Update re Coca-Cola Amatil acquisition

RNS Number : 1601E

Coca-Cola European Partners plc

04 November 2020

 

3 November 2020

Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) today announces it has entered into binding agreements to acquire Coca-Cola Amatil Limited (CCL),
including by way of a Board recommended scheme of arrangement

Scheme Implementation Deed ("SID") with CCL

· Further to the announcement on 25 October 2020, CCEP today announces that it has completed its confirmatory due diligence and entered into a binding Scheme Implementation Deed ("SID") with CCL. Under the terms of the SID, CCEP will offer to acquire 69.2% of the entire existing issued share capital of CCL, which is held by shareholders other than The Coca-Cola Company ("Independent Shareholders") for $12.75 per share in cash, pursuant to a scheme of arrangement ("Scheme") (further details at https://www2.asx.com.au/markets/trade-our-cash-market/announcements.ccl )

· The Board of Directors of CCL (excluding The Coca-Cola Company's (KO) nominee directors) have reaffirmed that they intend to unanimously recommend the Scheme to Independent Shareholders, in the absence of a superior proposal and subject to an independent expert concluding, and continuing to conclude, that the Scheme is fair and reasonable and in the best interests of Independent Shareholders

· The Scheme is subject to customary conditions, including CCL shareholder approval, court approval, no material adverse change, no prescribed occurrences, Australian Foreign Investment Review Board approval and New Zealand Overseas Investment Office approval

Co-operation and Sale Deed with KO

· CCEP has also entered into a Co-operation and Sale Deed with KO with respect to the acquisition of KO's 30.8% interest in CCL, conditional upon the implementation of the Scheme with CCL

· Under the Co-operation and Sale Deed, KO will be entitled to receive A$9.57 per share in cash for part of their shareholding, which comprises 10.8% of CCL's shares. CCEP will acquire all of KO's remaining 20% shareholding in CCL for A$10.75 per share, either in cash or a combination of cash and the issue of CCEP shares at an agreed conversion ratio (further details at https://www2.asx.com.au/markets/trade-our-cash-market/announcements.ccl )

Compelling strategic rationale: creating a platform for accelerated growth & returns led by CCEP's proven, experienced management team with a strong track record

· Brings together two of the world's best Coca-Cola bottlers, providing access to complementary, developed markets with attractive long-term macro growth fundamentals

· Creates a broader & more balanced geographic footprint, doubling CCEP's consumer reach

· Provides access to one of the world's most populous & attractive emerging growth markets

· Enables faster scale by combining the talent, learning & best practices of two great companies, with a strong, shared sustainability focus

· Further strengthens CCEP's strategic partnership with KO to drive joint and ambitious growth plans

Damian Gammell, Chief Executive Officer of CCEP, said:

"This is a fantastic opportunity to bring together two of the world's best bottlers to drive faster and more sustainable growth. Since the creation of CCEP four years ago, we have proven our ability to create value through expansion and integration. Now is the right time to move forward by taking on these great franchises and markets.

"The strategic rationale behind this transaction is compelling, solidifying our position as the largest Coca-Cola bottler by revenue. I am eager to apply our proven formula in Western Europe to Coca-Cola Amatil's markets, including leadership in areas such as revenue growth management, in-market execution, digital and sustainability. However, I am equally excited and genuinely convinced that there will be many more opportunities as we move forward together with speed, scale, excellent people and a richer, more diverse culture.

"This larger platform will unlock enhanced value for our shareholders, all underpinned by an even stronger and more aligned strategic partnership with The Coca-Cola Company and our other brand partners. We look forward to executing on the ambitious growth plans ahead of us, as we build on the best of who we are and create a very exciting future together."

Further information

For more information on the transaction, please see on our website:

-  Announcement of non-binding proposal to acquire CCL (25 October 2020)

-  Analyst and Investor presentation (25 October 2020)

Scheme Booklet

A Scheme Booklet is expected to be sent to CCL Independent Shareholders in February 2021. This will include a more detailed explanation of the Scheme, including reasons for the CCL Board's recommendation and a copy of the independent expert's report. CCL Independent Shareholders will be given the opportunity to vote on the Scheme at the Scheme meeting expected to be held in early-mid March 2021. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions of the Scheme, the Scheme is expected to be implemented at the end of Q1 2021.

These dates are indicative and subject to change.

Advisers

Rothschild & Co are acting as lead financial adviser and Credit Suisse are acting as financial adviser to the Affiliated Transaction Committee (ATC) of the Board of Directors of CCEP. Slaughter and May and Corrs Chambers Westgarth are acting as legal counsel to CCEP.

Enquiries

Clare Wardle, General Counsel and Company Secretary: [e-mail]  

Investor Relations: Sarah Willett: [e-mail] [phone]

Media:

Simon Evans: [e-mail] [phone]

Peter Brookes: [e-mail]   [phone]

Brett Clegg:   [e-mail]   [phone]

About CCEP (LEI 549300LTH67W4GWMRF57)

Coca-Cola European Partners plc is a leading consumer goods company in Western Europe, making, selling & distributing an extensive range of non-alcoholic ready to drink beverages & is the world's largest Coke bottler based on revenue. CCEP serves a consumer population of over 300 million across Western Europe, including Andorra, Belgium, continental France, Germany, Great Britain, Iceland, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain & Sweden. The Company is listed on Euronext Amsterdam, the New York Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange & 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 @CCEP.

About CCL

Coca-Cola Amatil Limited (including subsidiaries, group entities and related bodies corporate) is one of the largest bottlers and distributors of ready-to-drink non-alcohol and alcohol beverages and coffee in the Asia Pacific region. CCL is the authorised bottler and distributor of KO's beverage brands in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Samoa. CCL directly employs around 12,000 people and indirectly creates thousands more jobs across the supply chain, partnering with key suppliers to bottle, package, sell and distribute its products. With access to around 270 million potential consumers through more than 630,000 active customers CCL is committed to leading through innovation, building a sustainable future and delivering long-term value, both to shareholders and to society.

CCL delivered FY19 revenue and EBITDA² of A$5.1bn (c.€3.1bn¹) and A$1.0bn (c.€0.6bn¹) respectively, of which approximately three-quarters is generated by Australia and New Zealand

For more information, visit www.ccamatil.com 

¹ A$ to € average FY19 exchange rate of 0.6209; ²Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (post AASB-16)

No incorporation of website information

The content of the websites referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains statements, estimates or projections that constitute "forward-looking statements" concerning the financial condition, performance, results, strategy and objectives of CCEP and its subsidiaries (together "CCEP") and CCL and its subsidiaries (together "CCL") and the integration of CCL into CCEP. Generally, the words "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 and CCL's historical experience and present expectations or projections, including with respect to the acquisition of CCL by CCEP (the "Acquisition"). 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 2019 Integrated Report / Annual Report on Form 20-F, including the statements under the following headings: Packaging (such as marine litter); Perceived health impacts of our beverages and ingredients, and changing consumer preferences (such as sugar alternatives); Legal, regulatory and tax change (such as the development of regulations regarding packaging, taxes and deposit return schemes); Market (such as disruption due to customer negotiations, customer consolidation and route to market); Cyber and social engineering attacks; Competitiveness and transformation; Climate change and water (such as net zero emission legislation and regulation, and resource scarcity); Economic and political conditions (such as continuing developments in relation to the UK's exit from the EU); The relationship with KO and other franchisors; Product quality; and Other risks, such as widespread outbreaks of infectious disease including the adverse impact that the COVID-19 pandemic and related social distancing measures implemented in many of our markets, and any associated economic downturn, may have on our financial results, operations, workforce and demand for our products;

2.  those set forth in the "Principal Risks" section of CCEP's 2019 Integrated Report / Annual Report on Form 20-F, as updated in CCEP's Results for the six months ended 26 June 2020 & COVID-19 update and including principal risks under the additional headings: Business continuity; People; and Stakeholders;

3.  those set forth in the "Business and Sustainability Risks" section of CCL's 2019 Annual Report including the statements under the following headings: Beverage industry risks; Economic and political risks; Cyber risk; The KO and other brand partners relationship risk; Risk connected with loss of value to society; Regulatory risks; Climate change risk; Malicious product tampering risk; Litigation risk; Supply chain risk; Business interruption risk; Workplace Health and Safety risk; Foreign exchange risk; Quality risk; and People risk; and

4.  risks and uncertainties relating to the Acquisition, including the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully or such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected, which could result in additional demands on CCEP's resources, systems, procedures and controls, disruption of its ongoing business and diversion of management's attention from other business concerns; the possibility that certain assumptions with respect to CCL or the Acquisition could prove to be inaccurate; the failure to receive, delays in the receipt of, or unacceptable or burdensome conditions imposed in connection with, all required regulatory approvals, shareholder approvals and the satisfaction of closing conditions to the Acquisition; ability to raise financing; the possibility that CCEP and CCL fail to agree upon a scheme implementation agreement; the potential that the Acquisition may involve unexpected liabilities for which there is no indemnity; the potential failure to retain key employees of CCEP and CCL as a result of the proposed Acquisition or during integration of the businesses and disruptions resulting from the proposed Acquisition, making it more difficult to maintain business relationships; the potential if the Acquisition is not completed in a timely manner or at all for (i) negative reaction from financial markets, customers, regulators, employees and other stakeholders, (ii) loss of time spent on an unsuccessful Acquisition, and (iii) litigation related to the Acquisition.

The full extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will negatively affect CCEP and/or CCL and the results of their operations, financial condition and cash flows will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including the scope and duration of the pandemic and actions taken by governmental authorities and other third parties in response to the pandemic.

Due to these risks, CCEP's and CCL's actual future results, dividend payments, and capital and leverage ratios may differ materially from the plans, goals, expectations and guidance set out in forward-looking statements (including those issued by CCL prior to the Acquisition). These risks may also adversely affect CCEP's share price. Additional risks that may impact CCEP's and CCL's future financial condition and performance are identified in filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and at the Australian Stock Exchange which are available at www.asx.com.au. Neither CCEP nor CCL 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. Furthermore, neither CCEP nor CCL assumes any responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any forward-looking statements. Any or all of the forward-looking statements contained in this filing and in any other of CCEP's or CCL's respective public statements (whether prior or subsequent to the Acquisition) may prove to be incorrect.

This document does not constitute or form part of any offer for sale or solicitation of any offer to buy any securities in the United States or elsewhere nor shall it or any part of it form the basis of or be relied on in connection with any contract or commitment to purchase securities. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

End

 

END

 

 

FURUPGUAGUPUGRW