Last checked at 
(Alliance News) - Coca-Cola European Partners PLC on Thursday reported rise in 2019 revenue and said it expects low-single digit revenue growth in 2020.
The soft drinks bottling firm said revenue rose 4.5% to EUR12.02 billion in 2019 from EUR11.52 billion a year ago, reflecting solid execution & innovation-led growth. Pretax profit rose to EUR1.45 billion from EUR1.21 billion, meanwhile operating profit was EUR1.55 billion compared to EUR1.30 billion in 2018.
The company declared full-year dividend of EUR1.24 per share, up 17% compared to last year, maintaining its annualised dividend payout ratio of 50%.
Great Britain revenue grew 2%, supported by "solid growth" in Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Fanta & Monster drinks. Meanwhile revenue in France grew 4.5% and Northern Europe growth was driven by strong performance in the Netherlands.
Coca-Cola European Partners also announced a new 2020 share buyback programme of up to EUR1.0 billion and said that it has completed its previous EUR1.5 billion share repurchase programme.
Damian Gammell, chief executive officer, said: "2019 saw our business deliver another solid full-year demonstrating our continued focus on driving profitable revenue growth through managing price and mix across our portfolio, delivering solid in-market execution and a step up in innovation, collectively reflected in market value share gains across all our geographies."
"Our 2020 guidance is firmly in line with our mid-term growth objectives," Gammell said.
For 2020, the company is predicting low-single digit revenue growth, mid-single digit operating profit growth and high-single digit diluted earnings per share growth. In 2019, diluted EPS rose to EUR2.32 from EUR1.86.
The company also intends to maintain its dividend payout ratio of 50% in 2020.
Shares in Coca-Cola European Partners were up 1.9% at EUR49.40 each in London on Thursday morning.
By Loreta Juodagalvyte; loretajuodagalvyte@alliancenews.com
Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
