REG - Coca-Cola EP PLC - Proposed joint acquisition of CCBPI

Coca-Cola Europacific PartnersAnnouncement

02/08/2023 07:00

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RNS Number : 0405I  Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc  02 August 2023

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION

2 August 2023

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc (CCEP) today announces it has, together
with Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV), entered into a Letter of Intent to
jointly acquire   Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI), a
successful business with attractive profitability and growth prospects, from
The Coca-Cola Company (KO)

·      The proposed acquisition would build on CCEP's successful
expansion into Australia, Pacific & Indonesia (API) in 2021, positioning
it as the world's largest Coca-Cola bottler by both revenue and volume,
supporting its long-term growth strategy and focus on driving shareholder
value;

·      CCEP has signed a non-binding Term Sheet and is in advanced
discussions with AEV regarding a potential joint transaction, which may lead
to the acquisition of CCBPI from KO, based on a 60:40 ownership structure
between CCEP and AEV; and

·      CCEP and AEV have entered into a non-binding Letter of Intent
with KO, setting out the terms on which CCEP and AEV propose to acquire KO's
100% ownership in CCBPI, consistent with KO's stated intent to divest bottling
operations

CCEP's proposed acquisition of CCBPI, with AEV, one of the leading
conglomerates in the local market, offers a great opportunity to co-acquire an
established, well-run business with attractive profitability and growth
prospects.

The proposed transaction is a further step for CCEP to create a more diverse
footprint within its existing API business segment and support Indonesia's
transformation journey. It is aligned with CCEP's aim of driving sustainable
and stronger growth through diversification and scale, and underpins the
company's strategic mid-term objectives.

CCEP and AEV's non-binding Letter of Intent with KO implies an enterprise
value (EV) for CCBPI of US$1.8 billion (on a debt free cash free basis). The
consideration would be paid in cash, which would have a modest impact on
CCEP's leverage; CCEP's guidance to return to the top end of its Net Debt to
Adjusted EBITDA range of 2.5-3.0 times by the end of FY23 would instead be
expected to be achieved during FY24. CCBPI delivered ~US$1.7(1) billion of
revenue and ~US$90(1) million of PBT in FY22.

As CCEP would be the majority owner (60%), it is expected to consolidate CCBPI
as of the acquisition date and establish a non-controlling interest
representing AEV's minority interest (40%). The business would be governed by
a Board of 5 members, three appointed by CCEP and two by AEV. CCEP would also
appoint the CEO.

The proposed acquisition is subject to a number of conditions, including
satisfactory completion of due diligence (which is well underway), the parties
concluding definitive agreements and the receipt of regulatory approvals.

 

There is, therefore, no certainty, at this stage, that the acquisition of
CCBPI will be entered into or completed and, as such, further updates will be
provided in due course. The potential transaction, if entered into, would be
expected to close around the end of FY23.

 

About CCBPI and the market

Key highlights:

·    Solid underlying market macroeconomics

o 115m population(2) (13th globally) and ~1.5%(2) p.a. population growth,
second largest market in Southeast Asia after Indonesia

o Stable GDP growth ~6%(2) and a fast growing middle class

·    Large and growing NARTD category

o ~US$8bn(3) and expected to grow ~10%(4) in value p.a.

o Established Sparkling category ~55%(3) (volume and value)

·    Solid platform

o Delivered FY22 volume and revenue of ~650mUC(6) and ~US$1.7bn(1)

o Leading value shares across NARTD of ~43%(5) and ~69%(5) in Sparkling

o Wide supply chain footprint with 19(6) manufacturing plants

o Strong customer focus, servicing ~1m(6) outlets

o ~9k(6) highly engaged colleagues

o ESG focus

§ ~50%(6) of sparkling in returnable glass bottles (RGB)

§ Growing rPET content and packaging collection rates

§ ~40%(6) women in leadership

 

1.     CCBPI management information prepared on the basis of US GAAP,
average 2022 USD/PHP FX rate of 54.4

2.     External source: Philippine Statistics Authority

3.     External source: Euromonitor, 2022

4.     External source: Euromonitor, 2022-2027 CAGR

5.     External source: Nielsen, 2022

6.     CCBPI management information

 

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 1.75 million customers across 29 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
(https://www.cocacolaep.com/) & follow CCEP on Twitter at @CocaColaEP.

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/
(https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/aboitiz.com/investor-relations/disclosure/__;!!JnGxnq7w!m2atDGgQbtfwk8jqBlRzHumMcTKaENvIwPUp1CAGW_kJisil5ahUhqblJPWeMq5BkaGC2HAyIvSvKocFdxzcL8vQyODnPA$)

 

Conference call

CCEP is hosting a conference call with investors and analysts to discuss this
announcement alongside its half year results today at 10:30 BST, 11:30 CEST
& 5:30 a.m. EDT accessible via www.cocacolaep.com. The call will be
accompanied by a presentation. An audio replay in downloadable digital format
and a transcript of the call will be available on the website as soon as
possible following the call.

 

Advisers

Rothschild & Co are acting as financial adviser to CCEP. Slaughter and May
and Villaraza & Angangco are acting as legal counsel to CCEP.

 

Enquiries

General Counsel and Company Secretary: Clare Wardle; secretariat@ccep.com

Investor Relations: Sarah Willett; sarah.willett@ccep.com
(mailto:sarah.willett@ccep.com)

Media: ccep@portland-communications.com
(mailto:ccep@portland-communications.com)

The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on
behalf of the Company is Clare Wardle, General Counsel and Company Secretary.

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:

 

1. those set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of CCEP's 2022 Annual Report
on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on 17 March 2023 and as updated and
supplemented with the additional information set forth in the "Principal Risks
and Risk Factors" section of this document;

2. risks and uncertainties relating to the global supply chain, including
impact from war in Ukraine and increasing geopolitical tension including in
the Asia Pacific region, such as the risk that the business will not be able
to guarantee sufficient supply of raw materials, supplies, finished goods,
natural gas and oil and increased state-sponsored cyber risks;

3. risks and uncertainties relating to the global economy and/or a potential
recession in one or more countries, including risks from elevated inflation,
price increases, price elasticity, disposable income of consumers and
employees, pressure on and from suppliers, increased fraud, and the perception
or manifestation of a global economic downturn;

4. risks and uncertainties relating to potential global energy crisis, with
potential interruptions and shortages in the global energy supply,
specifically the natural gas supply in our territories. Energy shortages at
our sites, our suppliers and customers could cause interruptions to our supply
chain and capability to meet our production and distribution targets;

5. risks and uncertainties relating to potential water use reductions due to
regulations by national and regional authorities leading to a potential
temporary decrease in production volume; and

6. risks and uncertainties relating to the proposed joint venture with AEV and
acquisition of CCBPI, including the risk that the proposed transactions may
not be consummated on the currently contemplated terms or at all, or that our
integration of CCBPI's business and operations may not be successful or may be
more difficult, time consuming or costly than expected.

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, the results of
the acquisition of the minority share of our Indonesian business, 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

 

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