CC Amatil: SABMiller key to beer plan, not Foster's

Published: 21 May 2009 18:03:43 PST

SYDNEY, May 22 - Coca-Cola Amatil <CCL.AX>, Australia's top soft-drink bottler, played down talk of a merger with brewer Foster's <FGL.AX> on Friday and said it would pursue its beer strategy through partner SABMiller <SAB.L> instead.

Chief Executive Terry Davis made the comment to reporters after the firm's annual meeting, when asked about long-running speculation that Amatil might be interested in a merger one day with Foster's Group.

Earlier, C-C Amatil said it expects to generate first-half pre-tax profit growth in the high single digits. [ID:nSYU006572]. ($1=A$1.28)