Coca-Cola Consolidated Inc

Previous wording

The Company’s business and results of operations may be adversely affected by increased costs, disruption of supply or unavailability or shortages of raw materials, fuel and other supplies.

Current wording

The Company’s business and results of operations may be adversely affected by increased costs or disruption, unavailability or shortages of raw materials, fuel and other supplies.

Previous wording

Raw material costs, including the costs for plastic bottles, aluminum cans, PET resin, carbon dioxide and high fructose corn syrup, are subject to significant price volatility, which may be worsened by periods of increased demand, supply constraints or high inflation. International or domestic geopolitical or other events, including pandemics, armed conflict or the imposition of tariffs and/or quotas by the U.S. government on any of these raw materials, could adversely impact the supply and cost of these raw materials to the Company or render them unavailable at commercially favorable terms or at all. In addition, there are no limits on the prices The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies can charge for concentrate. If the Company cannot offset higher raw material costs with higher selling prices, effective commodity price hedging, increased sales volume or reductions in other costs, the Company’s results of operations and profitability could be adversely affected.

Current wording

Raw material costs, including the costs for plastic bottles, aluminum cans, PET resin, carbon dioxide and high-fructose corn syrup, are subject to significant price volatility, which may be worsened by periods of increased demand, supply constraints or high inflation. International or domestic geopolitical or other events, including pandemics, armed conflict or the imposition of tariffs and/or quotas by the U.S. government on any of these raw materials, could adversely impact the supply and cost of these raw materials to the Company or render them unavailable at commercially favorable terms or at all. In addition, there are few limits on the prices The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies can charge for concentrate. If the Company cannot offset higher raw material costs with higher selling prices, effective commodity price hedging, increased sales volume or reductions in other costs, the Company’s results of operations and profitability could be adversely affected.

Previous wording

The Company continues to make significant reinvestments in its business in order to evolve its operating model and to accommodate future growth and portfolio expansion, including supply chain optimization. The increased costs associated with these reinvestments, the potential for disruption in manufacturing and distribution and the risk the Company may not realize a satisfactory return on its investments could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

Current wording

The Company continues to make significant reinvestments in its business to evolve its operating model and to accommodate future growth and portfolio expansion, including supply chain optimization. The increased costs associated with these reinvestments, the potential for disruption in manufacturing and distribution and the risk the Company may not realize a satisfactory return on its investments could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

Previous wording

The Company’s success depends on its ability to maintain consumer confidence in the safety and quality of all of its products. The Company has rigorous product safety and quality standards. However, if beverage products taken to market are or become contaminated or adulterated, the Company may be required to conduct costly product recalls and may become subject to product liability claims and negative publicity, which could cause its business and reputation to suffer.

Current wording

The Company’s success depends on its ability to maintain consumer confidence in the safety and quality of its products. The Company has rigorous product safety and quality standards. However, if beverage products taken to market are or become contaminated or adulterated, the Company may be required to conduct costly product recalls and may become subject to product liability claims and negative publicity, which could cause its business and reputation to suffer.

Previous wording

Changes in government regulations related to nonalcoholic beverages, including regulations related to obesity, public health, artificial ingredients and product safety and sustainability, could reduce demand for the Company’s products and reduce profitability.

Current wording

Changes in government regulations related to nonalcoholic beverages, including regulations related to obesity, public health, artificial ingredients, recycling, sustainability and product safety, could reduce demand for the Company’s products and reduce profitability.

Previous wording

Legislation has been proposed in Congress and by certain state and local governments which would prohibit the sale of soft drink products in non-refillable bottles and cans or require a mandatory deposit as a means of encouraging the return of such containers, each in an attempt to reduce solid waste and litter. Similarly, the Company is aware of proposed legislation that would impose fees or taxes on various types of containers that are used in its business, implement new recycling regulations and the reduction of single-use plastics and place the onus on plastic suppliers to identify recycling solutions. The Company is not currently impacted by the policies in these types of proposed legislation, but it is possible that similar or more restrictive legal requirements may be proposed or enacted within its distribution territories in the future.

Current wording

Legislation has been proposed in Congress and by certain state and local governments which would prohibit the sale of soft drink products in non-refillable bottles and cans or require a mandatory deposit as a means of encouraging the return of such containers, each in an attempt to reduce solid waste and litter. Similarly, the Company is aware of proposed legislation that would impose fees or taxes on various types of containers that are used in its business, implement new recycling regulations and the reduction of single-use plastics and place the onus on plastic suppliers to identify recycling solutions. The Company is not currently impacted by the policies in such proposed legislation, but it is possible that similar or more restrictive legal requirements may be proposed or enacted within its distribution territories in the future which could adversely impact bottle/can sales. Additionally, legislative priorities for increased recycled content in packaging could adversely impact our margins due to increased demand for such materials. It is also possible that the Company could be a named party in a lawsuit related to the environmental impact of plastics or littering. Any such lawsuit could subject us to liability or damage the reputation of the Company, which could adversely affect the Company’s profitability.

Previous wording

Concerns about perceived negative safety and quality consequences of certain ingredients in the Company’s products, such as non-nutritive sweeteners or ingredients in energy drinks, could result in additional governmental regulations concerning the production, marketing, labeling or availability of the Company’s products or the ingredients in such products, possible new taxes or negative publicity resulting from actual or threatened legal actions against the Company or other companies in the same industry, any of which could damage the reputation of the Company or reduce demand for the Company’s products, which could adversely affect the Company’s profitability.

Current wording

Concerns about perceived negative safety and quality consequences of certain ingredients in the Company’s products, such as non-nutritive sweeteners or ingredients in energy drinks, could result in additional governmental regulations concerning the production, marketing, labeling or availability of the Company’s products or the ingredients in such products, possible new taxes or negative publicity resulting from actual or threatened legal actions against the Company or other companies in the same industry. It has also been proposed that the federal government enact policies through agencies such as the United States Department of Health and Human Services that would ban or restrict the usage of certain ingredients used in the manufacture of the products that we sell. Any such government actions could damage the reputation of the Company or reduce demand for the Company’s products, which could adversely affect the Company’s profitability.

Previous wording

In addition, The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies have their own external advertising campaigns, marketing spending and product innovation programs, which directly impact the Company’s operations. Decreases in advertising, marketing and product innovation spending by The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies, or advertising campaigns that are negatively perceived by the public, could adversely impact the sales volume growth and profitability of the Company. While the Company does not believe there will be significant changes in the level of external advertising and marketing spending by The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies, there can be no assurance the historic levels will continue or that advertising campaigns will be positively perceived by the public. The Company’s volume growth is also dependent on product innovation by The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies, and their ability to develop and introduce products that meet consumer preferences.

Current wording

In addition, The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies have their own external advertising campaigns, marketing spending and product innovation programs, which directly impact the Company’s operations. Decreases in advertising, marketing and product innovation spending by The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies, or advertising campaigns that are negatively perceived by the public, could adversely impact the sales volume growth and profitability of the Company. While the Company does not believe there will be significant changes in the level of external advertising and marketing spending by The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies, there can be no assurance the historic levels will continue or that advertising campaigns will be positively perceived by the public. The Company’s sales volume growth is also dependent on product innovation by The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies, and their ability to develop and introduce products that meet consumer preferences.

Previous wording

The Company is a participant in several Coca‑Cola system governance entities, and decisions made by these governance entities may be different than decisions that would have been made by the Company individually. Any failure of these governance entities to function efficiently or on the best behalf of the Company and any failure or delay of the Company to receive anticipated benefits from these governance entities could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

Current wording

The Company is a participant in several Coca‑Cola system governance entities, and decisions made by these governance entities may be different than decisions that would have been made by the Company individually. Any failure of these governance entities to function efficiently or in the best interest of the Company and any failure or delay of the Company to receive anticipated benefits from these governance entities could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

Previous wording

The Company is also a member of the NPSG, which is comprised of The Coca‑Cola Company, the Company and certain other Coca‑Cola bottlers who are regional producing bottlers in The Coca‑Cola Company’s national product supply system. Subject to the terms and conditions of the NPSG Agreement, the Company is required to comply with certain key decisions made by the NPSG Board, which include decisions regarding strategic infrastructure investment and divestment planning, optimal national product supply sourcing and new product or packaging infrastructure planning. Although the Company has a representative on the NPSG Board, the Company cannot exercise sole decision-making authority relating to the decisions of the NPSG Board, and the interests of other members of the NPSG Board may diverge from those of the Company. Any such divergence could have a material adverse effect on the operating and financial results of the Company.

Current wording

The Company is also a member of the NPSG, which is composed of The Coca‑Cola Company, the Company and certain other Coca‑Cola bottlers who are regional producing bottlers in The Coca‑Cola Company’s national product supply system. Subject to the terms and conditions of the NPSG Agreement, the Company is required to comply with certain key decisions made by the NPSG Board, which include decisions regarding strategic infrastructure investment and divestment planning, optimal national product supply sourcing and new product or packaging infrastructure planning. Although the Company has a representative on the NPSG Board, the Company cannot exercise sole decision-making authority relating to the decisions of the NPSG Board, and the interests of other members of the NPSG Board may diverge from those of the Company. Any such divergence could have a material adverse effect on the operating and financial results of the Company.

Previous wording

Provisions in the CBA and the RMA with The Coca‑Cola Company could delay or prevent a change in control of the Company or a sale of the Company’s Coca‑Cola distribution or manufacturing businesses.

Current wording

Provisions in certain of our material agreements, including the CBA and the RMA with The Coca‑Cola Company, could delay or prevent a change in control of the Company or a sale of the Company’s Coca‑Cola distribution or manufacturing businesses.

Previous wording

Provisions in the CBA and the RMA require the Company to obtain The Coca‑Cola Company’s prior approval of a potential buyer of the Company’s Coca‑Cola distribution or manufacturing businesses, which could delay or prevent a change in control of the Company or the Company’s ability to sell such businesses. The Company can obtain a list of pre-approved third-party buyers from The Coca‑Cola Company annually. In addition, the Company can seek buyer-specific approval from The Coca‑Cola Company upon receipt of a third-party offer to purchase the Company or its Coca‑Cola distribution or manufacturing businesses. If a change in control or sale of one of our businesses is delayed or prevented by the provisions in the CBA and the RMA, the market price of our Common Stock could be negatively affected.

Current wording

Provisions in certain of our material agreements, including the CBA and the RMA, could discourage potential acquirors of the Company. For instance, both the CBA and the RMA require the Company to obtain The Coca‑Cola Company’s prior approval of a potential buyer of the Company’s Coca‑Cola distribution or manufacturing businesses, which could delay or prevent a change in control of the Company or the Company’s ability to sell such businesses. The Company can obtain a list of pre-approved third-party buyers from The Coca‑Cola Company annually. In addition, the Company can seek buyer-specific approval from The Coca‑Cola Company upon receipt of a third-party offer to purchase the Company or its Coca‑Cola distribution or manufacturing businesses. Additionally, the instruments that govern our public bonds contain provisions that give the holders of those bonds a right to require us to purchase those bonds in the event of a change in control. Other of our commercial arrangements may also be terminated in the event of a change in control. If a change in control or sale of one of our businesses is delayed or prevented by the provisions of our material agreements, the market price of the Common Stock could be negatively affected.

Previous wording

As of December 31, 2023, J. Frank Harrison, III, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, controlled 1,004,394 shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock, which represented approximately 71% of the total voting power of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on a consolidated basis. Mr. Harrison also has the right to acquire 292,386 shares of Class B Common Stock from the Company in exchange for an equivalent number of shares of Common Stock. In the event of such an exchange, Mr. Harrison would control 1,296,780 shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock, which would represent approximately 76% of the total voting power of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on a consolidated basis. Furthermore, Mr. Harrison and another member of the Harrison family serve on the Company’s Board of Directors. As a result, Mr. Harrison has the ability to exert substantial influence or actual control over the Company’s management and affairs and over substantially all matters requiring action by the Company’s stockholders, including the election of directors and the approval of significant corporate transactions, such as a merger or other sale of the Company or its assets. This concentration of ownership could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control otherwise favored by the Company’s other stockholders and could depress the stock price or limit other stockholders’ ability to influence corporate matters, which could result in the Company making decisions that stockholders outside the Harrison family may not view as beneficial.

Current wording

As of December 31, 2024, J. Frank Harrison, III, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, controlled 1,004,394 shares of Class B Common Stock, which represented approximately 72% of the total voting power of the outstanding Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on a consolidated basis. Mr. Harrison also has the right to acquire 292,386 shares of Class B Common Stock from the Company in exchange for an equivalent number of shares of Common Stock. In the event of such an exchange, Mr. Harrison would control 1,296,780 shares of Class B Common Stock, which would represent approximately 78% of the total voting power of the outstanding Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on a consolidated basis. Furthermore, Mr. Harrison and another member of the Harrison family serve on the Company’s Board of Directors. As a result, Mr. Harrison has the ability to exert substantial influence or actual control over the Company’s management and affairs and over substantially all matters requiring action by the Company’s stockholders, including the election of directors and the approval of significant corporate transactions, such as a merger or other sale of the Company or its assets. This concentration of ownership could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control otherwise favored by the Company’s other stockholders and could depress the stock price or limit other stockholders’ ability to influence corporate matters, which could result in the Company making decisions that stockholders outside the Harrison family may not view as beneficial.

Previous wording

The Company’s acquisition related contingent consideration liability, which totaled $669.3 million as of December 31, 2023, consists of the estimated amounts due to The Coca‑Cola Company as acquisition related sub-bottling payments under the CBA with The Coca‑Cola Company and CCR over the useful life of the related distribution rights. Changes in business conditions or other events could materially change both the future cash flow projections and the discount rate used in the calculation of the fair value of contingent consideration under the CBA. These changes could result in material changes to the fair value of the acquisition related contingent consideration liability and could materially impact the amount of non-cash expense (or income) recorded each reporting period.

Current wording

The Company’s acquisition related contingent consideration liability, which totaled $654.2 million as of December 31, 2024, consists of the estimated amounts due to The Coca‑Cola Company as acquisition related sub-bottling payments under the CBA with The Coca‑Cola Company and CCR over the useful life of the related distribution rights. Changes in business conditions or other events could materially change both the future cash flow projections and the estimated weighted average cost of capital (“WACC”) used in the calculation of the fair value of contingent consideration under the CBA. These changes could result in material changes to the fair value of the acquisition related contingent consideration liability and could materially impact the amount of non-cash expense (or income) recorded each reporting period.

Previous wording

Technology failures or cyberattacks on the Company’s information technology systems or the Company’s effective response to technology failures or cyberattacks on its customers’, suppliers’ or other third parties’ information technology systems could disrupt the Company’s operations and negatively impact the Company’s reputation, business, financial condition or results of operations.

Current wording

Technology failures or cyberattacks on the Company’s information technology systems or the Company’s effective response to technology failures or cyberattacks on its third-party service providers’, business partners’, customers’, suppliers’ or other third parties’ information technology systems could disrupt the Company’s operations and negatively impact the Company’s reputation, business, financial condition or results of operations.

Previous wording

The Company increasingly relies on information technology systems to process, transmit and store electronic information. Like most companies, the Company’s information technology systems are vulnerable to interruption due to a variety of events beyond the Company’s control, including, but not limited to, power outages, computer and telecommunications failures, computer viruses, other malicious computer programs and cyberattacks, denial-of-service attacks, security breaches, catastrophic events such as fires, tornadoes, earthquakes and hurricanes, usage errors by employees and other security issues. In addition, third-party providers of data hosting or cloud services, as well as other vendors, customers and suppliers, are vulnerable to cybersecurity incidents involving data the Company shares with them. While incidents at our third-party service providers have not materially impacted our business operations, one or more of these incidents could significantly impact the Company in the future.

Current wording

The Company increasingly relies on information technology systems to process, transmit and store electronic information. The Company’s information technology systems are vulnerable to interruption due to a variety of events beyond the Company’s control, including, but not limited to, power outages, computer and telecommunications failures, computer viruses, other malicious computer programs and cyberattacks, denial-of-service attacks, security breaches, catastrophic events such as fires, tornadoes, earthquakes and hurricanes, usage errors by employees and other security issues. In addition, third-party providers of data hosting or cloud services, as well as other vendors, customers and suppliers, are vulnerable to cybersecurity incidents involving data the Company shares with them or data systems the Company relies on. While incidents at our third-party service providers have not materially impacted our business operations, one or more of these incidents could significantly impact the Company in the future.

Previous wording

The Company has technology security initiatives and disaster recovery plans in place to mitigate its risk to these vulnerabilities; however, these measures may not be adequate or implemented properly to ensure that the Company’s operations are not disrupted. If the Company’s information technology systems, or those of its third-party service providers or business partners, are damaged, breached or cease to function properly, the Company may incur significant financial and other resources to mitigate, upgrade, repair or replace them, and the Company may suffer interruptions in its business operations, resulting in lost revenues and potential delays in reporting its financial results.

Current wording

The Company has technology security initiatives and disaster recovery plans in place to mitigate its risk to these vulnerabilities. However, these measures may not be adequate or implemented properly to ensure that the Company’s operations are not disrupted. If the Company’s information technology systems, or those of its third-party service providers or business partners, are damaged, breached or cease to function properly, the Company may incur significant costs and require other resources to mitigate, upgrade, repair or replace them, and the Company may suffer interruptions in its business operations, resulting in lost revenues and potential delays in reporting its financial results.

Previous wording

Unfavorable changes in general economic conditions or in the geographic markets in which the Company does business may have the temporary effect of reducing the demand for certain of the Company’s products. For example, economic forces may cause consumers to shift away from purchasing higher-margin products and packages sold through immediate consumption and other highly profitable channels. Periods of sustained high inflation may have adverse impacts on demand for the Company’s products and on the Company’s ability to sustain margins due to higher input costs. In addition, efforts by the government to curb inflation may cause a general economic slowdown. Adverse economic conditions could also increase the likelihood of customer delinquencies and bankruptcies, which would increase the risk of collectability of certain accounts. Each of these factors could adversely affect the Company’s overall business, financial condition and results of operations.

Current wording

Unfavorable changes in general economic conditions or in the geographic markets in which the Company does business may have the effect of reducing the demand for certain of the Company’s products. For example, economic forces may cause consumers to shift away from purchasing higher-margin products and packages sold through immediate consumption and other highly profitable channels. Periods of sustained high inflation may have adverse impacts on demand for the Company’s products and on the Company’s ability to sustain margins due to higher input costs. In addition, efforts by the government to curb inflation may cause a general economic slowdown. Adverse economic conditions could also increase the likelihood of customer delinquencies and bankruptcies, which would increase the risk of collectability of certain accounts. Each of these factors could adversely affect the Company’s overall business, financial condition and results of operations.

Previous wording

The Company’s largest customers, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and The Kroger Company, accounted for approximately 35% of the Company’s 2023 total bottle/can sales volume to retail customers and approximately 28% of the Company’s 2023 total net sales. These customers typically make purchase decisions based on a combination of price, product quality, consumer demand and customer service performance and generally do not enter into long-term contracts. The Company faces risks related to maintaining the volume demanded on a short-term basis from these customers, which can also divert resources away from other customers. The loss of Wal‑Mart Stores, Inc. or The Kroger Company as a customer could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Current wording

The Company’s largest customers, Walmart Inc. and The Kroger Co., accounted for approximately 36% of the Company’s 2024 total bottle/can sales volume to retail customers and approximately 29% of the Company’s 2024 total net sales. These customers typically make purchase decisions based on a combination of price, product quality, consumer demand and customer service performance and generally do not enter into long-term contracts. The Company faces risks related to maintaining the volume demanded on a short-term basis from these customers, which can also divert resources away from other customers. The loss of Walmart Inc. or The Kroger Co. as a customer could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Previous wording

Further, the suppliers of certain inputs of the Company’s key products, particularly plastic bottles and aluminum cans, are highly concentrated. This concentration could have an adverse effect on the Company’s ability to negotiate the lowest costs and, in light of the Company’s relatively low in-plant raw material inventory levels, has the potential for causing interruptions in the Company’s supply of raw materials and in its manufacture of finished goods.

Current wording

Further, the suppliers of certain inputs of the Company’s key products, particularly plastic bottles and aluminum cans, are highly concentrated. This concentration could have an adverse effect on the Company’s ability to negotiate the lowest costs and, in light of the Company’s relatively low in-plant raw material inventory levels, has the potential for causing interruptions in the Company’s supply of raw materials and in its manufacture of finished goods. Because some of the limited number of suppliers are located outside the United States, disruptions to the supply chain or tariffs levied on the inputs we purchase may increase input costs.

Previous wording

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $599.2 million of debt outstanding. The Company’s level of debt requires a substantial portion of future cash flows from operations to be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest, which reduces funds available for other purposes. The Company’s debt level can negatively impact its operations by limiting the Company’s ability to, and/or increasing its cost to, access credit markets for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes; increasing the Company’s vulnerability to economic downturns and adverse industry conditions by limiting the Company’s ability to react to changing economic and business conditions; and exposing the Company to increased risk that the Company will not be able to refinance the principal amount of debt as it becomes due or that a significant decrease in cash flows from operations could make it difficult for the Company to meet its debt service requirements and to comply with financial covenants in its debt agreements.

Current wording

As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $1.79 billion of debt outstanding. The Company’s level of debt requires a substantial portion of future cash flows from operations to be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest, which reduces funds available for other purposes. The Company’s debt level can negatively impact its operations by limiting the Company’s ability to, and/or increasing its cost to, access credit markets for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes; increasing the Company’s vulnerability to economic downturns and adverse industry conditions by limiting the Company’s ability to react to changing economic and business conditions; and exposing the Company to increased risk that the Company will not be able to refinance the principal amount of debt as it becomes due or that a significant decrease in cash flows from operations could make it difficult for the Company to meet its debt service requirements and to comply with financial covenants in its debt agreements.

Previous wording

The Company is subject to income taxes within the United States. The Company’s annual income tax rate is based upon the Company’s income, federal tax laws and various state and local tax laws within the jurisdictions in which the Company operates.

Current wording

The Company is subject to income taxes within the United States. The Company’s annual income tax rate is based upon the Company’s income, federal tax laws and various state and local tax laws within the jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Changes in federal, state or local income tax rates and/or tax laws could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial results.