3 6 Ke·2025-11-12 07:48Core Viewpoint - Luckin Coffee's major shareholder, Dazhong Capital, is considering acquiring Costa Coffee from Coca-Cola, which is in preliminary discussions to sell the brand, with an initial valuation of approximately £1 billion (around $1.3 billion) [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Interest - Dazhong Capital may choose to make an independent offer or acquire Costa Coffee through Luckin Coffee, potentially leading to a "dual-brand" coffee strategy for Luckin [1]. - The sale of Costa Coffee has attracted interest from multiple private equity funds and strategic investors [1]. Group 2: Coca-Cola's Coffee Strategy - Coca-Cola's CEO, James Quincey, highlighted the attractiveness of the coffee category, noting its large scale, strong profitability, and growth potential [1][2]. - Quincey acknowledged that Coca-Cola has explored various paths in the coffee sector, with Costa being the latest attempt, and mentioned that the business has shown good performance and sales recovery [2]. Group 3: Costa Coffee's Market Presence - Costa Coffee operates in over 50 countries, with more than 2,700 stores in the UK and Ireland, and over 1,300 stores in other global regions, including 341 stores in China [3]. - The potential appeal of Costa Coffee for Dazhong Capital and Luckin Coffee lies in its established presence in the UK and European markets, which could facilitate quicker market entry [3]. - Costa's strategic locations in high-traffic areas in China complement Luckin's focus on efficiency and lower price points, creating a balanced value proposition [3].