Coca Cola 2005 Annual Report Download - page 14

requiring that deposits or certain ecotaxes or fees be charged for the sale, marketing and use of certain
nonrefillable beverage containers. The precise requirements imposed by these measures vary. Other beverage
container-related deposit, recycling, ecotax and/or product stewardship proposals have been introduced in
various jurisdictions in the United States and overseas. We anticipate that similar legislation or regulations may
be proposed in the future at local, state and federal levels, both in the United States and elsewhere.
All of our Company’s facilities in the United States and elsewhere around the world are subject to various
environmental laws and regulations. Compliance with these provisions has not had, and we do not expect such
compliance to have, any material adverse effect on our Company’s capital expenditures, net income or
competitive position.
Employees
As of December 31, 2005, our Company employed approximately 55,000 persons, compared to
approximately 50,000 at the end of 2004. The increase in the number of employees was primarily due to an
increase in bottling operations activity, mainly in Brazil, offset by a decrease resulting from the sale of certain
bottling and canning operations. At the end of 2005, approximately 10,400 Company employees were located in
the United States.
Our Company, through its divisions and subsidiaries, has entered into numerous collective bargaining
agreements. We currently expect that we will be able to renegotiate such agreements on satisfactory terms when
they expire. The Company believes that its relations with its employees are generally satisfactory.
Securities Exchange Act Reports
The Company maintains an internet website at the following address: www.coca-cola.com. The information
on the Company’s website is not incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 10-K.
We make available on or through our website certain reports and amendments to those reports that we file
with or furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the ‘‘SEC’’) in accordance with the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the ‘‘Exchange Act’’). These include our annual reports on Form 10-K, our
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our current reports on Form 8-K. We make this information available on
our website free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file the information with, or
furnish it to, the SEC.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the following
factors which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described below
are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that
we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or
operating results.
Obesity concerns may reduce demand for some of our products.
Consumers, public health officials and government officials are becoming increasingly aware of and
concerned about the public health consequences associated with obesity, particularly among young people. In
addition, recent press reports indicate that lawyers and consumer advocates have publicly threatened to instigate
litigation against companies in our industry, including us, alleging unfair and/or deceptive practices related to
contracts to sell soft drinks and other beverages in schools. Increasing public awareness about these issues and
negative publicity resulting from actual or threatened legal actions may reduce demand for our non-diet
carbonated beverages, which could affect our profitability.
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