Athens, Greece - December 18, 2002 - Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company S.A. (Coca-Cola HBC) (ASE:EEEK, NYSE:CCH, LSE:CCB, ASX:CHB) announced today the successful completion of its previously announced plan to purchase - jointly with The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) - Dorna Apemin SA, Romania's leading producer of naturally sparkling natural mineral water.

Coca-Cola HBC and TCCC have jointly acquired 94.5% of the shares of Dorna Apemin which produces the brands Dorna, White Spring, and Poiana Negri. Dorna Apemin, which has been operating since 1995 holds almost 13% of the mineral water segment in Romania with total sales of approximately 90 million litres.

The purchase of Dorna Apemin is a further step in the continuing product development strategy of Coca-Cola HBC and TCCC aimed at broadening and strengthening the alcohol-free range of beverages across all 26 countries in which Coca-Cola HBC operates.

Coca-Cola HBC is one of the largest bottlers of non-alcoholic beverages in Europe and the second largest Coca-Cola bottler in the world by sales volume, operating in 26 countries with a total population of more than 500 million. Coca-Cola HBC's shares are listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, with listings on the New York, London and Australian Stock Exchanges.