Coca-Cola Beverages B-H d.o.o.
Three contracts of guarantee were issued to Coca-Cola Beverages Holding II B.V. (Coca-Cola) of the Netherlands and CCB Management Services GmbH (CCB) of Austria both subsidiaries of Coca-Cola Beverages plc, the soft drink producer's Central European bottling division. They represent the first MIGA-supported project in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the first project to obtain coverage under the Investment Guarantee Trust Fund for Bosnia and Herzegovina, which MIGA administers on behalf of the European Union.
MIGA is covering Coca-Cola Beverages Holding II B.V. for its equity investments in both CC Beverages Production Services d.o.o. and Coca-Cola Beverages B-H d.o.o. in the event of expropriation or war and civil disturbance up to an amount of 22.5 million euros ($19.95 million). A third contract to CCB covers fees under a management services agreement between CCB and Coca-Cola Beverages B-H d.o.o. totaling 1.8 million euros ($1.54 million) against the risk of transfer restriction.
The guaranteed investment encompasses the acquisition of the IBP Hadzici bottling facility in a suburb of Sarajevo, as well as the capitalization and expansion of both local companies, which will bottle and distribute soft drinks throughout the country.
Coca-Cola is the first foreign investor to take part in a privatization in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The investment and MIGAs involvement in it are expected to have a positive impact on other potential investors. The government, the World Bank Group, and the European Union have all lent their support to the project and regard it as a pioneer investment. The project is expected to employ 135 people, who will benefit from extensive training conducted both onsite and abroad. It will substitute for imports and is expected to re-invest profits to expand its local operations. Strong downstream effects related to retailing, advertising, food services, and vehicle maintenance are expected.