Published: 2012-12-24

Bylaws - American Beverage Co. (Ambev)

By American Beverage Co. (Ambev)

COMPANHIA DE BEBIDAS DAS AMÉRICAS - AMBEV CNPJ [National Taxpayer’s Registry] No. 02.808.708/0001-07 NIRE [Corporate Registration Identification Number] 35.300.157.770 A Publicly-Held Company
BY-LAWS
CHAPTER I NAME, HEADQUARTERS, PURPOSE AND DURATION

Article 1 – COMPANHIA DE BEBIDAS DAS AMÉRICAS – AMBEV is a joint-stock company (sociedade por ações), which shall be governed by these By-laws and by applicable law.
Article 2 – The Company shall have its headquarters and jurisdiction in the City of São Paulo, State of São Paulo. Branches, offices, deposits or representation agencies may be opened, maintained and closed elsewhere in Brazil or abroad, by resolution of the Board of Directors, for achievement of the Company’s purposes.
Article 3 – The purpose of the Company, either directly or by participation in other companies, is:

the production and trading of beer, concentrates, soft drinks and other beverages;

the production and trading of raw materials required for the industrialization of beverages and byproducts, such as malt, barley, ice, carbonic gas, as well as apparatus, machinery, equipment, and anything else that may be necessary or useful for the activities listed in item (a) above;

the production, certification and commerce of seeds and grains, as well as the commerce of fertilizers and fungicides and other related activities, as necessary or useful to the development of the main activities of the Company as stated in these By-laws;

the packaging and wrapping of any of the products belonging to it or to third parties;

the agricultural cultivation and promotion activities in the field of cereals and fruits which are the raw material used by the Company in its industrial activities, as well as in other sectors that require a more dynamic approach in the exploration of the virtues of the Brazilian soil, mainly in the food and health segments;

the operation on the following areas: research, prospecting, extraction, processing, industrialization, commercialization and distribution of mineral water, in all national territory;

the beneficiation, expurgation and other phytosanitary services, and industrialization of products resulting from the activities listed in item (d) above, either for meeting the purposes of its industry or for trading of its byproducts;

the advertising of products belonging to it and to third parties, and the trading of promotional and advertising materials;

the rendering of technical, market and administrative assistance services and other services directly or indirectly related to the core activities of the Company;

the importation of anything necessary for its industry and trade;

the exportation of its products;

the direct or indirect exploration of bars, restaurants, luncheonettes and similar places; and

the sale and/or distribution of its products and the products of its controlled companies, either directly or through third parties, utilization of the means of transport required for distribution of its products, byproducts and accessories, and adoption of any system or instruction that, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, may lead to the envisaged purposes.

Sole Paragraph – Additionally to the provisions of the caption of this Article, the Company may participate in or associate itself with other commercial and civil companies, as partner, shareholder or quotaholder, in Brazil or abroad.
Article 4 – The Company is established for an indeterminate period of time.
CHAPTER II SHARE CAPITAL AND SHARES
Article 5 – The capital stock is of R$7,613,780,458.28, divided into 3,104,361,040 shares, of which 1,743,888,690 are common shares and 1,360,472,350 are preferred shares, without par value.
Paragraph 1 – Each common share shall be entitled to one vote in the resolutions of the General Meeting.
Paragraph 2 – The Company shares are in the book-entry form, and shall be held in a deposit account in the name of the respective holders, with a financial institution indicated by the Board of Directors.
Paragraph 3 – The Company may suspend the services of transfer and splitting of shares and certificates in accordance with the General Meeting's determination, provided that this suspension does not exceed ninety (90) intercalary days during the fiscal year or fifteen (15) consecutive days. 5

Article 6 – Preferred shares:

shall not be entitled to voting rights and may not be converted into common shares;

shall have preference in capital reimbursement in the event of liquidation of the Company; and

shall have the right to receive cash dividends 10% higher than those paid to common shares.

Article 7 – Nonvoting preferred shares may represent up to two thirds (2/3) of the total shares issued by the Company.
Article 8 – The Company is authorized, up to the maximum limit permitted by law, to create and/or issue, as a result of subscription, stock dividends or splitting, new classes of preferred shares, voting or nonvoting, even if entailing more benefits than those previously existing, and establish their respective preferences, advantages, conditions for redemption, amortization or conversion.
Paragraph 1 – The Company may increase the number of preferred shares of any class, irrespective of whether the proportion with the other classes of preferred shares or common shares is maintained, and further increase the common shares without observing the proportion with preferred shares.
Paragraph 2 – Nonvoting preferred shares entitled to fixed or minimum dividends, when issued, shall be entitled to exercise such right if the Company fails to pay the fixed or minimum dividends to which it may be entitled during three consecutive fiscal years, which right shall be maintained until payment, if such dividends are non-cumulative, or until the cumulative dividends in arrears have been paid, all in accordance with paragraph 1 of article 111 of Law 6404/76.
Article 9 – The Company is authorized to increase its share capital up to the limit of three billion and five hundred million (3,500,000,000) shares, irrespective of an amendment to the By-laws, by resolution of the Board of Directors, which shall resolve on the paying-up conditions, the characteristics of the shares to be issued and the issue price, and shall establish whether the increase shall be carried out by public or private subscription.
Sole Paragraph – The issuance of shares pursuant to any special laws regarding fiscal incentives (article 172, sole paragraph, of Law 6404/76) shall not give rise to preemptive rights to shareholders; provided, however, that shares subscribed with funds originated from fiscal incentives shall not carry preemptive rights in connection with any issuance of shares after such subscription.
Article 10 – The issue of shares, debentures convertible into shares and subscription bonds, the placement of which shall be made (i) by sale on the stock exchange; (ii) by public subscription; or (iii) for share swap, in a public offering for acquisition of control which, under the terms of articles 257 and 263, of Law 6404/76, may be carried out with exclusion of the preemptive right or with reduction in the period which is addressed in article 171, paragraph 4 of Law 6404/76.
Article 11 – The Board of Directors may, based on a plan approved by the General Meeting, grant call options to management, employees or individuals that render services to the Company or companies under its control. 6

Article 12 – Failure by the subscriber to pay the subscribed value, on the conditions set forth in the bulletin or call shall cause it to be considered in default by operation of law, for purposes of articles 106 and 107 of Law 6404/76, subjecting it to the payment of the amount in arrears, adjusted for inflation according to the variation in the General Market Price Index (IGP-M) in the shortest period permitted by law, in addition to interest at twelve percent (12%) per year, pro rata temporis, and a fine corresponding to ten percent (10%) of the amount in arrears, duly updated.
CHAPTER III GENERAL MEETINGS
Article 13 – The General Meeting has the power to decide on all businesses related to the object of the Company and to take any resolutions it may deem advisable for its protection and development.
Article 14 – General Meetings shall be convened and presided over by the shareholders then chosen, which may appoint up to two secretaries.
Article 15 – Any resolutions of the General Meetings, except for the cases contemplated by law, shall be taken by an absolute majority of votes, excluding any blank votes.
Article 16 – Annual General Meetings shall be held within the first four months after the end of the fiscal year, and shall decide on matters under their authority, as set forth in law.
Article 17 – Extraordinary General Meetings shall be held whenever the interests of the Company so require, as well as in the events established in law and in these By-laws.
CHAPTER IV MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY
Article 18 – The Company shall be managed by a Board of Directors and an Executive Board, pursuant to law and these By-laws.
Paragraph 1 – The General Meeting shall establish the aggregate compensation of Management, which shall be apportioned by the Board of Directors, as provided for in Article 24 hereof.
Paragraph 2 – The management must take part in the Manual for Disclosure and Information Use and Policies for Trading Securities Issued by the Company, by signing the Declaration of Compliance.
Paragraph 3 – The investiture of the Company’s Managers, elected pursuant to these By-laws, will be conditioned to the underwrite by those managers of the Term of Acceptance, foreseen in the Rules of Corporate Governance Best Practices – Level 1 of the São Paulo Stock Exchange (BOVESPA). 7

SECTION I BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Article 19 – The Board of Directors shall be composed of three (3) to fifteen (15) sitting members, all shareholders, with two (2) to fifteen (15) alternates, bound or not to a specific sitting Board Member, who shall be elected by the General Meeting and be dismissed thereby at any time, with a term of office of three (3) years, reelection being permitted.
Paragraph 1 – Subject to the caption of this Article, the number of members that will make up the Board of Directors in each management period shall be previously established at each General Meeting whose agenda includes election of the members of the Board of Directors, and this matter shall be forwarded by the Chairman of the Meeting.
Paragraph 2 – The Board of Directors may determine the creation of committees formed in its majority by members of the Board of Directors, defining their respective composition and specific duties. The rules of article 160 of Law No. 6.404/76 shall apply to non-members of the Board of Directors. It will be incumbent upon said committees to analyze and discuss the issues defined as being within the scope of their duties, as well as to formulate proposals and recommendations for deliberation by the Board of Directors.
Paragraph 3 – The members of the Board of Directors shall take office upon the signing of the respective instrument, drawn up in the proper book, and shall remain in office until they are replaced by their successors.
Paragraph 4 – The member of the Board of Directors shall have an indisputable reputation, and cannot be elected, unless waived by the General Meeting, if (i) occupies a position in companies that can be considered as a competitor of the Company, or (ii) has or represents a conflicting interest with the Company; the voting rights of the Member of the Board cannot be exercised in case the same preventing are configured.
Paragraph 5 – It is prohibited, in the form of article 115, paragraph 1 of Law 6404/76 the exercise of the voting rights in the election of the Members of the Board of Directors in circumstances that characterize conflict of interest with the Company.
Article 20 – The Board of Directors shall have two (2) Co-Chairmen, with identical prerogatives and duties, who shall be elected by a majority of the Board’s members, immediately after said members are instated.
Article 21 – The Board shall meet, ordinarily, at least once each quarter and, extraordinarily, whenever necessary, upon call by any of its Co-chairmen or by the majority of its members, through letter, email, telegram or personally, with at least 24 (twenty-four) hours in advance.
Article 22 – The Board of Directors shall be convened, operate and pass valid resolutions by the favorable vote of the majority of its members present in the meeting.
Paragraph 1 – The Board Members may attend meetings by telephone, videoconferencing, telepresence or by previously sending their votes in writing. In this case, the Board Member will be considered to be present at a meeting in order to ascertain the quorum for declaring it open and voting, with this vote being deemed valid for all legal effects, being included in Minutes of such meeting. 8

Paragraph 2 – In the event of a tie in the resolutions of the Board of Directors, the Co-chairmen shall not have the casting vote, except their own personal votes.
Paragraph 3 – The Member of the Board shall not have access to information or take part in meetings of the Board related to matters in which it has conflicting interests with the Company.
Article 23 – In the case of permanent absence or impediment of any Director, and if there is an alternate Director, the Board of Directors shall decide whether the alternate shall fill the vacant office, or if the vacant office shall be filled by a substitute on a permanent basis; the substitute Director shall, in any case, complete the term of office of the absent or impeded Director.
Sole Paragraph – In the event of temporary absence or impediment, the members of the Board of Directors shall be replaced by the respective alternates, or in the absence thereof, by another Director appointed for such purpose by the Board of Directors. In this latter case, the Director that is replacing the absent or impeded Director shall cast the vote of the absent Director in addition to his own vote.
Article 24 – The Board of Directors shall resolve on the matters listed below:

establish the general policy of the Company's business, approving the guidelines, corporate policies and basic objectives for all the main areas of performance of the Company;

approve the annual investment budget of the Company;

approve the five-year strategic plan of the Company;

elect and dismiss the Company's Officers, and set their attributions;

supervise the management of the Executive Board, review at any time the books and documents of the Company, and request information regarding any acts executed or to be executed by the Company;

attribute, from the aggregate value of the compensation established by the General Meeting, the monthly fees of each of the members of the Company's Management;

define the general criteria on compensation and benefit policy (fringe benefits, participation in profits and/or sales) for the management and senior employees (namely, superintendents or employees in equivalent direction positions) of the Company;

appoint the Company's independent auditors;

resolve on the issue of shares and warrants, within the limit of the authorized capital of the Company;

provide a previous manifestation on the management's report, the Executive Board's accounts, the financial statements for the fiscal year, and review the monthly balance sheets;

submit to the General Meeting the form of allocation of the net profits for the year;

call Annual General Meetings and, whenever it may deem advisable, Extraordinary General Meetings;

approve any business or agreements between the Company and/or any of its controlled companies, management and/or shareholders (including any direct or indirect partners of the Company's shareholders), without impairment of item “q” below;

approve the creation, acquisition, assignment, transfer, encumbering and/or disposal by the Company, in any way whatsoever, of shares, quotas and/or any securities issued by any company controlled by the Company or associated to the Company;

approve the contracting by the Company of any debt in excess of ten percent (10%) of the Company's shareholders’ equity reflected on the latest audited balance sheet; this amount shall be considered per individual transaction or a series of related transactions;

approve the execution, amendment, termination, renewal or cancellation of any contracts, agreements or similar instruments involving trademarks registered or deposited in the name of the Company or any of its controlled companies;

approve the granting of loans and rendering of guarantees of any kind by the Company for amounts exceeding one percent (1%) of the shareholders’ equity of the Company reflected on the latest audited balance sheet, to any third party, except in favor of any companies controlled by the Company;

approve the execution by the Company of any long-term agreements (i.e., agreements executed for a term exceeding one year), involving an amount in excess of five percent (5%) of the shareholders’ equity of the Company, as shown on the latest audited balance sheet; this amount shall be considered per individual transaction or a series of related transactions;

resolve on the Company's participation in other companies, as well as on any participation in other undertakings, including through a consortium or special partnership;

resolve on the suspension of the Company's activities, except in the cases of stoppage for servicing of its equipment;

authorize the acquisition of shares of the Company to be kept in treasury, be canceled or subsequently disposed of, with due regard for applicable law;

resolve on the issuance of trade Promissory Notes for public distribution, pursuant to CVM Ruling No. 134;

resolve on the issuance of unconvertible debentures not bearing collateral, under the terms of article 59 paragraph 1 of Law 6404/76

authorize the disposal of fixed assets, expect for the ones mentioned in item “n” of this Article, and the constitution of collateral in an amount greater than 1% (one percent) of the shareholders’ equity reflected in the latest audited balance sheet. This amount will be considered per individual transaction or a series of related transactions;

perform the other legal duties assigned thereto at the General Meeting or in these By-laws; and

resolve on any cases omitted by these By-laws and perform other attributions not conferred on another body of the Company by the law or these By-laws.

Paragraph 1 – The decisions of the Board of Directors shall be recorded in minutes, which shall be signed by those present in the meeting.
Paragraph 2 – Any favorable vote cast by a Company representative in connection with any resolution on the matters listed above, in General Meetings and in other corporate bodies of the companies controlled by the Company, either directly or indirectly, shall be conditional on the approval of the Board of Directors of the Company.
SECTION II EXECUTIVE BOARD
Article 25 – The Executive Board shall be made up of two (2) to fifteen (15) members, shareholders or not, of whom one shall be the Chief Executive Officer, whereas the others shall have no specific designation; they shall all be elected by the Board of Directors, may be removed from office by it at any time, and shall have a term of office of three (3) years, reelection being permitted.
Paragraph 1 – Should a position of Executive Officer become vacant or its holder be impeded, it shall be incumbent upon the Board of Directors to elect a new Executive Officer or to appoint an alternate, in both cases determining the term of office and the respective remuneration.
Paragraph 2 – It is incumbent upon the Executive Board to exercise the prerogatives that the law, the By-laws and the Board of Directors confer upon it for the performance of the actions required for the Company to function normally.
Paragraph 3 – The Executive Officers shall take office by signing the respective statement drawn up in the appropriate register and shall hold their positions until their successors take office. 11

Article 26 – The Executive Board, whose presidency will be held by the Chief Executive Officer, shall meet as necessary and, at the very least, once a month, its being incumbent upon the Chief Executive Officer to call and to be the chairman of the meeting.
Paragraph 1 – The Meeting shall be instated provided it is attended by Executive Officers in sufficient number to represent a majority of the Executive Board’s members. No Executive Officer shall have the casting vote.
Paragraph 2 – Officers may attend meetings by telephone, videoconferencing or telepresence.  In this case, the Director will be deemed to attend the meeting to ascertain the quorum for declaring it open and voting, with the vote cast thereby being deemed valid for all legal purposes.
Article 27 – The Minutes of the Meetings and the resolutions of the Executive Board shall be recorded in the appropriate register.
Article 28 – It is the Chief Executive Officer’s responsibility to:
a)      Submit the annual work plans and budgets, investment plans and new Company expansion programs to the Board of Directors for approval, causing them to be carried out, pursuant to their approval;
b)       Formulate the Company’s operating strategies and guidelines, as well as establishing the criteria for executing the resolutions of the Annual General Meeting and of the Board of Directors, with the participation of the other Executive Officers;
c)       Supervise all the Company’s activities, providing the guidelines best suited to its corporate purpose;
d)       Coordinate and oversee the activities of the Executive Board; and
e)       Exercise the other prerogatives conferred upon it by the Board of Directors.
Article 29 – It is incumbent upon the other Executive Officers to exercise the prerogatives conferred upon them by means of a Meeting of the Board of Directors, which may establish specific titles for their positions.
Article 30 – The Documents involving the Company in any commercial, banking, financial or equity liability, such as agreements in general, check endorsements, promissory notes, bills of exchange, trade bills and any credit instruments, debt acknowledgments, granting of aval guarantees and sureties, credit facility agreements, acts performed by branches, ad negocia and ad judicia powers of attorney, and any other acts creating any liability for the Company or waiving third-party obligations or obligations to the Company, shall be valid upon the signature of two members of the Executive Board. 12

Paragraph 1 – Signing of the documents listed above may be delegated, and may be signed by an attorney-in-fact jointly with a member of the Executive Board, or by two attorneys-in-fact, jointly, provided that the instruments of power of attorney appointing these attorneys-in-fact are signed by two Officers.
Paragraph 2 – The Company shall be represented, individually, by any of the Officers, without the formalities set out in this Article, as regards receipt of service of process or judicial notices and rendering of personal deposition.
Paragraph 3 – The Executive Board, represented in the form set forth in this Article, is responsible, independent from deliberations of the Board of Directors, for the activities referred to in items “o”, “q”, “r” and “x” of Article 24, excluding the exceptions or amounts below the established limits.
CHAPTER V FISCAL COUNCIL
Article 31 – The Company shall maintain a Fiscal Council, made up of three (3) to five (5) members and an equal number of alternates, on a permanent basis. All of its members shall be elected at a General Meeting and may be removed through such a meeting at any time. Their term of office shall expire at the first Annual General Meeting to be held following their election and they can be reelected.
Paragraph 1 – In order for the Fiscal Council to be able to operate, it shall be required that the majority of its members be in attendance.
Paragraph 2 – It shall be incumbent upon the Fiscal Council to elect its Chairman in the first session to be held after its instatement.
Paragraph 3 – In addition to the duties conferred upon it by these By-laws and by law, the Council shall establish in its internal by-laws procedures for receiving, recording and treating complaints received in connection with accounting, internal accounting controls and subjects related with the auditing of the Company, as well as any other communication received on such matters.
Paragraph 4 – The provisions of Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 18 of these By-laws apply to the members of the Fiscal Council.
Article 32 – The Fiscal Council shall cease its operation at the first Annual General Meeting following its installation, and its members may be reelected.
Article 33 – The compensation of the Fiscal Council's members shall be established by the General Meeting that elects them.
CHAPTER VI FINANCIAL YEAR, BALANCE SHEET AND PROFITS
Article 34 – The financial year shall have the duration of one year, and shall end on the last day of December each year. 13

Article 35 - At the end of each financial year, the financial statements established in law shall be drawn up in accordance with the Company's bookkeeping.
Paragraph 1 – The Board of Directors may resolve to draw up half-yearly balance sheets or for shorter periods, and approve the distribution of dividends and/or interest on net equity based on the profits ascertained in such balance sheets, subject to the provisions set forth in Article 204 of Law Nº 6404/76.
Paragraph 2 – At any time, the Board of Directors may also resolve on the distribution of interim dividends and/or interest on net equity based on the accrued profits or existing profits reserves presented in the latest yearly or half-yearly balance sheet.
Paragraph 3 – The interim dividends and interest on net equity shall always be considered as an advance on the minimum mandatory dividends.
Article 36 - From the profits ascertained in each year, accumulated losses and a provision for income tax shall be deducted prior to any other distribution.
Paragraph 1 – Over the amount ascertained as provided for in the caption of this Article, it will be calculated:

the statutory participation of the Company’s employees up to the maximum limit of 10% (ten percent), to be distributed according to the parameters to be established by the Board of Directors;

the statutory participation of the management, up to the maximum legal limit.

Paragraph 2 – Over the amount ascertained as provided for in the caption of this Article, it might be calculated, in addition, up to the limit of 10% (ten percent), a contribution for the purpose of meeting the charges of the assistance foundation for employees and management of the Company and its controlled companies, with due regard for the rules established by the Board of Directors to this effect.
Paragraph 3 – The following allocations shall be made from the net income for the year, obtained after the deductions dealt with in the previous paragraphs:

five percent (5%) shall be allocated to the legal reserve, up to twenty percent (20%) of the paid-up share capital or the limit established in article 193, paragraph 1 of Law 6404/76;

from the net profit balance for the year, obtained after the deduction mentioned in item (a) of this Article and adjusted pursuant to article 202 of Law 6404/76, thirty-five percent (35%) shall be allocated to pay the mandatory dividend to all its shareholders;

an amount not higher than sixty-five percent (65%) of the net profits, shall be allocated to the formation of an Investment Reserve, for the purpose of financing the expansion of the activities of the Company and its controlled companies, including through subscription of capital increase or the creation of new undertakings.

Paragraph 4 – The reserve set out in item (c) of paragraph 2 may not exceed eighty percent (80%) of the share capital. Upon reaching this limit, the General Meeting shall resolve either to distribute the balance to the shareholders or increase the share capital.
CHAPTER VII LIQUIDATION, WINDING-UP AND EXTINGUISHMENT
Article 37 – The Company shall be liquidated, wound up and extinguished in the cases contemplated by law or by resolution of the General Meeting.
Paragraph 1 – The manner of liquidation shall be determined at a General Meeting, which shall also elect the Fiscal Council that will operate in the liquidation period.
Paragraph 2 – The Board of Directors shall appoint the liquidator, establish its fees and determine the guidelines for its operation.
CHAPTER VIII MISCELLANEOUS
Article 38 – The dividends attributed to the shareholders shall be paid within the legal time frames, and monetary adjustment and/or interest shall only be assessed if so determined by the General Meeting.
Sole Paragraph – The dividends not received or claimed shall lapse within three years from the date on which they were placed at the disposal of the shareholder, and shall inure to the benefit of the Company.
Article 39 – The percentage of the minimum mandatory dividend, established in item (b) of paragraph 3 of Article 36 of these By-laws, may not be reduced during the period of thirty (30) years after July 1, 1999.
Article 40 – The Company shall comply with the shareholders' agreements registered as provided for in article 118 of Law 6404/76, and the management shall refrain from registering transfers of shares in violation of the respective terms and the Chairman of the General Meeting or of the Board of Directors shall refrain from computing votes unfavorable to such agreements. Article 41 – The Company will assure the members of the Board of Directors, of the Executive Board and of the Fiscal Council members, or the members of any corporate entities with technical functions set up to advise the Management of legal defense in lawsuits and administrative proceedings filed by third parties during or after the respective terms of office held thereby for acts performed during the exercise of their functions, including through a permanent insurance policy, shielding them against liability for acts arising from the exercise of their positions or functions, including the payment of court costs, legal fees and indemnizations arising from such proceedings.
Paragraph 1 – The guarantee set forth in the caption of this Article extends to employees working regularly to comply with mandates issued by the Company or the subsidiaries thereof.
Paragraph 2 – If any of the persons mentioned in the caption of this Article or in Paragraph 1 be sentenced through a final court decision due to negligent or criminal conduct, the Company must be reimbursed thereby for all costs and expenses outlaid on legal assistance, as set forth in the law.”
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SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. Date: October 27, 2010


	COMPANHIA DE BEBIDAS DAS AMERICAS-AMBEV


	By:	/s/ Nelson Jose Jamel
		Nelson Jose JamelChief Financial and Investor Relations Officer