The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) and Anheuser-Busch InBev (“AB
InBev”) (Euronext: ABI) (NYSE: BUD) (MEXBOL: ANB) (JSE: ANH) have
reached an agreement regarding the transition of AB InBev’s 54.5%
equity stake in Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (“CCBA”) for 3.15
billion USD, after customary adjustments. CCBA includes the
countries of South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania,
Ethiopia, Mozambique, Ghana, Mayotte and Comoros.
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In addition, the companies have reached an agreement in
principle for The Coca-Cola Company to acquire AB InBev’s interest
in bottling operations in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland,
Lesotho, El Salvador and Honduras for an undisclosed amount.
The transactions are subject to the relevant regulatory and
minority approvals and are expected to close by the end of
2017.
The Coca-Cola Company plans to hold all of these territories
temporarily until they can be refranchised to other partners. The
Coca-Cola Company’s intent is to account for the acquired stakes as
a discontinued operation for reporting purposes.
Carlos Brito, CEO of AB InBev, said: “We are happy that we have
been able to reach this agreement with The Coca-Cola Company in a
timely manner and with a satisfactory outcome for all parties.”
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement quickly that is in
everyone’s best interests,” said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of
The Coca-Cola Company. “We will move forward with our long-term
strategic plan in these important growth markets. We are continuing
negotiations with a number of parties who are highly qualified and
interested in these bottling territories and look forward to
refranchising these territories as soon as practical following
regulatory approval.”
English, French and Dutch versions of this press release will be
available on www.ab-inbev.com.
About Anheuser-Busch InBev
Anheuser-Busch InBev is a publicly traded company (Euronext:
ABI) based in Leuven, Belgium, with secondary listings on the
Mexico (MEXBOL: ANB) and South Africa (JSE: ANH) stock exchanges
and with American Depositary Receipts on the New York Stock
Exchange (NYSE: BUD). Our dream is to bring people together for a
better world. Beer, the original social network, has been bringing
people together for thousands of years. We are committed to
building great brands that stand the test of time and to brewing
the best beers using the finest natural ingredients. Our diverse
portfolio of well over 400 beer brands includes global brands
Budweiser®, Corona® and Stella Artois®; multi-country brands
Beck’s®, Castle®, Castle Lite®, Hoegaarden® and Leffe®; and local
champions such as Aguila®, Antarctica®, Bud Light®, Brahma®, Cass®,
Chernigivske®, Cristal®, Harbin®, Jupiler®, Klinskoye®, Michelob
Ultra®, Modelo Especial®, Quilmes®, Victoria®, Sedrin®, Sibirskaya
Korona® and Skol®. Our brewing heritage dates back more than 600
years, spanning continents and generations. From our European roots
at the Den Hoorn brewery in Leuven, Belgium. To the pioneering
spirit of the Anheuser & Co brewery in St. Louis, US. To the
creation of the Castle Brewery in South Africa during the
Johannesburg gold rush. To Bohemia, the first brewery in Brazil.
Geographically diversified with a balanced exposure to developed
and developing markets, we leverage the collective strengths of
approximately 200,000 employees based in more than 50 countries
worldwide. In 2015, on a combined pro forma basis, AB InBev
realized 55.5 billion US dollar in revenues (excluding JVs and
associates).
Visit us @ www.ab-inbev.com.
Like us @ www.facebook.com/abinbev.
Follow us @ twitter.com/abinbevnews.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage
company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and
still brands and more than 3,800 beverage choices. Led by
Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable
brands, our company’s portfolio features 20 billion-dollar brands,
18 of which are available in reduced-, low- or no-calorie options.
Our billion-dollar brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta,
Sprite, Dasani, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del
Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak. Through the world's largest beverage
distribution system, we are the No. 1 provider of both sparkling
and still beverages. More than 1.9 billion servings of our
beverages are enjoyed by consumers in more than 200 countries each
day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable
communities, our company is focused on initiatives that reduce our
environmental footprint, create a safe, inclusive work environment
for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the
communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners,
we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than
700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola
Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at
twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at
www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at
www.linkedin.com/company/ the-coca-cola-company.
Notes
Anheuser-Busch InBev's Forward-looking statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements”. These
statements are based on the current expectations and views of
future events and developments of the management of AB InBev and
are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances.
The forward-looking statements contained in this release include
statements related to Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, other
transactions with The Coca-Cola Company and other statements other
than historical facts. Forward-looking statements include
statements typically containing words such as “will”, “may”,
“should”, “believe”, “intends”, “expects”, “anticipates”,
“targets”, “estimates”, “likely”, “foresees” and words of similar
import. All statements other than statements of historical facts
are forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance
on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the current
views of the management of AB InBev, are subject to numerous risks
and uncertainties about AB InBev, and are dependent on many
factors, some of which are outside of AB InBev’s control. There are
important factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
outcomes and results to be materially different, including, among
others, the risks relating to the dissolved company Anheuser-Busch
InBev SA/NV (the “former AB InBev”) described under Item 3.D of the
former AB InBev’s Annual Report on Form 20-F (“Form 20-F”) filed
with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on 14 March
2016, the principal risks described on pages 16 to 17 of
SABMiller’s Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March
2016 and the risks described under “Risk Factors” of Newbelco
SA/NV’s Registration Statement on Form F-4, filed with the SEC on
26 August 2016. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause
actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements. There can be no certainty that the
proposed transactions will be completed on the terms described
herein or at all.
The forward-looking statements should be read in conjunction
with the other cautionary statements that are included elsewhere,
including the former AB InBev’s most recent Form 20-F, Newbelco
SA/NV’s Registration Statement on Form F-4, reports furnished on
Form 6-K, and any other documents that the former AB InBev,
SABMiller or AB InBev have made public. Any forward-looking
statements made in this communication are qualified in their
entirety by these cautionary statements, and there can be no
assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by AB
InBev will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that
they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, AB
InBev or its business or operations. Except as required by law, AB
InBev undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
The Coca-Cola Company Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain statements, estimates or
projections that constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined
under U.S. federal securities laws. Generally, the words “believe,”
“expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “project,” “will” and
similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which
generally are not historical in nature. Forward-looking statements
are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from The Coca-Cola Company’s
historical experience and our present expectations or projections.
These risks include, but are not limited to, obesity concerns;
water scarcity and poor quality; evolving consumer preferences;
increased competition and capabilities in the marketplace; product
safety and quality concerns; perceived negative health consequences
of certain ingredients, such as non-nutritive sweeteners and
biotechnology-derived substances, and of other substances present
in our beverage products or packaging materials; an inability to be
successful in our innovation activities; increased demand for food
products and decreased agricultural productivity; changes in the
retail landscape or the loss of key retail or foodservice
customers; an inability to expand operations in emerging and
developing markets; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange
rates; interest rate increases; an inability to maintain good
relationships with our bottling partners; a deterioration in our
bottling partners' financial condition; increases in income tax
rates, changes in income tax laws or unfavorable resolution of tax
matters; increased or new indirect taxes in the United States or in
one or more other major markets; increased cost, disruption of
supply or shortage of energy or fuels; increased cost, disruption
of supply or shortage of ingredients, other raw materials or
packaging materials; changes in laws and regulations relating to
beverage containers and packaging; significant additional labeling
or warning requirements or limitations on the marketing or sale of
our products; an inability to protect our information systems
against service interruption, misappropriation of data or breaches
of security; unfavorable general economic conditions in the United
States; unfavorable economic and political conditions in
international markets; litigation or legal proceedings; failure to
adequately protect, or disputes relating to, trademarks, formulae
and other intellectual property rights; adverse weather conditions;
climate change; damage to our brand image and corporate reputation
from negative publicity, even if unwarranted, related to product
safety or quality, human and workplace rights, obesity or other
issues; changes in, or failure to comply with, the laws and
regulations applicable to our products or our business operations;
changes in accounting standards; an inability to achieve our
overall long-term growth objectives; deterioration of global credit
market conditions; default by or failure of one or more of our
counterparty financial institutions; an inability to timely
implement our previously announced actions to reinvigorate growth,
or to realize the economic benefits we anticipate from these
actions; failure to realize a significant portion of the
anticipated benefits of our strategic relationship with Monster
Beverage Corporation; an inability to renew collective bargaining
agreements on satisfactory terms, or we or our bottling partners
experience strikes, work stoppages or labor unrest; future
impairment charges; multi-employer plan withdrawal liabilities in
the future; an inability to successfully integrate and manage our
Company-owned or -controlled bottling operations; an inability to
successfully manage our refranchising activities; an inability to
successfully manage the possible negative consequences of our
productivity initiatives; an inability to attract or retain a
highly skilled workforce; global or regional catastrophic events;
and other risks discussed in our Company’s filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and our
subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which filings
are available from the SEC. You should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they
are made. The Coca-Cola Company undertakes no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
The enclosed information constitutes inside information and is
to be considered regulated information as defined in the Belgian
Royal Decree of 14 November 2007 regarding the duties of issuers of
financial instruments which have been admitted for trading on a
regulated market.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART
IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A
VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT
JURISDICTION.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161220006166/en/
Anheuser-Busch InBevMedia:Marianne Amssoms,
+1-212-573-9281marianne.amssoms@ab-inbev.comorKaren Couck,
+1-212-573-9283karen.couck@ab-inbev.comorKathleen Van Boxelaer, +32
16 27 68
23kathleen.vanboxelaer@ab-inbev.comorCoca-ColaMedia
Contact:Petro Kacur, +01
404.676.2683press@coca-cola.comorAnheuser-Busch
InBevInvestors:Graham Staley,
+1-212-573-4365graham.staley@ab-inbev.comorMariusz Jamka, +32 16 27
68 88mariusz.jamka@ab-inbev.comorLauren
Abbott,
+1-212-573-9287lauren.abbott@ab-inbev.comorCoca-ColaInvestors
and AnalystsTim Leveridge, +01-404-676-7563
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