Coca-Cola buys network of cafes

The drinks giant Coca-Cola announced it will buy the network of Costa, who belongs to the British group Whitbread, for the equivalent of $ $5.1 billion (at Friday Exchange, 31, approximately R $21 billion). The deal included the network, which has debts of 2400 establishments in United Kingdom, in addition to 1400 in 30 other countries-the network has shown particularly strong growth in China. The deal made the Whitbread's shares closed yesterday at an all-time high of 14.6 percent on the London Stock Exchange. The coast, which was founded in 1971, is seen as the great American rival Starbucks in the United Kingdom. The expectation is that the business is completed by the end of the first half of next year. The Whitbread owned the coast there was 23 years ago, when it acquired the franchise for about $ $30 million (or R $123 million). At the time, the chain had only 39 stores. The intent of the group is now focusing its activities on hotel chain Premier. Almost all of the money will be distributed among the shareholders. The remaining resources will be used for the payment of debts of Whitbread, contributions in the company's pension fund and also to finance the expansion of the concept Inn.De agreement with Premier industry sources, the purchase of the network of cafes is part of a project of the company to make less dependent on soft drinks, which are still your flagship, but who are facing falling sales in many parts of the world. According to Coca-Cola, the entry in this segment will be an opportunity for the company to debut on the market of hot drinks, which is not part of your current portfolio. The company pointed out that assumes a global brand, expanding your knowledge in the area. The information is from the newspaper O Estado de s. Paulo.