SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[X] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12
PANAMERICAN BEVERAGES, INC.
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on the table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5) Total fee paid:
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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting
fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount previously paid:
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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3) Filing Party:
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(4) Date Filed:
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THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF A JOINT PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY
PANAMERICAN BEVERAGES, INC. AND COCA-COLA FEMSA, S.A. DE C.V. ON
FEBRUARY 5, 2003:
U.S. ANTITRUST REGULATOR CLEARS
COCA-COLA FEMSA ACQUISITION OF PANAMCO
Mexico City, Mexico, and Miami, Fl, February 5, 2003 - Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A. de
C.V. ("Coca-Cola FEMSA") and Panamerican Beverages, Inc. ("Panamco") today
announced that they have received notice that the waiting period under the
U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act with respect to the proposed
acquisition by Coca-Cola FEMSA of Panamco has been terminated early. The
closing of the proposed acquisition remains subject to the satisfaction or
waiver of other conditions. These conditions are described in the preliminary
proxy statement filed by Panamco with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission on January 30, 2003.
# # #
About Coca-Cola FEMSA
Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A. de C.V. produces Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Lift and
other trademark beverages of The Coca-Cola Company in the Valley of Mexico and
the Southeast Territories in Mexico and in the Buenos Aires Territory in
Argentina. The Company has eight bottling facilities in Mexico and one in
Buenos Aires and serves more than 283,650 retailers in Mexico and 76,400
retailers in the greater Buenos Aires area. Coca-Cola FEMSA currently accounts
for approximately 3.4% of Coca-Cola global sales, 25.0% of all Coca-Cola sales
in Mexico and approximately 36.5% of all Coca-Cola sales in Argentina. The
Coca-Cola Company owns a 30% equity interest in Coca-Cola FEMSA.
About Panamco
Panamco is the largest soft drink bottler in Latin America and one of the
three largest bottlers of Coca-Cola products in the world. The Company
produces and distributes substantially all Coca-Cola soft drink products in
its franchise territories in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica,
Nicaragua, Guatemala and Panama, along with bottled water, beer and other
beverages in some of these territories. Panamco is an anchor bottler of The
Coca-Cola Company.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT
On January 30, 2003, Panamerican Beverages, Inc. filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission a preliminary proxy statement regarding the proposed
business combination transaction referred to in the foregoing information. In
addition, Panamerican Beverages, Inc. will prepare and file with the SEC a
definitive proxy statement and other documents regarding the proposed
transaction. Investors and security holders are urged to read the definitive
proxy statement, when it becomes available, because it will contain important
information. The definitive proxy statement will be sent to shareholders of
Panamerican Beverages, Inc. seeking their approval of the proposed
transaction. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the
definitive proxy statement (when it is available) and other documents filed
with the SEC by Panamerican Beverages, Inc. at the SEC's website at
www.sec.gov. The definitive proxy statement (when it is available) and these
other documents may also be obtained for free from Panamerican Beverages, Inc.
by directing a request to Laura I. Maydon (lmaydon@panamcollc.com). Free
copies of documents filed with the SEC by Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A. de C.V. may be
obtained at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to
Alfredo Fernandez (afernandeze@kof.com.mx).
CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING PARTICIPANTS
A detailed list of names, affiliations and interests of participants in the
solicitation of proxies of Panamerican Beverages, Inc. to approve the proposed
business combination is included in the preliminary proxy statement.
CONTACTS
COCA-COLA FEMSA INVESTOR RELATIONS
Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena No. 600, Col. Centro de Ciudad Santa Fe 01210,
Mexico D.F., Mexico
Alfredo Fernandez / (52) 55 5081 51 20 / afernandeze@kof.com.mx
Panamco Investor Relations
701 Waterford Way, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33126
Laura Maydon / 305 929 0867 / lmaydon@panamcollc.com