LUXEMBOURG, Feb. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quilmes Industrial (Quinsa), Societe Anonyme ("Quinsa") was informed today that the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") has issued a press release announcing the suspension in trading of the American Depositary Shares of Quinsa .
The NYSE announced that, following suspension, it would make an application to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to delist the issues.
The NYSE said it normally considers suspending and removing from its list the securities of a company when the number of outstanding American Depositary Shares, representing common securities, is less than 600,000. Quinsa had advised the NYSE that 114,311 American Depositary Shares remained outstanding after the expiration of the public tender offer by Companhia de Bebidas das Americas - AmBev ("AmBev").
ABOUT QUINSA
Quinsa is a Luxembourg-based holding company that controls approximately 93% of Quilmes International (Bermuda) ("QIB"). The remaining stake is held by AmBev.
Quinsa, through QIB, controls beverage and malting businesses in five Latin American countries. Its beer brands are strong market leaders in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay, and have a presence in Chile. Further, pursuant to Quinsa's strategic alliance with AmBev, it has entered into license and distribution agreements to produce and sell in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay the AmBev brands. Similarly, under the agreements, AmBev may produce and distribute Quinsa's brands in Brazil.
Quinsa also has bottling and franchise agreements with PepsiCo, and thus accounts for 100% of PepsiCo beverage sales in both Argentina and Uruguay.
Quinsa's Class A and Class B shares are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (Reuters codes: QUIN.LU and QUINp.LU). Quinsa's American Depositary Shares, representing Quinsa's B shares, are listed on the New York Stock Exchange .
Quinsa's web address: http://www.quinsa.com/ ABOUT AMBEV
AmBev is the largest brewer in Brazil and in South America through its beer brands Skol, Brahma and Antarctica. AmBev also produces and distributes soft drink brands such as Guarana Antarctica, and has franchise agreements for Pepsi soft drinks, Gatorade and Lipton Ice Tea. AmBev has been present in Argentina since 1993 through Brahma.
CONTACT: Guillermo Zuzenberg Quilmes Industrial S.A. (Quinsa) +5411-4349-1846
