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Drink bottling company Coca-Cola HBC AG on Wednesday lifted its dividend and announced ‘record’ annual profit. Shares in the company surged 5.2% to 2,321.00 pence each in London on Wednesday morning, the best large-cap performer. The firm, which operates in nations including Cyprus, Greece and Italy, said net sales revenue surged 11% in 2023 to €10.18 billion, from €9.20 billion in 2022. Net sales fell shy of the Vuma cited consensus of €10.25 billion. Pretax profit shot up 46% to €910.3 million from €623.6 million, but was shy of consensus of €976.3 million. Organic revenue in 2023 jumped 17%, ahead of consensus of a 16% surge, however. ‘I am deeply proud of our team as we delivered a third year of double-digit growth and record profits,’ Chief Executive Officer Zoran Bogdanovic said. The CEO added: ‘2023 was another year of consistent execution of our growth strategy. We delivered volume growth, share gains, improved margins and record levels of free cash flow. As a result, we were able to increase shareholder returns, including the launch of a share buyback programme.’ Coca-Cola HBC proposed an ordinary 2023 dividend of €0.93 per share, up 19% from 2022. It had launched a €400 million two-year share buyback programme in November. For 2024, it targets organic revenue growth in its 6% to 7% medium-term target range. Copyright 2024 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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