Coca Cola SABCO (Pty) Ltd

completed

The proposed financing is to enable the Coca-Cola SABCO Group to expand its existing operations in southern and eastern Africa. SABCO is an "anchor bottler" for the Coca-Cola Company in the region and is one of a relatively small number of bottling groups worldwide where Coca-Cola has a significant equity stake. It is headquartered in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The SABCO joint venture produces a wide range of soft drinks brands under nonexclusive license arrangements with Coca-Cola. It has over 10 subsidiary companies and 21 bottling plants in the region producing and distributing Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, as well as other branded soft drinks. The project consists of the expansion of production and distribution facilities at the SABCO bottling companies in the following countries: Mozambique, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The expansions will take place mostly at existing plants, although, SABCO is likely to acquire some existing bottling companies over the next year or two which will also be re-equipped and expanded. The SABCO group already directly employs over 8,500 people in its operations in 8 countries. It produces 132 million unit cases annually and supports a network of other businesses which supply it with goods and services. A number of the subsidiaries are joint ventures with local partners who play important operational roles.