Mexico's Femsa to sell 5% of Heineken

MEXICO CITY - Heineken shareholder Fomento Economico Mexicano (Femsa) said on Monday it was planning to sell an approximate 5% stake in the world's second largest brewer, worth 2.5 billion euros (US$3 billion).

Femsa, a Mexican bottler and retailer which sold its brewing business to Heineken in 2010 in exchange for shares, said the offer would be aimed at institutional investors outside Mexico.

Femsa holds 12.53% of Heineken NV and also 14.94% of Heineken NV parent Heineken Holding.

Overall, this represents an economic interest of 20% in the group.

The Mexican company did not specify what share of each company it would divest, but said it would retain one seat on the board of directors of Heineken Holding and two on the supervisory board of Heineken NV.

L’Arche Green, the company through which the Heineken family exercises control of Heineken Holding, said it would buy back shares worth 200 million euros. The price per share would be determined by Femsa's offer, it said in a statement.

"The participation of L’Arche Green N.V. in the share offering by Femsa underlines the long-term commitment of the Heineken family towards the Heineken company," said L'Arche Green, which added that it was advised by Citigroup.

After Femsa's filing, Heineken said it would retain its rights to seats on the boards of Heineken NV and Heineken Holding. Heineken also said Femsa still considered Heineken a positive long-term investment, citing comments by the Mexican firm's chief executive.

In July, Heineken told Femsa's bottling unit Coca-Cola Femsa that it was set to lose its contract to distribute the beer in Brazil. At the time, Femsa executives said talks about dissolving that contract would not affect the larger strategic relationship between the companies. – Nampa/Reuters