CHILE: Net profit declines by 46% at Coke bottler
The Chilean Coke bottler, Embotelladora Andina SA (AKOB), reported a net profit of US$16.5m in the fourth quarter of 2001, representing a 46% decline from the $30.4m net profit in the final quarter of 2000. The company, which operates in Chile, Brazil and Argentina, said the fall was due to weak regional economies and in particular the worsening economic situation in Argentina. The depreciation in the Chilean peso and Brazilian real was also said to have negatively affected AKOB's performance.