ISTANBUL, Feb 3 (Reuters) - French construction group Vinci and a partnership between U.S. private equity firm Carlyle Group and the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) are the leading bidders in a race for a near 40 percent stake in Turkish airport operator TAV Havalimanlari Holding , three sources close to the deal told Reuters on Friday.
Deloitte & Touche LLP is “optimistic” about mergers and acquisitions in Turkey in 2012, mostly in medium-sized companies, and expects government plans to sell assets to dominate activity. Energy, retail, internet retail, food and banking will lead Turkey’s M&A transactions this year, Deloitte Turkey’s corporate-finance partner Basak Vardar said in an emailed statement. The country had 241 M&A transactions last year, the highest in Turkey’s history, valued at about $15 billion, and foreign investors accounted for 74 percent of the total value of those deals, Vardar said.
Coca Cola (NYSE:KO) will invest more than $3 billion in the U.S. alone in the coming year, according to the company’s Chief Executive Mr. Muhtar Kent. [1] Mr. Kent also sounded optimistic about the U.S. recovery and said that the country has a bright future ahead. Coca Cola enjoys a very strong brand recognition within the country, so an improved economic environment could really help the company in the long run. Recently, the company also invested $980 million buying a stake in Aujan Industries in the Middle East. Coca Cola currently competes with companies like Pepsi (NYSE:PEP) and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE:DPS) and other domestic players.
