OpenAI Expands Enterprise AI Strategy With Major Hiring Push Ahead of New Business Offering 
Instagram Outage Disrupts Thousands of U.S. Users 
Rio Tinto Shares Hit Record High After Ending Glencore Merger Talks 
Missouri Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Starbucks’ Diversity and Inclusion Policies 
Anthropic Eyes $350 Billion Valuation as AI Funding and Share Sale Accelerate 
TrumpRx Website Launches to Offer Discounted Prescription Drugs for Cash-Paying Americans 
SpaceX Pushes for Early Stock Index Inclusion Ahead of Potential Record-Breaking IPO 
AMD Shares Slide Despite Earnings Beat as Cautious Revenue Outlook Weighs on Stock 
Prudential Financial Reports Higher Q4 Profit on Strong Underwriting and Investment Gains 
Ford and Geely Explore Strategic Manufacturing Partnership in Europe 
SoftBank Shares Slide After Arm Earnings Miss Fuels Tech Stock Sell-Off 
Uber Ordered to Pay $8.5 Million in Bellwether Sexual Assault Lawsuit 
CK Hutchison Launches Arbitration After Panama Court Revokes Canal Port Licences 
Nasdaq Proposes Fast-Track Rule to Accelerate Index Inclusion for Major New Listings 
Nvidia Nears $20 Billion OpenAI Investment as AI Funding Race Intensifies 
Global PC Makers Eye Chinese Memory Chip Suppliers Amid Ongoing Supply Crunch 
Baidu Approves $5 Billion Share Buyback and Plans First-Ever Dividend in 2026 
Coca-Cola HBC AG announced the acquisition of BDS Vending Solutions Ltd, a Dublin-based vending services provider. The Northern Irish subsidiary of Coca-Cola HBC sealed the deal to purchase 100% of what it described as a "well-established" Irish vending company.
Strategic Acquisition for Market Growth
This acquisition aligns with Coca-Cola HBC's strategy to enhance its route-to-market capabilities, emphasizing last-mile delivery. It also opens doors to profitable ventures across its diverse beverage and snack portfolio.
Established in 1993, BDS Vending boasts around 2,000 vending machines. The founders, David Mullan and Brian Berry will support the transition of BDS Vending post-acquisition. Coca-Cola HBC aims to leverage BDS Vending's technology and services to enhance market capabilities.
Expanding Business Horizons
Morningstar noted that acquiring BDS Vending reinforces Coca-Cola HBC's commitment to improving its route-to-market operations and exploring new opportunities in the beverage and snack sectors. The acquisition of BDS Vending is a strategic step towards growth and innovation within the company.
Coca-Cola HBC, also known as Coca-Cola Hellenic, is the third-largest Coca-Cola anchor bottler worldwide. Based in Steinhausen, Switzerland, Coca-Cola HBC holds a market capitalization of GBP9.17 billion.
Anticipated Transaction Closure
In a press release, Coca-Cola HBC expects the acquisition to conclude in the upcoming months. Furthermore, the company recently introduced a euro-denominated fixed-rate issue of notes worth EUR600 million under its EUR5.00 billion euro medium-term note program.
Shares of Coca-Cola HBC AG experienced a marginal decline of 0.1% to 2,498.00 pence each in London on Thursday morning. The Proposed Transaction is pending approval from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) in Ireland and is slated for completion soon.
Photo: Coca-Cola HBC Newsroom
