Filed by Coca-Cola
Enterprises Inc. pursuant to
Rule 425 of the
Securities Act of 1933 and
deemed filed pursuant
to Rule 14a-12 of the
Securities Exchange
Act of 1934
Subject Company:
Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc.
Commission File
No.: 001-09300
From: Hubert
Patricot
To: CCE
employees
Cc: European
Leadership Group
Corporate
Executive Leadership Team
Subject:
Expanding
our business in Europe
Following
this morning’s announcement, I wanted to share my view on what this exciting
news means for our business in Europe.
Coca-Cola
Enterprises and The Coca-Cola Company have announced two major developments for
the Coca-Cola System. First, The Coca-Cola Company will acquire all of CCE’s
operations in the U.S. and Canada. Second, CCE in Europe will acquire the
bottling operations and franchise for Norway and Sweden from The Coca-Cola
Company, subject to the signing of definitive agreements and regulatory
approval, and we have the right to acquire the Coca-Cola bottler in Germany in
18-36 months time.
Responding
to the different opportunities of North America and Europe
These
developments respond to the very different opportunities for our existing
businesses in North America and Europe. In the US and Canada, integrating
Coca-Cola North America and CCE will greatly reduce the complexities of how we
go to market.
In Europe
our business model is robust, dynamic and well-balanced across all channels. The
expansion of our European footprint provides the opportunity to increase
shareholder value. With this announcement we are creating the next generation
North American business model and enhancing our ability to remain successful
long-term in Europe.
Building
on a successful legacy
These
changes reinforce CCE’s position as a strategic partner and the primary Western
European bottler for The Coca-Cola Company. We have a successful business model
in Europe, and such an acquisition is possible because over the past three years
we have grown our existing business across Europe and made our operations more
efficient and effective. You have made this change possible, and I thank you for
the work that has been done to build this success.
I am
incredibly proud of the successful legacy that we have built together in Europe.
We have a strong local presence in every country in which we operate. Our
company employs more than 11,000 people across Belgium, France, Great Britain,
Luxembourg and the Netherlands, and virtually all the products we sell are made
in the country in which they are sold.
Expanding
our territory
We
already have a successful track record for integrating and growing bottling
operations in Europe. I know from my own personal experience when France was
acquired by CCE what a promising opportunity this is for our company and for the
Norwegian and Swedish businesses.
Coca-Cola’s
bottling operations in Norway and Sweden include two manufacturing sites, and
popular consumer brands, including Coca-Cola, Coke Zero and Coke Light,
Powerade, Nestea and Bonaqua mineral water. About 1,800 people are
employed by the business across Norway and Sweden
Maintaining
our momentum and focus
While
this announcement will change the territory of our company, it does not change
the way we work today or our business plans for 2010. It fits perfectly with the
Ambition 2014 we developed together.
The
transaction and acquisitions are still subject to regulatory and shareowner
approval. We expect to finalise the acquisitions in the coming months, and we
will inform you of our progress. In the meantime, it’s critical that
all of us stay focused on the fantastic job that we have been doing. This
success is what has opened the doors to this tremendous opportunity, and we need
to remain 100% focussed to delivering our plans in 2010.
As we
embark on this new era in CCE in Europe, I would like to thank all of you for
everything you do to make CCE a success, and I would like to invite you to join
me in extending an early warm welcome to our future colleagues in Norway and
Sweden.
Hubert
Patricot
President,
Europe Group
IMPORTANT
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT
This
communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an
offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or
approval. In connection with the proposed transaction and required
shareowner approval, the Company will file relevant materials with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including a proxy
statement/prospectus contained in a registration statement on Form S-4, which
will be mailed to the shareowners of the Company after the registration
statement is declared effective. The registration statement has not yet become
effective.
SHAREOWNERS
OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC,
INCLUDING THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY
WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.
Shareowners
may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement/prospectus, when it becomes
available, and other documents filed by the Company at the SEC's web site at
www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by the Company will be
available free of charge on the Company's internet website at www.cokecce.com
under the tab "Investor Relations" or by contacting the Investor Relations
Department of Coca-Cola Enterprises at 770-989-3246.
PARTICIPANTS
IN THE SOLICITATION
The
Company and its directors, executive officers and certain other members of its
management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of
proxies from its shareowners in connection with the proposed transaction.
Information regarding the interests of such directors and executive officers was
included in the Company's Proxy Statement for its 2009 Annual Meeting of
Shareowners filed with the SEC March 3, 2009 and a Form 8-K filed on December
18, 2009 and information concerning the participants in the solicitation will be
included in the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed transaction
when it becomes available. Each of these documents is, or will be, available
free of charge at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov and from the Company on its
web site or by contacting the Shareowner Relations Department at the telephone
numbers above.