UPDATE 1-Amatil on track for 7-10 pct H2 profit growth

Tue Nov 3, 2009 6:03pm EST
 
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* Strong third-quarter growth in Indonesia

* To step up capital spending in 2010 (Adds Indonesia outlook, capex, currency details)

MELBOURNE, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd (CCL.AX), Australia's top soft drinks bottler, is confident it can meet its earnings forecast for high single digit growth in earnings and net profit in the second half, following a strong third quarter.

Coca-Cola Amatil, 30 percent owned by Coca-Cola Co (KO.N), said on Wednesday its robust first-half trading performance had continued in the third quarter, with good revenue and volume growth across all business units.

The company also said in a quarterly trading update that it had seen strong growth in volume, revenue and earnings in Indonesia, its second-biggest market behind Australia.

It will raise capital spending in 2010 to 8.5 percent of sales revenue from 7.5 percent this year, investing in increased production capacity in Indonesia and more drinks fridges for stores in Australia and Indonesia.

A rising Australian dollar, affecting the translation of its overseas earnings, would trim reported earnings growth for the full year by about 1 percent, Amatil said. (Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by Jonathan Standing )

 

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