The Coca-Cola Japan Company has bought a 34% stake in one of Japan's major bottlers, Tokyo Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Both Coca-Cola Japan, a subsidiary of the Coca-Cola Company, and Tokyo Coca-Cola Bottling, are this year celebrating their golden jubilee. Indeed, the shareholding announcement was made 50 years to the day from when Coca-Cola Japan was established. the share transaction was described as reflecting "the commitment of both companies to effectively build a mutually strong close relationship between them in both word and deed in order to realise and further the sustainable growth of the Coca-Cola system i the Japanese market over the next 50 years and beyond." Under the new ownership structure, Coca-Cola Japan will have the right to appoint one third of the bottler's board and to "identify" a new president.
