Coca-Cola HBC to list on JSE
One of the world’s largest Coca-Cola bottlers agreed to buy a controlling stake in another, creating a bottling giant in Africa in a transaction valued at about $2.6 billion.
Coca-Cola HBC AG will buy 75% of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa from Coca-Cola Co. and its other holder, Gutsche Family Investments, the companies said in a statement. Coca-Cola HBC shares fell as much as 4% in early London trading.
The deal creates the second-largest bottling partner for the caffeinated soft drink by volume and marks another step in which the US firm moves away from the business of bottling. Coca-Cola also sold a stake in its Indian bottling operations this year.
The company is diversifying to overcome sagging demand for carbonated soft drinks. Its bottling investments made up 13% of revenue last year, down from 52% almost a decade earlier. After the Africa sale closes next year, that number should drop to about 5%, Coke said.
The buyer, Coca-Cola HBC, aims to tap Africa’s “huge growth opportunities” and plans a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, it said.
Coca-Cola HBC operates across Europe as well as in Nigeria and Egypt. The purchase will add 14 African markets to its portfolio, allowing it to cover more than half of the continent’s population.
The deal includes an option to buy the rest of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa within six years.
-Bloomberg
Coca-Cola HBC AG will buy 75% of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa from Coca-Cola Co. and its other holder, Gutsche Family Investments, the companies said in a statement. Coca-Cola HBC shares fell as much as 4% in early London trading.
The deal creates the second-largest bottling partner for the caffeinated soft drink by volume and marks another step in which the US firm moves away from the business of bottling. Coca-Cola also sold a stake in its Indian bottling operations this year.
The company is diversifying to overcome sagging demand for carbonated soft drinks. Its bottling investments made up 13% of revenue last year, down from 52% almost a decade earlier. After the Africa sale closes next year, that number should drop to about 5%, Coke said.
The buyer, Coca-Cola HBC, aims to tap Africa’s “huge growth opportunities” and plans a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, it said.
Coca-Cola HBC operates across Europe as well as in Nigeria and Egypt. The purchase will add 14 African markets to its portfolio, allowing it to cover more than half of the continent’s population.
The deal includes an option to buy the rest of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa within six years.
-Bloomberg
