Also . . .

* Coca-Cola Co. and three Brazilian bottling companies formed a company to bottle Coca-Cola products in Brazil’s northeast to boost sales in the fast-growing region. Investment terms of the venture weren’t released.

* Texaco Inc. said the Justice Department has sued the company for alleged underpayment of oil royalties. The suit is similar to one the department brought against four major oil companies in February. Both suits stem from a private case filed by three industry whistle-blowers in 1996. Texaco denies any wrongdoing.

* Cendant Corp. fired Ernst & Young as accountant for its CUC group and is preparing to sue the Big Six firm for failing to uncover a recently disclosed fraud, sources familiar with the situation said.