Merger of the three major European Coca-Cola is now a reality – Financial Journal

Expansion, Spain

The merger of the three main European Coca-Cola is now a reality. The US multinational announced today the integration of Coca-Cola Iberian Partners with Coca-Cola Enterprises listed and German Erfrischungsgetränke Coca-Cola, which will create a group with a turnover of US $ 12,600 million.

Coca Cola Iberian Partners will control 34% of the new company, to preside Sol Daurella. With this percentage, the Spanish group families will be the main individual shareholders of the new company, to be called Coca-Cola European Partners and expects to list on the stock exchanges of New York, Amsterdam and Madrid.

The multinational American (owns 100% of the German bottling), will be the second largest shareholder with 18% stake. The remaining 48% stake will be very distributed among the current shareholders of Coca-Cola Enterprises, the only of the three companies already traded. These shareholders will receive one share of the new Coca-Cola European Partners, plus a cash payment of US $ 14.50 per title.

The negotiations between the three bottlers transcended last Friday and have taken less one week officially confirmed.

The integration will lead to a group that is responsible for the production and distribution of Coca-Cola soft drinks in 13 European countries, which include Spain, Portugal, Andorra France, Monaco, United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Norway, Iceland and Sweden. They have a combined population of 300 million consumers.

The merger of the three companies will achieve cost savings of up to US $ 375 million and will result in a company with an EBITDA of US $ 2,100 million , according to initial estimates.

According to Coca-Cola, the new European macroembotellador be the “largest independent bottler globally in terms of net income.” The company preside Sol Daurella have 50 production facilities and employs 27,000 workers.

The current president and CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises, John Brock, will be CEO of the new company. Meanwhile, the current CEO of Coca-Cola Iberian Partners, Victor Rufart, will be appointed head of integration office.

“The creation of a partner and largest unified bottler of Coca-Cola Western Europe represents a step forward in the evolution of our system worldwide, “said Muhtar Kent, president and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company.

Meanwhile, Sun Daurella, CEO Coca-Cola Iberian Partners, noted that “in 2013, after more than 60 years of history, we integrate our bottlers family property to provide better service to our customers and consumers.

Shareholders Coca-Cola Iberian Partners operation are communicated today as an important step to further develop and optimize our business in Western Europe. As the largest single shareholder in the new company, while we will be a strategic partner in Coca-Cola European Partners, will continue to maintain a close relationship with our country, with our business, with our local consumers and customers. We will combine our unique understanding of the segmented on-premise channels, marketing strategies and our operational excellence capabilities CCE and GCC. Together we will accelerate our growth in Western Europe “

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