DEAR SHAREHOLDER.

[uparrow]ERICSSON

Ericsson stayed at the head of the pack with a strong close in 1999, Latin American sales rose almost 13%--mostly on the back of its mobile phone operations. Sales in Mexico zoomed 74% and in Brazil 20%. The prognosis for 2000? Revenue growth of more than 20%.

[rightarrow]UNILEVER

Worldwide, Unilever is slashing operations, but the Anglo-Dutch consumer product powerhouse shows no signs of letting up in Latin America. Sales and profits fell by double digits last year, but Unilever continues to buy, buy, buy: Honduran laundry-detergent maker Grupo Cressida, Colombia's Varela and Sociedad Industrial Dominicana in the Dominican Republic.

[downarrow] GOODYEAR

"Goodyear has laid the groundwork for significant improvement in 2000," promises CEO Samir Gibara, following a highway blowout in 1999. Sales for the Ohio-based tire maker tumbled nearly 16% during the fourth quarter and 25.3% for the year, while annual profits plummeted 63.6%. Latin American currency fluctuations end weak car sales were the glass on the road.