AmBev – Companhia de Bebidas das Americas (NYSE: ABV) will begin trading today
on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), under the ticker symbols ”ABV” for
preferential ADRs and ”ABVc” for common ADRs. AmBev’s ADRs (American Depositary
Receipts) replace Brahma’s papers, which have been traded on the NYSE since
June 1997. Marcel Telles, co- chairman of the company’s Board of Directors,
participated in NYSE’s ceremony to commemorate the event by ringing the bell
to signal the end of the day’s trading. The president of Pepsi-Cola International,
Peter Thompson, and top Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen were also at the ceremony.
To commemorate the launching of its ADRs for trading, AmBev distributed 6,000
cans of Guarana Antarctica to New Yorkers this morning at a stage representing
a tropical forest, assembled directly in front of the NYSE building. The internalization
of Guarana is one of AmBev’s steps to establish itself as an international company,
of Brazilian origin. AmBev and Pepsi have established an international licensing
agreement since the end of last year, which allows the distribution of Guarana
Antarctica to more than 175 countries.