Item 1 -- Business
Introduction and Recent Developments
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), is engaged in the production, marketing and distribution of carbonated and noncarbonated beverages, primarily products of The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, Georgia ("The Coca-Cola Company"). The Company has been in the soft drink manufacturing business since 1902.
The Company has grown significantly since 1984. In 1984, net sales were approximately $130 million. In 1997, net sales were approximately $802 million. The Company's bottling territory was concentrated in North Carolina prior to 1984. A series of acquisitions since 1984 have significantly expanded the Company's bottling territory. The most significant transactions were as follows:
o February 8, 1985 -- Acquisition of various subsidiaries of Wometco Coca-Cola Bottling Company which included territories in parts of Alabama, Tennessee and Virginia. Other noncontiguous territories acquired in this acquisition were subsequently sold.
o January 27, 1989 -- Acquisition of all of the outstanding stock of The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of West Virginia, Inc. which included territory covering most of the state of West Virginia.
o December 20, 1991 -- Acquisition of all of the outstanding capital stock of Sunbelt Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Inc. ("Sunbelt") which included territory covering parts of North Carolina and South Carolina.
o July 2, 1993 -- Formation of Piedmont Coca-Cola Bottling Partnership ("Piedmont"). Piedmont is a joint venture owned equally by the Company and The Coca-Cola Company through their respective subsidiaries. Piedmont distributes and markets soft drink products, primarily in parts of North Carolina and South Carolina. The Company sold and contributed certain territories to Piedmont upon formation. The Company currently provides part of the finished product requirements for Piedmont and receives a fee for managing the operations of Piedmont pursuant to a management agreement.
o June 1, 1994 -- The Company executed a management agreement with South Atlantic Canners, Inc. ("SAC"), a manufacturing cooperative located in Bishopville, South Carolina. The Company is a member of the cooperative and receives a fee for managing the day-to-day operations of SAC pursuant to a 10-year management agreement. SAC significantly expanded its operations by adding two PET bottling lines. These bottling lines supply a portion of the Company's and Piedmont's volume requirements for PET finished products.
o January 21, 1998 -- The Company purchased the franchise rights and operating assets of a Coca-Cola bottler located in Florence, Alabama. This territory is contiguous to the Company's Tennessee franchise territory.
These transactions, along with several smaller acquisitions of additional bottling territory, have resulted in the Company becoming the second largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States.
The Company repurchased 929,440 shares of its Common Stock for $43.6 million in a series of transactions between December 1996 and February 1997.
The Coca-Cola Company currently owns an economic interest of approximately 30% and a voting interest of approximately 23% in the Company. The Coca-Cola Company's economic interest was achieved through a series of transactions as follows:
o June 1987 -- The Company sold 1,355,033 shares of newly issued Common stock and 269,158 shares of Class B Common Stock to The Coca-Cola Company.
o January 1989 -- The Company issued 1.1 million shares of Common Stock to The Coca-Cola Company in exchange for all of the outstanding stock of The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of West Virginia, Inc.
o June 1993 -- The Company sold 33,464 shares of Common Stock to The Coca-Cola Company pursuant to an agreement to maintain The Coca-Cola Company's voting and equity interest at a prescribed level.
o February 1997 -- The Company purchased 275,490 shares of its Common Stock for $13.1 million from The Coca-Cola Company pursuant to an agreement to maintain The Coca-Cola Company's voting and equity interest at a prescribed level.
The Company considers acquisition opportunities for additional territories on an ongoing basis. To achieve its goals, further purchases and sales of franchise rights and entities possessing such rights and other related transactions designed to facilitate such purchases and sales may occur.
General
In its soft drink operations, the Company holds franchises under which it produces and markets, in certain regions, carbonated soft drink products of The Coca-Cola Company, including Coca-Cola classic, caffeine free Coca-Cola classic, diet Coke, caffeine free diet Coke, Cherry Coke, TAB, Sprite, diet Sprite, Surge, Mello Yello, diet Mello Yello, Mr. PiBB, Barq's Root Beer, diet Barq's Root Beer, Fresca, Minute Maid orange and diet Minute Maid orange sodas. The Company also distributes and markets POWERaDE, Cool from Nestea, Fruitopia, Minute Maid Juices To Go and LeBleu water in certain of its markets. The Company produces and markets Dr Pepper in most of its regions. Various other products, including Seagrams' products and Sundrop are produced and marketed in one or more of the Company's regions under franchise agreements with the companies that manufacture the concentrate for those beverages. In addition, the Company also produces soft drinks for other Coca-Cola franchise bottlers.
The Company's principal soft drink is Coca-Cola classic. During the last three fiscal years, sales of products under the trademark Coca-Cola have accounted for more than half of the Company's soft drink sales. In total, the products of The Coca-Cola Company accounted for approximately 90% of the Company's soft drink sales during fiscal 1997.
Franchises
The Company's franchises from The Coca-Cola Company entitle the Company to produce and market The Coca-Cola Company's soft drinks in bottles, cans and five gallon, pressurized, pre-mix containers. The Company is one of many companies holding such franchises. The Coca-Cola Company is the sole owner of the secret formulas pursuant to which the primary components (either concentrates or syrups) of Coca-Cola trademark beverages are manufactured. The concentrates, when mixed with water and sweetener, produce syrup which, when mixed with carbonated water, produce the soft drinks known as "Coca-Cola," "Coca-Cola classic," "Coke" and other soft drinks of The Coca-Cola Company which are manufactured and marketed by the Company. The Company also purchases natural sweeteners from The Coca-Cola Company. No royalty or other compensation is paid under the franchise agreements to The Coca-Cola Company for the Company's right to use in its territories the franchised tradenames and trademarks, such as "Coca-Cola," "Coca-Cola classic" and "Coke," and their associated patents, copyrights, designs and labels, all of which are owned by The Coca-Cola Company. The Company has similar arrangements with the Dr Pepper Company and other franchisors.
Bottle Contracts. The Company is party to standard bottle contracts with The Coca-Cola Company for each of its bottling territories (the "Bottle Contracts") which provide that the Company will purchase its entire requirement of concentrates and syrups for Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola classic, caffeine free Coca-Cola classic, Cherry Coke, diet Coke, caffeine free diet Coke and diet Cherry Coke (together, the "Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages") from The Coca-Cola Company. The Company has the exclusive right to distribute Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages for sale in its territories in authorized containers of the nature currently used by the Company, which include cans and refillable and non-refillable bottles. The Coca-Cola Company may determine from time to time what containers of this type to authorize for use by the Company.
The price The Coca-Cola Company may charge for syrup or concentrate under the Bottle Contracts is set by The Coca-Cola Company from time to time. Except as provided in the Supplementary Agreement described below, there are no limitations on prices for concentrate or syrup. Consequently, the prices at which the Company purchases concentrates and syrup under the Bottle Contracts may vary materially from the prices it has paid during the periods covered by the financial information included in this report.
Under the Bottle Contracts, the Company is obligated to maintain such plant, equipment, staff and distribution facilities as are required for the manufacture, packaging and distribution of the Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages in authorized containers, and in sufficient quantities to satisfy fully the demand for these beverages in its territories; to undertake adequate quality control measures and maintain sanitation standards prescribed by The Coca-Cola Company; to develop, stimulate and satisfy fully the demand for Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages and to use all approved means, and to spend such funds on advertising and other forms of marketing, as may be reasonably required to meet that objective; and to maintain such sound financial capacity as may be reasonably necessary to assure performance by the Company and its affiliates of their obligations to The Coca-Cola Company.
The Bottle Contracts require the Company to submit to The Coca-Cola Company each year its plans for marketing, management and advertising with respect to the Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages for the ensuing year. Such plans must
demonstrate that the Company has the financial capacity to perform its duties and obligations to The Coca-Cola Company under the Bottle Contracts. The Company must obtain The Coca-Cola Company's approval of those plans, which approval may not be unreasonably withheld, and if the Company carries out its plan in all material respects, it will have satisfied its contractual obligations. Failure to carry out such plans in all material respects would constitute an event of default that, if not cured within 120 days of notice of such failure, would give The Coca-Cola Company the right to terminate the Bottle Contracts. If the Company at any time fails to carry out a plan in all material respects with respect to any geographic segment (as defined by The Coca-Cola Company) of its territory, and if that failure is not cured within six months of notice of such failure, The Coca-Cola Company may reduce the territory covered by the applicable Bottle Contract by eliminating the portion of the territory with respect to which the failure has occurred.
The Coca-Cola Company has no obligation under the Bottle Contracts to participate with the Company in expenditures for advertising and marketing. As it has in the past, The Coca-Cola Company may contribute to such expenditures and undertake independent advertising and marketing activities, as well as cooperative advertising and sales promotion programs which require mutual cooperation and financial support of the Company. The future levels of marketing support and promotional funds provided by The Coca-Cola Company may vary materially from the levels provided during the periods covered by the financial information included in this report.
The Coca-Cola Company has the right to reformulate any of the Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages and to discontinue any of the Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages, subject to certain limitations, so long as all Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages are not discontinued. The Coca-Cola Company may also introduce new beverages under the trademarks "Coca-Cola" or "Coke" or any modification thereof, and in that event the Company would be obligated to manufacture, package, distribute and sell the new beverages with the same duties as exist under the Bottle Contracts with respect to Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages.
If the Company acquires the right to manufacture and sell Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages in any additional territory, the Company has agreed that such new territory will be covered by a standard contract in the same form as the Bottle Contracts and that any existing agreement with respect to the acquired territory automatically shall be amended to conform to the terms of the Bottle Contracts. In addition, if the Company acquires control, directly or indirectly, of any bottler of Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages, or any party controlling a bottler of Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages, the Company must cause the acquired bottler to amend its franchises for the Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages to conform to the terms of the Bottle Contracts.
The Bottle Contracts are perpetual, subject to termination by The Coca-Cola Company in the event of default by the Company. Events of default by the Company include (1) the Company's insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, receivership or similar conditions; (2) the Company's disposition of any interest in the securities of any bottling subsidiary without the consent of The Coca-Cola Company; (3) termination of any agreement regarding the manufacture, packaging, distribution or sale of Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages between The Coca-Cola Company and any person that controls the Company; (4) any material breach of any obligation occurring under the Bottle Contracts (including, without limitation, failure to make timely payment for any syrup or concentrate or of any other debt owing to The Coca-Cola Company, failure to meet sanitary or quality control standards, failure to comply strictly with manufacturing standards and instructions, failure to carry out an approved plan as described above, and failure to cure a violation of the terms regarding imitation products), that remains uncured for 120 days after notice by The Coca-Cola Company; or (5) producing, manufacturing, selling or dealing in any "Cola Product," as defined, or any concentrate or syrup which might be confused with those of The Coca-Cola Company; or (6) selling any product under any trade dress, trademark, or tradename or in any container in which The Coca-Cola Company has a proprietary interest; or (7) owning any equity interest in or controlling any entity which performs any of the activities described in (5) or (6) above. In addition, upon termination of the Bottle Contracts for any reason, The Coca-Cola Company, at its discretion, may also terminate any other agreements with the Company regarding the manufacture, packaging, distribution, sale or promotion of soft drinks, including the Allied Bottle Contracts described elsewhere herein.
The Company is prohibited from assigning, transferring or pledging its Bottle Contracts, or any interest therein, whether voluntarily or by operation of law, without the prior consent of The Coca-Cola Company. Moreover, the Company may not enter into any contract or other arrangement to manage or participate in the management of any other Coca-Cola bottler without the prior consent of The Coca-Cola Company.
The Coca-Cola Company may automatically amend the Bottle Contracts if 80% of the domestic bottlers who are parties to agreements with The Coca-Cola Company containing substantially the same terms as the Bottle Contracts, which bottlers purchased for their own account 80% of the syrup and equivalent gallons of concentrate for Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages purchased for the account of all such bottlers, agree that their bottle contracts shall be likewise amended.
Supplementary Agreement. The Company and The Coca-Cola Company are also parties to a Supplementary Agreement (the "Supplementary Agreement") that modifies some of the provisions of the Bottle Contracts. The Supplementary Agreement provides that The Coca-Cola Company will exercise good faith and fair dealing in its relationship with the Company under the Bottle Contracts; offer marketing support and exercise its rights under the Bottle Contracts in a manner consistent with its dealings with comparable bottlers; offer to the Company any written amendment to the Bottle Contracts (except amendments dealing with transfer of ownership) which it offers to any other bottler in the United States; and, subject to certain limited exceptions, sell syrups and concentrates to the Company at prices no greater than those charged to other bottlers which are parties to contracts substantially similar to the Bottle Contracts.
The Supplementary Agreement permits transfers of the Company's capital stock that would otherwise be limited by the Bottle Contracts.
Allied Bottle Contracts. Other contracts with The Coca-Cola Company (the "Allied Bottle Contracts") grant similar exclusive rights to the Company with respect to the distribution of Sprite, Mr. PiBB, Surge, Mello Yello, diet Mello Yello, Fanta, TAB, diet Sprite, sugar free Mr. PiBB, Fresca, POWERaDE, Minute Maid orange and diet Minute Maid orange sodas (the "Allied Beverages") for sale in authorized containers in its territories. These contracts contain provisions that are similar to those of the Bottle Contracts with respect to pricing, authorized containers, planning, quality control, trademark and transfer restrictions and related matters. Each Allied Bottle Contract has a term of 10 years and is renewable by the Company for an additional 10 years at the end of each 10 year period, but is subject to termination in the event of (1) the Company's insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, receivership or similar condition; (2) termination of the Company's Bottle Contract covering the same territory by either party for any reason; and (3) any material breach of any obligation of the Company under the Allied Bottle Contract that remains uncured for 120 days after notice by The Coca-Cola Company.
Post-mix Rights. The Company also has the non-exclusive right to sell Coca-Cola classic and other fountain syrups ("post-mix syrup") of The Coca-Cola Company.
Other Bottling Agreements. The Coca-Cola Company purchased all rights of Barq's, Inc. under its Bottler's Agreements with the Company. These contracts cover both Barq's Root Beer and diet Barq's Root Beer and remain in effect unless terminated by The Coca-Cola Company for breach by the Company of their terms, insolvency of the Company or the failure of the Company to manufacture, bottle and sell the products for 15 consecutive days or to purchase extract for a period of 120 consecutive days. The bottling agreements from most other soft drink franchisors are similar to those described above in that they are renewable at the option of the Company and the franchisors. The price the franchisors may charge for syrup or concentrate is set by the franchisors from time to time. They also contain similar restrictions on the use of trademarks, approved bottles, cans and labels and sale of imitations or substitutes as well as termination for cause provisions. Sales of beverages by the Company under these agreements represented approximately 10% of the Company's sales for fiscal 1997.
The territories covered by the Allied Bottle Contracts and by bottling agreements for products of franchisors other than The Coca-Cola Company in most cases correspond with the territories covered by the Bottle Contracts. The variations do not have a material effect on the business of the Company taken as a whole.
Markets and Production and Distribution Facilities
As of March 10, 1998, the Company held franchises from The Coca-Cola Company covering the majority of central, northern and western North Carolina, and portions of Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Florida. The total population within the Company's franchise territory is approximately 12.3 million.
As of March 10, 1998, the Company operated in six principal geographical regions. Certain information regarding each of these markets follows:
1. North Carolina. This region includes the majority of central and western North Carolina, including Raleigh, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Hickory, Asheville, Fayetteville and Charlotte and the surrounding areas. The region has an estimated population of 5.3 million. Production/distribution facilities are located in Charlotte and 15 other distribution facilities are located in the region.
2. South Alabama. This region includes a portion of southwestern Alabama, including the area surrounding Mobile, and a portion of southeastern Mississippi. The region has an estimated population of 900,000. A production/distribution facility is located in Mobile, and five other distribution facilities are located in the region.
3. South Georgia. This region includes a small portion of eastern Alabama, a portion of southwestern Georgia surrounding Columbus, Georgia, in which a distribution facility is located, and a portion of the Florida Panhandle. Four other distribution facilities are located in the region. This region has an estimated population of 1.0 million.
4. Middle Tennessee. This region includes a portion of central Tennessee, including areas surrounding Nashville, a small portion of southern Kentucky and a small portion of northwest Alabama. The region has an estimated population of 1.8 million. A production/distribution facility is located in Nashville and eight other distribution facilities are located in the region.
5. Western Virginia. This region includes most of southwestern Virginia, including areas surrounding Roanoke, a portion of the southern piedmont of Virginia, a portion of northeastern Tennessee and a portion of southeastern West Virginia. The region has an estimated population of 1.4 million. A production/distribution facility is located in Roanoke and seven other distribution facilities are located in the region.
6. West Virginia. This region includes most of the state of West Virginia, a portion of eastern Kentucky, a portion of eastern Ohio and a portion of southwestern Pennsylvania. The region has an estimated population of 1.9 million. There are 11 distribution facilities located in the region.
The Company owns 100% of the operations in each of the regions previously listed.
The Company sold the majority of its South Carolina franchise territory to Piedmont in July 1993. Pursuant to a management agreement, the Company produces a portion of the soft drink products for Piedmont. The Company currently owns a 50% interest in Piedmont. Piedmont's franchise territory covers parts of eastern North Carolina and most of South Carolina. This region has an estimated population of 4.1 million.
On June 1, 1994, the Company executed a management agreement with South Atlantic Canners, Inc. ("SAC"), a manufacturing cooperative located in Bishopville, South Carolina. The Company is a member of the cooperative and receives a fee for managing the day-to-day operations of SAC pursuant to a 10-year management agreement. Management fees from SAC were $1.2 million, $1.4 million and $1.0 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. SAC has significantly expanded its operations by adding two PET bottling lines. The bottling lines supply a portion of the Company's and Piedmont's volume requirements for PET finished products. The Company executed member purchase agreements with SAC that require minimum annual purchases of canned product, 20 ounce PET product, 2 liter PET product and 3 liter PET product by the Company of approximately $40 million.
In addition to producing bottled and canned soft drinks for the Company's franchise territories, each production facility also produces some products for sale by other Coca-Cola bottlers. With the exception of the Company's production of soft drink products for Piedmont, this contract production is currently not material in the Company's production centers.
Raw Materials
In addition to concentrates obtained by the Company from The Coca-Cola Company and other concentrate companies for use in its soft drink manufacturing, the Company also purchases sweeteners, carbon dioxide, glass and plastic bottles, cans, closures, pre-mix containers and other packaging materials as well as equipment for the production, distribution and marketing of soft drinks. Except for sweetener, cans and plastic bottles, the Company purchases its raw materials from multiple suppliers.
The Company entered into supply agreements in the fourth quarter of 1995 with its aluminum can suppliers which require the Company to purchase the majority of its aluminum can requirements for two of its four manufacturing facilities. These agreements, which extend through the end of 2000, also reduce the variability of the cost of cans for these two facilities.
The Company purchases substantially all of its plastic bottles (20 ounce, 1 liter, 2 liter and 3 liter sizes) from manufacturing plants which are owned and operated by two cooperatives of Coca-Cola bottlers, including the Company. The Company joined the southwest cooperative in February 1985 following its acquisition of the bottling subsidiaries of Wometco Coca-Cola Bottling Company. The Company joined the southeast cooperative in 1984.
None of the materials or supplies used by the Company is in short supply, although the supply of specific materials could be adversely affected by strikes, weather conditions, governmental controls or national emergency conditions.
Marketing
The Company's soft drink products are sold and distributed directly by its employees to retail stores and other outlets, including food markets, institutional accounts and vending machine outlets. During 1997, approximately 76% of the Company's physical case volume was in the take-home channel through supermarkets, convenience stores, drug stores and other retail outlets. The remaining volume was in the cold drink channel, primarily through dispensing machines, owned either by the Company, retail outlets or third party vending companies.
New product introductions, packaging changes and sales promotions have been the major competitive techniques in the soft drink industry in recent years and have required and are expected to continue to require substantial expenditures. Product introductions in recent years include: caffeine free Coca-Cola classic; caffeine free diet Coke; Cherry Coke; Surge; diet Mello Yello; Minute Maid orange; diet Minute Maid orange; Cool from Nestea; Fruitopia; POWERaDE, Minute Maid Juices To Go and Le Bleu Water. New product introductions have entailed increased operating costs for the Company resulting from special marketing efforts, obsolescence of replaced items and, occasionally, higher raw materials costs.
After several new package introductions in recent years, the Company now sells its soft drink products primarily in non-refillable bottles, both glass and plastic, and in cans, in varying proportions from market to market. There may be as many as eight different packages for Coca-Cola classic within a single geographical area. Physical unit sales of soft drinks during fiscal year 1997 were approximately 50% cans, 48% non-refillable bottles and 2% pre-mix.
Advertising in various media, primarily television and radio, is relied upon extensively in the marketing of the Company's soft drinks. The Coca-Cola Company and Dr Pepper Company each have joined the Company in making substantial expenditures in cooperative advertising in the Company's marketing areas. The Company also benefits from national advertising programs conducted by The Coca-Cola Company and Dr Pepper Company, respectively. In addition, the Company expends substantial funds on its own behalf for extensive local sales promotions of the Company's soft drink products. These expenses are partially offset by marketing funds which the franchisors provide to the Company in support of a variety of marketing programs, such as price promotions, merchandising programs and point-of-sale displays.
The substantial outlays which the Company makes for advertising are generally regarded as necessary to maintain or increase sales volume, and any curtailment of the funding provided by The Coca-Cola Company for advertising or marketing programs which benefit the Company could have a material effect on the business of the Company.
Seasonality
Sales are somewhat seasonal, with the highest sales volume occuring in May, June, July and August. The Company has adequate production capacity to meet sales demands during these peak periods.
Competition
The soft drink industry is highly competitive. The Company's competitors include several large soft drink manufacturers engaged in the distribution of nationally advertised products, as well as similar companies which market lesser-known soft drinks in limited geographical areas and manufacturers of private brand soft drinks. In each region in which the Company operates, between 75% and 95% of carbonated soft drink sales in bottles, cans and pre-mix containers are accounted for by the Company and its principal competition, which in each region includes the local bottler of Pepsi-Cola and, in some regions, also includes the local bottler of Royal Crown products. The Company's carbonated beverage products also compete with, among others, noncarbonated beverages and citrus and noncitrus fruit drinks.
The principal methods of competition in the soft drink industry are point-of-sale merchandising, new product introductions, packaging changes, price promotions, quality and frequency of distribution and advertising.
Government Regulation
The production and marketing of beverages are subject to the rules and regulations of the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") and other federal, state and local health agencies. The FDA also regulates the labeling of containers.
No reformulation of the Company's products is presently required by any rule or regulation, but there can be no assurance that future government regulations will not require reformulation of the Company's products.
From time to time, 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 in an attempt to reduce solid waste and litter. The Company is currently not impacted by this type of proposed legislation.
Soft drink and similar-type taxes have been in place in North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee for several years. To the Company's knowledge, legislation has not been proposed or enacted to increase the tax in West Virginia or Tennessee. The North Carolina soft drink tax was reduced by 25% effective July 1, 1996. The North Carolina General Assembly also enacted a measure repealing the soft drink tax in 25% increments over a three-year period, such that it will be eliminated in 1999. The South Carolina soft drink tax has been repealed and is being phased out ratably over a six-year period beginning July 1, 1996.
Environmental Remediation
The Company does not currently have any material capital expenditure commitments for environmental remediation for any of its properties.
Employees
As of March 10, 1998, the Company had a total of approximately 4,900 full-time employees, of whom approximately 400 were union members. The total number of employees is approximately 5,500. Management of the Company believes that the Company's relations with its employees are generally good.
Item 2
Item 2 -- Properties
The principal properties of the Company include its corporate headquarters, its four production facilities and its 55 distribution centers, all of which are owned by the Company except for its corporate headquarters, two production/distribution facilities and nine distribution centers.
On November 30, 1992, the Company and the owner of the Company's Snyder Production Center in Charlotte, North Carolina agreed to the early termination of the Company's lease. Harrison Limited Partnership One purchased the property contemporaneously with the termination of the lease, and the Company and Harrison Limited Partnership One entered into an agreement under which the Company leased the property for a 10-year term beginning on December 1, 1992. JFH Management, Inc., a North Carolina corporation of which J. Frank Harrison, Jr. is the sole shareholder, serves as sole general partner of the limited partnership that purchased the production center property. The sole limited partner of the limited partnership is a trust as to which J. Frank Harrison, III and Reid M. Henson are co-trustees, share investment powers, and as to which they share voting power for purposes of this partnership interest. The beneficiaries of this trust are J. Frank Harrison, Jr. and his descendants. The annual base rent the Company is obligated to pay under the lease agreement is subject to adjustment for increases in the Consumer Price Index and for increases or decreases in interest rates based on London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR").
On June 1, 1993, Beacon Investment Corporation, a North Carolina corporation of which J. Frank Harrison, III is sole shareholder, purchased the office building located on Rexford Road in Charlotte, North Carolina, in which the Company leases its principal executive offices. Contemporaneously, the Company entered into a 10-year lease commencing June 1, 1993 with Beacon Investment Corporation for office space within the building. The annual base rent the Company is obligated to pay under the lease agreement is subject to adjustment for increases in the Consumer Price Index and for increases or decreases in interest rates based on LIBOR.
The Company also leases its 297,500 square-foot production/distribution facility in Nashville, Tennessee. The lease requires monthly payments through 2002. The Company's other real estate leases are not material.
The Company owns and operates two soft drink production facilities apart from the leased facilities described above. The current percentage utilization of the Company's production centers as of March 10, 1998 is approximately as indicated below:
Production Facilities ---------------------
- --------- * Estimated 1998 production divided by capacity (based on 80 hours of operations per week).
The Company currently has sufficient production capacity to meet its operational requirements. In addition to the production facilities noted above, the Company also has access to production capacity from South Atlantic Canners, Inc.
Bottled and canned soft drinks are transported to distribution centers for storage pending sale. The number of distribution centers by market area as of March 10, 1998 is as follows:
Distribution Centers --------------------
The Company's distribution facilities are all in good condition and are adequate for the Company's operations as presently conducted.
The Company also operates approximately 2,800 vehicles in the sale and distribution of its soft drink products, of which approximately 1,400 are delivery trucks. In addition, the Company owns or leases approximately 129,000 soft drink dispensing and vending machines.
Item 3
Item 3 -- Legal Proceedings
The Company is involved in various claims and legal proceedings which have arisen in the ordinary course of its business. The Company believes that the ultimate disposition of these claims will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, cash flows or results of operations of the Company.
Item 4
Item 4 -- Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended December 28, 1997.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Pursuant to General Instruction G(3) of Form 10-K, the following list is included as an unnumbered item in Part I of this Report in lieu of being included in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed.
The following is a list of names and ages of all the executive officers of the Registrant as of March 10, 1998, indicating all positions and offices with the Registrant held by each such person. All officers have served in their present capacities for the past five years except as otherwise stated.
J. FRANK HARRISON, III, age 43, is Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Harrison was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors in December 1996. Mr. Harrison served in the capacity of Vice Chairman from November 1987 through December 1996 and was appointed as the Company's Chief Executive Officer in May 1994. He was first employed by the Company in 1977, and has served as a Division Sales Manager and as a Vice President of the Company. Mr. Harrison, III is a Director of Wachovia Bank & Trust Co., N.A., Southern Region Board. He is Chairman of the Compensation Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee, the Audit Committee and the Finance Committee.
REID M. HENSON, age 58, has served as a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company since 1983. Prior to that time, Mr. Henson served as a consultant for JTL Corporation, a management company, and later as President of JTL Corporation. He has been a Director of the Company since 1979, is Chairman of the Audit Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee, the Retirement Benefits Committee and the Finance Committee.
JAMES L. MOORE, JR., age 55, is President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Prior to his election as President in March 1987, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Soft Drink Co., a soft drink bottling subsidiary of Grand Metropolitan USA. Mr. Moore has been a Director of the Company since March 1987. He is a member of the Executive Committee and is Chairman of the Retirement Benefits Committee.
ROBERT D. PETTUS, JR., age 53, is Executive Vice President and Assistant to the Chairman, a position to which he was appointed in January 1997. Mr. Pettus was previously Vice President, Human Resources, a position he held since September 1984. Prior to joining the Company, he was Director, Employee Relations for the Texize Division of Morton-Thiokol for seven years.
DAVID V. SINGER, age 42, is Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In addition to his Finance duties, Mr. Singer has overall responsibility for the Company's Purchasing/Materials Management function as well as the Manufacturing function. He served as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer from October 1987 through May 1992; prior to that he was Vice President and Treasurer. Prior to joining the Company in March 1986, Mr. Singer was a Vice President of Corporate Banking for Mellon Bank, N.A.
M. CRAIG AKINS, age 47, is Regional Vice President, Sales for the Virginia and West Virginia Divisions, a position he has held since June 1996. He was previously Vice President, Cold Drink Market, a position he was appointed to in October 1993. He was Vice President, Division Manager of the Tennessee Division from 1989-1993. From 1987 through 1988, he was General Manager of the Nashville, TN sales center. From 1985 through 1986, he was Trade Development Director of the Tennessee Division. Prior to joining the Company in 1985, he was a Regional Trade Development Manager for Coca-Cola USA.
STEVEN D. CALDWELL, age 48, joined the Company in April 1987 as Vice President, Business Systems and Services. Prior to joining the Company, he was Director of MIS at Atlantic Soft Drink Co., a soft drink bottling subsidiary of Grand Metropolitan USA for four years.
WILLIAM B. ELMORE, age 42, is Vice President, Treasurer, a position he has held since June 1996. He was Vice President, Regional Manager for the Virginia Division, West Virginia Division and Tennessee Division, from November 1991 to June 1996. He was Vice President, Division Manager of the West Virginia Division from 1989-1991. He was Senior Director, Corporate Marketing from 1988-1989. Preceding that, he held various positions in sales and marketing in the Charlotte Division from 1985-1988. Before joining the Company in 1985, he was employed by Coca-Cola USA for seven years where he held several positions in their field sales organization.
NORMAN C. GEORGE, age 42, is Regional Vice President, Sales for the Carolinas South Region, a position he has held since November 1991. He served as Vice President, Division Manager of the Southern Division from 1988-1991. He served as Vice President, Division Manager of the Alabama Division from 1986-1988. From 1982-1986, he served as Director of Sales and Operations in the Northern Division. Prior to joining the Company in 1982, he was Sales Manager of the Dallas-Fort Worth Dr Pepper Bottling Company in Irving, Texas.
UMESH M. KASBEKAR, age 40, is Vice President, Planning and Administration, a position he has held since December 1994. He was Vice President, Planning from December 1988 until December 1994. He was first employed by the Company in 1983 and held various other positions with the Company from 1983 to 1988.
R. PHILIP KENNY, age 52, is Vice President, Human Resources, a position he has held since June 16, 1997. Prior to joining the Company in 1997, he was employed by BancOne Corporation, where he served as Director, Human Resources, Southwest Region from 1995 through 1997 and also served as Manager, Change Management and Employee Relations during the first half of 1997. From 1981 through 1995, Mr. Kenny served as Director of Human Resources for BancOne Texas N.A.
C. RAY MAYHALL, age 50, is Regional Vice President, Sales for the Georgia Division, Alabama Division and the Carolinas North Region, a position he has held since November 1991. He served as Vice President, Division Manager of the Northern Division from 1989-1991. Before joining the Company in 1989, he was Vice President, Sales and Marketing of Florida Coca-Cola Bottling Company, a position he had held since 1987. Prior to 1987, he was Division Manager of the Central Florida Division of Florida Coca-Cola Bottling Company for six years.
JAMES B. STUART, age 55, joined the Company in October 1990 as Vice President, Marketing. From 1987 until joining the Company in 1990, Mr. Stuart formed his own marketing company, serving a number of clients inside and outside the soft drink industry. During this period, he worked almost exclusively with the International Business Sector of The Coca-Cola Company. Mr. Stuart had been Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing with JTL Corporation from 1980 until such company was acquired by The Coca-Cola Company in 1986.
STEVEN D. WESTPHAL, age 43, is Vice President and Controller of the Company, a position he has held since November 1987. Prior to joining the Company, he was Vice President-Finance for Joyce Beverages, an independent bottler, beginning in January 1985. Prior to working for Joyce Beverages, he was Director of Corporate Planning for Mid-Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Inc. from December 1981 to December 1984.
PART II
Item 5
Item 5 -- Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
The Company has two classes of common stock outstanding, Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. The Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market tier of the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol COKE. The table below sets forth for the periods indicated the high and low reported sales prices per share of Common Stock. There is no established public trading market for the Class B Common Stock. Shares of Class B Common Stock are convertible on a share-for-share basis into shares of Common Stock.
The quarterly dividend rate of $.25 per share on both Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shares was maintained throughout 1995, 1996 and 1997.
Pursuant to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, no cash dividend or dividend of property or stock other than stock of the Company may be declared and paid, per share, on the Class B Common Stock unless a dividend of an amount greater than or equal to such cash or property or stock has been declared and paid on the Common Stock. Reference should be made to Article Fourth of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation for additional provisions relating to the relative dividend rights of holders of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.
The amount and frequency of future dividends will be determined by the Company's Board of Directors in light of the earnings and financial condition of the Company at such time, and no assurance can be given that dividends will be declared in the future.
The number of shareholders of record of the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, as of March 10, 1998, was 2,795 and 13, respectively.
Item 6
Item 6 -- Selected Financial Data
The following table sets forth certain selected financial data concerning the Company for the five years ended December 28, 1997. The data for the five years ended December 28, 1997 is unaudited but is derived from audited financial statements of the Company. This information should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" set forth in Item 7
Item 7 -- Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Introduction
The Company
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated ("the Company") is engaged in the production, marketing and distribution of products of The Coca-Cola Company, which include the most recognized brands in the world. The Company also distributes several other beverage brands. The Company's product offerings include carbonated soft drinks, teas, juices, isotonics and bottled water. Since 1984, the Company has expanded its franchise territory throughout the southeastern United States, primarily through acquisitions, increasing its net sales from $130 million in 1984 to over $802 million in 1997. The Company plans to grow in the future both through internal opportunities and through selected acquisitions. On January 21, 1998, the Company purchased the franchise rights of a Coca-Cola bottler in northwest Alabama whose territory is contiguous to the Company's Tennessee franchise territory. The Company is currently the second largest bottler of products of The Coca-Cola Company in the United States.
The Year in Review
The year was highlighted by strong volume growth in most of the Company's key channels of business. Franchise volume increased by approximately 8%, outpacing the U.S. average. Per capita consumption in the Company's franchise territory increased at a rate in excess of the average for the soft drink industry in the United States. Both basic and diluted earnings per share increased over the prior year. The Company placed a record amount of cold drink equipment during 1997, which should further strengthen an already strong business. All of these positive achievements were accomplished during a year that saw some of the most intense price competition in the history of the soft drink industry and resulted in a 2.5% decline in net selling price per unit.
Our continued success is attributable to many factors including great products, a strong relationship with The Coca-Cola Company, acquisitions, strong internal growth, solid operating performance and a work force of over 5,500 talented individuals working together as a team. The Company continues to focus on its key long-term objectives including increasing per capita consumption, operating cash flow and shareholder value.
Our relationship with The Coca-Cola Company continues to provide our customers and consumers with innovative products and packaging. In 1997, the Company introduced new products such as Surge and a cold-fill version of our line of Fruitopia products. New and exciting packaging offers our customers and consumers more options. Some of the new packaging includes 15 pack 20 oz PET bottles and 20 pack 12 oz cans. POWERaDE showed tremendous growth during 1997, with volume up more than 100%.
The Company repurchased approximately 930,000 shares of its Common Stock in three separate transactions between December 1996 and February 1997. The repurchase of Common Stock enabled the Company to post an increase in earnings per share in 1997, in spite of reduced net income. Management of the Company believes that the Common Stock repurchases will enhance long-term shareholder value.
On July 7, 1997, the Company issued $100 million of 7.20% debentures due 2009 pursuant to a $400 million shelf registration that was effective in October 1994. The proceeds from this offering were used primarily to repay amounts outstanding under the Company's Lines of Credit. The Lines of Credit were used as interim financing for the repurchase of Common Stock and the buyout of certain equipment leases.
The Company continued its strong commitment to expanding its cold drink business with significant capital expenditures. The cold drink market channel expands the availability of our products and generally provides a solid return on investment.
Significant Events of Prior Years
During the fourth quarter of 1996, the Company suspended its agreement to sell an undivided interest in a designated pool of trade accounts receivable for up to a maximum of $40 million. On December 31, 1995, the Company had sold $35 million of its trade accounts receivable and used the proceeds to reduce its outstanding bank long-term debt. The Company also suspended its $100 million commercial paper program during 1996.
On November 1, 1995, the Company issued $100 million of 6.85% debentures under its $400 million shelf registration for debt and equities filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1994. The proceeds from the issuance of the debentures were used to retire $87 million of the Company's Medium-Term Notes which were previously scheduled to mature between 1999 and 2002. In conjunction with the early retirement of the Medium-Term Notes, the Company recorded an after-tax extraordinary charge of $5.0 million or $.54 per share in 1995. This refinancing allowed the Company to take advantage of lower long-term rates available at the time.
On June 1, 1994, the Company executed a management agreement with South Atlantic Canners, Inc. ("SAC"), a manufacturing cooperative located in Bishopville, South Carolina. The Company is a member of the cooperative and receives a fee for managing the day-to-day operations of SAC pursuant to this 10-year management agreement. SAC significantly expanded its operations by adding two PET bottling lines. These new bottling lines supply a portion of the Company's volume requirements for PET product.
On July 2, 1993, the Company and The Coca-Cola Company formed Piedmont Coca-Cola Bottling Partnership ("Piedmont") to distribute and market soft drink products of The Coca-Cola Company and other third party licensors, primarily in certain portions of North Carolina and South Carolina. The Company produces a portion of the soft drink products for Piedmont at cost and receives a fee for managing the business of Piedmont pursuant to a management agreement. The Company and The Coca-Cola Company, through their respective subsidiaries, each beneficially own a 50% interest in Piedmont. The Company is accounting for its investment in Piedmont using the equity method of accounting.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
1997 Compared to 1996
Net Income
The Company reported net income of $15.3 million or basic net income per share of $1.82 for fiscal year 1997 compared to $16.2 million or $1.74 per share for fiscal year 1996. Diluted net income per share increased from $1.73 in 1996 to $1.79 in 1997. The slight decrease in net income was primarily due to a 2.5% reduction in net selling prices and higher interest costs associated with the Company's repurchase of its Common Stock. The repurchase of Common Stock enabled the Company to post an increase in both basic and diluted earnings per share, in spite of reduced net income.
Net Sales
The Company had record net sales in 1997, exceeding $800 million for the first time. Net sales for 1997 increased 4%, reflecting volume increase of 8% in franchise sales offset by a 2.5% decline in overall net selling prices and a reduction in sales to other bottlers. The Company continued to see strong broad-based growth across most brands and channels. Carbonated soft drink brands, including flagship brand Coca-Cola classic, showed solid growth. Sprite volume increased by almost 15%, the fourth consecutive year of double-digit volume growth. The Company's expanding non-carbonated beverage offerings also contributed to the solid volume growth in 1997. Volume in Cool from Nestea, Fruitopia and POWERaDE increased by more than 50% over the prior year.
Sales volume to other bottlers decreased by 11% during 1997 as compared to 1996 primarily due to South Atlantic Canners, rather than the Company, providing a larger percentage of products to Piedmont. Finished products are sold by the Company to Piedmont at cost.
Cost of Sales and Operating Expenses
Cost of Sales -- Cost of sales on a per case basis was virtually unchanged from 1996. The Company benefited from decreases in costs for some of its key raw materials and packaging materials used in its production process. These raw material cost decreases were offset by increased concentrate cost. The Company has agreements with its aluminum can suppliers which require the Company to purchase the majority of its aluminum can requirements for two of its four manufacturing facilities. These agreements, which extend through the end of 2000, also reduce the variability of the cost of cans for these two facilities.
Selling Expenses -- Selling expenses increased by approximately $5.4 million in 1997, primarily as a result of the significant increase in volume. Selling expenses on a per case basis declined by almost 5% during the year. Lease expense decreased by $4.0 million in 1997 primarily due to the buyout of certain leased equipment. The Company experienced a comparable increase in depreciation expense, which is discussed below. Also, net marketing program costs were reduced due to additional funding from The Coca-Cola Company for support of cold drink activities.
General and Administrative Expenses -- General and administrative expenses decreased by $2.0 million in 1997. In 1996, the Company recorded a non-cash, pre-tax charge of approximately $4.4 million related to a retirement benefit awarded to J. Frank Harrison, Jr. This retirement benefit was in recognition of his two decades of leadership as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Depreciation Expense -- Depreciation expense increased $5.1 million or 18% in 1997. The increase was primarily attributable to the buyout of $66.3 million of leased vending equipment in January 1997. The increase is also due to significant capital expenditures over the past several years.
Investment in Partnership
The Company's share of Piedmont's net loss in 1997 was $1.1 million, approximately the same as in 1996.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased by $7.1 million or 23% in 1997. The significant increase was due to increased levels of long-term debt as a result of the buyout of equipment leases for $66.3 million in January 1997 and the repurchase of approximately 930,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock for $43.6 million in late 1996 and early 1997. The Company's average borrowing cost for 1997 was 7.0% compared to 7.1% in 1996.
Other Income/Expense
The decrease in "other income (expense), net" for 1997 was due primarily to the termination of the Company's program to sell its trade accounts receivable in late 1996. The discount on the sale of trade accounts receivable was recorded as other expense in 1996 and 1995. Other expense included $1.7 million and $2.2 million in 1996 and 1995, respectively, related to the discount on the sale of trade accounts receivable.
Income Taxes
The effective tax rate for federal and state income taxes was approximately 37.1% in both 1997 and 1996. The difference between the effective rate and the statutory rate was due primarily to amortization of nondeductible goodwill, state income taxes, nondeductible premiums on officers' life insurance and other nondeductible expenses.
1996 Compared to 1995
Net Income
The Company reported net income of $16.2 million or basic net income per share of $1.74 for fiscal year 1996 compared to $10.5 million or $1.13 per share for fiscal year 1995. The 1996 results reflect a non-cash, after-tax charge of $2.7 million in the fourth quarter related to retirement benefits payable under an agreement with J. Frank Harrison, Jr., former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company. The 1995 results reflect an after-tax extraordinary charge of $5.0 million or $.54 per share on the early retirement of some of the Company's Medium-Term Notes. Net income in 1996 was higher than net income in 1995 due primarily to reductions in the costs of certain raw materials and packaging materials, lower interest rates on the Company's long-term debt and a reduced effective income tax rate.
Net Sales
Net sales for 1996 increased 2%, reflecting a volume increase of 4% in franchise sales offset by lower contract sales to other Coca-Cola bottlers. The Company continued to see strong growth in its flagship brands, Coca-Cola classic and diet Coke. Sprite volume increased by 20% over the prior year. Mello Yello continued to enjoy strong growth with a volume increase of over 7% from 1995. Sales to other bottlers decreased by $14.5 million during 1996 as compared to 1995 primarily due to South Atlantic Canners, rather than the Company, selling certain products to Piedmont.
Cost of Sales and Operating Expenses
Gross margin increased by 7.5% from 1995. The Company benefited from decreases in costs for some of its key raw materials and packaging materials. The increase in gross margin was also attributable to lower contract sales which have lower margins.
Selling expenses increased from approximately 26% of net franchise sales in 1995 to approximately 28% of net franchise sales in 1996. The increase in selling expenses was primarily due to higher employment costs, expenses related to sales development programs and special marketing costs related to the 1996 Summer Olympic Games.
Depreciation expense increased 6.7% as a result of significant capital spending in the past three years, primarily for manufacturing improvements related to packaging changes and improvements to distribution facilities.
Investment in Partnership
The Company's share of Piedmont's net loss decreased to $1.2 million in 1996 from $2.1 million in 1995. The decreased loss was primarily due to additional income tax benefits from Piedmont's wholly owned corporate subsidiary.
Interest Expense
Interest expense decreased by 8.2% in 1996 due to lower average interest rates on the Company's long-term debt and a reduction of debt balances for the majority of 1996. Lower interest rates were due primarily to the retirement of $87 million of Medium-Term Notes in the fourth quarter of 1995. The Company's average borrowing cost for 1996 was 7.1% compared to 7.3% in 1995.
Other Income/Expense
The $1.0 million change in "other income (expense), net" in 1996 was due to losses on the sale of certain production equipment offset partially by a reduction in the use of the Company's trade accounts receivable sale program.
Income Taxes
The effective tax rate for federal and state income taxes was approximately 37.1% in 1996 versus approximately 38.4% in 1995. The difference between the effective rate and the statutory rate was due primarily to amortization of nondeductible goodwill, state income taxes, nondeductible premiums on officers' life insurance and other nondeductible expenses.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
Working capital decreased by $11.0 million to $19.8 million at December 28, 1997 compared to $30.8 million at December 29, 1996. The decrease in working capital is primarily due to an increase in the current portion of long-term debt of $11.9 million and an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $11.5 million, partially offset by an increase in inventories of $8.0 million and an increase in trade accounts receivable of $4.3 million. The increase in inventories is related primarily to the increase in sales volume, the timing of raw material purchases and an increase in the number of product offerings. The increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities is due principally to the purchases of raw materials previously discussed. The increase in trade accounts receivable is consistent with the growth in net sales during 1997.
Total debt increased to $505.8 million at December 28, 1997 compared to $439.6 million at December 29, 1996. The increase is principally due to the January 1997 buyout of $66.3 million of equipment leases and the completion of a Common Stock repurchase program that was initiated in late 1996.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Capital Resources
Sources of capital for the Company include operating cash flows, bank borrowings, issuance of public or private debt and the issuance of equity securities. Management believes that the Company, through these sources, has sufficient financial resources available to maintain its current operations and provide for its current capital expenditure and working capital requirements, scheduled debt payments, interest and income tax liabilities and dividends for shareholders.
Investing Activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment during 1997 were $33.8 million, excluding the $66.3 million buyout of leased vending equipment. The Company entered into a new operating lease agreement in April 1997 providing financing for the leasing of equipment, primarily fleet and vending assets. The Company used this agreement to lease approximately $67 million of equipment as of December 28, 1997.
Leasing is used for certain capital additions when considered cost effective related to other sources of capital. Total lease expense in 1997 was $23.0 million compared to $27.0 million in 1996. The decline in lease expense for 1997 is primarily due to the buyout of approximately $66.3 million of leases for vending equipment on January 14, 1997. Depreciation expense increased during the year due to this lease buyout as discussed previously.
At the end of 1997, the Company had no material commitments for the purchase of capital assets other than those related to normal replacement of equipment. The Company considers the acquisition of additional franchise territories on an ongoing basis.
Financing Activities
The Company has a $400 million shelf registration for debt and equity securities that was effective in October, 1994. On November 1, 1995, the Company issued $100 million of 6.85% debentures due 2007 pursuant to this shelf registration. The net proceeds from this issuance were used to repurchase $87 million of the Company's Medium-Term Notes due between 1999 and 2002 and to repay other outstanding borrowings. On July 7, 1997, the Company issued an additional $100 million of 7.20% debentures due 2009 under this shelf registration. The proceeds from this offering were used primarily to repay amounts outstanding under the Company's Lines of Credit. The Lines of Credit were used as interim financing for the repurchase of Company Common Stock and the buyout of certain equipment leases.
The Company borrows from time to time under informal lines of credit from various banks. On December 28, 1997, the Company had $246 million available under these lines, of which $10.3 million was outstanding. Loans under these lines are made at the sole discretion of the banks at rates negotiated at the time of borrowing.
In December 1997, the Company extended the maturity of a revolving credit agreement totaling $170 million to December 2002. The agreement contains several covenants that establish minimum ratio requirements related to debt, interest expense and cash flow. A commitment fee of 1/8% per year on the average daily unused amount of the banks' commitment is payable quarterly. There were no amounts outstanding under this facility as of December 28, 1997.
Interest Rate Hedging
The Company periodically uses interest rate hedging products to cost effectively modify risk from interest rate fluctuations in its underlying debt. The Company has historically altered its fixed/floating rate mix based upon anticipated operating cash flows of the Company relative to its debt level and the Company's ability to absorb increases in interest rates. Sensitivity analyses are performed to review the impact on the Company's financial position and coverage of various interest rate movements. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for trading purposes nor does it use leveraged financial instruments.
After taking into account all of the interest rate hedging activities, the weighted average interest rate of the debt portfolio as of December 28, 1997 is 7.1% compared to 7.2% at the end of 1996. The Company's overall weighted average interest rate on its long-term debt was 7.0%, 7.1% and 7.3% for 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Approximately 50% of the Company's debt portfolio of $505.8 million was subject to changes in short-term interest rates as of December 28, 1997.
Year 2000
The Company has conducted a review of its computer systems to identify the systems that could be affected by the "Year 2000" issue. The Year 2000 problem is the result of computer programs being written using two digits (rather than four) to define the applicable year. Any of the Company's programs that have time-sensitive software may recognize a date using "00" as the year 1900 rather than the year 2000. This could result in system failures or miscalculations. The Company presently believes that, with modifications to existing software or conversion to new software, the Year 2000 problem will not pose significant operational problems for the Company's computer systems as so modified or converted. The Company is also surveying critical suppliers and customers to determine the status of their Year 2000 compliance programs.
At this time, the Company has not determined the total cost of modifying or replacing its software. However, management does not believe that these costs will materially impact the Company's results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.
Item 8
Item 8 -- Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated (the "Company") is engaged in the production, marketing and distribution of carbonated and noncarbonated beverages, primarily products of The Coca-Cola Company. The Company operates in portions of 12 states, principally in the southeastern region of the United States.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Acquisitions recorded as purchases are included in the statement of operations from the date of acquisition.
The fiscal years presented are the 52-week periods ended December 28, 1997, December 29, 1996 and December 31, 1995. The Company's fiscal year ends on the Sunday closest to December 31.
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year classifications.
The Company's more significant accounting policies are as follows:
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, cash in banks and cash equivalents, which are highly liquid debt instruments with maturities of less than 90 days.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, primarily determined on the last-in, first-out method ("LIFO"), or market.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Additions and major replacements or betterments are added to the assets at cost. Maintenance and repair costs and minor replacements are charged to expense when incurred. When assets are replaced or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and the gains or losses, if any, are reflected in income.
Investment in Piedmont Coca-Cola Bottling Partnership
The Company beneficially owns a 50% interest in Piedmont Coca-Cola Bottling Partnership ("Piedmont"). The Company accounts for its interest in Piedmont using the equity method of accounting.
With respect to Piedmont, sales of soft drink products at cost, management fee revenue and the Company's share of Piedmont's results from operations are included in "Net sales." See Note 2 for additional information.
Income Taxes
The Company provides deferred income taxes for the tax effects of temporary differences between the financial reporting and income tax bases of the Company's assets and liabilities.
Benefit Plans
The Company has a noncontributory pension plan covering substantially all nonunion employees and one noncontributory pension plan covering certain union employees. Costs of the plans are charged to current operations and consist of several components of net periodic pension cost based on various actuarial assumptions regarding future experience of the plans. In addition, certain other union employees are covered by plans provided by their respective union organizations. The Company expenses amounts as paid in accordance with union agreements. The Company recognizes the cost of postretirement benefits, which consist principally of medical benefits, during employees' periods of active service.
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued
1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -- Continued
Amounts recorded for benefit plans reflect estimates related to future interest rates, investment returns, employee turnover, wage increases and health care costs. The Company reviews all assumptions and estimates on an ongoing basis.
Intangible Assets and Excess of Cost Over Fair Value of Net Assets of Businesses Acquired
Identifiable intangible assets resulting from the acquisition of Coca-Cola bottling franchises are being amortized on a straight-line basis over periods ranging from 17 to 40 years. The excess of cost over fair value of net assets of businesses acquired is being amortized on a straight-line basis over 40 years.
The Company continually monitors conditions that may affect the carrying value of its intangible assets. When conditions indicate potential impairment of an intangible asset, the Company will undertake necessary market studies and reevaluate projected future cash flows associated with the intangible asset. When projected future cash flows, not discounted for the time value of money, are less than the carrying value of the intangible asset, the impaired asset is written down to its net realizable value.
Net Income Per Share
In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, Earnings per Share ("SFAS 128"). SFAS 128 requires disclosure in annual financial statements for periods ending after December 15, 1997 of basic earnings per share ("EPS") and diluted EPS. Basic EPS excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income available for common shareholders by the weighted average number of Common and Class B Common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS gives effect to all securities representing potential common shares that were dilutive and outstanding during the period. In the calculation of diluted EPS, the denominator includes the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the Company's outstanding stock options had been exercised.
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company uses financial instruments to manage its exposure to movements in interest rates. The use of these financial instruments modifies the exposure of these risks with the intent to reduce the risk to the Company. The Company does not use financial instruments for trading purposes, nor does it use leveraged financial instruments.
Deferred gains or losses on interest rate swap terminations are amortized over the lives of the initial agreements as an adjustment to interest expense. Amounts receivable or payable under interest rate swap agreements are included in other assets or other liabilities. Amounts paid or received under interest rate swap agreements during their lives are recorded as adjustments to interest expense.
Premiums paid for interest rate cap agreements are amortized to interest expense over the terms of the agreements. Amounts receivable or payable under interest rate cap agreements are included in other assets or other liabilities.
2. INVESTMENT IN PIEDMONT COCA-COLA BOTTLING PARTNERSHIP
On July 2, 1993, the Company and The Coca-Cola Company formed Piedmont to distribute and market soft drink products primarily in certain portions of North Carolina and South Carolina. The Company and The Coca-Cola Company, through their respective subsidiaries, each beneficially own a 50% interest in Piedmont. The Company provides a portion of the soft drink products for Piedmont at cost and receives a fee for managing the operations of Piedmont pursuant to a management agreement.
Subsidiaries of the Company made an initial capital contribution to Piedmont of $70 million in the aggregate. The capital contribution made by such subsidiaries was composed of approximately $21.7 million in cash and of bottling operations and certain assets used in connection with the Company's Wilson, North Carolina and Greenville and Beaufort, South Carolina territories. The cash contributed to Piedmont by the Company's subsidiaries was provided from the Company's available credit facilities. The Company sold other territories to Piedmont for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $118 million. Assets were sold or contributed at their approximate carrying values. Proceeds from the sale of territories to
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued
2. INVESTMENT IN PIEDMONT COCA-COLA BOTTLING PARTNERSHIP -- Continued
Piedmont, net of the Company's cash contribution, totaled approximately $96 million and were used to reduce the Company's long-term debt.
Summarized financial information for Piedmont is as follows:
3. INVENTORIES
Inventories are summarized as follows:
Substantially all merchandise inventories are valued by the LIFO method. The amounts included above for inventories valued by the LIFO method were greater than replacement or current cost by approximately $2.8 million and $2.1 million on December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996, respectively, as a result of inventory premiums associated with certain acquisitions.
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued
4. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
The principal categories and estimated useful lives of property, plant and equipment were as follows:
5. IDENTIFIABLE INTANGIBLE ASSETS
The principal categories and estimated useful lives of identifiable intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization, were as follows:
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued
6. LONG-TERM DEBT
Long-term debt is summarized as follows:
The principal maturities of long-term debt outstanding on December 28, 1997 were as follows:
In December 1997, the Company extended the maturity date of the revolving credit agreement, totaling $170 million, to December 2002. The agreement contains several covenants which establish ratio requirements related to debt, interest expense and cash flow. A facility fee of 1/8% per year on the banks' commitment is payable quarterly. There was no outstanding balance under this facility as of December 28, 1997.
The Company borrows from time to time under informal lines of credit from various banks. On December 28, 1997, the Company had approximately $246 million of credit available under these lines, of which $10.3 million was outstanding. Loans under these lines are made at the sole discretion of the banks at rates negotiated at the time of borrowing. It is the Company's intent to renew such borrowings as they mature. To the extent that these borrowings and the borrowings under the revolving credit facility described above do not exceed the amount available under the Company's $170 million revolving credit facility, they are classified as noncurrent liabilities.
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued
6. LONG-TERM DEBT -- Continued
On November 20, 1995, the Company entered into a $170 million term loan agreement with $85 million maturing in November 2002 and $85 million maturing in November 2003. This loan was used to repay two $60 million loans and other bank debt. This agreement was amended in July 1997 to extend the loan maturity dates to July 2004 and July 2005, respectively.
On October 12, 1994, a $400 million shelf registration for debt and equity securities filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission became effective and the securities thereunder became available for issuance. On July 7, 1997 the Company issued $100 million of 7.20% debentures due in 2009. The net proceeds from this issuance were used principally for refinancing existing indebtedness with the remainder used to repay other bank debt. On November 1, 1995, the Company issued $100 million of 6.85% debentures due 2007 pursuant to such registration. The net proceeds from this issuance were used to repurchase $87 million of the Company's Medium-Term Notes with the remainder used to repay other bank debt. An after-tax extraordinary charge of $5.0 million related to the premium paid on this repurchase was recorded in the fourth quarter of 1995.
Prior to 1997, the Company had an arrangement under which it had the right to sell an undivided interest in a designated pool of trade accounts receivable for up to a maximum of $40 million. This arrangement was suspended during the fourth quarter of 1996. The discount on sales of trade accounts receivable was $1.7 million and $2.2 million in 1996 and 1995, respectively, and is included in "other income (expense), net."
After taking into account all of the interest rate hedging activities, the Company has a weighted average interest rate of 7.1% for the debt portfolio as of December 28, 1997 compared to 7.2% at December 29, 1996. The Company's overall weighted average borrowing rate on its long-term debt was 7.0%, 7.1% and 7.3% for 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
As of December 28, 1997, after taking into account all of the interest rate hedging activities, approximately $252.9 million or 50% of the total debt portfolio was subject to changes in short-term interest rates.
If average interest rates for the Company's debt portfolio increased by 1%, annual interest expense would have increased by approximately $2.5 million and net income for the year ended December 28, 1997 would have been reduced by approximately $1.6 million.
7. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company uses interest rate hedging products to modify risk from interest rate fluctuations in its underlying debt. The Company has historically used derivative financial instruments from time to time to achieve a targeted fixed/floating rate mix. This target is based upon anticipated operating cash flows of the Company relative to its debt level and the Company's ability to absorb increases in interest rates.
The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes nor does it use leveraged financial instruments. All of the Company's outstanding interest rate swap agreements are LIBOR-based.
Derivative financial instruments are summarized as follows:
The Company had four interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $220 million at December 28, 1997, compared to $120 million as of December 29, 1996. There were two new interest rate swap transactions during 1997. In October 1997,
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued
7. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS -- Continued
the Company added a $35 million interest rate cap with a strike rate of 7%. The counterparties to these contractual arrangements are a group of major financial institutions with which the Company also has other financial relationships. The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by these counterparties. However, the Company does not anticipate nonperformance by the other parties.
In January 1998, the Company terminated two interest rate swaps with a total notional amount of $100 million. The gain of $6.5 million resulting from this termination will be amortized over 11.5 years, the remaining term of the initial swap agreements.
8. FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating the fair values of its financial instruments:
Public Debt
The fair values of the Company's public debt are based on estimated market prices.
Non-Public Variable Rate Long-Term Debt
The carrying amounts of the Company's variable rate borrowings approximate their fair values.
Non-Public Fixed Rate Long-Term Debt
The fair values of the Company's fixed rate long-term borrowings are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses based on the Company's current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements.
Derivative Financial Instruments
Fair values for the Company's interest rate swaps are based on current settlement values.
The carrying amounts and fair values of the Company's balance sheet and off-balance-sheet instruments were as follows:
The fair values of the interest rate swaps at December 29, 1996 represent the estimated amounts the Company would have had to pay to terminate these agreements. The fair values of the interest rate swaps and the interest rate cap at December 28, 1997 represent the estimated amounts the Company would have received upon termination of these agreements.
9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Operating lease payments are charged to expense as incurred. Such rental expenses included in the consolidated statements of operations were $23.0 million, $27.0 million and $23.3 million for 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued
9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES -- Continued
The following is a summary of future minimum lease payments for all operating leases as of December 28, 1997:
The Company entered into a new operating lease agreement in April 1997 providing financing for the leasing of fleet and vending equipment. The Company used this financing to lease approximately $67 million of equipment during 1997. Upon termination of the lease, the Company can either exercise its purchase option or the equipment can be sold to a third party. The lease provides for a residual value of approximately 50% of the original equipment cost at the end of the lease term, which the Company expects to approximate fair market value. Accordingly, the table of future minimum lease payments above excludes any payment related to the residual value.
The Company is a member of a cooperative from which it is obligated to purchase a specified number of cases of finished product on an annual basis. The current annual purchase commitment under this agreement is approximately $40 million.
The Company guarantees a portion of the debt for one cooperative from which the Company purchases plastic bottles. The Company also guarantees a portion of debt for South Atlantic Canners, Inc., a manufacturing cooperative that is being managed by the Company. See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information concerning these financial guarantees. The total debt guarantees on December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996 were $31.1 million and $32 million, respectively.
The Company has entered into purchase agreements for aluminum cans on an annual basis through 2000. The annual purchase commitment under these agreements is approximately $40 million.
The Company is involved in various claims and legal proceedings which have arisen in the ordinary course of its business. The Company believes that the ultimate disposition of these claims will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, cash flows or results of operations of the Company.
10. INCOME TAXES
The provision for income taxes on income before extraordinary charge consisted of the following:
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued
10. INCOME TAXES -- Continued
Income tax benefits of $3.1 million were recorded in 1995 related to the extraordinary charge associated with the early retirement of long-term debt at a premium.
Deferred income taxes are recorded based upon differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities and available tax credit carryforwards. Temporary differences and carryforwards that comprised deferred income tax assets and liabilities were as follows:
Net current deferred tax assets of $6.2 million and $5.5 million were included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996, respectively.
Reported income tax expense is reconciled to the amount computed on the basis of income before income taxes and extraordinary charge at the statutory rate as follows:
The Company had $3.5 million of investment tax credits available to reduce future income tax payments for federal income tax purposes on December 28, 1997. These credits expire in varying amounts through 2001.
On December 28, 1997, the Company had $47 million and $80 million of federal and state net operating losses, respectively, available to reduce future income taxes. The net operating loss carryforwards expire in varying amounts through 2007.
11. CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS
The Company repurchased 929,440 shares of its Common Stock for $43.6 million in a series of transactions between December 1996 and February 1997. The share repurchases included repurchase of 275,490 shares of Common Stock for approximately $13.1 million from The Coca-Cola Company under a contractual arrangement to maintain The Coca-Cola Company's equity ownership at a prescribed level.
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued
11. CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS -- Continued
Shareholders with Class B Common Stock are entitled to 20 votes per share compared to one vote per share on the Common Stock. Dividends on the Class B Common Stock are permitted to equal, but not exceed, dividends on the Common Stock.
On March 8, 1989, the Company granted J. Frank Harrison, Jr. an option for the purchase of 100,000 shares of Common Stock exercisable at the closing market price of the stock on the day of grant. The closing market price of the stock on March 8, 1989 was $27.00 per share. The option is exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time at the election of Mr. Harrison, Jr. over a period of 15 years from the date of grant. This option has not been exercised with respect to any such shares.
On August 9, 1989, the Company granted J. Frank Harrison, III an option for the purchase of 150,000 shares of Common Stock exercisable at the closing market price of the stock on the day of grant. The closing market price of the stock on August 9, 1989 was $29.75 per share. The option may be exercised, in whole or in part, during a period of 15 years beginning on the date of grant. The option is currently exercisable with respect to 142,500 shares and becomes exercisable with respect to an additional 7,500 shares annually on December 31. This option has not been exercised with respect to any such shares.
12. BENEFIT PLANS
Pension plan expense related to the two Company-sponsored pension plans for 1997, 1996, and 1995 was $1.5 million, $2.4 million and $2.7 million, respectively, including the pro rata share of past service costs, which are being amortized over nine years. In addition, certain employees are covered by pension plans administered by unions.
Retirement benefits under the Company's principal pension plan are based on the employee's length of service, average compensation over the five consecutive years which gives the highest average compensation and the average of the Social Security taxable wage base during the 35-year period before a participant reaches Social Security retirement age. Contributions to the plan are based on the projected unit credit actuarial funding method and are limited to the amounts that are currently deductible for tax purposes.
The following table sets forth the status of the two Company-sponsored plans:
Under the requirements of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87, "Employers' Accounting for Pensions," an additional minimum pension liability for certain plans, representing the excess of accumulated benefits over plan assets, was recognized as of January 2, 1994. The increase in liabilities was charged directly to shareholders' equity. As of December 28, 1997 there was no minimum pension liability. As of December 29, 1996 the minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income taxes, was $104,000.
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued
12. BENEFIT PLANS -- Continued
Net periodic pension cost for the Company-sponsored pension plans included the following:
The actuarial assumptions that were used for the Company's principal pension plan calculations were as follows:
The Company provides a 401(k) Savings Plan for substantially all of its nonunion employees. Under provisions of the Savings Plan, an employee is vested with respect to Company contributions upon the completion of two years of service with the Company. The total cost for this benefit in 1997, 1996 and 1995 was $1.7 million, $1.8 million and $1.6 million, respectively.
The Company recognizes the cost of postretirement benefits, which consist principally of medical benefits, during employees' periods of active service. The Company does not pre-fund these benefits and has the right to modify or terminate certain of these plans in the future.
The Company currently provides employee leasing and management services to employees of Piedmont. Piedmont employees participate in the Company's employee benefit plans. During 1996, the obligation for postretirement benefits payable by Piedmont of $5.8 million was transferred to the Company in exchange for a note receivable from Piedmont. The transfer was made to facilitate administration of the payment of postretirement liabilities.
The components of postretirement benefit expense were as follows:
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued
12. BENEFIT PLANS -- Continued
The accrued postretirement benefit obligation was comprised of the following:
The weighted average health care cost trend rate used in measuring the postretirement benefit expense was 7.0% in 1997 gradually declining to 5.25% in 1999 and remaining at that level thereafter. A 1% increase in this annual trend rate would have increased the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation on December 28, 1997 by approximately $4.2 million and postretirement benefit expense in 1997 would have increased by approximately $.5 million. The weighted average discount rates used to estimate the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation were 7.5% and 8.25% as of December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996, respectively.
13. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company's business consists primarily of the production, marketing and distribution of soft drink products of The Coca-Cola Company, which is the sole owner of the secret formulas under which the primary components (either concentrates or syrups) of its soft drink products are manufactured. Accordingly, the Company purchases a substantial majority of its requirements of concentrates and syrups from The Coca-Cola Company in the ordinary course of its business. The Company paid The Coca-Cola Company approximately $198 million, $185 million and $186 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively, for sweetener, syrup, concentrate and other miscellaneous purchases. Additionally, the Company engages in a variety of marketing programs, local media advertising and similar arrangements to promote the sale of products of The Coca-Cola Company in territories operated by the Company. Total direct marketing support provided to the Company by The Coca-Cola Company was approximately $47 million, $36 million and $36 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. In addition, the Company paid approximately $25 million, $20 million and $18 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively, for local media and marketing program expense pursuant to cooperative advertising and cooperative marketing arrangements with The Coca-Cola Company.
The Company has a production arrangement with Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. ("CCE") to buy and sell finished product at cost. The Coca-Cola Company has a significant equity interest in the Company and CCE. Sales to CCE under this agreement were $22.0 million, $21.5 million and $23.3 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Purchases from CCE under this arrangement were $15.3 million, $14.8 million and $13.4 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
In December 1996, the Board of Directors awarded a retirement benefit to J. Frank Harrison, Jr. for his past service to the Company. The Company recorded a non-cash, after-tax charge of $2.7 million in the fourth quarter of 1996 related to this agreement. Additionally, the Company entered into an agreement for consulting services with J. Frank Harrison, Jr. beginning in 1997. Payments in 1997 related to this consulting services agreement totaled $200,000.
On July 2, 1993, the Company and The Coca-Cola Company formed Piedmont. The Company and The Coca-Cola Company, through their respective subsidiaries, each beneficially own a 50% interest in Piedmont. The Company provides a portion of the soft drink products for Piedmont at cost and receives a fee for managing the operations of Piedmont pursuant to a management agreement. The Company sold product to Piedmont during 1997, 1996 and 1995 at cost, totaling $42.6 million, $51.3 million and $62.5 million, respectively. The Company received $12.7 million, $11.4 million and $10.7
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued
13. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS -- Continued
million for management services pursuant to its management agreement with Piedmont for 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Also, the Company subleased various fleet and vending equipment to Piedmont at cost. These sublease rentals amounted to approximately $2.7 million, $1.5 million and $.8 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. In addition, Piedmont subleased various fleet and vending equipment to the Company at cost. These sublease rentals amounted to approximately $.9 million, $.6 million and $.2 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
On November 30, 1992, the Company and the owner of the Company's Snyder Production Center in Charlotte, North Carolina agreed to the early termination of the Company's lease. Harrison Limited Partnership One purchased the property contemporaneously with the termination of the lease, and the Company and Harrison Limited Partnership One entered into an agreement pursuant to which the Company leased the property for a 10-year term beginning on December 1, 1992. A North Carolina corporation owned entirely by J. Frank Harrison, Jr. serves as sole general partner of the limited partnership. The sole limited partner of this limited partnership is a trust as to which J. Frank Harrison, III and Reid M. Henson are co-trustees. The annual base rent the Company is obligated to pay for its lease of the Snyder Production Center is subject to adjustment for increases in the Consumer Price Index and for increases or decreases in interest rates, using LIBOR as the measurement device. Rent expense under this lease totaled $2.6 million each year in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
On June 1, 1993, the Company entered into a 10-year lease agreement with Beacon Investment Corporation related to the Company's headquarters office building. Beacon Investment Corporation's sole shareholder is J. Frank Harrison, III. The annual base rent the Company is obligated to pay under this lease is subject to adjustment for increases in the Consumer Price Index and for increases or decreases in interest rates, using LIBOR as the measurement device. Rent expense under this lease totaled $2.1 million, $1.9 million and $1.8 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
The Company is a shareholder in two entities from which it purchases substantially all its requirements for plastic bottles. Net purchases from these entities were approximately $43 million, $46 million and $52 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. In connection with its participation in one of these cooperatives, the Company has guaranteed a portion of the cooperative's debt. On December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996, such guarantee amounted to approximately $20.0 million.
The Company is a member of South Atlantic Canners, Inc., ("SAC"), a manufacturing cooperative. SAC sells finished products to the Company and Piedmont at cost. The Company also manages the operations of SAC pursuant to a management agreement. Management fees from SAC were $1.2 million, $1.4 million and $1.0 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Also, the Company has guaranteed a portion of debt for SAC. Such guarantees were approximately $10.5 million and $12.0 million as of December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996, respectively.
The Company previously leased vending equipment from Coca-Cola Financial Corporation ("CCFC"), a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company. During 1996, the Company made lease payments to CCFC totaling $6.9 million. On January 14, 1997, the Company purchased all of the equipment under leases with CCFC for approximately $66.3 million.
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued
14. EARNINGS PER SHARE
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted income before extraordinary charge per share:
15. RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Approximately 90% of the Company's sales are products of The Coca-Cola Company, which is the sole supplier of the concentrate required to manufacture these products. Additionally, the Company purchases virtually all of its requirements for sweetener from The Coca-Cola Company. The remaining 10% of the Company's sales are products of various other beverage companies. The Company has franchise contracts under which it has various requirements to meet. Failure to meet the requirements of these franchise contracts could result in the loss of distribution rights for the respective product.
The Company currently obtains all of its aluminum cans from two domestic suppliers. The Company currently obtains all of its PET bottles from two domestic cooperatives. The inability of either of these aluminum can or PET bottle suppliers to meet the Company's requirement for containers could result in short-term shortages until alternative sources of supply could be located.
Certain liabilities of the Company are subject to risk of changes in both long-term and short-term interest rates. These liabilities include floating rate debt, leases with payments determined on floating interest rates, postretirement benefit obligations and the Company's nonunion pension liability.
Less than 10% of the Company's labor force is currently covered by collective bargaining agreements. Several collective bargaining contracts expire during 1998. The Company anticipates that new labor agreements will be negotiated for all locations with contracts expiring in 1998.
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued
16. SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Changes in current assets and current liabilities affecting cash, net of effects of acquisitions, were as follows:
Cash payments for interest and income taxes were as follows:
17. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
Set forth below are unaudited quarterly financial data for the fiscal years ended December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996.
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- Continued
17. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) -- Continued
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the index appearing under Item 14(a) (1) and (2) of this filing present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated and its subsidiaries at December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 28, 1997, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Charlotte, North Carolina February 16, 1998
The financial statement schedule required by Regulation S-X is set forth in response to Item 14 below.
The supplementary data required by Item 302 of Regulation S-K is set forth in Note 17 to the financial statements.
Item 9
Item 9 -- Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
Not applicable.
PART III
Item 10
Item 10 -- Directors and Executive Officers of the Company
For information with respect to the executive officers of the Company, see "Executive Officers of the Registrant" at the end of Part I of this Report. For information with respect to the Directors of the Company, see the "Election of Directors" and "Certain Transactions" sections of the Proxy Statement for the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is incorporated herein by reference. For information with respect to Section 16 reports for directors and executive officers of the Company, see the "Election of Directors -- Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance" section of the Proxy Statement for the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Item 11
Item 11 -- Executive Compensation
For information with respect to executive compensation, see the "Executive Compensation" section of the Proxy Statement for the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is incorporated herein by reference (other than the subsections entitled "Report of the Compensation Committee on Annual Compensation of Executive Officers" and "Common Stock Performance," which are specifically excluded from such incorporation).
Item 12
Item 12 -- Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
For information with respect to security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management, see the "Principal Shareholders" and "Election of Directors -- Beneficial Ownership of Management" sections of the Proxy Statement for the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13
Item 13 -- Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
For information with respect to certain relationships and related transactions, see the "Certain Transactions" and "Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation" sections of the Proxy Statement for the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
Item 14
Item 14 -- Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K
A. List of Documents filed as part of this report.
1. Financial Statements
Report of Independent Accountants Consolidated Balance Sheets Consolidated Statements of Operations Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Financial Statement Schedule
Schedule II -- Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves
All other financial statements and schedules not listed have been omitted because the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto, or is not applicable or required.
3. Listing of Exhibits:
- --------- * Carolina Coca-Cola Bottling Partnership's name was changed to Piedmont Coca-Cola Bottling Partnership.
** Management contracts and compensatory plans and arrangements required to be filed as exhibits to this form pursuant to Item 14(c) of this report.
B. Reports on Form 8-K During the fourth quarter of 1997, the Company did not file any current reports on Form 8-K.
Schedule II COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES
(IN THOUSANDS)
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED (REGISTRANT)
Date: March 25, 1998
By: /s/ J. FRANK HARRISON, III ------------------------------------- J. Frank Harrison, III Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.