Debt Securities Denominated in a Currency other than U.S. Dollars

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following information relates to the form, clearing and settlement of debt securities denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar.

We will issue the debt securities as one or more global debt securities registered in the name of the nominee of a common depositary for Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear. Investors may hold book-entry interests in the global securities through organizations that participate, directly or indirectly, in Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or Euroclear. Book-entry interests in the debt securities and all transfers relating to the debt securities will be reflected in the book-entry records of Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear.

The distribution of the debt securities will be carried through Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear. Any secondary market trading of book-entry interests in the debt securities will take place through participants in Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear and will settle in same-day funds. Owners of book-entry interests in the debt securities will receive payments relating to their debt securities in U.S. dollars or such other currency in which the debt securities are denominated, as applicable. Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear have established electronic securities and payment transfer, processing, depositary and custodial links among themselves and others, either directly or through custodians and depositaries. These links allow securities to be issued, held and transferred among the clearing systems without the physical transfer of certificates. Special procedures to facilitate clearance and settlement have been established among these clearing systems to trade securities across borders in the secondary market.

The policies of Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear will govern payments, transfers, exchange and other matters relating to the investor’s interest in securities held by them. We have no responsibility for any aspect of the records kept by Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear or any of their direct or indirect participants. We do not supervise these systems in any way.

Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear and their participants perform these clearance and settlement functions under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers. You should be aware that they are not obligated to perform or continue to perform these procedures and may modify them or discontinue them at any time.

Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in the debt securities will not be entitled to have the debt securities registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the debt securities under the indenture governing the debt securities, including for purposes of receiving any reports delivered by us or the trustee pursuant to the indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a debt security must rely on the procedures of the Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that person owns its interest, in order to exercise any rights of a holder of debt securities.

This description of the clearing systems reflects our understanding of the rules and procedures of Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear as they are currently in effect. These systems could change their rules and procedures at any time. We have obtained the information in this section concerning Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear and their book-entry systems and procedures from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.

Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear

Clearstream, Luxembourg has advised that: it is a duly licensed bank organized as a société anonyme incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg and is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the supervision of the financial sector (Commission de surveillance du secteur financier); it holds securities for its customers and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among them, and does so through electronic book-entry transfers between the accounts of its customers, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates; it provides other services to its customers, including safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and lending and borrowing of securities; it interfaces with the domestic markets in over 30 countries through established depositary and custodial relationships; its customers include worldwide securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and may include certain other professional financial intermediaries; its U.S. customers are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks; and indirect access to the Clearstream, Luxembourg system is also available to others that clear through Clearstream, Luxembourg customers or that have custodial relationships with its customers, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies.

Euroclear has advised that: it is incorporated under the laws of Belgium as a bank and is subject to regulation by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission (Commission Bancaire et Financiére) and the National Bank of Belgium (Banque Nationale de Belgique); it holds securities for its participants and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among them; it does so through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payments, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates; it provides other services to its participants, including credit, custody, lending and borrowing of securities and tri-party collateral management; it interfaces with the domestic markets of several countries; its customers include banks, including central banks, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and certain other professional financial intermediaries; indirect access to the Euroclear system is also available to others that clear through Euroclear customers or that have custodial relationships with Euroclear customers; and all securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis, which means that specific certificates are not matched to specific securities clearance accounts.

Clearance and Settlement Procedures

We understand that investors that hold their debt securities through Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear accounts will follow the settlement procedures that are applicable to securities in registered form. Debt securities will be credited to the securities custody accounts of Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear participants on the business day following the settlement date for value on the settlement date. They will be credited either free of payment or against payment for value on the settlement date.

We understand that secondary market trading between Clearstream, Luxembourg and/or Euroclear participants will occur in the ordinary way following the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear. Secondary market trading will be settled using procedures applicable to securities in registered form.

You should be aware that investors will only be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the debt securities through Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear on business days. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States or Mexico.

In addition, because of time zone differences, there may be problems with completing transactions involving Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear on the same business day as in the United States or Mexico. U.S. and Mexican investors who wish to transfer their interests in the debt securities, or to make or receive a payment or delivery of the debt securities on a particular day may find that the transactions will not be performed until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, depending on whether Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear is used.

Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear will credit payments to the cash accounts of participants in Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear in accordance with the relevant systemic rules and procedures, to the extent received by its depositary. Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear, as the case may be, will take any other action permitted to be taken by a holder under the indenture on behalf of a Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear participant only in accordance with its relevant rules and procedures.

Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of the debt securities among participants of Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear. However, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform those procedures, and they may discontinue those procedures at any time.

Same-Day Settlement and Payment

The underwriters will settle the debt securities in immediately available funds. We will make all payments of principal and interest on the debt securities in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between participants in Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear will occur in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear and will be settled using the procedures applicable to securities in immediately available funds. See “—Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear.”

Debt Securities Denominated in Pesos

Holders of debt securities denominated in Mexican pesos may own beneficial interests in the global security through the facilities of S.D. Indeval Institución para el Depósito de Valores, S.A. de C.V. (“Indeval”), which is a participant in each of Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear. Indeval is a privately owned securities depositary that is authorized and acts as a clearinghouse, depositary and central custodian for securities in Mexico. As such, Indeval provides settlement and transfer services and is the registration agent for Mexican securities transactions, eliminating the need for physical transfer of securities. Holders who own beneficial interests in the debt securities through Indeval may be required to certify as to their residency in accordance with the procedures of Indeval.

Certificated Debt Securities

Beneficial interests in a global debt security may not be exchanged for debt securities in physical, certificated form unless:

•

the depositary has notified us that it is no longer willing or able to discharge its responsibilities or has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; or

•

we, at our option, notify the trustee that we elect to cause the issuance of certificated debt securities; or

•

certain other events provided in the indenture should occur, including the occurrence and continuance of an event of default with respect to the debt securities.

In all cases, certificated debt securities delivered in exchange for any global debt security will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by the depositary.

In the event that we issue certificated debt securities under the limited circumstances described above, then holders of certificated debt securities may transfer their debt securities in whole or in part upon the surrender of the certificate to be transferred, together with a completed and executed assignment form endorsed on the definitive debt security, at the offices of the transfer agent in New York City. Copies of this assignment form may be obtained at the offices of the transfer agent in New York City. Each time that we transfer or exchange a new debt security in certificated form for another debt security in certificated form, and after the transfer agent receives a completed assignment form, we will make available for delivery the new definitive debt security at the offices of the transfer agent in New York City. Alternatively, at the option of the person requesting the transfer or exchange, we will mail, at that person’s risk, the new definitive debt security to the address of that person that is specified in the assignment form. In addition, if we issue debt securities in certificated form, then we will make payments of principal of, interest on and any other amounts payable under the debt securities to holders in whose names the debt securities in certificated form are registered at the close of business on the record date for these payments. If the debt securities are issued in certificated form, we will make payments of principal and any redemption payments against the surrender of these certificated debt securities at the offices of the paying agent in New York City.

TAXATION

The following summary describes the principal Mexican federal and U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the debt securities, but does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all the tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to purchase the debt securities. This summary does not describe any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, municipality, locality or taxing jurisdiction other than the United States and Mexico, or U.S. and Mexican federal taxes other than income taxes.

This summary is based on the tax laws of Mexico and the United States as in effect on the date of this registration statement (including the tax treaty entered into between Mexico and the United Stated described below), as well as on rules and regulations of Mexico and regulations, rulings and decisions of the United States available on or before such date and now in effect. All of the foregoing are subject to change, which change, in the case of U.S. federal income tax law, could apply retroactively and could affect the continued validity of this summary.

Prospective purchasers of debt securities should consult their own tax advisors as to the Mexican, United States or other tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the debt securities, including, in particular, the application to their particular situations of the tax considerations discussed below, as well as the application of state, municipal, local, foreign or other tax laws.

Mexican Tax Considerations

The following is a general summary of the principal Mexican federal income tax consequences under the Mexican Ley del Impuesto sobre la Renta (the Mexican Income Tax Law) and rules and regulations thereunder, as currently in effect, of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the debt securities by a holder that is not a tax resident of Mexico and that will not hold debt securities or a beneficial interest therein in connection with the conduct of a trade or business through a permanent establishment for tax purposes in Mexico (a “foreign holder”).

For purposes of Mexican taxation, tax residency is a highly technical definition that involves the application of a number of factors. Generally, an individual is a tax resident of Mexico if he or she has established his or her home in Mexico or if his or her “center of vital interest” is located in Mexico, which is deemed to occur if any of the following are met: (i) more than 50% of such individual’s total income, in any calendar year, is from a Mexican source, or (ii) such individual’s principal center of professional activities is located in Mexico. A Mexican national that is employed by the Mexican government is deemed to be a resident of Mexico, even in the event that his/her center of vital interests is located outside Mexico. Unless otherwise proven, Mexican nationals are deemed residents of Mexico for tax purposes. A corporation is considered a tax resident of Mexico if it has established its principal place of business management or its effective seat of business management in Mexico. A permanent establishment in Mexico for tax purposes of a foreign person will be regarded as a resident of Mexico, and such permanent establishment will be required to pay taxes in Mexico in accordance with applicable tax laws, for any income attributable to such permanent establishment. However, any determination of residence should take into account the particular situation of each person or legal entity.

U.S./Mexico and Other Tax Treaties

The United States and Mexico have entered into a Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation (collectively, with subsequent Protocols thereto, referred to as the “tax treaty”). Provisions of the tax treaty that may affect the taxation of certain United States holders are summarized below. The United States and Mexico have also entered into an agreement that covers the exchange of information with respect to tax matters. Mexico has also entered into and is negotiating several other tax treaties that may reduce the amount of Mexican withholding tax to which payments of interest (or amounts deemed interest) on the debt securities may be subject. Prospective purchasers of debt securities should consult their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences, if any, of such treaties.

Payments of Interest, Principal and Premium in Respect of the Debt Securities

Under the Mexican Income Tax Law, payments of interest made in respect of the debt securities (including payments of principal in excess of the issue price of such debt securities, which, under Mexican law, are deemed to be interest) to a foreign holder will generally be subject to a Mexican withholding tax assessed at a rate of 4.9% if (1) the debt securities are placed through banks or broker dealers in a country with which Mexico has entered into a tax treaty for the avoidance of double taxation, which is in effect, (2) the CNBV has been notified of the issuance of the debt securities pursuant to the Mexican Income Tax Law and Article 7 of the Mexican Securities Market Law and its regulations, and (3) the information requirements specified in the general rules of the SHCP and the SAT are satisfied (including the filing of information related to the debt securities offering and this prospectus). In the event that such requirements are not satisfied, the applicable withholding tax rate will be 10%. We believe that because the conditions described in (1) through (3) above will be satisfied, the applicable withholding tax rate will be 4.9%.

A higher income tax withholding rate will be applicable when a party related to us, jointly or individually, directly or indirectly, is the effective beneficiary of more than 5% of the aggregate amount of payments treated as interest on the debt securities.

Payments of interest made with respect to the debt securities to a non-Mexican pension or retirement fund will be generally exempt from Mexican withholding taxes, provided that (1) the fund is the effective beneficiary of such interest income, (2) the fund is duly established pursuant to the laws of its country of origin, (3) the relevant interest income is exempt from taxation in such country, and (4) the fund is duly registered with the SHCP and the SAT for that purpose.

We have agreed, subject to specified exceptions and limitations, to pay additional interest to the holders of debt securities in respect of the Mexican withholding taxes mentioned above. If we pay additional interest in respect of such Mexican withholding taxes, any refunds of such additional interest will be for our account. See “Description of Debt Securities—Payment of Additional Interest.”

Holders or beneficial owners of debt securities may be requested to provide certain information or documentation necessary to enable us to establish the appropriate Mexican withholding tax rate applicable to such holders or beneficial owners. In the event that the specified information or documentation concerning the holder or beneficial owner, if requested, is not provided on a timely basis, our obligations to pay additional interest may be limited as set forth under “Description of Debt Securities—Payment of Additional Interest.”

Under the Mexican Income Tax Law, payments of principal we make to a foreign holder will not be subject to any Mexican withholding or similar taxes.

Taxation of Disposition of Debt Securities

Gains realized by a foreign holder from the sale or other disposition of debt securities to a nonresident of Mexico will not be subject to Mexican taxation.

Other Mexican Taxes

A foreign holder will not be liable for estate, gift, inheritance or similar taxes with respect to its holdings of debt securities. There are no Mexican stamp, issue registration or similar taxes payable by a foreign holder with respect to debt securities.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

The following is a summary of the principal U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to a beneficial owner of debt securities that is a citizen or resident of the United States or a domestic corporation or otherwise subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis in respect of the debt securities (a “U.S. holder”). It does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular investor’s decision to invest in debt securities.

This summary is based on provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and regulations, rulings and judicial decisions as of the date hereof. Those authorities may be changed, perhaps retroactively, so as to result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those summarized below. In addition, except where noted, this summary deals only with investors that are U.S. holders who acquire the debt securities in the United States as part of the initial offering of the debt securities, who will own the debt securities as capital assets, and whose functional currency is the U.S. dollar. It does not address U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to investors who may be subject to special tax rules, such as banks, financial institutions, partnerships (or entities treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or partners therein, tax-exempt entities, insurance companies, traders in securities that elect to use the mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, U.S. expatriates, dealers in securities or currencies, certain short-term holders of debt securities, or persons that hedge their exposure in the debt securities or will hold debt securities as a position in a “straddle” or conversion transaction or as part of a “synthetic security” or other integrated financial transaction. U.S. holders should be aware that the U.S. federal income tax consequences of holding the debt securities may be materially different for investors described in the prior sentence. This discussion also does not address all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to particular issuances of debt securities, such as debt securities offered at a price less or more than their stated principal amount or debt securities denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar. For information regarding any such special tax considerations relevant to particular issuances, or regarding the issuance of warrants, if any, you should read the applicable prospectus supplement.

Payments of Interest and Additional Interest

Payments of the gross amount of interest and additional interest (as defined in “Description of Debt Securities—Payment of Additional Interest”) with respect to a debt security, i.e., including amounts withheld in respect of Mexican withholding taxes, will be taxable to a U.S. holder as ordinary interest income at the time that such payments are accrued or are received, in accordance with the U.S. holder’s regular method of tax accounting. Thus, accrual method U.S. holders will report stated interest on the debt security as it accrues, and cash method U.S. holders will report interest when it is received or unconditionally made available for receipt.

The Mexican withholding tax that is imposed on interest will be treated as a foreign income tax eligible, subject to generally applicable limitations and conditions under the Code, for credit against a U.S. holder’s federal income tax liability or, at the U.S. holder’s election, for deduction in computing the holder’s taxable income (provided that the U.S. holder elects to deduct, rather than credit, all foreign income taxes paid or accrued for the relevant taxable year). Interest and additional interest paid on the debt securities generally will constitute foreign source passive category income.

The calculation and availability of foreign tax credits and, in the case of a U.S. holder that elects to deduct foreign taxes, the availability of deductions, involves the application of complex rules (including, in the case of foreign tax credits, relating to a minimum holding period) that depend on a U.S. holder’s particular circumstances. U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability of foreign tax credits and the treatment of additional interest.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Debt Securities

A U.S. holder generally will recognize gain or loss on the sale or other taxable disposition of the debt securities in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the amount realized on such sale or other taxable disposition (other than amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, including any additional interest thereon, which will be taxable as ordinary income to the extent not previously included in income) and (ii) the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the debt securities. A U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in a debt security generally will be its cost for that debt security. Gain or loss realized by a U.S. holder on such sale or other taxable disposition generally will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of the disposition, the debt securities have been held for more than one year. Certain non-corporate U.S. holders (including individuals) may be eligible for preferential rates of taxation in respect of long-term capital gains. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Capital gain or loss recognized by a U.S. holder generally will be U.S.-source gain or loss. Consequently, if any such gain would be subject to Mexican income tax, a U.S. holder may not be able to credit the tax against its U.S. federal income tax liability unless such credit can be applied (subject to applicable conditions and limitations) against tax due on other income treated as derived from foreign sources. U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors as to the foreign tax credit implications of a disposition of the debt securities.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Payments on the debt securities, and proceeds of the sale or other disposition of the debt securities, that are paid within the United States or through certain U.S. related financial intermediaries to a U.S. holder generally are subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless (i) the U.S. holder is a corporation or other exempt recipient and demonstrates this fact when so required or (ii) in the case of backup withholding, the U.S. holder provides an accurate taxpayer identification number, certifies that it is not subject to backup withholding and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against the U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

At the time of offering any securities, we will supplement the following summary of the plan of distribution with a description of the offering, including the particular terms and conditions thereof, set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to those securities.

We may sell securities in any of three ways: (1) through underwriters or dealers; (2) directly to one or a limited number of institutional purchasers; or (3) through agents. Each prospectus supplement with respect to a series of securities will set forth the terms of the offering of those securities, including the name or names of any underwriters or agents, the price of such securities and the net proceeds to us from such sale, any underwriting discounts, commissions or other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation, any discount or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities exchanges on which those securities may be listed.

If underwriters are used in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices to be determined at the time of sale. We may offer the securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates of investment banking firms represented by managing underwriters, or directly through one or more such investment banking firms or others, as designated. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered thereby if any are purchased. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

We may sell securities either directly to one or more institutional purchasers, or through agents designated by us from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in such prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a reasonable best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by certain specified institutions to purchase the securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement plus accrued interest, if any, pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on one or more specified dates in the future. Institutions with which such contracts may be made include commercial and saving banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others, but in all such cases we must approve such institutions. Such contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in such prospectus supplement and the prospectus supplement will set forth the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.

Agents and underwriters may be entitled under agreements entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribution with respect to payments which the agents or underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.

Agents and underwriters may engage in transactions with us or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

In compliance with guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the maximum amount of underwriting compensation, including underwriting commissions or discounts, to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate amount of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus; however, it is anticipated that the maximum underwriting compensation to be received in any particular offering of our securities will be significantly less than this amount.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. appearing in its annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2012, and the effectiveness of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, have been audited by Mancera, S.C., a member practice of Ernst & Young Global, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference, which, as to the years 2012 and 2011, are based in part on the report of KPMG Accountants N.V., independent registered public accounting firm. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firms as experts in accounting and auditing.

The consolidated financial statements of Heineken N.V. as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2012, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG Accountants N.V., independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP will provide an opinion regarding the validity of the securities under New York law, and Carlos Eduardo Aldrete Ancira, our general counsel, will provide an opinion regarding the authorization of the securities under Mexican law.

ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

FEMSA is a sociedad anónima bursátil de capital variable (a publicly listed variable capital stock company) organized under the laws of Mexico, with its principal place of business (domicilio social) in Monterrey. In addition, most of our directors, officers and controlling persons, as well as certain experts named in this prospectus, reside outside the United States, and all or a substantial portion of their assets and our assets are located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons or to enforce against them, either inside or outside the United States, judgments obtained against these persons in U.S. courts, or to enforce in U.S. courts judgments obtained against these persons in courts in jurisdictions outside the United States, in each case, in any action predicated upon civil liabilities under the U.S. federal securities laws. Based on the opinion of Carlos Eduardo Aldrete Ancira, our general counsel, the enforceability against these persons in Mexico in actions for enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts of liabilities predicated solely upon the U.S. federal securities laws will be subject to certain requirements provided for in the Mexican Federal Civil Procedure Code and any applicable treaties. Some of the requirements may include personal service of process and that the judgments of U.S. courts are not against Mexican public policy.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

This prospectus is part of a registration statement, including exhibits, which we have filed with the SEC on Form F-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. Statements made in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other document are not necessarily complete. We have filed certain of these documents as exhibits to our registration statement and we refer you to those documents. Each statement in this prospectus relating to a document filed as an exhibit is qualified in all respects by the filed exhibit.

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 Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Any filings we make electronically will be available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of, and should be read in conjunction with other parts of, this prospectus, and certain later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede earlier information filed with the SEC or included in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference the following documents:

•

our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on April 8, 2013 (SEC File No. 333-08752);

•

any future annual reports on Form 20-F filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities offered by this prospectus; and

•

any future reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of debt securities offered by this prospectus that are identified in such reports as being incorporated by reference in our Registration Statement on Form F-3.

You may request a copy of any and all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus and that has not been delivered with this prospectus, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at General Anaya No. 601 Pte., Colonia Bella Vista, Monterrey, Nuevo León 64410, México, Attention: Investor Relations, telephone (52-818) 328-6167.

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 8. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Under Mexican law, when an officer or director of a corporation acts within the scope of his or her authority, the corporation will answer for any resulting liabilities or expenses. In addition, we maintain liability insurance for our directors and officers, subject to customary exclusions and deductions, against any liability that these individuals may incur in their capacity as directors and officers.

Item 9. Exhibits.


1.1		Form of Underwriting Agreement-Standard Provisions.*

4.1		Indenture dated as of April 8, 2013 between Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V., and The Bank of New York Mellon.

4.2		Form of debt security (included in Exhibit 4.1).

4.3		Form of guarantee.*

4.4		Form of warrant.*

4.5		Form of Supplemental Indenture among Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V., and The Bank of New York Mellon and The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, Dublin Branch.*

5.1		Opinion of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP as to the validity of the securities.

5.2		Opinion of Carlos Eduardo Aldrete Ancira, general counsel of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V., as to the validity of the securities.

23.1		Consent of Mancera, S.C.

23.2		Consent of KPMG Accountants N.V.

23.3		Consent of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

23.4		Consent of Carlos Eduardo Aldrete Ancira, general counsel of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (included in Exhibit 5.2).

24.1		Powers of attorney (included in the signature page of this registration statement).

25.1		Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility Under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee under the Base Indenture dated as of April 8, 2013.

*	To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference. The registrant will furnish on a Form 6-K and incorporate by reference any related form used in the future and not previously filed by means of an amendment or incorporated by reference.

II-1

Item 10. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement;

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;

(4) To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 need not be furnished, provided, that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 or Item 8.A. of Form 20-F if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement;

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

II-2

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of the registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section (10)(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; and

(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, such registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: (i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the registrant or used or referred to by the registrant; (iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the registrant; and (iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the registrant to the purchaser.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by a registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of such registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, such registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

II-3

SIGNATURES OF FOMENTO ECONÓMICO MEXICANO, S.A.B. DE C.V.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Monterrey, Mexico, on April 8, 2013.


FOMENTO ECONÓMICO MEXICANO, S.A.B. DE C.V.

By:		/s/ Javier Gerardo Astaburuaga Sanjines
Name:		Javier Gerardo Astaburuaga Sanjines
Title:		Attorney-in-Fact

Power of Attorney

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Javier Gerardo Astaburuaga Sanjines, Carlos Eduardo Aldrete Ancira, Gerardo Estrada Attolini, or any one of them, his/her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him/her and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement on Form F-3, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of their or his/her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

This power of attorney may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but which taken together shall constitute one instrument.

II-4

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated in respect of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. on April 8, 2013.


Signature		Title

/s/ José Antonio Fernández Carbajal		Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors
José Antonio Fernández Carbajal

/s/ Javier Gerardo Astaburuaga Sanjines		Chief Financial and Strategic Development Officer/ Chief Accounting Officer
Javier Gerardo Astaburuaga Sanjines

		Director
Eva Garza Lagüera Gonda

/s/ Paulina Garza Lagüera Gonda		Director
Paulina Garza Lagüera Gonda

/s/ José Fernando Calderón Rojas		Director
José Fernando Calderón Rojas

		Director
Consuelo Garza de Garza

/s/ Max Michel Suberville		Director
Max Michel Suberville

/s/ Alberto Bailleres González		Director
Alberto Bailleres González

/s/ Francisco Javier Fernández Carbajal		Director
Francisco Javier Fernández Carbajal

		Director
Ricardo Guajardo Touché

/s/ Alfredo Livas Cantú		Director
Alfredo Livas Cantú

/s/ Bárbara Garza Lagüera Gonda		Director
Bárbara Garza Lagüera Gonda

II-5


Signature		Title

/s/ José Manuel Canal Hernando		Director
José Manuel Canal Hernando

		Director
Armando Garza Sada

		Director
Moisés Naim

/s/ Helmut Paul		Director
Helmut Paul

/s/ Michael Larson		Director
Michael Larson

		Director
Robert E. Denham

II-6

Signature of Authorized Representative of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.

Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V., has signed this registration statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on April 8, 2013.


Signature		Title

/s/ Donald J. Puglisi		Authorized Representative in the United States
Donald J. Puglisi

II-7

Exhibit Index


Exhibit Number		Description of Exhibit

1.1	Form of Underwriting Agreement-Standard Provisions.*

4.1	Indenture dated as of April 8, 2013 between Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V., and The Bank of New York Mellon.

4.2	Form of debt security (included in Exhibit 4.1).

4.3	Form of guarantee.*

4.4	Form of warrant.*

4.5	Form of Supplemental Indenture among Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V., and The Bank of New York Mellon and The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, Dublin Branch.*

5.1	Opinion of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP as to the validity of the securities.

5.2	Opinion of Carlos Eduardo Aldrete Ancira, general counsel of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V., as to the validity of the securities.

23.1	Consent of Mancera, S.C.

23.2	Consent of KPMG Accountants N.V.

23.3	Consent of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

23.4	Consent of Carlos Eduardo Aldrete Ancira, general counsel of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (included in Exhibit 5.2).

24.1	Powers of attorney (included in the signature page of this registration statement).

25.1	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility Under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee under the Base Indenture dated as of April 8, 2013.

*	To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference. The registrant will furnish on a Form 6-K and incorporate by reference any related form used in the future and not previously filed by means of an amendment or incorporated by reference.

EX-4.1

EXHIBIT 4.1

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.,

as Issuer

and

The Bank of New York Mellon,

as Trustee, Security Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent

INDENTURE

Dated as of April 8, 2013

Debt Securities

Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to Sections 310

through 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939:


Trust Indenture Act Section				Indenture Section

§ 310(a)(1)				609
(a)(2)				609
(a)(3)				Not Applicable
(a)(4)				Not Applicable
(b)				608
				610
§ 311(a)				613
(b)				613
§ 312(a)				701
				702
(b)				702
(c)				702
§ 313(a)				703
(b)				703
(c)				703
(d)				703
§ 314(a)				704
(a)(4)				101
				1004
(b)				Not Applicable
(c)(1)				102
(c)(2)				102
(c)(3)				Not Applicable
(d)				Not Applicable
(e)				102
§ 315(a)				601
(b)				602
(c)				601
(d)				601
(e)				514
§ 316(a)				101
(a)(1)(A)				502
				512
(a)(1)(B)				513
(a)(2)				Not Applicable
(b)				508
(c)				104
§ 317(a)(1)				503
(a)(2)				504
(b)				1003
§ 318(a)				107

Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

Table of Contents


		Page

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 101.	Definitions.		1

SECTION 102.	Compliance Certificates and Opinions.		8

SECTION 103.	Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.		9

SECTION 104.	Acts of Holders; Record Dates.		9

SECTION 105.	Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.		11

SECTION 106.	Notice to Holders; Waiver.		12

SECTION 107.	Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.		12

SECTION 108.	Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.		12

SECTION 109.	Successors and Assigns.		13

SECTION 110.	Separability Clause.		13

SECTION 111.	Counterparts.		13

SECTION 112.	Benefits of Indenture.		13

SECTION 113.	Governing Law.		13

SECTION 114.	Legal Holidays.		13

SECTION 115.	Consent to Service; Jurisdiction.		14

SECTION 116.	Language of Notices, Etc.		14

SECTION 117.	Waiver of Jury Trial		14

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITY FORMS

SECTION 201.	Forms Generally.		14

SECTION 202.	Form of Global Security Legends.		15

SECTION 203.	Form of Face of Security		15

SECTION 204.	Form of Reverse of Security.		17

SECTION 205.	Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.		24

ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

SECTION 301.	Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.		24

-i-


SECTION 302.	Denominations.	27

SECTION 303.	Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.	27

SECTION 304.	Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.	28

SECTION 305.	Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.	31

SECTION 306.	Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.	31

SECTION 307.	Persons Deemed Owners.	32

SECTION 308.	Cancellation.	33

SECTION 309.	Computation of Interest.	33

SECTION 310.	CUSIP Numbers and ISINs.	33

ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 401.	Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.	33

SECTION 402.	Application of Trust Money	34

ARTICLE FIVE

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 501.	Events of Default.	35

SECTION 502.	Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.	37

SECTION 503.	Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.	38

SECTION 504.	Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.	38

SECTION 505.	Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.	38

SECTION 506.	Application of Money Collected.	39

SECTION 507.	Limitation on Suits.	39

SECTION 508.	Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.	40

SECTION 509.	Restoration of Rights and Remedies.	40

SECTION 510.	Rights and Remedies Cumulative.	40

SECTION 511.	Delay or Omission Not Waiver.	40

SECTION 512.	Control by Holders.	40

SECTION 513.	Waiver of Past Defaults.	41

SECTION 514.	Undertaking for Costs.	41

SECTION 515.	Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.	41

-ii-


ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 601.	Certain Duties and Responsibilities.	42

SECTION 602.	Notice of Defaults.	42

SECTION 603.	Certain Rights of Trustee.	42

SECTION 604.	Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.	44

SECTION 605.	May Hold Securities.	44

SECTION 606.	Money Held in Trust.	44

SECTION 607.	Compensation and Reimbursement.	44

SECTION 608.	Conflicting Interests.	45

SECTION 609.	Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.	45

SECTION 610.	Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.	46

SECTION 611.	Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.	47

SECTION 612.	Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.	48

SECTION 613.	Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.	48

SECTION 614.	Appointment of Authenticating Agent.	49

SECTION 615.	Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company.	50

SECTION 616.	Rights, Protections and Immunities of the Trustee and Agents.	50

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

SECTION 701.	Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.	50

SECTION 702.	Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.	51

SECTION 703.	Reports by Trustee.	51

SECTION 704.	Reports by Company.	51

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

SECTION 801.	Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.	52

SECTION 802.	Successor Substituted.	52

ARTICLE NINE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 901.	Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.	53

SECTION 902.	Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.	54

-iii-


SECTION 903.	Execution of Supplemental Indentures.	55

SECTION 904.	Effect of Supplemental Indentures.	55

SECTION 905.	Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.	55

SECTION 906.	Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.	56

SECTION 907.	Waiver of Certain Covenants.	56

ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

SECTION 1001.	Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.	56

SECTION 1002.	Maintenance of Office or Agency.	56

SECTION 1003.	Money for Security Payments to Be Held in Trust.	57

SECTION 1004.	Statement by Officers as to Default.	58

SECTION 1005.	Exchange Act Reports.	58

SECTION 1006.	Limitation on Liens.	59

SECTION 1007.	Limitation on Sales and Leasebacks.	60

SECTION 1008.	Payment of Additional Interest.	61

SECTION 1009.	Indemnification of Judgment Currency.	64

SECTION 1010.	Calculation of Original Issue Discount.	64

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1101.	Right of Redemption.	65

SECTION 1102.	Notice of Redemption.	66

SECTION 1103.	Deposit of Redemption Price.	67

SECTION 1104.	Securities Payable on Redemption Date.	67

SECTION 1105.	Securities Redeemed in Part.	67

ARTICLE TWELVE

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 1201.	Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.	68

SECTION 1202.	Legal Defeasance and Discharge.	68

SECTION 1203.	Covenant Defeasance.	69

SECTION 1204.	Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.	69

SECTION 1205.	Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.	70

SECTION 1206.	Reinstatement.	71

-iv-

INDENTURE, dated as of April 8, 2013, between Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V., a sociedad anónima bursátil de capital variable organized and existing under the laws of the United Mexican States (“Mexico”) (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at General Anaya No. 601 Pte., Colonia Bella Vista, Monterrey, Nuevo León 64410, México, and The Bank of New York Mellon, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York authorized to conduct a banking business, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”), Security Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent.

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its debt securities (herein called collectively the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase and acceptance of the Securities by the Holders (as defined below) thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities of each series, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS

OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 101.

Definitions.

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;

(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with IFRS (as defined herein), and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term IFRS with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean IFRS in effect at the date of such computation;

(4) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture;

-1-

(5) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to a statute, rule or regulation refers to the same (including any successor statute, rule or regulation thereto) as it may be amended from time to time; and

(6) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

“Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

“Additional Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 1008.

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Agent” means any Security Registrar, Paying Agent, Authenticating Agent, Transfer Agent or other agent appointed hereunder.

“Agent Members” has the meaning specified in Section 304(5).

“Applicable Procedures of the Depositary” means, with respect to any matter at any time, the policies and procedures of the Depositary, if any, that are applicable to such matter at such time.

“Attributable Debt” means, with respect to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction, the lesser of (x) the fair market value of the asset subject to such transaction and (y) the present value (discounted at a rate per annum equal to the discount rate of a capital lease obligation with a like term in accordance with IFRS) of the obligations of the lessee for net rental payments (excluding amounts on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments and similar charges and contingent rents) during the term of the lease.

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 614 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

“beneficial owner” has the meaning determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3, as in effect on the date of this Indenture, promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act and the term “beneficially owned” has a meaning correlative to the definition of beneficial owner.

“Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any committee of that board duly authorized to act for it in respect hereof.

-2-

“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City or Mexico City generally are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close. In the case of any Certificated Securities, the term “Business Day” also means a day on which banks and financial institutions are generally open for business in the location of each office of a Paying Agent, but only with respect to a payment to be made at the office of such Paying Agent.

“Certificated Security” means a definitive non-global security that is authenticated and delivered to, and registered by the Registrar in the name of the Holder thereof.

“Clearstream, Luxembourg” has the meaning specified in Section 304(5).

“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under applicable law, then the body performing such duties at such time.

“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first preamble to this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

“Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the General Counsel or the Controller of the Company, or any Person specified in a Board Resolution authorizing such Person to take specified actions pursuant to the terms hereof, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means at any time the total assets (stated net of properly deductible items, to the extent not already deducted in the computation of total assets) appearing on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet less all goodwill and intangible assets appearing on such balance sheet, all determined on a consolidated basis at such time in accordance with IFRS.

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered which office as of the date hereof is located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 4-E, New York, New York 10286; Attention: Global Finance Americas; Facsimile: (212)815-5802/5803.

“corporation” means a corporation, association, company, joint-stock company or business trust.

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 306.

-3-

“Depositary” means The Depository Trust Company until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean such successor Depositary.

“Dollar” and “U.S.$” mean a United States dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

“Euroclear” has the meaning specified in Section 304(5).

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (including any successor act thereto), as it may be amended from time to time, and (unless the context otherwise requires) includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

“Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 104(g).

“Global Security” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and is authenticated and delivered to, and registered in the name of, the Depositary for such Securities or a nominee thereof.

“Government Securities” means (i) direct obligations of the United States of America or a government, governmental agency or central bank of a country whose currency is the Securities Currency, (ii) obligations the timely payment of the principal of and interest on which is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America or a government, governmental agency or central bank of a country whose currency is the Securities Currency, and (iii) certificates, depositary receipts or other instruments which evidence a direct ownership interest in obligations described in clause (i) or (ii) above or in any specific principal or interest payments due in respect thereof.

“guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person:

(1) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise); or

(2) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, however, that the term “guarantee” will not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

“Holder” means, with respect to any Security, a Person in whose name such Security is registered in the Security Register.

-4-

“IFRS” means the International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation, or (without double-counting) the guarantee of any obligation, for the payment or repayment of money borrowed or otherwise evidenced by debentures, notes, bonds or similar instruments, or any other obligation that would appear or be treated as indebtedness on a balance sheet if such Person prepared its balance sheet in accordance with IFRS.

“Indenture” means this indenture as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

“Interest Payment Date” means, when used with respect to any Security, the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1009.

“Lien” means any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, hypothecation, security interest or other encumbrance, including, without limitation, any equivalent of the foregoing created under the laws of Mexico or any other jurisdiction.

“Maturity” means, when used with respect to any Security, the date on which the principal of such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

“Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 501(3).

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the General Counsel, the Controller or the Treasurer of the Company, or any Person specified in a Board Resolution authorizing such Person to take specified actions pursuant to the terms hereof, and delivered to the Trustee; provided, however, that any Officer’s Certificate deliverable pursuant to Section 1004 shall be signed by a Senior Executive Officer.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be the in-house counsel for the Company, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

“Original Issue Discount Security” means a Security issued pursuant to this Indenture with “original issue discount” within the meaning of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Outstanding” means, when used with respect to Securities of any series, as of the date of determination, all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

(i) Securities of such series theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

-5-

(ii) Securities of such series for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption shall have been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made; and

(iii) Securities of such series which have been paid pursuant to Section 305 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date, Securities of such series owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities of such series which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities of such series so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Place of Payment” means, when used with respect to the Securities of any series and subject to Section 1002, the place or places where the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 301.

“Predecessor Security” means, with respect to any particular Security, every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 305 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

-6-

“Redemption Date” means, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

“Redemption Price” means, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture as set forth in such Security.

“Regular Record Date” means, for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series, the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301.

“Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, including any vice president, any assistant secretary, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer, any assistant trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee, in each case, with direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of her or his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means a transaction or arrangement between the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company and a bank, insurance company or other lender or investor that provides for the leasing by the Company or any Subsidiary, for an initial term of three years or more, of any property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, that is to be sold or transferred by the Company or any Subsidiary to that lender or investor for a sale price of U.S.$5,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in other currencies) or more.

“Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933 (including any successor act thereto), as it may be amended from time to time, and (unless the context otherwise requires) includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 304.

“Senior Executive Officer” means the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer.

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that constitutes a “significant subsidiary” as defined under Regulation S-X as promulgated by the Commission, as it may be amended from time to time.

“Special Record Date” means, for the payment of any Defaulted Interest, a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 306.

“Stated Maturity” means, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of interest thereon, the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of interest is due and payable.

-7-

“Subsidiary” means (i) a corporation more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries of the Company or by the Company and one or more Subsidiaries thereof or (ii) any other Person (other than a corporation) in which the Company, or one or more other Subsidiaries of the Company or the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, directly or indirectly, has at least a majority ownership and power to direct the policies, management and affairs thereof.

“Succession Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1101(c).

“Taxing Jurisdiction” has the meaning specified in Section 1008.

“transfer” means, with respect to any Security, any sale, pledge, transfer, hypothecation or other disposition of such Security or any interest therein.

“Transfer Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 304.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the United States Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (including any successor act thereto), as it may be amended from time to time, and (unless the context otherwise requires) includes the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the preamble to this Indenture until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

“United States” means the United States of America (including the States thereof and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any Person, capital stock of or other ownership interest in such Person which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors of (or Persons performing similar functions for) such Person, whether at all times or only as long as no senior class of securities or other ownership interests has such voting power by reason of any contingency. For the purpose of calculating the percentage of (x) the combined voting power of the Voting Stock of any Person that is represented by (y) any capital stock of or other ownership interests in such Person, all capital stock of and other ownership interests in such Person that are beneficially owned by such Person will be excluded in determining the combined voting power described in clause (x) but will not be excluded from (if otherwise included in) the capital stock or other ownership interests described in clause (y).

SECTION 102.

Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee (i) an Officer’s Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in the following paragraph of this Section 102) stating that, in the opinion of the signer, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel (which shall include the statements set forth in the following paragraph of this Section 102) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

-8-

Except with respect to certificates provided for in Section 1004, every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include,

(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

SECTION 103.

Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

SECTION 104.

Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section 104.

-9-

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

(e) The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series; provided that the Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this clause (e) shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in clause (f). If any record date is set pursuant to this clause (e), the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this clause (e) shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this clause (e) (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect), and nothing in this clause (e) shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this clause (e), the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

-10-

(f) The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 502, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 507(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 512, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this clause (f), the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this clause (f) shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and without any action by any Person be canceled and of no effect), nor shall anything in this clause (f) be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this clause (f), the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

(g) With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 104, the party hereto that sets such record date may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other parties hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 104, the party hereto that set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this clause (g). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.

Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

SECTION 105.

Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture shall be deemed to have been made or given, as applicable, only if such notice is in writing and delivered personally, by registered or certified first-class mail, postage prepaid, overnight courier or by confirmed facsimile transmission to the appropriate party as follows:

(1) if to the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company at its Corporate Trust Office; or

(2) if to the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder at the address of its principal office specified in the first preamble to this Indenture, Attention: Chief Financial Officer; Facsimile: (+52-818) 328-6181.

-11-

Any Person may change its address by giving notice of such change in the manner set forth in this Section 105.

In respect of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not have any duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the Person sending instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information by electronic transmission is, in fact, a Person authorized to give such instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information on behalf of the party purporting to send such electronic transmission; and, except where due to bad faith, the Trustee shall not have any liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by any party as a result of such reliance upon or compliance with such instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information. Each other party agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of electronic methods to submit instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, notices, reports or other communications or information, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

SECTION 106.

Notice to Holders; Waiver.

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and (i) if to a Holder of a Certificated Security, mailed, first-class postage prepaid, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, and (ii) if to a Holder of a Global Security, to the relevant Depositary in accordance with its applicable procedures, in each case, not later than the latest date, if any, and not earlier than the earliest date, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice to Holders of Certificated Securities by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

SECTION 107.

Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

SECTION 108.

Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

-12-

SECTION 109.

Successors and Assigns.

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 110.

Separability Clause.

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions contained in this Indenture, and to the extent and only to the extent that any such provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, this Indenture shall be construed as if such provision had never been contained herein.

SECTION 111.

Counterparts.

This Indenture may be simultaneously executed and delivered in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

SECTION 112.

Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders of Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

SECTION 113.

Governing Law.

THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

SECTION 114.

Legal Holidays.

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or date of Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities) payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or at the date of Maturity, as the case may be; provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or date of Maturity, as the case may be.

-13-

SECTION 115.

Consent to Service; Jurisdiction.

The Company and the Trustee agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture, and the Company agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Securities, may be instituted in any United States federal or New York state court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York and in the courts of its own corporate domicile, and each waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such legal suit, action or proceeding, waives any immunity from jurisdiction or to service of process in respect of any such suit, action or proceeding, waives any right to which it may be entitled on account of place of residence or domicile and irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding. The Company hereby designates and appoints C T Corporation System, 111 Eighth Avenue, 13^th Floor, New York, New York 10011, as its authorized agent upon which process may be served in any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture or the Securities which may be instituted in any United States federal or New York state court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, and agrees that service of process upon such agent shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit, action or proceeding and further designates its domicile, the domicile of C T Corporation System specified above and any domicile C T Corporation System may have in the future as its domicile to receive any notice hereunder (including service of process). If for any reason C T Corporation System (or any successor agent for this purpose) shall cease to act as agent for service of process as provided above, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor agent for this purpose reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The Company agrees to take any and all actions as may be necessary to maintain such designation and appointment of such agent in full force and effect.

SECTION 116.

Language of Notices, Etc.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, document or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

SECTION 117.

Waiver of Jury Trial

EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO (EXCEPT, FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, THE HOLDERS OF THE SECURITIES) HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITY FORMS

SECTION 201.

Forms Generally.

The Securities shall be in substantially the forms set forth in this Article or in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, an Officer’s Certificate or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary thereof or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers of the Company executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities.

-14-

The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers of the Company executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

SECTION 202.

Form of Global Security Legends.

The following legend shall appear on the face of each Global Security:

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY FOMENTO ECONÓMICO MEXICANO, S.A.B. DE C.V., THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ALL PURPOSES.

The following legend shall appear on the face of each Global Security for which The Depository Trust Company is to be the Depositary:

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO FOMENTO ECONÓMICO MEXICANO, S.A.B. DE C.V. OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS CERTIFICATE OR ANY PORTION HEREOF IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR A NOMINEE THEREOF IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR REGISTERED SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE REGISTERED FORM IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES REFERRED TO IN THE INDENTURE, THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.

-15-

SECTION 203.

Form of Face of Security

[Insert any legend required by Section 202]

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.

[Insert title of Securities]


No.
CUSIP No.
ISIN
Common Code		[—]

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V., a sociedad anónima bursátil de capital variable organized and existing under the laws of Mexico (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to , or registered assigns, the principal sum of [—] as revised by the Schedule of Increases and Decreases in Global Note attached hereto on (unless earlier redeemed, in which case, on the applicable Redemption Date) [if the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert — , and to pay interest thereon from or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for semi-annually on and of each year, commencing on , and at the Maturity thereof, at the rate of % per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [if applicable, insert — ; provided that any principal, premium and any such installment of interest, which is overdue shall bear interest at the rate of % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the date such amount is due to the day it is paid or made available for payment, and such overdue interest shall be paid as provided in Section 306 of the Indenture].

The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the and (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which this Security may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture].

[If applicable, insert — Interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.]

[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert — The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal and overdue premium, if any, shall bear interest at the rate of % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the date such amount is due to the day it is paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue principal or premium, if any, shall be payable on demand.]

-16-

Payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Security will be made pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary as permitted in the Indenture; provided, however, that if this Security is not a Global Security, payment may be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in New York, New York, [in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts,] against surrender of this Security in the case of any payment due at the Maturity of the principal thereof; and provided, further, that at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.


Dated:

						FOMENTO ECONÓMICO MEXICANO, S.A.B. DE C.V.

						By:
						Name:
						Title:

						By:
						Name:
						Title:

SECTION 204.

Form of Reverse of Security.

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of April 8, 2013 (herein called the “Indenture,” which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [if applicable, insert — , limited in aggregate principal amount to [—] ].

-17-

[If applicable, insert — Additional Securities substantially identical to those of the Securities of this series, except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution, the Officer’s Certificate, or in the indenture supplement establishing the terms of the additional Securities, may be issued by the Company without the consent of the Holders of the Securities of this series. The amount evidenced by such additional Securities shall increase the aggregate principal amount of, and shall be consolidated and form a single series with, the Securities of this series.]

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or date of Maturity of any Note shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture or of the Securities) payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or at the date of Maturity, as the case may be; provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or date of Maturity, as the case may be.

[Insert optional redemption provisions]

[If the Security is subject to partial redemption of any kind, insert — In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof shall be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to all of the Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to — insert formula for determining the amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

The Company shall pay to Holders of the Securities all Additional Interest (“Additional Interest”) that may be necessary so that every net payment of interest or principal or premium to the Holders of the Securities will not be less than the amount provided for in the Securities. For purposes of the preceding sentence, “net payment” means the amount that the Company or any Paying Agent will pay the Holder after the Company deducts or withholds an amount for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges imposed with respect to that payment (or the payment of such Additional Interest) by the taxing authority of Mexico or any other country under whose laws the Company is organized at the time of payment, except for the United States (each, a “Taxing Jurisdiction”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to pay Additional Interest to any Holder of a Security for or on account of any of the following:

(i) any taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges imposed solely because at any time there is or was a connection between the Holder and the Taxing Jurisdiction (other than the mere receipt of a payment, the ownership or holding of such Security or the enforcement of rights with respect to such Security);

-18-

(ii) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property or other similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed with respect to such Security;

(iii) any taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges imposed solely because the Holder or any other Person fails to comply with any certification, identification or other reporting requirement concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with the Taxing Jurisdiction of the Holder or any beneficial owner of such Security if compliance is required by law, regulation or by an applicable income tax treaty to which such Taxing Jurisdiction is a party, as a precondition to exemption from, or reduction in the rate of, the tax, assessment or other governmental charge and the Company has given the Holders at least 30 days’ written notice prior to the first payment date with respect to which such certification, identification or reporting requirement is required to the effect that Holders will be required to provide such information and identification;

(iv) any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from payments on such Security;

(v) any taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges with respect to such Security presented for payment more than 15 days after the date on which the payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for and notice thereof given to Holders, whichever occurs later, except to the extent that the Holder of such Security would have been entitled to such Additional Interest on presenting such Note for payment on any date during such 15-day period;

(vi) any payment on such Security to a Holder that is a fiduciary or partnership or a Person other than the sole beneficial owner of any such payment, to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary, a member of such a partnership or the beneficial owner of the payment would not have been entitled to the Additional Interest had the beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been the Holder of such Security; and

(vii) any tax, duty, assessment or governmental charge imposed on payment to an individual and required to be made pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income or any other directive implementing the conclusions of the ECOFIN Council meetings of November 26 and 27, 2000, December 13, 2001, and January 21, 2003, or any law or agreement implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such a directive; and

(viii) any combination of the items in the clauses (i) through (vii) above.

-19-

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the limitations on the Company’s obligation to pay Additional Interest set forth in clause (iii) above will not apply if the provision of information, documentation or other evidence described in such clause (iii) would be materially more onerous, in form, in procedure or in the substance of information disclosed, to a Holder or beneficial owner of a Security, taking into account any relevant differences between United States and Mexican law, regulation or administrative practice, or the laws, regulations or administrative practice of any other Taxing Jurisdiction, than comparable information or other reporting requirements imposed under United States tax law (including the United States/Mexico Income Tax Treaty), regulations (including proposed regulations) and administrative practice. In addition, the limitations on the Company’s obligations to pay Additional Interest set forth in clause (iii) above also will not apply with respect to any Mexican withholding taxes unless (a) the provision of the information, documentation or other evidence described in such clause (iii) is expressly required by the applicable Mexican regulations, (b) the Company cannot obtain the information, documentation or other evidence necessary to comply with the applicable Mexican regulations on its own through reasonable diligence and (c) the Company otherwise would meet the requirements for application of the applicable Mexican regulations. In addition, clause (iii) above shall not be construed to require that any Person that is not a resident of Mexico for tax purposes, including any non-Mexican pension fund, retirement fund or financial institution, register with the Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público ( the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit or the “SHCP”) or with the Servicio de Administración Tributaria (the Tax Administration Service or “SAT”) to establish eligibility for an exemption from, or a reduction of, Mexican withholding tax.

The Company shall remit the full amount of any taxes withheld to the applicable taxing authorities in accordance with applicable law of the Taxing Jurisdiction. The Company shall also provide the Trustee with documentation (which may consist of copies of such documentation) reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee evidencing the payment of taxes in respect of which the Company has paid any Additional Interest. The Company shall provide copies of such documentation to the Holders of the Securities or the relevant Paying Agent upon request.

The Company shall pay all stamp, issue, registration, documentary or other similar duties, if any, which may be imposed by Mexico or any governmental entity or political subdivision therein or thereof, or any taxing authority of or in any of the foregoing, with respect to the Indenture or the issuance of the Securities.

All references herein and in the Indenture to principal, premium, if any, or interest or any other amount payable in respect of any Security shall be deemed to mean and include all Additional Interest, if any, payable in respect of such principal, premium, if any, or interest or other amount payable, unless the context otherwise requires, and express mention of the payment of Additional Interest in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding reference to Additional Interest in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

-20-

In the event that Additional Interest actually paid with respect to the Securities pursuant to the preceding paragraphs are based on rates of deduction or withholding of withholding taxes in excess of the appropriate rate applicable to the Holder of such Securities, and, as a result thereof such Holder is entitled to make claim for a refund or credit of such excess from the authority imposing such withholding tax, then such Holder shall, by accepting such Securities, be deemed to have assigned and transferred all right, title, and interest to any such claim for a refund or credit of such excess to the Company. However, by making such assignment, the Holder makes no representation or warranty that the Company will be entitled to receive such claim for a refund or credit and incurs no other obligation with respect thereto.

All references in the Indenture and the Securities to principal in respect of any Security shall be deemed to mean and include any Redemption Price payable in respect of such Security pursuant to any redemption right hereunder, and all such references to principal, premium, if any, interest or Additional Interest shall be deemed to mean and include any amount payable in respect of this Security pursuant to Section 1009 of the Indenture, and express mention of the payment of any Redemption Price, or any such other amount in those provisions hereof where such express reference is not made.

The Company may, at its option, redeem the Securities upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ written notice, at any time in whole but not in part, at a Redemption Price equal to the sum of (A) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities, (B) accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Securities to the Redemption Date and (C) any Additional Interest which would otherwise be payable thereon to the Redemption Date, solely if,

(1) as a result of any amendment to, or change in, the laws (or any rules or regulations thereunder) of Mexico, any amendment to or change in an official interpretation or application of such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment to or change of such laws, rules or regulations becomes effective on or after , the Company would be obligated on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, after taking such measures as the Company may consider reasonable to avoid this requirement, to pay Additional Interest in excess of those attributable to a withholding tax rate of 4.9%; or

(2) in the event that the Company or any successor of the Company, assuming the obligations of the Securities and the Indenture following a merger, consolidation or transfer, lease or conveyance of substantially all of the Company’s assets and properties, is organized under the laws of any Taxing Jurisdiction other than Mexico (the date on which the Company becomes subject to any such Taxing Jurisdiction, the “Succession Date”), and as a result of any amendment to, or change in, the laws (or any rules or regulations thereunder) of such Taxing Jurisdiction, or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein affecting taxation, any amendment to or change in an official interpretation or application of such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment to or change of such laws, rules or regulations becomes effective after the Succession Date, the Company would be obligated on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, after taking such measures as the Company may consider reasonable to avoid this requirement, to pay Additional Interest in excess of those attributable to any withholding tax rate imposed by such Taxing Jurisdiction as of the Succession Date with respect to the Securities;

-21-

provided, however, that (x) no notice of such redemption may be given earlier than 90 days prior to the earliest date on which the Company would be obligated to pay such Additional Interest if a payment on the Securities were then due and (y) at the time such notice of redemption is given such obligation to pay such Additional Interest remains in effect.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of a series at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of such series at the time Outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions (i) permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of a series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of that series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and (ii) permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of a series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or premium, if any, or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office of the Transfer Agent, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Transfer Agent duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, shall be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

-22-

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of [—] and integral multiples of [—] in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange of this Security, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of the Security, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 906 or Section 1105 of the Indenture not involving any transfer.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any other agent of the Company or of the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes (subject to Section 306 of the Indenture), whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, any Agent nor any such other agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

This Security is a Global Security and is subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to Global Securities, including the limitations in Section 304 thereof on transfers and exchanges of Global Securities.

This Security and the Indenture shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription of the face of this Security, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:


TEN COM - as tenants in common		UNIF GIFT MIN ACT—
TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties		(Cust)
JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as		Custodian under Uniform
tenants in common		(Minor)
		Gifts to Minors Act
		(State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used

though not in the above list.

-23-

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE

The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:


Date of Transfer or Exchange	Amount of decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Note	Amount of increase in Principal Amount of this Global Note	Principal Amount of this Global Note following such decrease or increase	Signature of authorized signatory of Trustee or Note Custodian

SECTION 205.

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

Subject to Section 614, the form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication for any Security issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be substantially as follows:

This is one of the Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated:


THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,
as Trustee

By:
		Authorized Signatory

ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

SECTION 301.

Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, an Officer’s Certificate, or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,

(1) the title of the series of Securities, including “CUSIP” numbers and “ISINs,” of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);

-24-

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 906 or 1105 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

(3) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;

(4) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable;

(5) the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any, including any procedures to vary or reset such rate or rates, and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30 day months;

(6) the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for any interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;

(7) in addition to or other than the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, the Place or Places of Payment where the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner in which any payment may be made;

(8) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company in addition to the Company’s right of redemption pursuant to Section 1101(c);

(9) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

(10) if other than denominations of U.S.$150,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$2,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(11) if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on any Securities of the series shall be denominated and/or payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 101;

-25-

(12) if the amount of payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(13) if the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on Securities of such series as to which such election is made shall be payable, and the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made;

(14) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;

(15) the applicability, nonapplicability, or variation, of Section 1008 with respect to the Securities of such series;

(16) if and as applicable, that the Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the Depositary or Depositaries for such Global Security or Global Securities and any circumstances other than those set forth in Section 304(2) in which any such Global Security may be transferred to, and registered and exchanged for Securities registered in the name of, a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and in which any such transfer may be registered;

(17) the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the Securities are convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities;

(18) any trustees or Agents with respect to the Securities of the series if different than, or in addition to, those set forth in this Indenture;

(19) any guarantees on, or any security provided with respect to the Securities of the series;

(20) any events which shall constitute Events of Default with respect to the Securities of the series if not set forth herein, and any additions, deletions or other changes to the Events of Default set forth herein that shall be applicable to the Securities of such series (including a provision making any Event of Default set forth herein inapplicable to the Securities of that series);

(21) any addition to or change in any of the other covenants set forth in Article Ten which applies to the Securities of the series; and

(22) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901(5)).

-26-

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution, the Officer’s Certificate, or in the indenture supplemental hereto establishing the terms of the relevant series of Securities.

SECTION 302.

Denominations.

Except as contemplated by Section 301, the Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and only in denominations of U.S.$150,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$2,000 in excess thereof.

SECTION 303.

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any two of its Controller, its Treasurer, its Chief Financial Officer, its General Counsel or any Person specified in a Board Resolution authorizing such Person to take specified actions pursuant to the terms hereof. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions or an Officer’s Certificate as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating:

(1) if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate as permitted by Section 201, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate as permitted by Section 301, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

(3) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

-27-

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate and deliver Securities of any series if, in the opinion of counsel to the Trustee, the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties, indemnities or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if the Opinion of Counsel is delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

SECTION 304.

Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

The Company shall cause to be appointed offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (each, a “Transfer Agent”) and cause to be kept by the security registrar (the “Security Registrar”) a register (the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed Security Registrar and Transfer Agent for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers and exchanges of Securities as herein provided. Upon surrender for registration of transfer and exchanges of any Security at an office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to Section 1002 for such purpose, and subject to the other provisions of this Section 304, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.

At the option of the Holder, and subject to the other provisions of this Section 304, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of any same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, and subject to the other provisions of this Section 304, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, authenticate and deliver the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and subject to the other provisions of this Section 304, entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Transfer Agent duly executed, by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

-28-

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 906 or Section 1105 not involving any transfer.

Neither the Company nor any Transfer Agent shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of a series during a period beginning on the Regular Record Date for such series and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date for such series. If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, the Company and the Transfer Agent shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the giving of a notice of redemption of any such Securities selected for redemption under Section 1102 and ending at the close of business on the day of such notice, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

The provisions of Sections 304(1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) shall apply only to Global Securities:

(1) Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture or the Securities, no Global Security or beneficial interest therein may be exchanged or transferred, in whole or in part, for Certificated Securities, and no Global Security may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary or a nominee thereof unless (A) the Depositary (i) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or (ii) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, (B) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security or (C) an Officer’s Certificate directing the issuance of Certificated Securities has been delivered by the Company to the Trustee no less than 60 days’ prior to the issue date therefor. Any Global Security exchanged pursuant to Section 304(2)(A) or (C) shall be so exchanged in whole and not in part and any Global Security exchanged pursuant to Section 304(2)(B) may be exchanged in whole or from time to time in part as directed by the Depositary. Any Security issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be a Global Security; provided that any such Security so issued that is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary or a nominee thereof shall not be a Global Security.

-29-

(3) Certificated Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof pursuant to Section 304(2) shall be issued in definitive, fully registered form, without interest coupons and shall have an aggregate principal amount equal to that of such Global Security or portion thereof to be so exchanged, shall be registered in such names and be in such authorized denominations as the Depositary shall designate in writing and shall bear any legends required by the Company in writing. Any Global Security to be exchanged in whole shall be surrendered by or on behalf of the Depositary to the Transfer Agent. With regard to any Global Security to be exchanged in part, either such Global Security shall be so surrendered for exchange or, the principal amount thereof shall be reduced, by an amount equal to the portion thereof to be so exchanged, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records of the Trustee. Upon any such surrender or adjustment, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, authenticate and deliver the Security issuable on such exchange to or upon the order of the Depositary or an authorized representative thereof.

(4) In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 304(2), the Company shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Certificated Securities.

(5) Neither any members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) nor any other Persons on whose behalf Agent Members may act (including Euroclear Bank S.A/N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”) and Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“Clearstream, Luxembourg”) and account holders and participants therein) shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security, or under any Global Security, and the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner and Holder of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall (i) prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, or (ii) impair, as between the Depositary, its Agent Members and any other Person on whose behalf an Agent Member may act, the operation of customary practices of such Persons governing the exercise of the rights of a beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Security.

(6) None of the Company, the Trustee or any Agent shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Security, an Agent Member of, or a participant in, the Depositary or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or Agent Member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in a Global Security or with respect to the delivery to any participant, Agent Member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Global Security (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Global Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders in respect of the Global Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the Depositary. The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Company, the Trustee and each Agent may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its Agent Members, participants and any beneficial owners.

-30-

Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with or with respect to any securities or tax laws (including but not limited to any United States federal or state or other securities or tax laws), or except as specifically provided herein, obtain documentation on any transfers or exchanges of the Securities.

SECTION 305.

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of written notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 305, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section 305 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

The provisions of this Section 305 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

SECTION 306.

Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

Interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

-31-

Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Section 306(1) or (2):

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit by 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Section 306(1) provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given to each Holder of Securities of such series in accordance with Section 106, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so given, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to Section 306(2).

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Section 306(2), such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 306, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

SECTION 307.

Persons Deemed Owners.

Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer (or in the event of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security), the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any other agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered, as evidenced by the Security Register, as the owner of such Security for all purposes including, without limitation, receiving payment of principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 306) interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, any Agent nor any other agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

-32-

SECTION 308.

Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section 308, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with its customary procedures unless otherwise directed by a Company Order.

SECTION 309.

Computation of Interest.

Except as contemplated by Section 301, interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

SECTION 310.

CUSIP Numbers and ISINs.

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers and “ISINs” (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers and “ISINs” in notices as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such notice shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers or “ISINs.”

ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 401.

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, on written demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when:

(1) either:

(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 305 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

-33-

(B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:

(i) have become due and payable; or

(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year; or

(iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose funds in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and premium, if any, and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401(1)(B), the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and Section 1003 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

SECTION 402.

Application of Trust Money

Subject to the provisions of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and premium, if any, and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

-34-

ARTICLE FIVE

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 501.

Events of Default.

“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means, except as contemplated by Section 301, any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(1) default in the payment of the principal (including any Redemption Price and any Additional Interest) of or premium, if any, on any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable; or

(2) default in the payment of any interest (including any Additional Interest) upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(3) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section 501 specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee at the written request of Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

(4) a default or defaults under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of Indebtedness of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created; provided that such default or defaults, individually or in the aggregate, (A) shall constitute a failure to pay the principal at maturity of Indebtedness in an amount in excess of U.S.$100 million (or the equivalent thereof in other currencies) or (B) shall have resulted in Indebtedness with an aggregate principal amount in excess of U.S.$100 million (or the equivalent thereof in other currencies) (or any portion thereof having an aggregate principal amount in excess of U.S.$100 million or such equivalent thereof) becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable; or

(5) a final judgment or judgments (not subject to appeal) for the payment of money are entered against the Company and/or any one or more Significant Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount in excess of U.S.$50 million (or the equivalent thereof in other currencies), by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction, which judgment(s) (A) are neither discharged nor bonded in full within 90 days or (B) if bonded in full within such 90-day period, cease to be fully bonded, and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 10 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee at the written request of Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

-35-

(6) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, suspension of payments, concurso mercantil, reorganization or other similar law, or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company or any Significant Subsidiary a bankrupt or insolvent, or suspending payments, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary under any applicable law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, síndico, conciliador, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or of any substantial part of the property of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

(7) the commencement by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, concurso mercantil, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, suspension of payments, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company, or the filing by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable law or the consent by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, síndico, conciliador, sequestrator or similar official of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or of any substantial part of the property of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, or the making by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in furtherance of any such action (evidenced by the adoption of a corporate resolution in favor of any such actions or an action of any of the officers of the Company or such Significant Subsidiary that similarly binds the Company or such Significant Subsidiary, as the case may be).

An Event of Default under one series of Securities under this Indenture will not necessarily be a default under another Series of Securities under this Indenture.

-36-

SECTION 502.

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

If an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities (other than an Event of Default specified in Sections 501(6) or (7)) occurs and is not cured or waived, then and in every such case the Trustee shall, at the written request of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by notice in writing to the Company, declare the principal of all the Securities to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration such principal and any accrued interest and any unpaid Additional Interest thereon shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Sections 501(6) or (7) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, the principal and any accrued interest, together with any Additional Interest thereon, on all of the Securities of that series then Outstanding shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable.

At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

(A) all overdue interest and any Additional Interest thereon on all of the Securities of that series;

(B) the principal of any Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration;

(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate borne by the Securities of that series; and

(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and all amounts owing the Trustee under Section 607;

and

(2) all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

-37-

SECTION 503.

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

The Company covenants that if:

(1) default is made in the payment of any interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days; or

(2) default is made in the payment of the principal (including any Redemption Price) of or premium, if any, on any Security at the Maturity thereof,

the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and premium, if any, and interest, and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium, if any, and on any overdue interest, at the rate borne by such Securities, together with any Additional Interest thereon, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of that series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

SECTION 504.

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

SECTION 505.

Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

-38-

SECTION 506.

Application of Money Collected.

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or premium, if any, or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607;

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: Any remaining amounts shall be repaid to the Company.

SECTION 507.

Limitation on Suits.

No Holder of any Securities of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series and such Event of Default has not been cured or waived;

(2) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

(5) no direction has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series that is inconsistent with the written request previously delivered by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

-39-

SECTION 508.

Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 306) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date).

SECTION 509.

Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

SECTION 510.

Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 305, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

SECTION 511.

Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

SECTION 512.

Control by Holders.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series; provided that:

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture; and

(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

-40-

SECTION 513.

Waiver of Past Defaults.

Subject to Section 502, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default:

(1) in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security of such series, without the approval of the particular Holder of that Security; or

(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 514.

Undertaking for Costs.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section 514 nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company or the Trustee or to require the Company to repurchase any Security in accordance with its terms.

SECTION 515.

Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

-41-

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 601.

Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 601.

SECTION 602.

Notice of Defaults.

If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(3) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section 602, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

SECTION 603.

Certain Rights of Trustee.

Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

(a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of Indebtedness or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(b) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officer’s Certificate;

(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its own choice and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

-42-

(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of Indebtedness or other paper or document in connection with this Indenture, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder; provided that the Trustee shall be required to terminate any such agent if a Responsible Officer has actual knowledge of any failure by such agent to perform its delegated duties;

(h) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any default or Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the relevant series of Securities and this Indenture;

(i) the Company shall deliver, and make such further deliveries as may be necessary to maintain the currency of such information, to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any Person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded;

(j) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

(k) notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Trustee be liable under or in connection with this Indenture or the Securities for indirect, special, incidental, punitive or consequential losses or damages of any kind whatsoever, including but not limited to lost profits, whether or not foreseeable, even if the Trustee has been advised of the possibility thereof and regardless of the form of action in which such damages are sought; and

(l) notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture because of circumstances beyond its control, including, but not limited to, acts of God, flood, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, fire, riot, strikes or work stoppages for any reason, embargo, government action, including any laws, ordinances, regulations or the like which restrict or prohibit the providing of the services contemplated by this Indenture, inability to obtain material, equipment, or communications or computer facilities, or the failure of equipment or interruption of communications or computer facilities, and other causes beyond its control whether or not of the same class or kind as specifically named above.

-43-

SECTION 604.

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

Neither the Trustee nor any Agent assumes any responsibility for the correctness of the recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except that (i) the Trustee and any Authenticating Agent assume responsibility for the correctness of the Trustee’s certificates of authentication and (ii) the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture. Neither the Trustee nor any Agent makes any representations as to the validity or sufficiency of any offering materials or this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

SECTION 605.

May Hold Securities.

The Trustee, any Agent or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Agent or such other agent.

SECTION 606.

Money Held in Trust.

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on or the investment of any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.

SECTION 607.

Compensation and Reimbursement.

The Company agrees:

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the parties for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable and documented expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct;

(3) to fully indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee for, and to hold each of the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives harmless for, from and against, any and all losses, liabilities, damages, claims, costs or expenses incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder and the exercise or performance of any of its rights, powers or duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, a Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder; and

(4) to secure the Company’s obligation under this Section 607, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all money or property held or collected by the Trustee in its capacity as Trustee, except for such money and property which is held in trust to pay principal and premium, if any, or interest on particular Securities and may withhold or set-off any amounts due and owing to it under this Indenture from any such money or property held by it.

-44-

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 501(6) or (7), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

The provisions of this Section 607 shall survive the payment of the Securities, the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination of this Indenture.

SECTION 608.

Conflicting Interests.

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.

SECTION 609.

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, unless otherwise required pursuant to applicable law, which may be Trustee hereunder for Securities of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such, has a combined capital and surplus of at least U.S.$50,000,000 and has its principal corporate trust office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 609 and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 609, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

-45-

SECTION 610.

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611.

The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 60 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

If at any time:

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

then, in any such case, (A) the Company, by a Company Order, may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Company Order, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series unless otherwise required pursuant to applicable law) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders or a court of competent jurisdiction within 60 days after the resignation, removal or incapability of the predecessor Trustee and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, the retiring Trustee or any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

-46-

The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

SECTION 611.

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to any series of Securities, such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to such series of Securities; provided, however that, on the written request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and such successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein such successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, such successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all series of Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; provided, however that, on written request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

-47-

Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee or Trustee pursuant to this Section 611, the obligations of the Company under Section 607 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee or Trustees.

SECTION 612.

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee (including its appointment hereunder), shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder; provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

SECTION 613.

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).

-48-

SECTION 614.

Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than U.S.$50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 614, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 614, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section 614.

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business (including its appointment hereunder) of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent; provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 614, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders in accordance with Section 106 . Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 614.

The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 614.

If an appointment is made pursuant to this Section 614, the Securities may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:

This is one of the Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.


THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,
As Trustee

By:
		As Authenticating Agent

By:
		Authorized Signatory

-49-

SECTION 615.

Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company.

Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than five Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to any earlier date) unless prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.

SECTION 616.

Rights, Protections and Immunities of the Trustee and Agents.

The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder as Security Registrar, Transfer Agent, Paying Agent and each other Agent appointed pursuant to this Indenture.

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

SECTION 701.

Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

To the extent Certificated Securities are issued and the Company is acting as Security Registrar, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

(a) semi-annually, not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date with respect to each such series of Certificated Securities, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of such Regular Record Date; and

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may reasonably request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Security Registrar.

-50-

SECTION 702.

Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

(b) The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and duties of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 703.

Reports by Trustee.

The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within sixty days after each May 15 following the date of this Indenture deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of such May 15, which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a).

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing when any Securities are listed on or delisted from any stock exchange.

SECTION 704.

Reports by Company.

The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, which the Company is required to file with the Trustee and/or the Commission and/or transmit to Holders pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to such Act.

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

-51-

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

SECTION 801.

Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or, directly or indirectly, transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets and properties and shall not permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into the Company unless:

(1) either:

(i) in the case of a merger or consolidation, the Company is the surviving entity, or

(ii) the Person formed by such consolidation or merger or the Person which acquires by transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition all or substantially all of the assets and properties of the Company (if not the Company) shall expressly assume by an indenture supplemental hereto all obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture, including, without limitation, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all the Securities;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, or an event or condition which, after the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, with respect to any series of Securities shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such transaction and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction and the execution of such supplemental indenture, if any, have been complied with.

SECTION 802.

Successor Substituted.

Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets and properties of the Company in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

-52-

ARTICLE NINE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 901.

Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.

Without the consent of any Holder of Securities of a series, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution or other duly authorized corporate action (in the case of the latter, along with delivery of a Company Order to the Trustee), and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto for any of the following purposes:

(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities;

(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;

(3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series);

(4) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form;

(5) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities; provided that any such addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding;

(6) to secure the Securities pursuant to the requirements of Sections 1006 and 1007 or otherwise;

(7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301;

(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611;

-53-

(9) to modify the restrictions on the transferability of any Securities, and the procedures for resales and other transfers of the Securities to reflect any change in applicable law or regulation (or the interpretation thereof) or to provide alternative procedures in compliance with applicable law and practices relating to the resale or other transfer of restricted securities generally;

(10) to comply with the requirements of the Commission in connection with qualifying this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

(11) to add one or more guarantors for the benefit of all or any series of Securities; or

(12) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided that such action pursuant to this Section 901(12) shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect.

SECTION 902.

Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution or other duly authorized corporate action (in the case of the latter, along with delivery of a Company Order to the Trustee), and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or such series of Securities of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of the series affected thereby:

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or premium, if any, payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of any Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or modify in any way the Company’s obligation to pay Additional Interest pursuant to Section 1008 or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or premium, if any, or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date); or

(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture; or

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section 902, Section 513 or Section 907, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of the series affected thereby; provided, however, that this Section 902(3) shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section 902 and Section 907, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Section 611.

-54-

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section 902 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

SECTION 903.

Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

SECTION 904.

Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities of the series to which such supplemental indenture relates theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

SECTION 905.

Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

-55-

SECTION 906.

Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and, upon receipt of a Company Order, delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

SECTION 907.

Waiver of Certain Covenants.

Except as contemplated by Section 301, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant established pursuant to Sections 301(22) or 901(2) for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series or in Sections 1006 and/or 1007 (to the extent such Sections are applicable to the Securities of such series), if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

SECTION 1001.

Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

The Company shall duly and punctually pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest (together with any Additional Interest payable thereon) on the Securities in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

SECTION 1002.

Maintenance of Office or Agency.

With respect to any Security, and except as otherwise may be specified for such Security as contemplated by Section 301, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall be the Place of Payment where such Security may be presented or surrendered for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, or where successor Securities may be delivered in exchange therefor; provided, however, that any such payment, presentation, surrender or delivery of a Global Security effected pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary for such Global Security shall be deemed to have been effected at the Place of Payment for such Global Security in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

With respect to any Securities, the Company shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, an office or agency where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands (other than the type contemplated by Section 115) to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

-56-

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies (in or outside the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York) where the Securities of one or more series, notices and other items may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York for such purposes. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

SECTION 1003.

Money for Security Payments to Be Held in Trust.

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it shall, on or before each due date of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and premium, if any, and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it shall, by 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the Business Day immediately prior to each due date of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

The Company shall cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Company, subject to the provisions of this Section 1003, that such Paying Agent will (1) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series.

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

-57-

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may, at the expense of the Company, cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in The City of New York, New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

Each Paying Agent shall comply with applicable backup withholding tax and information reporting requirements under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the United States Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to payments made under the Securities (including, to the extent required, the collection of Internal Revenue Service Forms W-8 and W-9 and the filing of United States Internal Revenue Service Forms 1099 and 1096).

SECTION 1004.

Statement by Officers as to Default.

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company (which ends on December 31^st) ending after the date of this Indenture, an Officer’s Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within 15 days after any Senior Executive Officer becomes aware of the occurrence of an Event of Default or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or default and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 1005.

Exchange Act Reports.

The Company shall furnish the Trustee, within 15 days after filing with the Commission, with copies of its annual report and the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. In addition, the Company shall make the same information, documents and other reports available, at its expense, to Holders who so request in writing. In the event that, in the future, the Company is not required to file such information, documents or other reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, then the Company shall furnish to the Trustee (i) copies of the Company’s audited annual financial statements within 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year and (ii) copies of the Company’s unaudited quarterly financial statements within 60 days after the end of each of the Company’s first three fiscal quarters of each year. If the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act at any time when the Securities are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, then it shall promptly furnish or cause to be furnished financial and other information described in Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933 (or any successor provision thereto) with respect to the Company to any Holder, or to a prospective purchaser of a Note who is designated by such Holder, upon the request of such Holder or prospective purchaser, to the extent required to permit such Holder to comply with Rule 144A under the Securities Act in connection with any resale of Securities held by such Holder.

-58-

Delivery of any reports, information and documents to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 1005 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

SECTION 1006.

Limitation on Liens.

The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Significant Subsidiary to, create, incur, issue or assume any Indebtedness secured by any Lien on any property without, in any such case, effectively providing that the Securities (together with, if the Company shall so determine, any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary then existing or thereafter created) shall be secured equally and ratably with or prior to such secured Indebtedness, so long as such secured Indebtedness shall be so secured, unless, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount of all such secured Indebtedness then outstanding would not exceed an amount equal to the greater of (i) U.S.$2,800.00 million and (ii) 16% of Consolidated Tangible Assets less, in each case, the aggregate amount of Attributable Debt of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries in respect of Sales and Leasebacks then outstanding pursuant to Section 1007(a); provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 1006 shall prevent or restrict Indebtedness secured by:

(a) any Lien existing on any property prior to the acquisition thereof by the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, or any Lien arising after such acquisition pursuant to contractual commitments entered into prior to such acquisition and not in contemplation thereof;

(b) any Lien on any property securing Indebtedness incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing the purchase price thereof or the cost of construction, improvement or repair of all or any part thereof; provided that such Lien attaches to such property within 12 months after the acquisition thereof or completion of construction, improvement or repair thereof and does not attach to any other property;

(c) any Lien existing on any property of any Subsidiary prior to the time such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or any Lien arising after such time pursuant to contractual commitments entered into prior to and not in contemplation thereof;

(d) any Lien on any property securing Indebtedness owed by a Subsidiary to the Company or to another Subsidiary;

(e) any Lien existing on the date hereof;

-59-

(f) any Lien resulting from the deposit of funds or other evidence of Indebtedness in trust for the purpose of defeasing any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company;

(g) any (i) Lien for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges and (ii) attachment or judgment Liens, in each case, the payment of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which such reserves or other appropriate provision, if any, as may be required by IFRS shall have been made;

(h) liens on accounts receivable, inventory, or bottles and cases to secure working capital or revolving credit debt incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(i) liens resulting from a direct or indirect pledge of any or all of the Company’s shares in Heineken N.V. or Heineken Holdings N.V. or any holding company the principal assets of which consist of such shares;

(j) any liens on real estate related to retail or commercial locations operated by the Company or its subsidiaries that is contributed to a trust (a “Real Estate Trust”); and

(k) any Lien arising out of the refinancing, extension, renewal or refunding of any Indebtedness described in subsections (a) through (g) of this Section 1006; provided that the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness is not increased and such Lien does not extend to any additional property.

For purposes of this Section 1006, the giving of a guarantee which is secured by a Lien on any property, and the creation of a Lien on any property to secure Indebtedness which existed prior to the creation of such Lien, shall be deemed to involve the creation of secured Indebtedness in an amount equal to the principal amount guaranteed or secured by such Lien; but the amount of Indebtedness secured by Liens on properties shall be computed without cumulating the underlying Indebtedness with any guarantee thereof or Lien securing the same.

SECTION 1007.

Limitation on Sales and Leasebacks.

The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Significant Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction without in any such case effectively providing that the Securities (together with, if the Company shall so determine, any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary then existing or thereafter created) shall be secured equally and ratably with or prior to such Sale and Leaseback Transaction, so long as such Sale and Leaseback Transaction shall be outstanding, unless, after giving effect thereto:

(a) the aggregate amount of Attributable Debt of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries in respect of Sale and Leaseback Transactions then outstanding pursuant to this Section 1007(a) would not exceed an aggregate amount equal to the greater of (i) U.S.$2,800.00 million and (ii) 16% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets less, in each case, any secured Indebtedness permitted under Section 1006;

(b) the Company or a Subsidiary, within 12 months after such Sale and Leaseback Transaction, (i) applies to the retirement of Indebtedness which is not owed to the Company or a Subsidiary and which is not subordinated to the Securities of any series or (ii) invests in equipment, plant facilities or other fixed assets used in the operations of the Company or a Subsidiary, an aggregate amount equal to the greater of (x) the net proceeds of the sale or transfer of the property or other assets that are the subject of such Sale and Leaseback Transaction and (y) the fair market value of the property so leased; or

-60-

(c) the transaction involves the lease by the Company or its subsidiaries of real estate contributed to a Real Estate Trust.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Subsidiaries may enter into Sale and Leaseback Transactions that solely refinance, extend, renew or refund Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted pursuant to Sections 1007(a) and 1007(b) and the restriction described in the introductory sentence of this Section 1007 shall not apply to such refinancing, extension, renewal or refunding.

SECTION 1008.

Payment of Additional Interest.

(a) The Company shall pay to Holders of the Securities all additional interest (“Additional Interest”) that may be necessary so that every net payment of interest or principal or premium to the Holders of the Securities will not be less than the amount provided for in the Securities. For purposes of the preceding sentence, “net payment” means the amount that the Company or any Paying Agent will pay the Holder after the Company deducts or withholds an amount for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges imposed or levied with respect to that payment (or the payment of such Additional Interest) by a Mexican taxing authority or the taxing authority of any other country under whose laws the Company is organized at the time of payment, except for the United States (each, a “Taxing Jurisdiction”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to pay Additional Interest to any Holder of a Security or beneficial owner, or to the Trustee, for or on account of any of the following:

(ii) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property or other similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed with respect to such Security;

(iii) any taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges imposed solely because the Holder or any other Person fails to comply with any certification, identification or other reporting requirement concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with the Taxing Jurisdiction of the Holder or any beneficial owner of such Security if compliance is required by law, regulation or by an applicable income tax treaty to which such Taxing Jurisdiction is a party and which is effective, as a precondition to exemption from, or reduction in the rate of, the tax, assessment or other governmental charge and the Company has given the Holders at least 30 calendar days’ notice prior to the first payment date with respect to which such certification, identification or reporting requirement is required to the effect that Holders will be required to provide such information and identification;

-61-

(iv) any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from payments on such Security;

(vii) any tax, duty, assessment or governmental charge imposed on payment to an individual and required to be made pursuant to any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, any European Union Directive on the taxation of savings;

(viii) any taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges that are imposed on a payment to an individual and are required to be made pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income or any other directive implementing the conclusions of the ECOFIN Council meetings of November 26 and 27, 2000, December 13, 2001, and January 21, 2003, or any law or agreement implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such a directive; and

(ix) any combination of items (i) through (viii) above.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the limitations on the Company’s obligation to pay Additional Interest set forth in Section 1008(a)(iii) will not apply if the provision of information, documentation or other evidence described in Section 1008(a)(iii) would be materially more onerous, in form, in procedure or in the substance of information disclosed, to a Holder or beneficial owner of a Security, taking into account any relevant differences between U.S. and Mexican law, regulation or administrative practice, or the laws, regulations or administrative practices of any other Taxing Jurisdiction, than comparable information or other reporting requirements imposed under United States tax law (including the United States/Mexico Income Tax Treaty), regulations (including proposed regulations) and administrative practice. In addition, the limitations on the Company’s obligations to pay Additional Interest set forth in Section 1008(a)(iii) also will not apply with respect to any Mexican withholding taxes unless (a) the provision of the information, documentation or other evidence described in Section 1008(a)(iii) is expressly required by the applicable Mexican regulations, (b) the Company cannot obtain the information, documentation or other evidence necessary to comply with the applicable Mexican regulations on its own through reasonable diligence and (c) the Company otherwise would meet the requirements for application of the applicable Mexican regulations. In addition, Section 1008(a)(iii) shall not be construed to require that any Person that is not a resident of Mexico for tax purposes, including any non-Mexican pension fund, retirement fund or financial institution, register with the Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público (the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit) or the “SHCP”) or with the Servicio de Administración Tributaria (the Tax Administration Service or “SAT”) to establish eligibility for an exemption from, or a reduction of, Mexican withholding tax.

-62-

In respect of the Securities of any series issued hereunder, at least 10 days prior to the first date of payment of interest on such Securities and at least 10 days prior to each date, if any, of payment of principal or interest thereafter if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officer’s Certificate, the Company shall furnish the Trustee and each Paying Agent with an Officer’s Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent as to whether such payment of principal of or any interest on such Securities shall be made without deduction or withholding for or on account of any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge. If any such deduction or withholding shall be required by a Taxing Jurisdiction, then such certificate shall specify, by country, the amount, if any, required to be deducted or withheld on such payment to Holders of such Securities, and the Company shall pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee or such Paying Agent Additional Interest, if any, required by this Section 1008. The Company agrees to indemnify the Trustee and each Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without willful misconduct on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by them in reliance on any Officer’s Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section 1008 or the failure to furnish any Officer’s Certificate.

(b) The Company shall pay all stamp, issue, registration, documentary or other similar duties, if any, which may be imposed by Mexico or any governmental entity or political subdivision therein or thereof, or any taxing authority of or in any of the foregoing, with respect to the Indenture or the issuance of any series of the Securities.

(c) The Company shall provide each Paying Agent and any withholding agent under relevant tax regulations with copies of each certificate received by the Company from a Holder of a Security pursuant to the provisions of such Security. Each such Paying Agent and withholding agent shall retain each such certificate received by it for as long as any Security is Outstanding and in no event for less than four years after its receipt, and for such additional period thereafter, as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, as such certificate may become material in the administration of applicable tax laws.

-63-

(d) In the event that Additional Interest actually paid with respect to the Securities pursuant to the preceding paragraphs are based on rates of deduction or withholding of withholding taxes in excess of the appropriate rate applicable to the Holder of such Securities, and, as a result thereof such Holder is entitled to make claim for a refund or credit of such excess from the authority imposing such withholding tax, then such Holder shall, by accepting such Securities, be deemed to have assigned and transferred all right, title, and interest to any such claim for a refund or credit of such excess to the Company. However, by making such assignment, the Holder makes no representation or warranty that the Company will be entitled to receive such claim for a refund or credit and incurs no other obligation with respect thereto.

(e) All references in this Indenture and the Securities to principal, premium, if any, or interest in respect of any Security shall be deemed to mean and include all Additional Interest, if any, payable in respect of such principal, premium, if any, or interest or any other amounts payable, unless the context otherwise requires, and express mention of the payment of Additional Interest in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding reference to Additional Interest in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made. All references in this Indenture and the Securities to principal in respect of any Security shall be deemed to mean and include any Redemption Price payable in respect of such Security pursuant to any redemption right hereunder, and all such references to principal, premium, if any, interest or Additional Interest shall be deemed to mean and include any amount payable in respect hereof pursuant to Section 1009, and express mention of the payment of any Redemption Price, or any such other amount in those provisions hereof where such express reference is not made.

SECTION 1009.

Indemnification of Judgment Currency.

The Company shall indemnify the Trustee and any Holder of a Security against any loss incurred by the Trustee or such Holder, as the case may be, as a result of any judgment or order being given or made for any amount due under this Indenture or such Security and being expressed and paid in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than the Securities Currency , and as a result of any variation between (i) the rate of exchange at which the Securities Currency amount is converted into the Judgment Currency for the purpose of such judgment or order and (ii) the spot rate of exchange in The City of New York, New York at which the Trustee or such Holder, as the case may be, on the date of payment of such judgment or order is able to purchase the Securities Currency with the amount of the Judgment Currency actually received by the Trustee or such Holder. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, in the event that the amount of the Securities Currency purchased by any Holder as a result of such indemnification exceeds the amount originally to be paid to such Holder, such Holder shall reimburse such excess to the Company. The foregoing indemnity shall constitute a separate and independent obligation of the Company and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any such judgment or order as aforesaid. The term “spot rate of exchange” shall include any premiums and costs of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of, or conversion into, the Securities Currency.

SECTION 1010.

Calculation of Original Issue Discount.

The Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods), if any, accrued on Outstanding Securities of any series constituting original discount securities as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specific information relating to such original issue discount, if any, as may then be relevant under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

-64-

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1101.

Right of Redemption.

(a) The Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity may not be redeemed at the election of the Company except in accordance with Section 1101(c) or otherwise in accordance with their terms as established by Section 301 and in accordance with the provisions of this Article.

(b) The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company, notify the Trustee in writing of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. Such notice, once given to the Trustee, shall be irrevocable.

(c) The Company may, at its option, redeem the Securities of a series issued hereunder upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ written notice to the Holders of such Securities, at any time in whole but not in part, at a Redemption Price equal to the sum of (A) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities of such series, (B) accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Securities of such series up to but not including the Redemption Date and (C) any Additional Interest which would otherwise be payable up to the Redemption Date, solely if,

(1) as a result of any amendment to, or change in, the laws (or any rules or regulations thereunder) of Mexico, or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein affecting taxation, any amendment to or change in an official interpretation or application of such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment to or change of such laws, rules or regulations becomes effective on or after the date of the offering document relating to the Securities of such series, the Company would be obligated on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, after taking such measures as the Company may consider reasonable to avoid this requirement, to pay Additional Interest in excess of those attributable to a withholding tax rate of 4.9%; or

(2) in the event that the Company is organized under the laws of any Taxing Jurisdiction other than Mexico (the date on which the Company becomes subject to any such Taxing Jurisdiction, the “Succession Date”), and as a result of any amendment to, or change in, the laws (or any rules or regulations thereunder) of such Taxing Jurisdiction, or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein affecting taxation, any amendment to or change in an official interpretation or application of such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment to or change of such laws, rules or regulations becomes effective after the Succession Date, the Company would be obligated on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, after taking such measures as the Company may consider reasonable to avoid this requirement, to pay Additional Interest in excess of those attributable to any withholding tax rate imposed by such Taxing Jurisdiction as of the Succession Date with respect to the Securities;

-65-

provided, however, that (x) no notice of such redemption may be given earlier than 90 days prior to the earliest date on which the Company would be obligated to pay such Additional Interest if a payment on the Securities of such series were then due and (y) at the time such notice of redemption is given such obligation to pay such Additional Interest remains in effect.

(d) Before any notice of redemption pursuant to Section 1101(c) is given to the Trustee or the Holders of Securities of the relevant series, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee (i) an Officer’s Certificate stating that the Company is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the condition or conditions precedent to the right of the Company so to redeem have occurred or been satisfied and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel from legal counsel (which may be the Company’s in-house counsel) of recognized standing to the effect that the Company has or will become obligated to pay such Additional Interest as a result of such change or amendment.

SECTION 1102.

Notice of Redemption.

Notice of redemption shall be given in accordance with Section 106 not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date;

(2) the Redemption Price and amount of accrued interest, if any;

(3) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price and any accrued interest shall become due and payable upon each Security to be redeemed and that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date;

(4) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and any accrued interest; and

(5) applicable “CUSIP” numbers and “ISINs.”

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company to the Holders of such Securities (with a copy to the Trustee or, at the Company’s written request, by the Trustee to the Holders of such Securities in the name and at the expense of the Company, and such notice, when given to the Holders, shall be irrevocable.

In the event the Company requests that the Trustee deliver notice of redemption to the Holders, the Company shall provide the Trustee with the information required to be delivered in such notice pursuant to this Section 1102 at least 10 calendar days (unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the date such notice is to be given to the Holders of the Securities to be redeemed.

-66-

SECTION 1103.

Deposit of Redemption Price.

By 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the Business Day immediately preceding any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

If any Security is convertible for other securities as contemplated by Section 301 and such Security is called for redemption, if such Security is converted for other securities prior to the Redemption Date any money deposited with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for the redemption of such Security shall (subject to any right of the Holder of such Security or any Predecessor Security to receive interest as provided in the last paragraph of Section 306) be paid to the Company upon Company Request or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust.

SECTION 1104.

Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the Regular Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 306.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Security.

SECTION 1105.

Securities Redeemed in Part.

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered to the Transfer Agent (with due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Transfer Agent duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

-67-

ARTICLE TWELVE

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 1201.

Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

If pursuant to Section 301 provision is made for either or both of (a) legal defeasance of the Securities of a series under Section 1202 or (b) covenant defeasance of the Securities of a series under Section 1203 to apply to Securities of any series, then the provisions of such Section or Sections, as the case may be, together with the other provisions of this Article, shall be applicable to all of the Outstanding Securities of such series, and the Company may at its option, at any time, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series, elect to have either Section 1202 (if applicable) or Section 1203 (if applicable) be applied to the Outstanding Securities of such series upon compliance with the conditions set forth in Section 1204.

SECTION 1202.

Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 1202, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “legal defeasance”).

For this purpose, such legal defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the written request and expense of the Company, shall execute instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(a) the rights of Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1204 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and interest on and Additional Interest, if any, with respect to, such Securities when such payments are due;

(b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 304, 305, 607, 1002, 1003 and 1008 (but only to the extent that any Additional Interest payable exceed the amount deposited in respect of such Additional Interest pursuant to Section 1204 below);

(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties, immunities and indemnities and other provisions in respect of the Trustee hereunder; and

(d) this Article.

Subject to compliance with this Article, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 1202 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 1203 with respect to the Securities of such series.

-68-

SECTION 1203.

Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 1203, the Company shall be released from its obligations under Sections 801, 1004, 1102, 501(3) (as to Sections 801 and 1004), 501(6) and 501(7) with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”).

For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section, whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby. Following a covenant defeasance, payment of the Securities of such series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified above in this Section 1203.

SECTION 1204.

Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 1202 or Section 1203 to the Outstanding Securities of any series.

(a) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 609 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, (A) an amount in Dollars or such other currency in which such Securities are denominated (the “Securities Currency”), or (B) Government Securities which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, within two weeks prior to the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of, the premium, if any, and each installment of interest on the Outstanding Securities of such series on the Stated Maturity of such principal, premium, if any, or interest in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities. Before such a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of any series of Securities at a future date in accordance with any redemption provisions relating to such series, which shall be given effect in applying the foregoing.

(b) No event which is, or which with notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit.

(c) Such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not cause the Trustee for the Securities of such series to have a conflicting interest for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any Securities of the Company.

-69-

(d) Such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

(e) Such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not cause any Securities of such series then listed on any registered national securities exchange under the Exchange Act to be delisted.

(f) In the case of an election under Section 1202, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date hereof there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such legal defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such legal defeasance had not occurred.

(g) In the case of an election under Section 1203, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.

(h) Such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 301.

(i) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to either the legal defeasance under Section 1202 or the covenant defeasance under Section 1203, as the case may be, have been complied with.

SECTION 1205.

Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to the provisions of the last two paragraphs of Section 1003, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively, for purposes of this Section 1205, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1204 in respect of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (but not including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest and Additional Interest, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

-70-

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 1204 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series.

Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 1204 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent defeasance or covenant defeasance.

SECTION 1206.

Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 1204 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of a series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 1204, until such time as the Trustee or such Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or Government Securities in accordance with Sections 1204; provided that, if the Company has made any payment of principal of or interest on the Securities of such series because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent.

-71-

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, as of the day and year first above written.


FOMENTO ECONÓMICO MEXICANO, S.A.B. DE C.V.

By:	/s/ Gerardo Estrada Attolini
	Name:	Gerardo Estrada Attolini
	Title:	Director of Corporate Finance / Attorney-in-Fact

By:	/s/ Carlos Eduardo Aldrete Ancira
	Name:	Carlos Eduardo Aldrete Ancira
	Title:	General Counsel / Attorney-in-Fact

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee, Security Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent

By:	/s/ Teisha Wright
	Name:	Teisha Wright
	Title:	Vice President

EX-5.1

EXHIBIT 5.1

LOGO

April 8, 2013

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.

General Anaya No. 601 Pte.

Colonia Bella Vista

Monterrey, NL

64410 Mexico

Re:	Registration Statement on Form F-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special United States counsel to Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (the “Company”), a listed variable capital stock corporation (sociedad anónima bursátil de capital variable) organized under the laws of the United Mexican States (“Mexico”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of a registration statement on Form F-3 of the Company (the “Registration Statement”) filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the offering from time to time, together or separately and in one or more series (if applicable), of the following securities: (i) debt securities (the “Debt Securities”) of the Company, (ii) warrants for the purchase of Debt Securities (the “Warrants”) and (iii) guarantees of Debt Securities issued by others (the “Guarantees”). The Debt Securities, Warrants, and Guarantees are referred to herein collectively as the “Securities.” The Securities being registered under the Registration Statement will have an indeterminate aggregate initial offering price and will be offered on a continuous or delayed basis pursuant to the provisions of Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

LOGO

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V., p. 2

Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement forming part of the Registration Statement relating to a particular series of Debt Securities, the Debt Securities are to be issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of April 8, 2013 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, security registrar, paying agent and transfer agent (the “Trustee”), as may be amended and supplemented by supplemental indentures (the Base Indenture, as so amended and supplemented, the “Indenture”). The Warrants are to be issued under one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”) to be entered into by the Company and one or more institutions, as warrant agents (each, a “Warrant Agent”), each to be identified in the applicable Warrant Agreement. The Guarantees are to be issued under one or more indentures governing the debt securities issued by others, as may be amended and supplemented by supplemental indentures (each, as so amended and supplemented, a “Guarantee Indenture”), among the Company, the issuer of the debt securities guaranteed by the Company and one or more institutions, as trustee (each, a “Guarantee Trustee”).

In arriving at the opinions expressed below, we have reviewed the following documents:

(a)

the Registration Statement and the documents incorporated by reference therein; and

(b)

an executed copy of the Base Indenture (including a form of Debt Security included therein), filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

In addition, we have reviewed the originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of such other documents, and we have made such investigations of law, as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for the opinions expressed below.

In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. In addition, we have assumed and have not verified (i) the accuracy as to factual matters of each document we have reviewed, (ii) that the Debt Securities will conform to the forms thereof that we have reviewed and (iii) that the Guarantees and the Warrants will be substantially as described in the Registration Statement.

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the further assumptions and qualifications set forth below, it is our opinion that:

The Debt Securities to be issued under the Indenture, when issued and sold by the Company in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and upon due execution and delivery of the Debt Securities in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, will be the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

The Warrants to be issued under the Warrant Agreements, when issued and sold by the Company in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and upon due and execution and delivery of the Warrants, will be the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company.

The Guarantees to be issued under the Guarantee Indentures, when issued and granted by the Company in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement, will be the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company.

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V., p. 3

Insofar as the foregoing opinions relate to the validity, binding effect or enforceability of any agreement or obligation of the Company, (a) we have assumed that the Company and each other party to such agreement or obligation has satisfied or, prior to the issuance of the Securities, will satisfy those legal requirements that are applicable to it to the extent necessary to make such agreement or obligation enforceable against it (except that no such assumption is made as to the Company regarding matters of the federal law of the United States of America or the law of the State of New York) and (b) such opinions are subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, to general principles of equity and to the effect of judicial application of foreign laws or foreign governmental actions affecting creditors’ rights.

In rendering the opinions expressed above, we have further assumed that (i) a prospectus supplement and any term sheet will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby and will comply with all applicable laws, (ii) all Securities will be offered, issued, granted, sold and delivered in compliance with applicable law and any requirements therefor set forth in any corporate action authorizing such Securities and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any term sheet, (iii) the Registration Statement will be effective and will comply with all applicable laws at the time any Securities are offered, issued, granted, sold or delivered as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any term sheet, (iv) the terms of all Debt Securities will conform to the forms thereof contained in the Base Indenture, and the terms of all Securities will not violate any applicable law or conflict with any matter of public policy in New York, result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, or violate any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, (v) the Securities will be offered, issued, granted, sold and delivered to, and paid for by, the purchasers thereof at the price specified in, and in accordance with the terms of, an agreement or agreements duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, (vi) the Company will duly authorize the offering and issuance of the Securities and will duly authorize, approve and establish the final terms and conditions of the offering and issuance or grant of the Debt Securities, Warrants and Guarantees, as the case may be, (vii) the Company has duly authorized, executed and delivered, or will duly authorize, execute and deliver, as applicable, the Base Indenture, the supplemental indenture, the Warrant Agreement, the Guarantee Indenture, and any other agreement necessary with respect to the Securities or contemplated by such Securities and will take any other appropriate additional corporate action, and (viii) if issued in certificated form, the certificates representing the Securities will be duly executed and delivered and, to the extent required by any applicable agreement, duly authenticated and countersigned and if issued in book entry form, the Securities will be duly registered to the extent required by any applicable agreement.

In rendering the opinion expressed in numbered paragraph 1 above, we have assumed that each series of Debt Securities will be issued with an original aggregate principal amount (or in the case of Debt Securities issued at original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) of U.S. $2,500,000 or more.

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V., p. 4

We express no opinion as to the subject matter jurisdiction of any United States federal court to adjudicate any action relating to the Securities where jurisdiction based on diversity of citizenship under 28 U.S.C. §1332 does not exist. We note that the designation in Section 115 of the Base Indenture of the U.S. federal courts sitting in New York City as the venue for actions or proceedings relating to the Debt Securities or the Base Indenture is (notwithstanding the waiver in Section 115) subject to the power of such courts to transfer actions pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1404(a) or to dismiss such actions or proceedings on the grounds that such a federal court is an inconvenient forum for such an action or proceeding.

We note that by statute the law of the State of New York provides that a judgment or decree rendered in a currency other than the currency of the United States shall be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment or decree. There is no corresponding federal statute and no controlling federal court decision on this issue. Accordingly, we express no opinion as to whether a federal court would award a judgment in a currency other than U.S. dollars or, if it did so, whether it would order the conversion of the judgment into U.S. dollars.

We express no opinion as to the enforceability of Section 1009 of the Base Indenture, providing for indemnification by the Company of the Trustee and the holders of the Debt Securities against any loss in obtaining the currency due to the Trustee or such holders of the Debt Securities from a court judgment in another currency.

The foregoing opinions are limited to the federal law of the United States of America and the law of the State of New York.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm in the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement under the heading “Validity of Securities” and in any prospectus supplement related thereto as counsel for the Company who have passed on the validity of the Securities being registered by the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Registration Statement, including this exhibit, within the meaning of the term “expert” as used in the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. The opinions expressed herein are rendered on and as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you or any other person, or to make any investigations, as to any legal developments or factual matters arising subsequent to the date hereof that might affect the opinions expressed herein.


Very truly yours,

CLEARY GOTTLIEB STEEN & HAMILTON LLP

By:		/s/ Duane McLaughlin
		Duane McLaughlin, a Partner

EX-5.2

EXHIBIT 5.2

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.

General Anaya No. 601 Pte.

Colonia Bella Vista

Monterrey, NL

64410 Mexico

April 8, 2013

Re:	Registration Statement on Form F-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am the General Counsel of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (the “Company”), a listed variable capital stock corporation (sociedad anónima bursátil de capital variable) organized under the laws of the United Mexican States (“Mexico”), and have acted as Mexican counsel to the Company in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of a registration statement on Form F-3 of the Company (the “Registration Statement”) filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the offering from time to time, together or separately and in one or more series (if applicable), of the following securities: (i) debt securities (the “Debt Securities”) of the Company, (ii) warrants for the purchase of Debt Securities (the “Warrants”) and (iii) guarantees of Debt Securities issued by others (the “Guarantees”). Debt Securities, Warrants, and Guarantees are referred to herein collectively as the “Securities.” The Securities being registered under the Registration Statement will have an indeterminate aggregate initial offering price and will be offered on a continuous or delayed basis pursuant to the provisions of Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

In connection with the foregoing, I have reviewed copies of the following documents:

(i)

the estatutos sociales (by-laws) of the Company;

(ii)

the Registration Statement and the documents incorporated by reference therein; and

(iii)

an executed copy of the Base Indenture (including a form of Debt Security included therein), filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

In addition, I have reviewed the originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction of all such corporate records of the Company and its Mexican subsidiaries, and such other instruments and other certificates of public officials, officers and representatives of the Company, and I have made such investigations of law, as I have deemed appropriate as a basis for the opinions expressed below.

In rendering the opinions expressed below, I have assumed, without any independent investigation or verification of any kind, (i) the accuracy as to factual matters of each document I have reviewed, (ii) the due authorization, execution and delivery by any party thereto (other than the Company) of the Indenture; (iii) the validity, binding effect and enforceability of the Indenture and the Debt Securities under the laws of the State of New York in the United States of America; (iv) that the Debt Securities will be duly authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture; (v) the genuineness and authenticity of all signatures, opinions, documents and papers submitted to me; and (vi) that copies of all opinions, documents and papers submitted to me are complete and conform to the originals thereof.

In addition, I have assumed that the Company has satisfied the legal requirements that is applicable to it under applicable law other than the law of Mexico to the extent necessary to make the Indenture and the Debt Securities, as the case may be, enforceable against it. I have also assumed that the Trustee has satisfied the legal requirements that are applicable to it under applicable law other than the law of Mexico to the extent necessary to make the Indenture enforceable against it.

Based on the foregoing, having regard for such other considerations as I deem relevant and subject to the further assumptions and qualifications set forth below, I am of the opinion that:

The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing under the laws of Mexico.

The Company has the corporate power to, and all necessary corporate action has been taken to, execute, deliver and file the Registration Statement.

Insofar as the foregoing opinions relate to the validity, binding effect or enforceability of any agreement or obligation of the Company, (a) I have assumed that the Company and each other party to such agreement or obligation has satisfied or, prior to the issuance of the Securities, will satisfy those legal requirements that are applicable to it to the extent necessary to make such agreement or obligation enforceable against it (except that no such assumption is made as to the Company regarding matters of federal law of Mexico), and (b) such opinions are subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally.

In rendering the opinions expressed above, I have further assumed that (i) a prospectus supplement and any term sheet will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby and will comply with all applicable laws, (ii) all Securities will be offered, issued, granted, sold and delivered in compliance with applicable law and any requirements therefor set forth in any corporate action authorizing such Securities and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any term sheet, (iii) the Registration Statement will be effective and will comply with all applicable laws at the time any Securities are offered, issued, granted, sold or delivered as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any term sheet, (iv) the terms of all Debt Securities will conform to the forms thereof contained in the Base Indenture, and the terms of all Securities will not violate any applicable law, result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, or violate any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, (v) the Securities will be offered, issued, granted, sold and delivered to, and paid for by, the purchasers thereof at the price specified in, and in accordance with the terms of, an agreement or agreements duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, (vi) the Company will duly authorize the offering and issuance of the Securities and will duly authorize, approve and establish the final terms and conditions of the offering and issuance or grant of the Debt Securities, Warrants, and Guarantees, as the case may be, (vii) the Company has duly authorized, executed and delivered, or will duly authorize, execute and deliver, as applicable, the Base Indenture, the supplemental indenture, the Warrant Agreement, the Guarantee Indenture and any other agreement necessary with respect to the Securities or contemplated by such Securities and will take any other appropriate additional corporate action, and (viii) if issued in certificated form, the certificates representing the Securities will be duly executed and delivered and, to the extent required by any applicable agreement, duly authenticated and countersigned and if issued in book entry form, the Securities will be duly registered to the extent required by any applicable agreement.

This opinion is subject to the following qualifications:

(a)

Enforcement may be limited or affected by concurso mercantil, bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws of general application relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally;

(b)

I note that the payment of interest on interest may not be enforceable under Mexican law;

(c)

In the event that proceedings are brought in Mexico seeking performance of the obligations of the Company in Mexico, pursuant to Article 8 of the Ley Monetaria de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos (Mexican Monetary Law), the Company may discharge its obligations by paying any sums due in a currency other than Mexican currency, in Mexican currency at the rate of exchange fixed by the Bank of Mexico for the date when payment is made;

(d)

In the event that any legal proceedings are brought in the courts of Mexico, a Spanish translation of the documents required in such proceedings, prepared by a court-approved translator, would have to be approved by the court after the defendant had been given an opportunity to be heard with respect to the accuracy of the translation, and proceedings would thereafter be based upon the translated documents;

(e)

The exercise of any prerogatives of the parties, although they may be discretionary, should be supported by the factual assumptions required for their reasonable exercise; in addition, under Mexican law, the Company will have the right to contest in court any notice or certificate of such party purporting to be conclusive and binding;

(f)

Claims may become barred under the statutes of limitation or may be or become subject to defenses of set-off or counterclaim;

(g)

As to the provisions contained in the Base Indenture regarding service of process, it should be noted that service of process by mail does not constitute personal service under Mexican law and, since such service is considered to be a basic procedural requirement under such law, if for purposes of proceedings outside Mexico service of process is made by mail, a final judgment based on such service of process would not be enforced by the courts of Mexico;

(h)

With respect to the provisions contained in the Base Indenture regarding service of process, I note that the irrevocability of the appointment of CT Corporation System as the authorized agent for service of process of the Company and the Guarantor may not be enforceable under Mexican law and, as a consequence, such appointment may be legally revoked;

(i)

I express no opinion as to Sections 505 (Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities), 509 (Restoration of Rights and Remedies) and 1009 (Indemnification of Judgment Currency) of the Base Indenture;

(j)

I note that any covenants of the Company which purport to bind them on matters reserved by law to shareholders or owners of equity interests, or which purport to bind shareholders or owners of equity interests to vote or refrain from voting their shares or equity interests in the Company, are not enforceable, under Mexican law, through specific performance;

(k)

In the event any legal proceedings are brought in the courts of Mexico to enforce a holder’s rights under the Securities or the Indenture, the Mexican courts would apply Mexican procedural law;

(l)

I note that under the laws of Mexico, the enforceability of a guarantee in a Mexican court is contingent on the genuineness, validity and enforceability of any underlying obligations; in addition, under Mexican law, the obligations of a guarantor are not independent from, and may not exceed, the obligations of the main obligor and the consent of any such guarantor is required for any extension or granting of grace periods to the main obligor, any amendment of a guaranteed obligation that would result in an increase or amendment of any obligation of a guarantor, or the novation of the principal obligation, to be valid against each such guarantor; and

(m)

Except as specifically stated herein, I make no comment with regard to any representation which may be made by the Company in any of the documents referred to above or otherwise.

I express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than Mexico and I have assumed that there is nothing in any other law that affects my opinion, which is delivered, based upon Mexican law applicable on the date hereof. In particular, I have made no independent investigation of the laws of the United States of America or any state or other political subdivision thereof or therein as a basis for the opinions stated herein and do not express or imply any opinion on or based on such laws. To the extent that the federal laws of the United States of America and the State of New York are relevant to my opinion set forth above, I have, without making any independent investigation with respect thereto, assumed the accuracy of the opinion, dated today, of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, special United States counsel to the Company.

In rendering the foregoing opinion, I have relied (i) as to factual matters on certificates of directors and executive officers of the Company and (ii) as to matters of United States federal and New York law on the opinion of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, United States counsel for the Company.

This opinion is given solely for the purpose of the Company’s application for registration of the Securities with the Commission. I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.2 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to me in the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement under the heading “Validity of Securities” and in any prospectus supplement related thereto as counsel for the Company who have passed on the validity of the Securities being registered by the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, I do not thereby admit that I am an expert with respect to any part of the Registration Statement, including this exhibit, within the meaning of the term “expert” as used in the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP may rely upon this opinion in rendering their opinion to the Company.

This opinion is being rendered based on the legal provisions applicable in Mexico as of the date hereof. I assume no obligation to supplement this opinion if any applicable law changes after the date hereof or if I become aware of any facts that might change the opinions expressed herein after the date hereof.


Very truly yours,

By:		/s/ Carlos Eduardo Aldrete Ancira
		Carlos Eduardo Aldrete Ancira
		General Counsel

EX-23.1

EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in this Registration Statement on Form F-3 and related Prospectus of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. for the registration of debt securities, warrants, and guarantees of debt securities and to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated April 8, 2013, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. and subsidiaries and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. and its subsidiaries, included in its Annual Report on Form 20-F, for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Mancera, S.C.

A member practice of

Ernst & Young Global

/s/ Agustin Aguilar

Agustin Aguilar

Monterrey, Mexico

April 8, 2013

EX-23.2

EXHIBIT 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the use of our report dated February 12, 2013, with respect to the consolidated statements of financial position of Heineken N.V. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, 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, 2012, incorporated herein by reference and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.

/s/ KPMG Accountants N.V.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

April 05, 2013

EX-25.1

EXHIBIT 25.1

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A

CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

¨	CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)


New York		13-5160382
(State of incorporation if not a U.S. national bank)		(I.R.S. employer identification no.)

One Wall Street, New York, NY		10286
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip code)

FOMENTO ECONÓMICO MEXICANO, S.A.B. DE C.V.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)


United Mexican States		Not Applicable
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. employer identification no.)

General Anaya No. 601 Pte. Colonia Bella Vista Monterrey, NL México		64410
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip code)

Debt Securities

Warrants

Guarantees of Debt Securities

(Title of the indenture securities)

1.	General information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

(a)

Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.


Name		Address
Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York		One State Street, New York, NY 10004-1417

Federal Reserve Bank of New York		33 Liberty Street
		New York, NY 10045

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation		550 17^th Street, N.W.
		Washington, D.C. 20429

		3501 N. Fairfax Drive
		Arlington, VA 22226

The Clearing House Association, L.L.C.		450 West 33rd Street New York, NY 10001

(b)

Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

2.	Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

3-15.

Pursuant to General Instruction B of the Form T-1, no responses are included for Items 3-15 of this Form T-1 because, to the best of The Bank of New York Mellon’s knowledge, the obligor is not in default on any securities issued under indentures under which The Bank of New York Mellon acts as trustee and the trustee is not a foreign trustee as provided under Item 15.

16.

List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York and formerly Irving Trust Company) as now in effect, which contains the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-21672, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-29637 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121195 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152735.)

A copy of the existing By-Laws of the trustee.

The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act. (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152735.)

A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York, and State of New York, on the 1st day of April, 2013.


THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
By:		/s/ Teisha Wright
		Teisha Wright
		Vice President

EXHIBIT 4

BYLAWS

(ATTACHED)

BY-LAWS

The Bank of New York Mellon

As amended and Restated through October 9, 2012

Table of Contents


	Page No.
ARTICLE I Stockholders		3
SECTION 1.1. Annual Meeting		3
SECTION 1.2. Special Meetings		3
SECTION 1.3. Notice of Meetings		3
SECTION 1.4. Quorum of Stockholders		3

ARTICLE II Board of Directors		4
SECTION 2.1. Number of Directors		4
SECTION 2.2. Eligibility		4
SECTION 2.3. Meetings of the Board		4
SECTION 2.4. Quorum of Directors and Action by the Board		5
SECTION 2.5. Removal of Directors		5
SECTION 2.6. Vacancies		5
SECTION 2.7. Compensation		5
SECTION 2.8. Minutes		5
SECTION 2.9. Reports		5
SECTION 2.10 Action without a Meeting		5

ARTICLE III Executive Committee		5
SECTION 3.1. Membership		5
SECTION 3.2. Time and Place of Meetings		6
SECTION 3.3. Special Meetings		6
SECTION 3.4. Quorum		6
SECTION 3.5. Compensation		6
SECTION 3.6. Minutes		6
SECTION 3.7. Reports		6

ARTICLE IV Other Committees		6
SECTION 4.1. Examining Committee		6
SECTION 4.2. Other Committees of Directors Officers and/or Other Persons		6
SECTION 4.3. Compensation		7
SECTION 4.4. Manner of Acting		7

ARTICLE V Officers		7
SECTION 5.1. Principal Executive Officers		7
SECTION 5.2. Senior Executive Officers		7
SECTION 5.3. Other Senior Officers		7
SECTION 5.4. Appointed Officers		8
SECTION 5.5. Bonds		8
SECTION 5.6. General Supervisory Powers		8
SECTION 5.7. Executive Officers		8
SECTION 5.8. Senior Vice Presidents, Managing Directors, First Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents		8


SECTION 5.9. Secretary					8
SECTION 5.10. Treasurer					8
SECTION 5.11. Comptroller					8
SECTION 5.12. Auditor					9
SECTION 5.13. Other Officers					9

ARTICLE VI Signing Authorities					9
SECTION 6.1. (Intentionally Omitted)					9
SECTION 6.2. Senior Signing Powers					9
SECTION 6.3. Limited Signing Powers					9
SECTION 6.4. Powers of Attorney					9
SECTION 6.5. Auditor					10

ARTICLE VII Indemnification					10
SECTION 7.1. Indemnification					10
SECTION 7.2. Other Indemnification					10

ARTICLE VIII Capital Stock					10
SECTION 8.1. Certificates of Stock					10
SECTION 8.2. Transfer of Certificates					10
SECTION 8.3. New Certificates					10

ARTICLE IX Corporate Seal					11
SECTION 9.1. The Seal					11

ARTICLE X Amendment of By-Laws					11
SECTION 10.1. Procedure for Amendments					11

BY-LAWS

The Bank of New York Mellon

As amended and Restated through October 9, 2012

ARTICLE I

STOCKHOLDERS

SECTION 1.1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders of The Bank of New York Mellon (hereinafter called the Bank) for the election of directors and the transaction of such other business as properly may be brought before such meeting shall be held within each calendar year at the principal office of the Bank, or such other place as shall be specified in the notice of such meeting, on such day and at such hour as may be fixed by the Board of Directors (hereinafter called the Board).

SECTION 1.2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders of the Bank (hereinafter called the stockholders) may be called by the Board, the Executive Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President and shall be called upon the written request of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock of the Bank entitled to vote at the meeting requested to be called. Such meetings of stockholders shall be held on such day and at such hour and at such place, within or without the State of New York, as may be fixed by the Board.

SECTION 1.3. Notice of Meetings. Notice of each meeting of stockholders shall be given in writing, not less than ten nor more than fifty days before the date of the meeting, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, and shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to have been given when deposited in the United States mail, with postage thereon prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the record of stockholders.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, notice of meeting need not be given to any stockholder who submits a signed waiver of notice, in person or by proxy, whether before or after the meeting. The attendance of any stockholder at a meeting, in person or by proxy, without protesting prior to the conclusion of the meeting the lack of notice of such meeting, shall constitute a waiver of notice by him.

SECTION 1.4. Quorum of Stockholders. The holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote thereat shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders for the transaction of any business. At all meetings of stockholders, a quorum being present, all matters, except as otherwise provided by law or the Organization Certificate of the Bank, shall be authorized by a majority of the votes cast at the meeting by the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon. The stockholders present may adjourn the meeting despite the absence of a quorum.

ARTICLE II

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 2.1. Number of Directors. The business of the Bank shall be managed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) which shall consist of such number of directors, within the minimum and maximum limits prescribed in the Organization Certificate of the Bank, as from time-to-time shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the directors then in office or by the stockholders. In the event of any increase in the number of directors, additional directors shall be elected in the manner herein prescribed for the filling of vacancies. No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. All directors must possess such qualifications as to stock ownership, citizenship, residence and age as are prescribed by the Banking Law. Directors shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders and until their successors are elected and have qualified.

SECTION 2.2. Eligibility. No person shall be eligible for election or reelection as a member of the Board who shall have attained the age of seventy-five years.

SECTION 2.3. Meetings of the Board. An annual meeting of the Board shall be held in each year within fifteen days after the annual meeting of stockholders. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held on such day and at such hour as the directors may fix from time-to-time, and no notice thereof need be given. In case any date for a meeting shall fall on a public holiday, such meeting shall be held on the next succeeding business day. Special meetings of the Board may be held at any time upon the call of the Executive Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or, in their absence, a principal executive officer and shall be called upon the written request of any two directors.

Meetings of the Board shall be held at such places within or without the State of New York as may be fixed by the Board. If no place is so fixed, meetings of the Board shall be held at the principal office of the Bank in the City of New York.

Notices of the annual and special meetings of the Board shall be given by delivery, mail, telegraph, facsimile, e-mail, radio or cable to each director at his usual place of business or residence address not later than noon, New York time, on the third day prior to the day on which the meeting is to be held or, if given personally or by telephone, not later than noon, New York time, on the day before the day on which the meeting is to be held.

Notice of a meeting of the Board need not be given to any director who submits a signed waiver of notice whether before or after the meeting, or who attends the meeting without protesting, prior thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to him.

A majority of the directors present, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn any meeting to another time and place. Except for announcement at the meeting, notice of the time and place of any adjourned meeting need not be given.

Members of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

SECTION 2.4. Quorum of Directors and Action by the Board. One-third of the entire Board, but in no case less than five directors, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as otherwise required by law, the Organization Certificate of the Bank or these By-laws, the vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at the time of such vote, if a quorum is then present, shall be the act of the Board.

SECTION 2.5. Removal of Directors. Any one or more of the directors may be removed for cause by action of the Board. Any or all of the directors may be removed with or without cause by vote of the stockholders.

SECTION 2.6. Vacancies. All vacancies in the office of director shall be filled by election by the stockholders, except that vacancies not exceeding one-third of the entire Board may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors in office and the directors so elected shall hold office for the balance of the unexpired term.

SECTION 2.7. Compensation. Members of the Board, except members who are officers of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, shall be entitled to receive such compensation and such fees for attendance as the Board shall fix from time-to-time.

SECTION 2.8. Minutes. Regular minutes of the proceedings of the Board shall be kept in books to be provided for that purpose which shall always be open for the inspection of any director.

SECTION 2.9. Reports. At each regular meeting of the Board there shall be submitted a report of the concerns and business of the Bank, including such reports as shall be required by law or by regulation of the authorities having jurisdiction over the Bank.

SECTION 2.10. Action without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, to the extent permitted by law and regulation, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing and such consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board or such committee.

ARTICLE III

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SECTION 3.1. Membership. The Board, by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board at its annual meeting, shall designate from among its members an Executive Committee, consisting of not less than five directors, which shall have all the authority of the Board, except as may be otherwise provided by law.

Vacancies in the Executive Committee shall be filled by the Board. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of the Executive Committee who may replace any absent member or members at any meeting of such committee.

SECTION 3.2. Time and Place of Meetings. There shall be meetings of the Executive Committee at the principal office of the Bank, on such day, at such hour and at such place as the Committee may fix from time-to-time, and no notice thereof need be given.

SECTION 3.3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called at any time by the Executive Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or, in their absence, a principal executive officer and shall be called upon the written request of any two members of the Committee. Notice of such meetings shall be given or waived as provided in Article II for special meetings of the Board.

SECTION 3.4. Quorum. A majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Members of the Executive Committee may participate in a meeting of the Executive Committee by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

SECTION 3.5. Compensation. The members of the Executive Committee, other than officers of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, shall receive such compensation and fees as the Board may determine from time-to-time.

SECTION 3.6. Minutes. Regular minutes of the proceedings of the Executive Committee shall be kept in books to be provided for that purpose which shall always be open for the inspection of any director. Minutes of the meetings of the Executive Committee since the previous meeting of the Board shall be submitted at the next regular monthly meeting of the Board.

SECTION 3.7. Reports. At each meeting of the Executive Committee there shall be submitted a report of the concerns and business of the Bank, including such reports as shall be required by law or by regulation of the authorities having jurisdiction over the Bank.

ARTICLE IV

OTHER COMMITTEES

SECTION 4.1. Examining Committee. The Board shall appoint an Examining Committee of not less than three of its members, none of whom shall be an officer of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, who shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board. The Committee shall conduct examinations of the affairs of the Bank as required by the Banking Law or as directed by the Board and shall have supervision over the activities of the Auditor. The Committee also shall review the examinations of the Bank made by the regulatory authorities and report to the Board its recommendations with respect thereto.

SECTION 4.2. Other Committees of Directors, Officers and/or Other Persons. The Board may appoint, or authorize the Executive Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer or, in their absence, a principal executive officer to appoint, from time-to-time, such other committees consisting of directors, officers and/or other persons and having such powers, duties and functions in or relating to the business and affairs of the Bank as the Board may determine. Each such committee and each member thereof shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and, in the case of any committee appointed by the Executive Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or a principal executive officer, at the pleasure of the Executive Chairman or of the Chief Executive Officer or, in their absence, of a principal executive officer. A majority of all members of any such committee may determine the rules of order and procedure of such committee and the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board, or, in the case of any committee appointed by the Executive Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or a principal executive officer, the Executive Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer or, in their absence, a principal executive officer, shall otherwise provide.

SECTION 4.3. Compensation. Members of committees, other than officers of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, shall be paid such compensation and such other fees for attendance at meetings as the Board shall determine from time-to-time.

SECTION 4.4. Manner of Acting. Members of the Examining Committee or other committees of directors, officers and/or other persons appointed by the Board may participate in a meeting of such committee by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

SECTION 5.1. Principal Executive Officers. The Board at its annual meeting shall elect from its number an Executive Chairman of the Board (hereinafter called the Executive Chairman), who shall serve also as Chairman of the Executive Committee, a Chief Executive Officer, and a President. The Board may designate the Chief Executive Officer or the President, or one of the persons holding titles provided in Section 5.2, to act as and carry the additional title of Chief Operating Officer. Officers elected pursuant to this Section 5.1 shall hold office during the pleasure of the Board, which may fill any vacancy and change the designation of the Chief Operating Officer at any regular or special meeting. Officers elected under this section may be removed with or without cause by the Board.

SECTION 5.2. Senior Executive Officers. The Board or the Executive Committee shall elect one or more senior executive officers, any of whom may be designated Vice Chairman of the Board, or Senior Executive Vice President and may elect such other officers with such titles as may be specified upon election. The order of seniority shall be determined by the Chief Executive Officer with the approval of the Board or the Executive Committee. Senior executive officers elected under this section may be removed with or without cause by the Board.

SECTION 5.3. Other Senior Officers. The Board or the Executive Committee shall elect a Secretary; a Treasurer; a Comptroller; a Chief Auditor; and such other officers with such titles as may be specified upon election. The order of seniority shall be determined by the Chief Executive Officer with the approval of the Board or the Executive Committee. The Chief Executive Officer or, in his absence, a principal executive officer, may remove any of the officers elected under this section with or without cause with the approval of the Board or the Executive Committee.

SECTION 5.4. Appointed Officers. Officers of the Bank carrying titles set forth in this section may be appointed and removed with or without cause by the Chief Executive Officer or, in his absence, by a principal executive officer. Such officers may include one or more Executive Vice Presidents; one or more Managing Directors; one or more Senior Vice Presidents; one or more First Vice Presidents; one or more Vice Presidents; one or more Senior Associates; one or more Associates; and such other officers with such titles as may be specified upon appointment.

SECTION 5.5. Bonds. The Board may require any or all officers or employees to give bonds from time-to-time.

SECTION 5.6. General Supervisory Powers. The Chief Executive Officer or, in his absence, a principal executive officer, shall have general supervision of the policies and operations of the Bank which shall in every case be subject to the direction and control of the Board.

SECTION 5.7. Executive Officers. The principal executive officers, the senior executive officers and Executive Vice Presidents shall participate in the supervision of the policies and operations of the Bank as directed by the Chief Executive Officer. In his absence a principal executive officer, or a senior executive officer in the order of seniority determined by the Chief Executive Officer as provided in Section 5.2, shall have general supervision of such policies and operations.

SECTION 5.8. Senior Vice Presidents, Managing Directors, First Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents. Senior Vice Presidents, Managing Directors, First Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents shall participate in the supervision of operations of the Bank as directed by the Chief Executive Officer. They shall perform such other duties as shall be assigned to them by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or an executive officer.

SECTION 5.9. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Board and of the Executive Committee; shall attend to the giving of such notices of meetings as may be required by these By-laws and shall perform all the duties assigned to him or her by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer and in general those duties incident to the office of Secretary. He or she shall have custody of the corporate seal and shall have authority to affix the same to any documents requiring such seal and to attest the same. In the absence of the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary shall act in his or her stead.

SECTION 5.10. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of all moneys, funds and other property of the Bank which may come into his or her hands and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her from time-to-time by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 5.11. Comptroller. The Comptroller shall exercise general supervision over, and be responsible for, all matters pertaining to the accounting and bookkeeping of the Bank. He or she shall keep the permanent records of property and indebtedness and of all transactions bearing on the financial affairs of the Bank. The Comptroller shall perform such additional duties as shall be assigned to him or her by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. He shall at any time on the request of any three directors report to the Board or the Executive Committee such matters concerning the affairs of the Bank as, in his, her or their judgment, should be brought to the attention of the directors.

SECTION 5.12. Auditor. The Auditor shall report, through the Examining Committee, to the Board. He or she shall be responsible for the planning and direction of the internal auditing function and the evaluation of the internal control safeguards of the Bank. He or she shall perform such additional duties as shall be assigned by the Board, the Examining Committee or the Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 5.13. Other Officers. All officers whose duties are not described by these By-laws shall perform such duties as may be designated by the Chief Executive Officer or any officer authorized by him or her to do so.

ARTICLE VI

SIGNING AUTHORITIES

SECTION 6.1 [Intentionally Omitted]

SECTION 6.2 Senior Signing Powers. The Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice Chairman, any Senior Executive Vice President and any Executive Vice President is authorized to accept, endorse, execute or sign any document, instrument or paper in the name of, or on behalf of, the Bank in all transactions arising out of, or in connection with, the normal course of the Bank’s business or in any fiduciary, representative or agency capacity and, when required, to affix the seal of the Bank thereto. In such instances as in the judgment of the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice Chairman, any Senior Executive Vice President or any Executive Vice President may be proper and desirable, any one of said officers may authorize in writing, including email and other forms of electronic communication or approval, from time-to-time any other officer to have the powers set forth in this section applicable only to the performance or discharge of the duties of such officer within his or her particular division or function. Any officer of the Bank authorized in or pursuant to Section 6.3 to have any of the powers set forth therein, other than the officer signing pursuant to this Section 6.2, is authorized to attest to the seal of the Bank on any documents requiring such seal.

SECTION 6.3. Limited Signing Powers. In such instances as in the judgment of the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice Chairman, any Senior Executive Vice President, or any Executive Vice President may be proper and desirable, any one of said officers may authorize in writing, including email and other forms of electronic communication or approval, from time to time any other officer, employee or individual to have the limited signing powers or limited power to affix the seal of the Bank to specified classes of documents set forth in a resolution of the Board applicable only to the performance or discharge of the duties of such officer, employee or individual within his or her division or function.

SECTION 6.4 Powers of Attorney. All powers of attorney on behalf of the Bank shall be executed by any officer of the Bank jointly with the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice Chairman, any Senior Executive Vice President, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President or any Managing Director, provided that the execution by such Senior Vice President or Managing Director of said Power of Attorney shall be applicable only to the performance or discharge of the duties of such officer within his or her particular division or function. Any such power of attorney may, however, be executed by any officer or officers or person or persons who may be specifically authorized to execute the same by the Board of Directors and, at foreign branches only, by any two officers provided one of such officers is the Branch Manager.

SECTION 6.5. Auditor. The Chief Auditor or any officer designated by the Chief Auditor is authorized to certify in the name of, or on behalf of the Bank, in its own right or in a fiduciary or representative capacity, as to the accuracy and completeness of any account, schedule of assets, or other document, instrument or paper requiring such certification.

ARTICLE VII

INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 7.1. Indemnification. Any person made, or threatened to be made, a party to any action or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate, is or was a director, trustee, officer or employee of the Bank or serves or served any other corporation in any capacity, at the request of the Bank, shall be indemnified by the Bank and the Bank may advance his related expenses, to the full extent permitted by law. For purposes of this Article VII, the Bank may consider the term “Bank” to include any corporation which has been merged or consolidated into the Bank or of which the Bank has acquired all or substantially all the assets in a transaction requiring authorization by the shareholders of the corporation whose assets were acquired.

SECTION 7.2. Other Indemnification. The foregoing provisions of this Article VII shall apply in respect of all alleged or actual causes of action accrued before, on or after September 1, 1964, except that, as to any such cause of action which accrued before such date, the Bank may provide, and any person concerned shall be entitled to, indemnification under and pursuant to any statutory provision or principle of common law in effect prior to such date, all to the extent permitted by law.

ARTICLE VIII

CAPITAL STOCK

SECTION 8.1. Certificates of Stock. Certificates of stock shall be signed by the President or a Vice President and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary and may bear the seal of the Bank. The signatures and the seal may be facsimile to the extent permitted by law. In case any officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Bank with the same effect as if he were such officer at the date of issue.

SECTION 8.2. Transfer of Certificates. Separate books of transfer shall be kept in which transfers of shares of stock shall be entered by the person entitled to make such transfer or his attorney-in-fact, upon surrender of the certificate for the shares to be transferred in proper form for such transfer.

SECTION 8.3. New Certificates. No new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate is cancelled except when a certificate is lost or destroyed a new certificate may be issued on such terms as the Board may prescribe.

ARTICLE IX

CORPORATE SEAL

SECTION 9.1. The Seal. The Board shall provide a corporate seal for the Bank which may be affixed to any document, certificate or paper and attested by such individuals as provided by these By-laws or as the Board may from time-to-time determine.

ARTICLE X

AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS

SECTION 10.1. Procedure for Amendments. By-laws of the Bank may be adopted, amended or repealed by vote of the stockholders entitled to vote in any election of directors. By-laws may also be adopted, amended or repealed by a majority of all the directors then in office. Any By-law adopted by the Board may be amended or repealed by the stockholders entitled to vote thereon as hereinabove provided. If any By-law regulating an impending election of directors is adopted, amended or repealed by the Board, there shall be set forth in the notice of the next meeting of stockholders for the election of directors the By-law so adopted, amended or repealed, together with a concise statement of the changes made.

EXHIBIT 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

of One Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10286

And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,

a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business December 31, 2012, published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.


	Dollar Amounts In Thousands
ASSETS
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin		3,356,000
Interest-bearing balances		124,155,000
Securities:
Held-to-maturity securities		8,205,000
Available-for-sale securities		88,405,000
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:
Federal funds sold in domestic offices		17,000
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		1,290,000
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases held for sale		0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income		27,994,000
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses		243,000
Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance		27,751,000
Trading assets		4,936,000
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)		1,198,000
Other real estate owned		4,000
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies		1,049,000
Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures		0
Intangible assets:
Goodwill		6,443,000
Other intangible assets		1,454,000
Other assets		14,180,000

Total assets		282,443,000


LIABILITIES
Deposits:
In domestic offices			129,296,000
Noninterest-bearing			85,272,000
Interest-bearing			44,024,000
In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs			110,151,000
Noninterest-bearing			8,212,000
Interest-bearing			101,939,000
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
Federal funds purchased in domestic offices			2,224,000
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase			1,030,000
Trading liabilities			6,967,000
Other borrowed money:
(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)			2,740,000
Not applicable
Not applicable
Subordinated notes and debentures			1,065,000
Other liabilities
			8,917,000

Total liabilities			262,390,000

EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus			0
Common stock			1,135,000
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)			9,725,000
Retained earnings			9,273,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income			-430,000
Other equity capital components			0
Total bank equity capital			19,703,000
Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries			350,000
Total equity capital			20,053,000

Total liabilities and equity capital			282,443,000

I, Thomas P. Gibbons, Chief Financial Officer of the above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Thomas P. Gibbons,

Chief Financial Officer

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this statement of resources and liabilities. We declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions and is true and correct.

Gerald L. Hassell

Catherine A. Rein

Michael J. Kowalski

Directors