Coca Cola 2014 Annual Report Download - page 3

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report contains information that may constitute “forward-looking statements.” Generally, the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,”
“estimate,” “anticipate,” “project,” “will” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in
nature. However, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. All statements that
address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating
to volume growth, share of sales and earnings per share growth, and statements expressing general views about future operating results —
are forward-looking statements. Management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made. However,
caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements because such statements speak only as of the
date when made. Our Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In addition, forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our Company’s historical experience and our present expectations
or projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere
in this report and those described from time to time in our future reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
In this report, the terms “The Coca-Cola Company,” “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” mean The Coca-Cola Company and all entities
included in our consolidated financial statements.
General
The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s largest beverage company. We own or license and market more than 500 nonalcoholic
beverage brands, primarily sparkling beverages but also a variety of still beverages such as waters, enhanced waters, juices and juice
drinks, ready-to-drink teas and coffees, and energy and sports drinks. We own and market four of the world’s top five nonalcoholic
sparkling beverage brands: Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite. Finished beverage products bearing our trademarks, sold in the
United States since 1886, are now sold in more than 200 countries.
We make our branded beverage products available to consumers throughout the world through our network of Company-owned or
-controlled bottling and distribution operations as well as independent bottling partners, distributors, wholesalers and retailers — the
world’s largest beverage distribution system. Beverages bearing trademarks owned by or licensed to us account for 1.9 billion of the
approximately 57 billion servings of all beverages consumed worldwide every day.
We believe our success depends on our ability to connect with consumers by providing them with a wide variety of options to meet
their desires, needs and lifestyles. Our success further depends on the ability of our people to execute effectively, every day.
Our goal is to use our Company’s assets — our brands, financial strength, unrivaled distribution system, global reach, and the talent
and strong commitment of our management and associates — to become more competitive and to accelerate growth in a manner that
creates value for our shareowners.
We were incorporated in September 1919 under the laws of the State of Delaware and succeeded to the business of a Georgia
corporation with the same name that had been organized in 1892.