Three Coke Bottlers In Talks To Merge

Three bottlers of Coca-Cola Co. products in Europe are in advanced talks about a merger that would…

Three bottlers of Coca-Cola Co. products in Europe are in advanced talks about a merger that would further a push by the U.S. soda giant to consolidate its bottlers around the world and lower costs.

Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. is discussing a tie-up with Coca-Cola Iberian Partners and Germany's Coca- Cola Erfrischungsgetränke AG, according to people familiar with the matter. Terms of the potential deal couldn't be learned, but it is likely to be valued well into the billions of dollars.

Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Enterprises, a big, independent Coke bottler in Western Europe, has a market value of $10.8 billion. Coca-Cola Iberian Partners, also independent of Coca-Cola, is closely held. Coca-Cola owns the German business.