Cascade Investment, LLC, the investment vehicle owned by Bill Gates, and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust, have increased their ownership stakes in Monterrey-based Mexican beverage companies, Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: KOF) and Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: FMX), by acquisition of additional American Depository Shares (ADSs). 

According to a Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on August 1, 2008, Cascade Investment and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation respectively owned 857,128 ADSs and 4,561,072 ADSs of FEMSA as of August 1, 2008, representing 3.16% and 16.84% of the company’s Series L Shares. 

And according to a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on September 5 2008, Cascade Investment and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation respectively owned 20,966,975 ADSs and 747,600 ADSs of Fomento Economico Mexicano as of September 5, 2008.

Cascade also owns 19.7 million shares of Mexican broadcaster Grupo Televisa (NYSE: TV), according to Reuters.