Mexico City, Nov 28 - Mexican retailer Comercial Mexicana, facing mounting pressure from creditors after it stopped making payments on its loans, will present a debt restructuring plan next week, according to a source close to the negotiation.
"All (creditors) have been invited" to the Dec 2 meeting, the source told Reuters on Friday.
The No. 3 supermarket chain in Mexico, known as Comerci, ran into trouble in October when the global credit crisis and a plummeting peso triggered massive losses in its derivatives positions.
Comerci, with $2 billion of debt, has failed to make payments on local notes held by some 1,000 investors, as well as money loaned by six banks to back up its derivatives trading. Its creditors also include five banks that extended loans, and bond holders.
Company officials were not immediately available for comment.
The company's will to solve its debt troubles "is a very positive sign, since a quick negotiation of its financial duties is needed to preserve the operational viability of Comerci," Citigroup said in a report on Friday.
Comerci has made two failed attempts in recent weeks to obtain protection from creditors.
Comerci continues to open new stores and is making an extra advertising push to prevent customers from drifting into rival stores, including Wal-Mart de Mexico and Monterrey-based Soriana.
Comerci shares dropped 4.46 percent to close at 3 pesos on Friday, a fraction of its year high of 34 pesos.
Citigroup said Comerci's negotiations with creditors will likely include the sale of some of its assets.
Credit Suisse is Comerci's financing adviser.