Coca Cola Company (KO)

[johnsyn]

Coca-Cola Co (KO) (69.38 +0.01)
Sept 12 (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc , Western Europe's biggest Coke bottler, approved a share buyback program of up to $1 billion and affirmed its 2011 outlook. The Atlanta-based company buys syrup concentrate from Coca-Cola Co and bottles and distributes drinks in seven nations such as Britain and France. It still expects full-year earnings of $2.10 to $2.15 a share, including a currency benefit of about 15 cents. Analysts on average were expecting a profit of about $2.15, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The company said the new share repurchase program would begin once it completes the current one. It intends to buy back at least $500 million worth of stock in 2012. (Reporting by Dhanya Skariachan; Editing by Derek Caney and Lisa Von Ahn) ((dhanya.skariachan @thomsonreuters.com; + 1 646 223 6191; Reuters Messaging:[e-mail])) Keywords: (Thomson Reuters 08:09 AM ET 09/12/2011 More...)