Coke, AOL sign global marketing pact

Coca-Cola Co. said on Wednesday it had signed a multiyear pact with America Online Inc. to develop online and offline marketing programs, marking the beverage giant's first worldwide Internet marketing initiative.

ATLANTA, 4 May 2000 - Terms of the pact were not disclosed but published reports valued the alliance at $64 million. Spokesmen for the companies were not immediately available for comment.

The alliance, the first between Coca-Cola and the interactive services giant, will focus on several key marketing themes, including music, movies, sports, holidays and community, Coca-Cola said.

Coca-Cola will make AOL's interactive services and products available to consumers through its distribution channels worldwide, including advertising, merchandising, packaging and in-store promotions. America Online will market Coca-Cola brands online across its interactive brands such as AOL, CompuServe and Netscape.