The largest Coca-Cola bottler by market value may soon find a place in the FTSE 100.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), valued at $36 billion, announced plans to change its listing status on the London Stock Exchange, making it eligible for the index of the 100 largest publicly traded companies in London.

This shift would significantly enhance the company’s visibility among UK investors and integrate it into many passively managed investment portfolios that track the index.

Furthermore, the listing change could attract more trading activity to London from rival exchanges in New York, Amsterdam, and Madrid, where CCEP shares are also available.

In a statement, the firm indicated that due to the listing rule reforms implemented in July, migrating its shares to a new category “should, subject to FTSE approval, be eligible in due course for admission to the FTSE UK Index Series.”

The company emphasized that given its increased size since inception, the transfer would enhance its profile in the UK and Europe, facilitate improved liquidity for its shares on UK trading platforms, and broaden its appeal to potential investors.

The ambition for FTSE 100 inclusion follows important changes to listing regulations this summer, which merged the previously separate premium and standard listing categories, allowing members to qualify for FTSE Russell indices.

These regulatory changes were received positively by many in the financial sector, who believe it could draw in more innovative companies to London, though some investors expressed concern over a potential shift in power dynamics away from shareholders.

Headquartered in Uxbridge, West London, CCEP bottles beverages under license from the Coca-Cola Company in the US, employing around 42,000 individuals across 100 production facilities in 31 countries, distributing 22.3 billion liters of carbonated drinks to approximately 600 million consumers.

In the UK, CCEP employs 3,600 personnel at eight locations and also produces other popular brands such as Fanta, Dr Pepper, Sprite, and Schweppes.

CCEP’s predecessor, Coca-Cola European Partners, first debuted on the London market in 2019, initially only on the standard segment. It merged with Australia’s Coca-Cola Amatil a year later, subsequently rebranding to CCEP.

Admission to FTSE indices is contingent upon “sufficient volume of its trading in the ordinary shares migrating to UK equity trading venues,” according to the company.

With Coca-Cola HBC already a member of the index, the addition of CCEP would provide UK index investors substantial exposure to the iconic soft drink brand.

The FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 constituents are reviewed quarterly, with the next assessments for new inclusions and adjustments scheduled for December. The largest companies by market capitalization can join the FTSE 100 if they have a minimum free float of 25 percent.

The Coca-Cola Company holds a 19 percent stake in CCEP, while the current free float stands at 45 percent. Additionally, Olive Partners, led by previous bottler founders, controls 36 percent of CCEP.

Currently, Vistry Group, which was formerly known as Bovis, is anticipated to be the most likely company to exit the index as a result of this potential new entrant, following a profit warning that led to a drop in its stock value.

Other firms that have applied for listing under the revised regulations include Deliveroo, Oxford Nanopore, and THG.

On the last trading day, CCEP shares increased by 2p, representing a 3.3 percent rise, closing at 72p in London.