ACCESSWIRE
20 Nov 2023, 17:08 GMT+10
UXBRIDGE, ENGLAND / ACCESSWIRE / November 20, 2023 / Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc (NASDAQ:CCEP)(LSE:CCEP) today announces it has, together with Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV), entered into a definitive agreement to jointly acquire Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI) from The Coca-Cola Company (KO)
Share Purchase Agreement (SPA)
Compelling strategic rationale
The acquisition will build on CCEP's successful expansion into Australia, Pacific & Indonesia (API) in 2021, further strengthening the partnership with its significant shareholder KO, and positioning CCEP as the world's largest Coca-Cola bottler by both revenue and volume while supporting its long-term growth strategy and focus on driving shareholder value.
CCEP's acquisition of CCBPI, with AEV, one of the leading conglomerates in the local market, offers a great opportunity to co-own an established, well-run business with attractive profitability and growth prospects.
The transaction is a further step for CCEP to create a more diverse footprint within its existing API business segment. It will also provide the opportunity to leverage best practice and talent, including supporting Indonesia's transformation journey. It is therefore aligned with CCEP's aim of driving sustainable and stronger growth through diversification and scale, and underpins the company's mid-term strategic objectives.
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1 Subject to adjustment in the event of any currently unforeseen event which causes AEV to terminate its participation in the acquisition - in which case CCEP may acquire 60% or 100% of CCBPI (at the election of KO)
Further information
The transaction is currently expected to close early next year. Further updates will be provided in due course.
For more information, please see our website:
Advisers
Rothschild & Co are acting as financial adviser to CCEP. BofA Securities2 are acting as adviser to the Affiliated Transaction Committee (ATC) of the Board of Directors of CCEP. Slaughter and May and Villaraza & Angangco are acting as legal counsel to CCEP.
Related party transaction
By reason of KO's shareholding in CCEP, the sellers are treated as related parties of CCEP. The transaction has been reviewed and recommended by the ATC of CCEP, which has been independently advised by BofA Securities2 on the financial terms of the transaction, and, in line with requirements of the UK Disclosure and Transparency Rules, approved by the Board of Directors of CCEP who are not nominated by KO.
About CCEP (LEI 549300LTH67W4GWMRF57)
CCEP is one of the leading consumer goods companies in the world. We make, move and sell some the world's most loved brands - serving 600 million consumers and helping 2 million customers across 30 countries grow their business.
We combine the strength and scale of a large, multi-national business with an expert, local knowledge of the customers we serve and communities we support.
The Company is currently listed on Euronext Amsterdam, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, London Stock Exchange and on the Spanish Stock Exchanges, trading under the symbol CCEP.
For more information about CCEP, please visit www.cocacolaep.com & follow CCEP on Twitter at @CocaColaEP.
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2 Merrill Lynch International ('BofA Securities'), a subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation, is acting exclusively for CCEP in connection with the transaction that is the subject of this announcement and for no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than CCEP for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to such transaction.
About AEV
AEV is one of the leading conglomerates in the Philippines with over 100 years of business history. It has major investments in power, banking and financial services, food, infrastructure, land, and data science and artificial intelligence. AEV is recognized as one of the best-managed companies in the Philippines and the region, consistently cited for its commitment to good corporate governance and sustainability. Currently, the company is on its Great Transformation journey to become the Philippines' first Techglomerate as it continues to drive change for a better world by advancing business and communities.
AEV is a member of the United Nations Global Compact, Global Compact Network Philippines Board of Trustees, the APEC Business Advisory Council and the Council for Inclusive Capitalism, and helps champion sustainability initiatives on a regional level through policies, advocacies, and initiatives that contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). With a clear focus on ESG, the company is implementing its #OneAboitizSustainability Synergy model which transforms its life-essential businesses to improve sustainable practices and continue to create a positive impact on society and the environment.
Link to AEV's website and release: https://aboitiz.com/investor-relations/disclosure/
Enquiries
General Counsel and Company Secretary: Clare Wardle; [email protected]
Investor Relations: Sarah Willett; [email protected]
Media: [email protected]
Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains statements, estimates or projections that constitute 'forward-looking statements' concerning the financial condition, performance, results, guidance and outlook, dividends, consequences of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and divestitures, including the proposed joint venture with Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) and acquisition of Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI), strategy and objectives of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc and its subsidiaries (together CCEP or the Group). Generally, the words 'ambition', 'target', 'aim', 'believe', 'expect', 'intend', 'estimate', 'anticipate', 'project', 'plan', 'seek', 'may', 'could', 'would', 'should', 'might', 'will', 'forecast', 'outlook', 'guidance', 'possible', 'potential', 'predict', 'objective' and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature.
Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from CCEP's historical experience and present expectations or projections. As a result, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. These risks include but are not limited to:
Due to these risks, CCEP's actual future financial condition, results of operations, and business activities, including its results, dividend payments, capital and leverage ratios, growth, including growth in revenue, cost of sales per unit case and operating profit, free cash flow, market share, tax rate, efficiency savings, achievement of sustainability goals, including net zero emissions and recycling initiatives, capital expenditures, our agreements relating to and results of the proposed joint venture with AEV and acquisition of CCBPI, and ability to remain in compliance with existing and future regulatory compliance, may differ materially from the plans, goals, expectations and guidance set out in forward-looking statements. These risks may also adversely affect CCEP's share price. Additional risks that may impact CCEP's future financial condition and performance are identified in filings with the SEC which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. CCEP does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required under applicable rules, laws and regulations. Any or all of the forward-looking statements contained in this filing and in any other of CCEP's public statements may prove to be incorrect.
End
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [email protected] or visit www.rns.com.
SOURCE: Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc
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