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                                                                      Exhibit 99

NEWS                                                        LIBBEY INC.
BULLETIN                                                    300 MADISON AVE.
                                                            P.O. BOX 10060
                                                            TOLEDO, OH 43699


[THE FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD INC. LETTERHEAD]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1997

              LIBBEY INC. ANNOUNCES SIGNING OF DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT
                   TO FORM JOINT VENTURE IN MEXICO AND FOR THE
                      ACQUISITION OF WORLDCRISA IN THE U.S.



TOLEDO, OHIO, AUGUST 18, 1997 -- Today, LIBBEY INC. (NYSE:LBY) announced that it
has signed definitive agreements with Vitro S.A., (NYSE:VTO) the largest glass
manufacturer in Mexico, to become a joint venture partner in Vitro's glass
tableware business and acquire Vitro's WorldCrisa subsidiary.

The agreements include:

- -    Libbey becoming a 49 percent equity holder in Vitrocrisa, the largest
     manufacturer of glass tableware in Mexico and currently a wholly owned
     subsidiary of Vitro

- -    Establishing reciprocal distribution agreements, whereby Libbey becomes the
     distributor of Vitrocrisa glass tableware products in the United States and
     Canada, and Vitrocrisa becomes the distributor of Libbey products in
     Mexico, Central and South America.

- -    Libbey purchasing the business known as WorldCrisa, a supplier of flatware,
     dinnerware and other tabletop products to the foodservice industry in the
     United States.

The joint venture and distribution agreements align the capabilities of these
two glass tableware manufacturers, and are intended to take advantage of each
company's specific manufacturing and distribution capabilities to benefit
customers and thereby expand Libbey's and Vitrocrisa's sales 



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opportunities domestically and internationally. Specifically, both companies
intend to work together in pursuing glass tableware expansion opportunities
internationally.

In addition, the acquisition of WorldCrisa, which will be renamed World
Tableware, expands Libbey's offering of tabletop products to the foodservice
industry to include stainless steel flatware and holloware and a wide selection
of imported dinnerware.

The cash purchase price for the above transactions is approximately $100
million. It is expected that the transactions will close in the near future.

Libbey Inc. is a leading producer of tabletop products for the foodservice
industry and a major supplier of glass tableware to retail, industrial and
premium users. In addition to its sales in the United States and Canada, Libbey
exports to more than 100 countries around the world. In 1996, its net sales
totaled $398 million. Based in Toledo, Ohio, the company operates glass
tableware manufacturing plants and full-line distribution centers in City of
Industry, California; Shreveport, Louisiana; Toledo, Ohio; and Wallaceburg,
Ontario, Canada. In addition, through its Syracuse China subsidiary, the company
designs, manufactures and distributes an extensive line of high-quality ceramic
dinnerware, principally for the foodservice industry in the United States.

Vitro, S.A. produces glass containers, flat glass, automotive glass, glassware,
plastic containers, aluminum cans and household goods for commercial, industrial
and consumer use. Vitro supplies numerous industries, including food and
beverage, construction and automotive. Based in Monterrey, Mexico and founded in
1909, Vitro has more than a dozen strategic alliances with large corporations
around the world. It has its own facilities in seven countries, including Mexico
and the United States, and exports its products to more than 60 countries
worldwide.


    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING LIBBEY INC., FREE OF CHARGE VIA FAX,
                DIAL 1-800-PRO-INFO AND USE TICKER SYMBOL "LBY."