London/Johannesburg, Tuesday, 12 February 2002. South African Breweries International (Africa) B.V. (SABI (Africa)) has announced that its Zambian subsidiary, Zambian Breweries Plc (ZB Plc), listed on the Lusaka Stock Exchange, has acquired the entire issued share capital of the Coca-Cola bottler, Zambia Bottlers Limited (Zambia Bottlers) from a vendor consortium including The Coca-Cola Export Corporation for a total consideration of US$21.5 million, payable in cash.

The purchase consideration of US$ 21.5 million will be funded by a combination of ZB Plc's internal resources and a proposed rights issue by ZB Plc. This transaction will allow Zambian investors to gain exposure to Zambia Bottlers via ZB Plc.

Zambia Bottlers currently operates two bottling plants in Kitwe and Lusaka, which produce the full range of Coca-Cola products, and, in addition, market and distribute a range of cordials. In 2001 Zambia Bottlers generated total carbonated soft drinks (CSD) sales of some 445 000 hl. Presently Zambia Bottlers accounts for approximately 92% of the CSD market in Zambia.

André Parker, managing director of SABI (Africa & Asia) said: "We are extremely pleased to have acquired Zambia Bottlers. Today's deal is in line with our strategy of driving down unit costs by extracting synergies through the integration of beer and soft drinks operations".

The deal has the approval of the Zambian Competitions Commission.

Giving Back To The Community 

• Zambia Bottlers (Coca-Cola) donated 10 crates of soft drinks towards Habitat work worth K95,000.00.

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