Coca-Cola(US:KO) Xi Niu Cai Jing·2026-01-14 11:36Core Viewpoint - The divestment plan for Costa by Coca-Cola has been temporarily shelved due to potential buyers' bids falling short of expectations, leading to the termination of negotiations with remaining bidders as of December 2025 [2][3] Group 1: Divestment Plan - Coca-Cola initiated the search for buyers for Costa in August 2025 to optimize its brand portfolio and reallocate funds [2] - The negotiations attracted interest from several private equity firms, including TDR Capital, KKR, and the backers of Luckin Coffee, but ultimately failed due to pricing issues [2] - Coca-Cola aimed to complete the sale for approximately £2 billion, which is nearly half of the £3.9 billion acquisition price in 2018 [2] Group 2: Business Challenges - The acquisition of Costa in 2018 was intended to strengthen Coca-Cola's position in the hot beverage market, creating a comprehensive coffee platform across various consumption scenarios [2] - The business faced multiple challenges post-acquisition, including the impact of the global pandemic, soaring costs of raw materials like coffee beans, and intensified market competition [2] Group 3: Future Considerations - The suspension of the sale plan may necessitate Coca-Cola to reassess the value of the Costa business [3] - Industry insiders suggest that Coca-Cola's management will need to balance between unfavorable sale prices and the pursuit of new growth opportunities in the ongoing operation of Costa [3]