2018 THIRD QUARTER AND FIRST NINE MONTHS RESULTS

Mexico City, October 25, 2018, Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: KOFL, NYSE: KOF) ("Coca-Cola FEMSA," "KOF"or the"Company"), the largestCoca-Cola franchise bottler in the world by sales volume, announces results for the third quarter of 2018.

Relevant Reporting Information

  • Volumes and financial results of the recently acquired territories in Guatemala and Uruguay were consolidated as of May 1, 2018 and as of July 1, 2018, respectively. Coca-Cola FEMSA de Venezuela was deconsolidated as of December 31, 2017.

  • On August 16, 2018, KOF announced the exercise of the put option to sell its 51% stake in Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines, Inc. Therefore, the Philippines is now presented as a discontinued operation as of January 1, 2018, and the consolidated income statements presented herein are re-presented as if the Philippines had been discontinued from February 2017, date of the consolidation of said operation. As a result, the Asia Division is no longer reported.

  • As of July 1, 2018, Argentina is reported as a hyperinflationary subsidiary.

    Operational and Financial Highlights

  • Volumes increased in Brazil, Central America, Colombia, and Mexico; transactions outperformed volumes in Argentina and Brazil.

  • Revenues decreased 0.7%, as pricing aligned with or ahead of inflation in the Mexico & Central America division and in Argentina, combined with the consolidation of recent acquisitions were offset by unfavorable currency translation effects from the Brazilian Real, hyperinflationary accounting in Argentina and the deconsolidation of Venezuela.

  • Comparable revenues grew 6.5% for the quarter driven by growth in Brazil, Central America, Colombia, and Mexico.

  • Operating income grew 8.2%, while comparable operating income increased 5.5% for the quarter, driven mainly by lower sweetener costs, a favorable currency hedging position in South America, and operating expense efficiencies, partially offset by higher PET prices.

  • Operating cash flow declined 1.2%, while comparable operating cash flow grew 6.2%.

Results Summary

Third Quarter

Year to Date

As Reported(1)

Comparable(2)

Comparable(2)

Expressed in millions of Mexican pesos.

2018

D%

D%

2018

D%

D%

Total revenues

44,148

(0.7%)

6.5%

130,577

(4.7%)

5.2%

Gross profit

20,237

0.6%

5.8%

60,150

(2.1%)

5.4%

Operating income

5,777

8.2%

5.5%

17,103

1.6%

(0.4%)

Operating cash flow(3)

8,492

(1.2%)

6.2%

24,909

(5.2%)

3.8%

Net income attributable to equity holders of the company

3,266

3.6%

8,201

(19.9%)

Earnings per share - Continued operations

1.36

3.75

Earnings per share(4)

1.55

3.90

As Reported(1)

(1)

2017 financial information is re-presented as if the Philippines had been discontinued from February 2017, date of the consolidation of said operation.

(2)

Please refer to page 9 for our definition of "comparable" and a description of the factors affecting thecomparability of our financial and operating performance.

(3)

Operating cash flow = operating income + depreciation + amortization & other operating non-cash charges.

(4)

Quarterly earnings / outstanding shares as of the end of the period. Outstanding shares were 2,100.8 million

Message from the Chief Executive Officer

"Our third-quarter results reflect very encouraging positive trends in many of our markets. In Mexico, our revenue management platform's analyticsare enabling us to deliver solid top-line growth, backed by positive volume performance. In Central America, organic volumes are showing encouraging trends, coupled with the ongoing integration of very promising territories in Guatemala. Importantly, in South America, we continue to gain share in gradually recovering consumer environments as we offer affordability and focus relentlessly on point-of-sale execution: Colombia is gaining traction; Brazil continues to deliver top-and-bottom-line growth, while Argentina is better than ever prepared to face the challenging macro environment. Finally, this quarter, we welcome Uruguay as the newest territory to our diversified footprint. As we approach the end of the year, we look forward to continue capitalizing on our capabilities to capture the marketplace's many opportunities, while obsessively focusing on serving our customers and consumers." said John Santa Maria Otazua, Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

Consolidated results for the third quarter

Comparable(1)figures:

Revenues:Comparable total revenues grew 6.5% in the third quarter of 2018 as compared to the same period of 2017, driven by average price per unit case growth aligned with or ahead of inflation in Mexico and Central America, coupled with volume growth in Brazil, Colombia, Central America, and Mexico.

Transactions:Comparable number of transactions increased 2.0%. Our sparkling beverage category grew 1.2%, driven by 3.1% growth in our colas portfolio, partially offset by a decline in flavors. Our positive performance in colas was driven by growth across all of our operations. Our still beverage category increased 3.6%, driven mainly by the positive performance of Brazil and Mexico, partially offset by declines in Central America and Colombia. Finally, our water category's transactions increased by7.4%, driven by growth in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, partially offset by a decline in Central America.

Volume:Comparable sales volume increased 2.5% in the third quarter of 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017. Additionally, excluding jug water, comparable sales volume increased 3.2%.Our sparkling beverage portfolio's volume increased2.5%, driven by growth in our colas portfolio, partially offset by a decline in our flavors portfolio. Our growth in colas was driven by the positive performance ofall of our operations. Our still beverage category's volume grew 3.6%, driven by Central Americaand Mexico. Our personal water portfolio's volume grew12.0% due to positive performance across most of our operations.Finally, our bulk water portfolio's volume declined3.1%, driven mainly by declines in Central America, Colombia, and Mexico, partially offset by growth in the rest of our operations.

Gross profit:Comparable gross profit grew 5.8%. Our volume growth, lower sweetener prices in most of our operations, and favorable currency hedging positions in South America were offset by higher PET prices across most of our operations, higher concentrate prices in Mexico, and the depreciation in the average exchange rate of the Brazilian Real as applied to our U.S. dollar-denominated raw material costs.

Operating Income:Comparable operating income increased 5.5% for the third quarter of 2018 as compared to the same period of 2017.

Operating cash flow:Comparable operating cash flow increased 6.2% in the third quarter of 2018.

As reported figures:

According to IFRS 5, the Philippines is presented as a discontinued operation as of January 1, 2018 and the consolidated income statements presented herein are re-presented as if the Philippines had been discontinued from February 2017.

Revenues:Total revenues decreased 0.7% to Ps. 44,148 million in the third quarter of 2018, driven mainly by the negative translation effect resulting from the depreciation of the Argentine Peso and the Brazilian Real as compared to the Mexican Peso, combined with a volume decline and hyperinflationary accounting in Argentina and the deconsolidation of Coca-Cola FEMSA de Venezuela as of December 31, 2017. These factors were partially offset by volume growth in Brazil, Central America, Colombia, and Mexico, price increases aligned with or above inflation in Mexico and Argentina, and the consolidation of recently acquired territories in Guatemala and Uruguay.

Transactions:Reported total number of transactions increased 2.2% to 4,973.1 million in the third quarter of 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017.

Volume:Reported total sales volume increased 2.2% to 839.2 million unit cases in the third quarter of 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017.

Gross profit:Gross profit increased 0.6% to Ps. 20,236.7 million, and gross margin expanded 60 basis points to 45.8%.

(Continued on next page)

(1)

Please referto page 9 for our definition of "comparable" and a description of the factors affecting the comparability of our financial and operating performance.

Equity method:The reported share of the profits of associates and joint ventures recorded a loss of Ps. 85 million in the third quarter of 2018, compared to a loss of Ps. 6 million recorded in the third quarter of 2017. This is mainly due to a loss in our dairy joint venture in Panama, partially offset by gains in our joint ventures in Brazil.

Operating Income:Operating income increased 8.2% to Ps. 5,777.5 million, and operating margin expanded 110 basis points to 13.1% during the third quarter of 2018 as compared with the same period of 2017, which included Venezuela.

Other non-operative expenses, net:Other non-operative expenses, net, recorded an expense of Ps. 95 million, compared to an expense of Ps. 597 million during the third quarter of 2017, which mainly resulted from the effects of negative currency fluctuations in Coca-Cola FEMSA de Venezuela.

Comprehensive financing result:Comprehensive financing result in the third quarter of 2018 recorded an expense of Ps. 1,322 million, compared to an expense of Ps. 341 million in the same period of 2017.

During the third quarter of 2018, we recorded an interest expense, net, of Ps. 1,558 million, compared to Ps. 1,929 million in the third quarter of 2017. This decrease was driven by the decline of short-term interest rates in Brazil; the average exchange rate depreciation of the Brazilian Real compared to the Mexican Peso as applied to existing Brazilian Real-denominated interest expense; and the reduction of debt in Colombia. However, these effects were partially offset by financing during the previous quarter of Ps. 10,100 million for the acquisition of our new territories in Guatemala and Uruguay.

In addition, for the third quarter, we recorded a foreign exchange gain of Ps. 60 million as compared to a gain of Ps. 84 million in the same period of 2017.

Moreover, due to the reporting of our Argentina operation as a hyperinflationary subsidiary as of the third quarter of 2018, monetary position in inflationary subsidiaries recorded a gain of Ps. 117 million as compared to a gain of Ps. 1,301 million during the same period of 2017, which was generated by Venezuela.

Market value on financial instruments recorded a gain of Ps. 59 million as compared to a gain of Ps. 203 million in the third quarter of 2017.

Income tax:During the third quarter of 2018, reported income tax as a percentage of income before taxes was 31.4%, compared to 25.2% in the same period of 2017. The higher tax ratewas driven mainly by the increase in the relative weight of Brazil'sprofits in our consolidated results, coupled with the deconsolidation of Venezuela, which had deferred taxes in the third quarter of 2017.

Net income:Consolidated net controlling interest income increased 3.6% to Ps. 3,266.1 million in the third quarter 2018, as compared to the same period of the previous year, which included Venezuela; resulting in earnings per share (EPS) of Ps. 1.55 (Ps. 15.54 per ADS).

Earnings per share from continuing operations was Ps. 1.36 (Ps. 13.56 per ADS).

Operating cash flow:Operating cash flow decreased 1.2% to Ps. 8,491.6 million, and operating cash flow margin contracted 10 basis points to 19.2%.

Consolidated Balance Sheet(1)

As of September 30, 2018, we had a cash balance of Ps. 18,475 million of which US$180 million is denominated in U.S. dollars.This amount excludes the Philippine's cash position of Ps. 5,918 millionnow that the Philippines operation is classified as assets available for sale. Excluding the Philippine's cash position in 2017, our cash balance increased Ps. 6,007 million compared to year-end 2017, mainly driven by cash flow generation. As of September 30, 2018, total short-term debt was Ps. 10,121 million and long-term debt was Ps. 79,840 million. Total debt increased by Ps. 6,601 million and net debt, excludingthe Philippine's cashposition, increased by Ps. 594 million compared year-end 2017, due mainly to financing for the acquisition of our new territories in Guatemala and Uruguay.

The weighted average cost of debt for the quarter, including the effect of debt swapped to Brazilian Reals and Mexican Pesos, was 7.71%, a reduction as compared to the fourth quarter of 2017, due mainly to the reduction of interest rates in Brazil. Thefollowing charts set forth the Company's debt profile by currency andinterest rate type and by maturity date as of September 30, 2018.

2021

2023+

13.2%

49.1%

Selected Financial Ratios

LTM 2018

FY 2017

D %

Net debt including effect of hedges(1)(3)

69,223

68,973

0.4%

Net debt including effect of hedges / Operating cash flow(1)(3)

1.96

1.74

Operating cash flow/ Interest expense, net(1)

5.72

4.99

Capitalization(2)

42.6%

39.3%

Currency

% Total Debt(2)

% Interest Rate Floating(2)(3)

Mexican Pesos

55.5%

15.0%

U.S. Dollars

1.3%

0.0%

Colombian Pesos

1.6%

100.0%

Brazilian Reals

40.1%

11.6%

Uruguayan Pesos

1.4%

0.0%

Argentine Pesos

0.2%

0.0%

Debt Maturity Profile

Maturity Date

% of Total Debt

20189.4%

201914.7%

202011.9%

20221.7%

  • (1) See page 15 for detailed information.

  • (2) After giving effect to cross-currency swaps.

  • (3) Calculated byweighting each year's outstanding debt balance mix.

  • (1) Net debt = total debt - cash

  • (2) Total debt / (long-term debt + shareholders' equity)

  • (3) After giving effect to cross-currency swaps.

Mexico & Central America Division

(Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama)

Comparable(1)figures:

Revenues:Comparable total revenues from our Mexico and Central America division increased 7.3% in the third quarter of 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, driven by volume growth, coupled with pricing aligned with inflation, partially offset by a mix effect in Mexico and Central America.

Transactions:Comparable transactions in our Mexico and Central America division increased 1.7% in the third quarter of 2018.Our sparkling beverage portfolio's transactions grew 0.6%, driven by a 1.2% increase in our colas portfolio. Our still beveragecategory's transactions increased 5.6% in the division, driven by 8.4% growth in Mexico, partially offset by a decline in Central America. Our water transactions, including bulk water, increased 8.1%, driven by 9.5% growth in Mexico.

Volume:Total sales volume for the division increased 2.8% in the third quarter of 2018, compared to the same period of 2017. Additionally, excluding jug water, total sales volume increased 3.6%.Our sparkling beverage category's volume increased 2.7%,driven by a 3.3% increase in our colas portfolio. Performance in colas for the division was driven by growth in both Mexico andCentral America. Our still beverage category's volume increased 10.6%, driven by 11.9% growth in Mexico and 3.6% growth inCentral America. Our personal water portfolio's volume increased 8.2%, driven by 9.5% growth in Mexico, partially offset by a4.1% decline in Central America. Our bulk water portfolio's volume declined 1.8% in the division due to a contraction in Mexico and Central America.

Gross profit:Comparable gross profit grew 6.6% in the third quarter of 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017. Our pricing initiatives and declining sweetener costs were offset by higher PET prices, higher concentrate costs in Mexico, and the depreciation of the average exchange rates of the Mexican Peso, the Guatemalan Quetzal, and the Nicaraguan Cordoba as applied to U.S. dollar-denominated raw material costs.

Operating income:Comparable operating income in the division increased 3.9% in the third quarter of 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, despite higher freight, marketing and maintenance expenses in Mexico; these factors were partially offset by a non-cash operating foreign exchange gain in Mexico.

Operating cash flow:Comparable operating cash flow increased 4.6% in the third quarter of 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017.

As reported figures:

Revenues:Reported total revenues increased 12.2% to Ps. 26,069 million in the third quarter of 2018 as compared to the same period of 2017, driven by the consolidation of recently acquired territories in Guatemala as of May 1, 2018, volume growth in Central America and Mexico, and pricing aligned with inflation in Mexico, partially offset by a mix effect in Mexico and Central America.

Transactions:Reported total number of transactions increased 5.9% to 2,953.8 in the third quarter of 2018 as compared to the same period of 2017.

Volume:Reported total sales volume increased 5.5% to 534.1 million unit cases in the third quarter of 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017.

Gross profit:Reported gross profit increased 11.2% to Ps. 12,566 million in the third quarter of 2018, and gross profit margin contracted 40 basis points to 48.2% during the period.

Operating income:Reported operating income increased 5.9% to Ps. 3,750 million in the third quarter of 2018, and operating income margin contracted 80 basis points to 14.4% during the period.

Operating cash flow:Reported operating cash flow increased 7.7% to Ps. 5,402 million in the third quarter of 2018, resulting in a margin contraction of 90 basis points to 20.7%.

(1)

Please refer to page 9 for our definition of "comparable" and a description of the factors affecting the comparability of ourfinancial and operating performance.

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Coca-Cola FEMSA SAB de CV published this content on 25 October 2018 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 25 October 2018 12:58:02 UTC