E-Malt.com News article: Mexico: FEMSA announces successful issuance in Mexican bond market

Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. ("FEMSA") announced the placement of two tranches of Mexican Peso denominated bonds in the Mexican capital markets, according to company’s press release, December 6.

On December 5, 2007, FEMSA successfully issued Ps. 3,500 million in 6 year certificados bursátiles at a rate of 28-day TIIE ("Tasa de Interés Interbancaria de Equilibrio - Equilibrium Interbank Interest Rate") minus 0.05%, and Ps. 2,500 million in 10 year UDI bonds at a rate of Udibono plus 0.56%, which has been swapped under favorable conditions. The tranches were 4.5 and 2 times oversubscribed, respectively, in spite of challenging market conditions.

This issuance received local currency credit ratings of AAA from Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings, and is the second largest placement by a Mexican corporate in 2007.

The proceeds from this issuance will be used entirely to refinance existing loans, which will improve FEMSA's cost of debt and significantly extend its maturity profile.

FEMSA is the leading beverage company in Latin America. It controls an integrated beverage platform that comprises Coca-Cola FEMSA, the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the region; FEMSA Cerveza, one of the leading brewers in Mexico and important beer exporter to the United States; and Oxxo, the largest and fastest growing convenience store chain in Mexico with over 5,200 stores.


07 December, 2007