Research
FORD
DESCRIPTION
Seems its trucks aren't the only things built Ford tough. The automaker's subsidiary, Ford Motor Credit, is proving to be pretty resilient, too. One of the world's largest auto financing companies, it funds autos for and through Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda, and Volvo dealerships in more than 35 countries. It finances new, used, and leased vehicles (including more than 40% of new Fords sold in the US) and provides wholesale financing, mortgages, and capital loans for dealers. The company also provides business fleet financing. It sold APCO, which provides extended-care warranties for new and used vehicles, to private equity firm Stone Point Capital and APCO's management in 2007.
Coca-Cola
DESCRIPTION
Coke is it -- "it" being the world's #1 soft-drink company. The Coca-Cola Company owns four of the top five soft-drink brands (Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta, and Sprite). Its other brands include Barq's, Minute Maid, POWERade, and Dasani water. In North America, it sells Groupe Danone's Evian. Coca-Cola sells brands from Dr Pepper Snapple Group (Crush, Dr Pepper, and Schweppes) outside Australia, Europe, and North America. The firm makes or licenses more than 400 drink products in more than 200 nations. Although it does no bottling itself, Coke owns 35% of Coca-Cola Enterprises (the #1 Coke bottler in the world); 32% of Mexico's bottler Coca-Cola FEMSA; and 23% of European bottler Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling.