Form 10-K
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006

Commission file number 0-9286

 

Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

56-0950585

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

4100 Coca-Cola Plaza, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

(704) 557-4400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


 

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value   The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC

 

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes  ¨    No  x

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes  ¨    No  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer” and “large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  ¨                              Accelerated filer  x                               Non-accelerated filer  ¨  

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  ¨    No  x

 

State the aggregate market value of voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

 

     Market Value as of July 2, 2006

Common Stock, $l.00 Par Value

   $236,388,115

Class B Common Stock, $l.00 Par Value

   *

 

* No market exists for the shares of Class B Common Stock, which is neither registered under Section 12 of the Act nor subject to Section 15(d) of the Act. The Class B Common Stock is convertible into Common Stock on a share-for-share basis at the option of the holder.

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class

   Outstanding as of February 28, 2007

Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value

   6,643,177

Class B Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value

   2,480,152

 

Documents Incorporated by Reference

Portions of Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act with respect to the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

   Part III, Items 10-14

 



Table of Contents

Table of Contents

 

          Page

Part I

     

Item 1.

   Business    1

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors    10

Item 1B.

   Unresolved Staff Comments    14

Item 2.

   Properties    14

Item 3.

   Legal Proceedings    15

Item 4.

   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    16
   Executive Officers of the Company    16

Part II

     

Item 5.

   Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities    18

Item 6.

   Selected Financial Data    20

Item 7.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    21

Item 7A.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    49

Item 8.

   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    51

Item 9.

   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    100

Item 9A.

   Controls and Procedures    100

Item 9B.

   Other Information    100

Part III

     

Item 10.

   Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance    101

Item 11.

   Executive Compensation    101

Item 12.

   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters    101

Item 13.

   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence    101

Item 14.

   Principal Accountant Fees and Services    101

Part IV

     

Item 15.

   Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules    102
   Signatures    109


Table of Contents

PART I

 

Item 1.    Business

 

Introduction

 

Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, a Delaware corporation (together with its majority-owned subsidiaries, the “Company”), produces, markets and distributes nonalcoholic beverages, primarily products of The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, Georgia (“The Coca-Cola Company”) which include some of the most recognized and popular beverage brands in the world. The Company, which was incorporated in 1980, and its predecessors have been in the nonalcoholic beverage manufacturing and distribution business since 1902.

 

The Company is the second largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. Since 2000, the Company has placed significant emphasis on new product innovation and product line extensions as a strategy to increase overall revenue. Additionally, the Company considers opportunities for acquiring additional territories on an ongoing basis. To achieve its goals, further purchases and sales of bottling rights and entities possessing such rights and other related transactions designed to facilitate such purchases and sales may occur.

 

The Coca-Cola Company currently owns approximately 27% of the Company’s total outstanding Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on a combined basis. J. Frank Harrison, III, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is party to a Voting Agreement and Irrevocable Proxy with The Coca-Cola Company pursuant to which, among other things, Mr. Harrison, III has been granted an Irrevocable Proxy for life concerning the shares of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock owned by The Coca-Cola Company. Mr. Harrison, III currently owns or controls approximately 92% of the combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.

 

General

 

The Company holds Bottle Contracts and Allied Bottle Contracts under which it produces and markets, in certain regions, carbonated nonalcoholic beverage products of The Coca-Cola Company.

 

The Company also holds Noncarbonated Beverage Contracts under which it distributes and markets in certain regions noncarbonated beverages such as POWERade, Dasani, Dasani flavors, Minute Maid Adult Refreshments and Minute Maid Juices To Go. The Company holds contracts to produce and market Dr Pepper in some of its regions. The Company also distributes and markets various other products, including Full Throttle, Tab Energy, Cinnabon Premium Coffee Lattes and Sundrop, in one or more of the Company’s regions under agreements with the companies that hold and license the use of their trademarks for these beverages. Beginning in 2007, the Company began distribution of two of its own products, Respect and Tum-E Yummies. In addition, the Company also produces soft drinks for other Coca-Cola bottlers. In some instances, the Company distributes beverages without a written agreement.

 

The Company’s principal soft drink is Coca-Cola classic. In each of the last three fiscal years, sales of products bearing the “Coca-Cola” or “Coke” trademark have accounted for more than half of the Company’s bottle/can sales volume to retail customers. In total, the products of The Coca-Cola Company accounted for approximately 90% of the Company’s bottle/can sales volume to retail customers during fiscal years 2006, 2005 and 2004.

 

Beverage Agreements

 

The Company holds contracts with The Coca-Cola Company which entitle the Company to produce, market and distribute in its exclusive territory 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 contracts. The Coca-Cola Company is the sole owner of the secret formulas pursuant to which the primary components (either concentrates


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or syrups) of Coca-Cola trademark beverages and other trademark beverages are manufactured. The concentrates, when mixed with water and sweetener, produce syrup which, when mixed with carbonated water, produces the soft drink known as “Coca-Cola classic” and other soft drinks of The Coca-Cola Company which are manufactured and marketed by the Company. The Company also purchases sweeteners from The Coca-Cola Company. No royalty or other compensation is paid under the contracts with The Coca-Cola Company for the Company’s right to use, in its territories, the tradenames and trademarks, such as “Coca-Cola classic” and their associated patents, copyrights, designs and labels, which are owned by The Coca-Cola Company. The Coca-Cola Company has no rights under these contracts to establish the resale prices at which the Company sells its products. The Company has similar arrangements with Cadbury Schweppes and other beverage companies.

 

Bottle Contracts for Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages.    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 beverages bearing the trademark “Coca-Cola” or “Coke” (the “Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages”) from The Coca-Cola Company. The Company may not produce, deal in or otherwise handle any “cola product” other than those of 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 nonrefillable bottles. The Coca-Cola Company may determine from time to time the type of containers to authorize for use by the Company. The Company cannot sell Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages outside of its exclusive territories.

 

The prices The Coca-Cola Company charges for concentrate and syrup under the Bottle Contracts are reset by The Coca-Cola Company. 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 concentrate and syrup in the future 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 and vending facilities as are capable of manufacturing, packaging and distributing 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 Bottle Contracts require that the Company obtain The Coca-Cola Company’s approval of those plans, which approval may not be unreasonably withheld, and the Bottle Contracts provide that if the Company carries out its plans in all material respects, it will have satisfied its contractual obligations to The Coca-Cola Company. The Bottle Contracts further provide that failure to carry out such plans in all material respects would constitute an event of default which, if not cured within 120 days of notice of such failure, would give The Coca-Cola Company the right to terminate the Bottle Contracts. The Bottle Contracts further provide that 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

 

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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 advertising and sales promotion programs which require mutual cooperation and financial support of the Company. The future levels of marketing funding support and promotional funds provided by The Coca-Cola Company may vary materially from the levels provided during the periods covered by the information included in this report.

 

The Coca-Cola Company has the sole and exclusive right and discretion to reformulate any of the Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages. In addition, The Coca-Cola Company has the right 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:

 

   

the Company’s insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, receivership or similar conditions;

 

   

the Company’s disposition of any interest in the securities of any bottling subsidiary without the consent of The Coca-Cola Company;

 

   

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;

 

   

any material breach of any obligation arising under the Bottle Contracts (including failure to make timely payment for any concentrate or syrup 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;

 

   

producing, manufacturing, selling or dealing in any product or any concentrate or syrup which might be confused with those of The Coca-Cola Company;

 

   

selling any product under any trade dress, trademark or tradename or in any container that is an imitation of a trade dress or container in which The Coca-Cola Company claims a proprietary interest; and

 

   

owning any equity interest in or controlling any entity which performs any of the activities described in the immediately preceding two items.

 

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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 below.

 

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.

 

Allied Bottle Contracts with The Coca-Cola Company.    The Company is a party to other contracts with The Coca-Cola Company (the “Allied Bottle Contracts”) which grant exclusive rights to the Company with respect to the distribution of carbonated beverages that are not Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages and certain noncarbonated beverages (together, 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 ten years and is renewable by the Company for an additional ten years at the end of each ten-year period, but is subject to termination by The Coca-Cola Company in the event of:

 

   

the Company’s insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, receivership or similar condition;

 

   

termination of the Company’s Bottle Contracts covering the same territory by either party for any reason; and

 

   

any material breach of any obligation of the Company under the Allied Bottle Contracts that remains uncured for 120 days after notice by The Coca-Cola Company.

 

The territories covered by the Allied Bottle Contracts are the same as the territories covered by the Bottle Contracts, except the Company does not sell Mr Pibb in the territories the Company sells Dr Pepper. The Company intends to renew substantially all the Allied Bottle Contracts as they expire.

 

Supplementary Agreement Relating to Bottle Contracts and Allied Bottle Contracts.    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 for the Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages and the Allied 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 and Allied Bottle Contracts;

 

   

offer marketing funding support and exercise its rights under the Bottle Contracts and Allied Bottle Contracts in a manner consistent with its dealings with comparable bottlers;

 

   

offer to the Company any written amendment to the Bottle Contracts or Allied 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 and Allied Bottle Contracts.

 

The Supplementary Agreement permits transfers of the Company’s capital stock that would otherwise be limited by the Bottle Contracts.

 

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Noncarbonated Beverage Contracts with The Coca-Cola Company.    The Company purchases and distributes certain noncarbonated beverages such as sports drinks, teas and juice drinks primarily in finished form from The Coca-Cola Company, and produces, markets and distributes Dasani water, pursuant to the terms of marketing and distribution agreements (the “Noncarbonated Beverage Contracts”). The Noncarbonated Beverage Contracts contain provisions that are similar to the Bottle Contracts and Allied Bottle Contracts with respect to authorized containers, planning and related matters, but the Noncarbonated Beverage Contracts also have certain significant differences. Unlike the Bottle Contracts and Allied Bottle Contracts, which grant the Company exclusivity in the distribution of the respective beverages in the territory, the Noncarbonated Beverage Contracts grant exclusivity but permit The Coca-Cola Company to test market the noncarbonated beverage products in the territory, subject to the Company’s right of first refusal, and to sell the noncarbonated beverages to commissaries for delivery to retail outlets in the Company’s territory where noncarbonated beverages are consumed on-premise, including restaurants. The Coca-Cola Company must pay the Company certain fees in the event of such commissary sales. Also, under the Noncarbonated Beverage Contracts, the Company may not sell other beverages in the same product category. The Coca-Cola Company establishes the pricing the Company must pay for the noncarbonated beverages or, in the case of Dasani, the concentrate. Each of the Noncarbonated Beverage Contracts has a term of ten or fifteen years and is renewable by the Company at the end of each term. The Company intends to renew substantially all the Noncarbonated Beverage Contracts as they expire.

 

Other Bottling Agreements.    The bottling agreements from most other beverage companies are similar to those described above in that they are renewable at the option of the Company. The price the beverage companies may charge for syrup or concentrate is set by the beverage companies from time to time. These bottling agreements 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 bottle/can volume sales to retail customers for 2006, 2005 and 2004. The territories covered by bottling agreements for products of beverage companies 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 Company’s business.

 

Post-Mix Rights and Sales to Other Bottlers.    The Company also has the non-exclusive right to sell Coca-Cola classic and other fountain syrups (“post-mix”) of The Coca-Cola Company and fountain syrups of Cadbury Schweppes relating to Dr Pepper and Sundrop. In addition, the Company produces some products for sale to other Coca-Cola bottlers. Sales to other bottlers have lower margins but allow the Company to achieve higher utilization of its production equipment and facilities.

 

The Company’s net sales by category as a percentage of total net sales was as follows:

 

     Fiscal Year  
     2006     2005     2004  

Bottle/can sales under beverage contracts

   84 %   85 %   88 %

Post-mix sales

   5 %   5 %   6 %

Sales to other Coca-Cola bottlers

   11 %   10 %   6 %
                  

Total

   100 %   100 %   100 %
                  

 

The increase in sales to other Coca-Cola bottlers in 2005 and 2006 resulted primarily from volume related to shipments of Full Throttle, an energy product of The Coca-Cola Company. The Company produces Full Throttle for many of the Coca-Cola bottlers in the eastern half of the United States and anticipates continuing to produce this product for most of these Coca-Cola bottlers in 2007.

 

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Markets and Production and Distribution Facilities

 

The Company currently holds bottling rights from The Coca-Cola Company covering the majority of North Carolina, South Carolina and West Virginia, and portions of Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Florida. The total population within the Company’s bottling territory is approximately 18.7 million.

 

The Company currently operates in seven principal geographic markets. Certain information regarding each of these markets follows:

 

1. North Carolina.    This region includes the majority of North Carolina, including Raleigh, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Hickory, Asheville, Fayetteville, Wilmington, Charlotte and the surrounding areas. The region has an estimated population of 8.2 million. A production/distribution facility is located in Charlotte and 16 sales distribution facilities are located in the region.

 

2. South Carolina.    This region includes the majority of South Carolina, including Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach and the surrounding areas. The region has an estimated population of 3.4 million. There are 6 sales distribution facilities in the region.

 

3. South Alabama.    This region includes a portion of southwestern Alabama, including Mobile and surrounding areas, and a portion of southeastern Mississippi. The region has an estimated population of 1.0 million. A production/distribution facility is located in Mobile and 4 sales distribution facilities are located in the region.

 

4. South Georgia.    This region includes a small portion of eastern Alabama, a portion of southwestern Georgia including Columbus and surrounding areas and a portion of the Florida Panhandle. This region has an estimated population of 1.1 million. There are 5 sales distribution facilities located in the region.

 

5. Middle Tennessee.    This region includes a portion of central Tennessee, including Nashville and surrounding areas, a small portion of southern Kentucky and a small portion of northwest Alabama. The region has an estimated population of 2.1 million. A production/distribution facility is located in Nashville and 3 sales distribution facilities are located in the region.

 

6. Western Virginia.    This region includes most of southwestern Virginia, including Roanoke and surrounding areas, 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 1.5 million. A production/distribution facility is located in Roanoke and 5 sales distribution facilities are located in the region.

 

7. West Virginia.    This region includes most of the state of West Virginia and a portion of southwestern Pennsylvania. The region has an estimated population of 1.4 million. There are 8 sales distribution facilities located in the region.

 

The Company is a member of South Atlantic Canners (“SAC”), a manufacturing cooperative located in Bishopville, South Carolina. All eight members of SAC are Coca-Cola bottlers and each member has equal voting rights. The Company receives a fee for managing the day-to-day operations of SAC pursuant to a management agreement. Management fees earned from SAC were $1.6 million, $1.5 million and $1.6 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. SAC’s bottling lines supply a portion of the Company’s volume requirements for finished products. The Company has a commitment with SAC that requires minimum annual purchases of 17.5 million cases of finished product through May 2014. Purchases from SAC by the Company for finished products were $133 million, $127 million and $108 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively, or 29.3 million cases, 28.3 million cases and 23.9 million cases of finished product, respectively.

 

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Raw Materials

 

In addition to concentrates obtained by the Company from The Coca-Cola Company and other beverage companies for use in its soft drink manufacturing, the Company also purchases sweeteners, carbon dioxide, plastic bottles, cans, closures and other packaging materials as well as equipment for the production, distribution and marketing of soft drinks. Except for sweeteners, cans, carbon dioxide and plastic bottles, the Company purchases its raw materials from multiple suppliers.

 

The Company purchases substantially all of its plastic bottles (20-ounce, half liter, 390 ml and 2 liter sizes) from manufacturing plants which are owned and operated by Southeastern Container and Western Container, two cooperatives of Coca-Cola bottlers, which include the Company. The Company currently obtains all of its aluminum cans from one domestic supplier.

 

None of the materials or supplies used by the Company are currently in short supply, although the supply of specific materials (including plastic bottles, which are formulated using petroleum-based products) could be adversely affected by strikes, weather conditions, governmental controls or national emergency conditions.

 

Along with all the other Coca-Cola bottlers in the United States, the Company is a member in Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Sales and Services Company, LLC (“CCBSS”), which was formed in 2003 for the purposes of facilitating various procurement functions and distributing certain specified beverage products of The Coca-Cola Company with the intention of enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of the Coca-Cola bottling system in the United States. CCBSS has negotiated the procurement for the majority of the Company’s raw materials (excluding concentrate) since 2004.

 

The Company anticipates that beginning in 2007, the majority of the Company’s aluminum requirements will not have any ceiling price protection. Based upon current market prices for aluminum, the Company anticipates the cost of aluminum cans may increase by 10% to 20% in 2007. High fructose corn syrup costs are also expected to increase significantly in 2007 as a result of increasing demand for corn products around the world and as a result of alternate uses for corn, such as ethanol. Based upon current market prices for corn, the Company anticipates the costs of high fructose corn syrup will increase by 20% to 35% in 2007. The combined impact of increasing costs for aluminum cans and high fructose corn syrup, assuming flat volume, is anticipated to range between $24 million and $45 million.

 

Customers and Marketing

 

The Company’s products are sold and distributed directly to retail stores and other outlets, including food markets, institutional accounts and vending machine outlets. During 2006, approximately 68% of the Company’s bottle/can sales volume to retail customers was sold for future consumption. The remaining sales volume of approximately 32% was sold for immediate consumption, primarily through dispensing machines owned either by the Company, retail outlets or third party vending companies. The Company’s largest customer, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., accounted for approximately 16% of the Company’s total bottle/can sales volume to retail customers and the second largest customer, Food Lion, LLC, accounted for approximately 12% of the Company’s total bottle/can sales volume to retail customers. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. accounted for approximately 11% of the Company’s total net sales. All of the Company’s sales are to customers in the United States.

 

New product introductions, packaging changes and sales promotions have been the primary sales and marketing practices in the nonalcoholic beverage industry in recent years and have required and are expected to continue to require substantial expenditures. Brand introductions in the last three years include Coca-Cola Zero, Coca-Cola C2, diet Coke with lime, diet Coke with lemon, Vault, Vault Zero, Dasani flavors, Minute Maid Light, Sprite Remix and Full Throttle. New packaging introductions include Fridge Pack™ 12-ounce plastic bottles. New product and packaging introductions have resulted in increased operating costs for the Company due to special marketing efforts, obsolescence of replaced items and, in some cases, higher raw material costs.

 

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The Company sells its products primarily in nonrefillable bottles and cans, in varying proportions from market to market. There may be as many as 20 different packages for Coca-Cola classic within a single geographic area. Bottle/can sales volume to retail customers during 2006 was approximately 47% cans, 51% nonrefillable bottles and 2% other containers.

 

Advertising in various media, primarily television and radio, is relied upon extensively in the marketing of the Company’s products. The Coca-Cola Company and Cadbury Schweppes (the “Beverage Companies”) make substantial expenditures on advertising in the Company’s territories. The Company has also benefited from national advertising programs conducted by the Beverage Companies. In addition, the Company expends substantial funds on its own behalf for extensive local sales promotions of the Company’s products. Historically, these expenses have been partially offset by marketing funding support which the Beverage Companies provide to the Company in support of a variety of marketing programs, such as point-of-sale displays and merchandising programs. However, the Beverage Companies are under no obligation to provide the Company with marketing funding support in the future.

 

The substantial outlays which the Company makes for marketing and merchandising programs are generally regarded as necessary to maintain or increase revenue, and any significant curtailment of marketing funding support provided by the Beverage Companies for marketing programs which benefit the Company could have a material adverse effect on the operating and financial results of the Company.

 

Seasonality

 

Sales are seasonal, with the highest sales volume occurring in May, June, July and August. The Company has adequate production capacity to meet sales demand for carbonated beverages during these peak periods. Sales volume can be impacted by weather conditions. See “Item 2. Properties” for information relating to utilization of the Company’s production facilities.

 

Competition

 

The nonalcoholic beverage market is highly competitive. The Company’s competitors in these markets include bottlers and distributors of nationally advertised and marketed products, regionally advertised and marketed products, as well as bottlers and distributors of private label beverages in supermarket stores. The carbonated beverage market (including energy products) comprised 87% of the Company’s bottle/can sales volume to retail customers in 2006. In each region in which the Company operates, between 75% and 95% of carbonated beverage 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 Dr Pepper, Royal Crown and/or 7-Up products.

 

The principal methods of competition in the soft drink industry are point-of-sale merchandising, new product introductions, new vending and dispensing equipment, packaging changes, pricing, price promotions, product quality, retail space management, customer service, frequency of distribution and advertising. The Company believes that it is competitive in its territories with respect to these methods of competition.

 

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.

 

As a manufacturer, distributor and seller of beverage products of The Coca-Cola Company and other soft drink manufacturers in exclusive territories, the Company is subject to antitrust laws of general applicability. However, pursuant to the United States Soft Drink Interbrand Competition Act, soft drink bottlers such as the

 

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Company may have an exclusive right to manufacture, distribute and sell a soft drink product in a defined geographic territory if that soft drink product is in substantial and effective competition with other products of the same general class in the market. The Company believes there is such substantial and effective competition in each of the exclusive geographic territories in the United States in which the Company operates.

 

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 nonrefillable 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 West Virginia and Tennessee for several years.

 

The Company has experienced public policy challenges regarding the sale of soft drinks in schools, particularly elementary, middle and high schools. At December 31, 2006, a number of states had regulations restricting the sale of soft drinks and other foods in schools. Many of these restrictions have existed for several years in connection with subsidized meal programs in schools. The focus has more recently turned to the growing health, nutrition and obesity concerns of today’s youth. Restrictive legislation, if widely enacted, could have an adverse impact on the Company’s products, image and reputation.

 

The Company’s tax filings are subject to audit by taxing authorities in jurisdictions where it conducts business. These audits may result in assessments of additional taxes that are subsequently resolved with the authorities or potentially through the courts. Management believes the Company has adequately accrued for any ultimate amounts that are likely to result from these audits; however, final assessments, if any, could be different than the amounts recorded in the consolidated financial statements.

 

Environmental Remediation

 

The Company does not currently have any material capital expenditure commitments for environmental compliance or environmental remediation for any of its properties. The Company does not believe compliance with federal, state and local provisions that have been enacted or adopted regarding the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, will have a material effect on its capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position.

 

Employees

 

As of February 1, 2007, the Company had approximately 5,700 full-time employees, of whom approximately 400 were union members. The total number of employees, including part-time employees, was approximately 6,300.

 

On February 2, 2007, the Company initiated plans to simplify its operating management structure and reduce its workforce in order to improve operating efficiencies across the Company’s business. The Company believes these changes will allow it to better compete in the marketplace. As a result of these plans, the Company estimates incurring $1.5 million to $2.0 million for one-time benefits for approximately 55 terminated employees and $1.0 million to $1.5 million for other associated costs, primarily relocation expenses for certain employees, in connection with these changes. In total, the Company estimates incurring $2.5 million to $3.5 million related to these changes. Further, the Company estimates that $1.0 million to $2.0 million of the charges identified above will result in cash expenditures subsequent to the first quarter of 2007 and anticipates substantially all of the cash expenditures occurring prior to 2007 fiscal year end.

 

Approximately 7% of the Company’s labor force is currently covered by collective bargaining agreements. Two collective bargaining agreements covering less than 1% of the Company’s employees expire in 2007.

 

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Exchange Act Reports

 

The Company makes available free of charge through its Internet website, www.cokeconsolidated.com, its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC maintains an Internet website, www.sec.gov, that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information filed electronically with the SEC. Any materials that the Company files with the SEC may also be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D. C. 20549.

 

Information on the operations of the Public Reference Room is available by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The information provided on the Company’s website is not part of this report and is not incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 1A.    Risk Factors

 

In addition to other information in this Form 10-K, the following risk factors should be considered carefully in evaluating the Company’s business. The Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected by any of these risks. Additional risks and uncertainties, including risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company, or that the Company currently deems immaterial, may also impair its business and results of operations.

 

Lower than expected selling prices resulting from increased marketplace competition could adversely affect the Company’s profitability.

 

The nonalcoholic beverage markets are highly competitive. The Company’s competitors in these markets include bottlers and distributors of nationally advertised and marketed products, regionally advertised and marketed products and private label beverages. Although the Company has placed an emphasis on revenue management, there can be no assurance that increased competition will not reduce the Company’s profitability.

 

Changes in how significant customers market or promote the Company’s products could reduce revenue.

 

The Company’s revenue is impacted by how significant customers market or promote the Company’s products. Revenue has been negatively impacted by less aggressive price promotion by some retailers in the future consumption channels in the past several years. If the Company’s significant customers change the manner in which they market or promote the Company’s products, the Company’s revenue and profitability could be adversely impacted.

 

Changes in public and consumer preferences related to nonalcoholic beverages could reduce demand for the Company’s products and reduce profitability.

 

The Company’s business depends substantially on consumer tastes and preferences that change in often unpredictable ways. The success of the Company’s business in large measure depends on working with the Beverage Companies to meet the changing preferences of the broad consumer market. Health and wellness trends throughout the marketplace have resulted in a shift from sugar carbonated beverages to diet carbonated beverages, tea, sports drinks and bottled water over the past several years. Failure to satisfy changing consumer preferences could adversely affect the profitability of the Company’s business.

 

The Company’s inability to meet requirements under its bottling contracts could result in the loss of distribution rights.

 

Approximately 90% of the Company’s bottle/can sales volume with retail customers consists of products of The Coca-Cola Company, which is the sole supplier of the concentrates or syrups required to manufacture these

 

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products. The remaining 10% of the Company’s bottle/can sales volume with retail customers generally consists of products of other beverage companies. The Company has bottling contracts under which it has various requirements to meet. Failure to meet the requirements of these bottling contracts could result in the loss of distribution rights for the respective products.

 

Material changes in, or the Company’s inability to meet, the performance requirements for marketing funding support, or decreases from historic levels of marketing funding support, could reduce the Company’s profitability.

 

Material changes in the performance requirements, or decreases in the levels of marketing funding support historically provided, under marketing programs with The Coca-Cola Company and other beverage companies, or the Company’s inability to meet the performance requirements for the anticipated levels of such marketing funding support payments, could adversely affect the Company’s profitability. The Coca-Cola Company and other beverage companies are under no obligation to continue marketing funding support at historic levels.

 

Changes in The Coca-Cola Company’s and other beverage companies’ levels of advertising, marketing spending and brand innovation could reduce the Company’s sales volume.

 

The Coca-Cola Company’s and other beverage companies’ levels of advertising, marketing spending and brand innovation directly impact the Company’s operations. While the Company does not believe there will be significant changes in the levels of marketing and advertising by the Beverage Companies, there can be no assurance that historic levels will continue. In addition, if the sales volume of sugar carbonated beverages continues to decline, the Company’s sales volume growth will continue to be dependent on brand innovation by the Beverage Companies, especially The Coca-Cola Company. Decreases in Beverage Company marketing, advertising and product brand innovation could adversely impact the profitability of the Company.

 

The inability of the Company’s aluminum can or plastic bottle suppliers to meet the Company’s purchase requirements could reduce the Company’s profitability.

 

The Company currently obtains all of its aluminum cans from one domestic supplier and all of its plastic bottles from two domestic cooperatives. The inability of these aluminum can or plastic bottle suppliers to meet the Company’s requirements for containers could result in short-term shortages until alternative sources of supply can be located. The Company attempts to mitigate these risks by working closely with key suppliers and by purchasing business interruption insurance where appropriate. Failure of the aluminum can or plastic bottle suppliers to meet the Company’s purchase requirements could reduce the Company’s profitability.

 

The inability of the Company to offset higher raw material costs with higher selling prices, increased bottle/can sales volume or reduced expenses could have an adverse impact on the Company’s profitability.

 

Packaging costs, primarily plastic bottle costs and aluminum can costs, increased in 2006. The Company expects aluminum can and high fructose corn syrup costs to increase significantly in 2007. In addition, there are no limits on the prices The Coca-Cola Company and other beverage companies can charge for concentrate. If the Company cannot offset higher raw material costs with higher selling prices, increased sales volume or reductions in other costs, the Company’s profitability could be adversely affected.

 

Sustained increases in fuel costs or the inability of the Company to secure adequate supplies of fuel could have an adverse impact on the Company’s profitability.

 

The Company has experienced significant increases in fuel costs as a result primarily of macro-economic factors beyond the Company’s control. The Company uses significant amounts of fuel in the distribution of its products. Events such as natural disasters could impact the supply of fuel and could impact the timely delivery of the Company’s products to its customers. While the Company is working to reduce fuel consumption, there can

 

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be no assurance that the Company will succeed in limiting future cost increases. Continued upward pressure in these costs could reduce the profitability of the Company’s operations.

 

Sustained increases in workers’ compensation, employment practices and vehicle accident costs could reduce the Company’s profitability.

 

The Company is generally self-insured for the costs of workers’ compensation, employment practices and vehicle accident claims. Losses are accrued using assumptions and procedures followed in the insurance industry, adjusted for company-specific history and expectations. Although the Company has actively sought to control increases in these costs, there can be no assurance that the Company will succeed in limiting future cost increases. Continued upward pressure in these costs could reduce the profitability of the Company’s operations.

 

Sustained increases in the cost of employee benefits could reduce the Company’s profitability.

 

The Company’s profitability is substantially affected by the cost of pension retirement benefits, postretirement medical benefits and current employees’ medical benefits. In recent years, the Company has experienced significant increases in these costs as a result of macro-economic factors beyond the Company’s control, including increases in health care costs, declines in investment returns on pension assets and changes in discount rates used to calculate pension and related liabilities. Although the Company has actively sought to control increases in these costs, there can be no assurance the Company will succeed in limiting future cost increases, and continued upward pressure in these costs could reduce the profitability of the Company’s operations.

 

Changes in interest rates could adversely affect the profitability of the Company.

 

Approximately 42% of the Company’s debt and capital lease obligations of $769.0 million as of December 31, 2006 was subject to changes in short-term interest rates. Rising interest rates have increased the Company’s interest expense over the past two years. In addition, the Company’s pension and postretirement medical benefits costs are subject to changes in interest rates. If interest rates increase in the future, there can be no assurance that future increases in interest expense will not reduce the Company’s overall profitability.

 

The Company’s credit rating could be impacted by The Coca-Cola Company.

 

The Company’s credit rating could be significantly impacted by capital management activities of The Coca-Cola Company and/or changes in the credit rating of The Coca-Cola Company. A lower credit rating could significantly increase the Company’s interest cost.

 

Changes in legal contingencies could impact the Company’s future profitability.

 

Changes from expectations for the resolution of outstanding legal claims and assessments could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s profitability and financial condition. In addition, the Company’s failure to abide by laws, orders or other legal commitments could subject the Company to fines, penalties or other damages.

 

Additional taxes resulting from tax audits could impact the Company’s future profitability.

 

An assessment of additional taxes resulting from audits of the Company’s tax filings could have a material impact on the Company’s profitability, cash flows and financial condition.

 

Natural disasters and unfavorable weather could impact the Company’s future profitability.

 

Natural disasters or unfavorable weather conditions in the geographic regions in which the Company does business could have a material impact on the Company’s revenue and profitability.

 

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Issues surrounding labor relations could impact the Company’s future profitability and/or its operating efficiency.

 

Approximately 7% of the Company’s employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. The inability to renegotiate subsequent agreements on satisfactory terms and conditions could result in work interruptions or stoppages, which could have a material impact on the profitability of the Company. Also, the terms and conditions of existing or renegotiated agreements could increase costs, or otherwise affect the Company’s ability to fully implement operational changes to improve overall efficiency.

 

The Company’s ability to change distribution methods and business practices could be affected by United States bottler system disputes.

 

Recent litigation filed by some United States bottlers of Coca-Cola products indicates that disagreements may exist within the Coca-Cola bottler system concerning distribution methods and business practices. Although the litigation has been dismissed without prejudice, these disagreements among various Coca-Cola bottlers have not been finally resolved and could adversely affect the Company’s ability to fully implement its business plans in the future.

 

Management’s use of estimates and assumptions could have a material effect on reported results.

 

The Company’s consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements include estimates and assumptions by management that impact reported amounts. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

The Company’s Board of Directors has the ability to declare dividends on the Company’s Common Stock without declaring equal or any dividends of the Company’s Class B Common Stock.

 

Under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may declare dividends on Common Stock without declaring equal or any dividends on the Class B Common Stock. However, the holders of the Class B Common Stock control approximately 88% of the total voting power of the common stockholders of the Company and the election of the Board, and the Board has declared and the Company has paid dividends on Common Stock and Class B Common Stock and each class of common stock has participated equally, on a per share basis, in all dividends declared and paid by the Board since 1994. As such, the Company does not believe the Board would systematically declare dividends on the Common Stock without declaring dividends on the Class B Common Stock.

 

The Company has experienced public policy challenges regarding the sale of soft drinks in schools, particularly elementary, middle and high schools.

 

At December 31, 2006, a number of states had regulations restricting the sale of soft drinks and other foods in schools. Many of these restrictions have existed for several years in connection with subsidized meal programs in schools. The focus has more recently turned to the growing health, nutrition and obesity concerns of today’s youth. The impact of restrictive legislation, if widely enacted, could have an adverse impact on the Company’s products, images and reputation.

 

The concentration of the Company’s capital stock ownership with the Harrison family will limit other stockholders’ ability to influence corporate matters.

 

Members of the Harrison family, including the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, J. Frank Harrison, III, beneficially own shares of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock representing approximately 92% of the total voting power of the Company’s outstanding capital stock. In addition, two members of the Harrison family, including Mr. Harrison, III serve on the Board of Directors of the Company. As a result,

 

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members of the Harrison family have the ability to exert substantial influence or actual control over the Company’s management and affairs and over substantially all matters requiring action by the Company’s stockholders. This concentration of ownership may also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control otherwise favored by the Company’s other stockholders and could depress the stock price.

 

Additionally, as a result of the Harrison family’s significant beneficial ownership of the Company’s outstanding voting stock, the Company has relied on the “controlled company” exemption from certain corporate governance requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC. This concentration of control limits other stockholders’ ability to influence corporate matters and, as a result, the Company may take actions that the Company’s stockholders do not view as beneficial.

 

Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments

 

None.

 

Item 2.    Properties

 

The principal properties of the Company include its corporate headquarters, its four production/distribution facilities and its 47 sales distribution centers. The Company owns two production/distribution facilities and 42 sales distribution centers, and leases its corporate headquarters, two other production/distribution facilities and 5 sales distribution centers.

 

The Company leases its 110,000 square foot corporate headquarters and a 65,000 square foot adjacent office building from a related party. The Company modified a lease agreement (effective January 1, 2007) for its corporate headquarters and adjacent office building. The modified lease has a fifteen year term and expires in December 2021. Rental payments for these facilities were $3.8 million in 2006.

 

The Company leases its 542,000 square foot Snyder Production Center and an adjacent 105,000 square foot distribution center in Charlotte, North Carolina from a related party for a ten-year term expiring in December 2010. Rental payments under this lease totaled $4.0 million in 2006.

 

The Company leases its 330,000 square foot production/distribution facility in Nashville, Tennessee. The lease requires monthly payments through 2009. Rental expense under this lease totaled $.4 million in 2006.

 

The Company leases its 50,000 square foot sales distribution center in Charleston, South Carolina. The lease requires monthly payments through 2017. Rental expense under this lease totaled $.4 million in 2006.

 

The Company leases its 57,000 square foot sales distribution center in Greenville, South Carolina. The lease requires monthly payments through 2018. Rental payments under this lease totaled $.6 million in 2006.

 

The Company’s other real estate leases are not material.

 

The Company owns and operates a 316,000 square foot production/distribution facility in Roanoke, Virginia and a 271,000 square foot production/distribution facility in Mobile, Alabama.

 

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The approximate percentage utilization of the Company’s production facilities is indicated below:

 

Production Facilities

 

Location

   Percentage Utilization*  

Charlotte, North Carolina

   78 %

Mobile, Alabama

   50 %

Nashville, Tennessee

   60 %

Roanoke, Virginia

   59 %

 

  * Estimated 2007 production divided by capacity (based on operations of 6 days per week and 20 hours per day).

 

The Company currently has sufficient production capacity to meet its operational requirements. In addition to the production facilities noted above, the Company utilizes a portion of the production capacity at SAC, a cooperative located in Bishopville, South Carolina, that owns a 261,000 square foot production facility.

 

The Company’s products are generally transported to sales distribution facilities for storage pending sale. The number of sales distribution facilities by market area as of February 1, 2007 was as follows:

 

Sales Distribution Facilities

 

Region

   Number of Facilities

North Carolina

   16

South Carolina

   6

South Alabama

   4

South Georgia

   5

Middle Tennessee

   3

Western Virginia

   5

West Virginia

   8
    

Total

   47
    

 

The Company’s facilities are all in good condition and are adequate for the Company’s operations as presently conducted.

 

The Company also operates approximately 3,950 vehicles in the sale and distribution of its nonalcoholic beverage products, of which approximately 1,450 are route delivery trucks. In addition, the Company owns approximately 210,000 beverage dispensing and vending machines for the sale of its products in its bottling territories.

 

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

 

On February 14, 2006, forty-eight Coca-Cola bottler plaintiffs filed suit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri against The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. (“CCE”). On February 24, 2006, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding twelve bottlers as plaintiffs. In the lawsuit, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company, et al. vs. The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., the bottler plaintiffs purport to bring claims for breach of contract and breach of duty and other related claims arising out of CCE’s plan to offer warehouse delivery of POWERade to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. within CCE’s territory. The bottler plaintiffs sought preliminary and permanent injunctive relief prohibiting the warehouse delivery of POWERade and unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. On March 17, 2006, the Missouri District Court transferred the case, for the convenience of the parties, to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (the “District Court”).

 

In April 2006, warehouse delivery of POWERade commenced in the Company’s exclusive bottling territory. On September 5, 2006, the District Court granted the Company’s motion to intervene as defendant for

 

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the limited purpose of opposing the injunctive relief sought by the bottler plaintiffs. The District Court found that the Company had a legally protectable interest at stake in the litigation in that the relief requested would preclude the Company from warehouse delivery of POWERade within its exclusive bottling territory.

 

In February 2007, The Coca-Cola Company, CCE, the Company and many of the plaintiffs entered into a series of agreements that the Company expects will result in the dismissal without prejudice of the lawsuit and the implementation of a program to test various new route-to-market service systems. The new alternative route-to-market program provides, among other things, that during the next two years, through December 31, 2008, any Coca-Cola bottler that desires to implement an alternative route-to-market delivery plan shall present the plan for advance discussion and approval by representatives of The Coca-Cola Company and the Coca-Cola bottling system. The agreements preserve all parties’ rights, and afford the Coca-Cola bottling system an opportunity to meet to discuss whether the new route-to-market service system should be continued. The agreements also provide that the lawsuit will be dismissed in the near future.

 

The Company is involved in various other claims and legal proceedings which have arisen in the ordinary course of its business. Although it is difficult to predict the ultimate outcome of these other claims and legal proceedings, management believes that the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, cash flows or results of operations of the Company. No material amount of loss in excess of recorded amounts is believed to be reasonably possible as a result of these other claims and legal proceedings.

 

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 31, 2006.

 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

 

The following is a list of names and ages of all the executive officers of the Company indicating all positions and offices with the Company 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 52, is Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Harrison, III was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors in December 1996. Mr. Harrison, III served as 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.

 

WILLIAM B. ELMORE, age 51, is President and Chief Operating Officer and a Director of the Company, positions he has held since January 2001. Previously, he was Vice President, Value Chain from July 1999 and Vice President, Business Systems from August 1998 to June 1999. He was Vice President, Treasurer from June 1996 to July 1998. He was Vice President, Regional Manager for the Virginia Division, West Virginia Division and Tennessee Division from August 1991 to May 1996.

 

ROBERT D. PETTUS, JR., age 62, is Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, a position he has held since August 2004. Mr. Pettus retired from the Company in February 2005. Mr. Pettus was Executive Vice President and Assistant to the Chairman of the Company from 1996 to July 2004 and Vice President of Human Resources from 1984 to 1996. Mr. Pettus has been a Director of the Company since August 2004.

 

HENRY W. FLINT, age 52, is Executive Vice President and Assistant to the Chairman of the Company, a position to which he was appointed in July 2004. Prior to that, he was a Managing Partner at the law firm of Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman, L.L.P. with which he was associated from 1980 to 2004.

 

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WILLIAM J. BILLIARD, age 40, is Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, a position to which he was appointed on February 20, 2006. Before joining the Company, he was Senior Vice President, Interim Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Controller of Portrait Corporation of America, Inc., a portrait photography studio company, from September 2005 to January 2006 and Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller from August 2001 to September 2005. Prior to that, he served as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of Tailored Management, a long-term staffing company, from August 2000 to August 2001. Portrait Corporation of America, Inc. filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in August 2006.

 

CLIFFORD M. DEAL, III, age 45, is Vice President, Treasurer, a position he has held since June 1999. Previously, he was Director of Compensation and Benefits from October 1997 to May 1999. He was Corporate Benefits Manager from December 1995 to September 1997 and was Manager of Tax Accounting from November 1993 to November 1995.

 

NORMAN C. GEORGE, age 51, is President of ByB Brands, Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company that distributes and markets Cinnabon Premium Coffee Lattes and distributes and markets other products developed by the Company, a position he has held since July 2006. Prior to that he was Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing and Customer Officer, a position he was appointed to in September 2001. Prior to that, he was Vice President, Marketing and National Sales, a position he was appointed to in December 1999. Prior to that, he was Vice President, Corporate Sales, a position he had held since August 1998. Previously, he was Vice President, Sales for the Carolinas South Region, a position he held beginning in November 1991.

 

KEVIN A. HENRY, age 39, is Senior Vice President, Human Resources, a position he has held since February 2001. Prior to joining the Company, he was Senior Vice President, Human Resources at Nationwide Credit Inc., where he was an employee since January 1997. Prior to that, he was Director, Human Resources, at Office Depot Inc. beginning in December 1994.

 

UMESH M. KASBEKAR, age 49, is Senior Vice President, Planning and Administration, a position he has held since January 1995. Prior to that, he was Vice President, Planning, a position he was appointed to in December 1988.

 

MELVIN F. LANDIS, III, age 41, is Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing and Customer Officer, a position he has held since December 2006. Prior to that he was Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Customers from July 2006 to December 2006 and Vice President, Customer Management from July 2004 to June 2006. Prior to joining the Company in July 2004, he was employed at The Clorox Company, a manufacturer and marketer of consumer products, from 1994. While at The Clorox Company, he held a number of positions, including Region Sales Manager, Sales Merchandising Manager – Kingsford Charcoal, Director – Corporate Trade and Category Management, Team Leader Wal-Mart/Sam’s and Senior Director – US Grocery Sales.

 

C. RAY MAYHALL, JR., age 59, is Senior Vice President, Sales, a position he was appointed to in September 2001. Prior to that he was Vice President, Distribution and Technical Services, a position he was appointed to in December 1999. Prior to that, he was Regional Vice President, Sales, a position he had held since November 1992.

 

LAUREN C. STEELE, age 52, is Vice President, Corporate Affairs, a position he has held since May 1989. He is responsible for governmental, media and community relations for the Company.

 

STEVEN D. WESTPHAL, age 52, is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, a position to which he was appointed in May 2005. Prior to that, he was Vice President and Controller, a position he had held from November 1987.

 

JOLANTA T. ZWIREK, age 51, is Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, a position she has held since June 1999. Prior to joining the Company, she was Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Bank One during a portion of 1999. Prior to that, she was a Senior Director in the Information Services organization at McDonald’s Corporation, where she was an employee since 1984.

 

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PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

The Company has two classes of common stock outstanding, Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. The Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market tier of The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC® 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.

 

     Fiscal Year
     2006    2005
     High    Low    High    Low

First quarter

   $ 47.38    $ 43.10    $ 57.53    $ 51.63

Second quarter

     52.42      43.50      52.80      46.00

Third quarter

     63.46      50.20      53.93      47.01

Fourth quarter

     69.04      58.50      49.00      42.58

 

The quarterly dividend rate of $.25 per share on both Common Stock and Class B Common Stock was maintained throughout 2005 and 2006. Common Stock and Class B Common Stock have participated equally in dividends since 1994.

 

Pursuant to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, no cash dividend or dividend of property or stock other than stock of the Company, as specifically described in the Certificate of Incorporation, may be declared and paid on the Class B Common Stock unless an equal or greater dividend is declared and paid on the 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 stockholders of record of the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, as of February 28, 2007, was 3,692 and 13, respectively.

 

On February 28, 2007, the Compensation Committee determined that 20,000 shares of restricted Class B Common Stock, $1.00 par value, vested and should be issued pursuant to a performance-based award to J. Frank Harrison, III, in connection with his services as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. This award was approved by the Company’s stockholders in 1999. The shares were issued without registration under the Securities Act of 1933 in reliance on Section 4(2) thereof.

 

Presented below is a line graph comparing the yearly percentage change in the cumulative total return on the Company’s Common Stock to the cumulative total return of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and a peer group for the period commencing December 28, 2001 and ending December 31, 2006. The peer group is comprised of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.; Cadbury Schweppes plc (ADS); Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc.; The Coca-Cola Company; Cott Corporation; National Beverage Corp.; PepsiCo, Inc.; Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. and PepsiAmericas.

 

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The graph assumes that $100 was invested in the Company’s Common Stock, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and the peer group on December 28, 2001 and that all dividends were reinvested on a quarterly basis. Returns for the companies included in the peer group have been weighted on the basis of the total market capitalization for each company.

 

LOGO

 

     12/28/01    12/27/02    12/26/03    12/31/04    12/30/05    12/29/06

Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated (CCBCC)

   $ 100    $ 167    $ 143    $ 157    $ 121    $ 196

S&P 500®

   $ 100    $ 77    $ 98    $ 110    $ 115    $ 134

Peer Group

   $ 100    $ 94    $ 108    $ 107    $ 110    $ 127

 

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Item 6.    Selected Financial Data

 

The following table sets forth certain selected financial data concerning the Company for the five years ended December 31, 2006. The data for the five years ended December 31, 2006 is derived from audited consolidated 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 hereof and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the more detailed consolidated financial statements and notes contained in Item 8 hereof.

 

Selected Financial Data*

 

     Fiscal Year**
In Thousands (Except Per Share Data)    2006    2005    2004    2003    2002

Summary of Operations

              

Net sales

   $ 1,431,005    $ 1,380,172    $ 1,267,227    $ 1,220,403    $ 1,207,173
                                  

Cost of sales

     808,426      761,261      666,534      640,434      633,262

Selling, delivery and administrative expenses

     537,365      525,903      513,227      493,593      477,933

Amortization of intangibles

     550      880      3,117      3,105      2,796
                                  

Total costs and expenses

     1,346,341      1,288,044      1,182,878      1,137,132      1,113,991
                                  

Income from operations

     84,664      92,128      84,349      83,271      93,182

Interest expense

     50,286      49,279      43,983      41,914      49,120

Minority interest

     3,218      4,097      3,816      3,297      5,992
                                  

Income before income taxes

     31,160      38,752      36,550      38,060      38,070

Income taxes

     7,917      15,801      14,702      7,357      15,247
                                  

Net income

   $ 23,243    $ 22,951    $ 21,848    $ 30,703    $ 22,823
                                  

Basic net income per share:

              

Common Stock

   $ 2.55    $ 2.53    $ 2.41    $ 3.40    $ 2.58

Class B Common Stock

   $ 2.55    $ 2.53    $ 2.41    $ 3.40    $ 2.58

Diluted net income per share:

              

Common Stock

   $ 2.55    $ 2.53    $ 2.41    $ 3.40    $ 2.56

Class B Common Stock

   $ 2.54    $ 2.53    $ 2.41    $ 3.40    $ 2.56

Cash dividends per share:

              

Common Stock

   $ 1.00    $ 1.00    $ 1.00    $ 1.00    $ 1.00

Class B Common Stock

   $ 1.00    $ 1.00    $ 1.00    $ 1.00    $ 1.00

Other Information

              

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:

              

Common Stock

     6,643      6,643      6,643      6,643      6,481

Class B Common Stock

     2,460      2,440      2,420      2,400      2,380

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding—assuming dilution:

              

Common Stock

     9,120      9,083      9,063      9,043      8,921

Class B Common Stock

     2,477      2,440      2,420      2,400      2,380

Year-End Financial Position

              

Total assets

   $ 1,364,467    $ 1,341,839    $ 1,314,063    $ 1,349,920    $ 1,353,525
                                  

Current portion of debt

     100,000      6,539      8,000      17,678      37,631
                                  

Current portion of obligations under capital leases

     2,435      1,709      1,826      1,337      1,120
                                  

Obligations under capital leases

     75,071      77,493      79,202      44,226      44,906
                                  

Long-term debt

     591,450      691,450      700,039      785,039      770,125
                                  

Stockholders’ equity

     93,953      75,134      64,439      52,472      32,867
                                  

 

* See Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements for additional information.
** All years presented are 52-week fiscal years except 2004 which was a 53-week year.

 

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Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“M,D&A”) should be read in conjunction with Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated’s (the “Company”) consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. M,D&A includes the following sections:

 

   

Two-Class Method for Net Income Per Share.

 

   

Our Business and the Nonalcoholic Beverage Industry—a general description of the Company’s business and the nonalcoholic beverage industry.

 

   

Areas of Emphasis—a summary of the Company’s key priorities.

 

   

Overview of Operations and Financial Condition—a summary of key information and trends concerning the financial results for the three years ended 2006.

 

   

Discussion of Critical Accounting Policies, Estimates and New Accounting Pronouncements—a discussion of accounting policies that are most important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations that require critical judgments and estimates and the expected impact of new accounting pronouncements.

 

   

Results of Operations—an analysis of the Company’s results of operations for the three years presented in the consolidated financial statements.

 

   

Financial Condition—an analysis of the Company’s financial condition as of the end of the last two years as presented in the consolidated financial statements.

 

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources—an analysis of capital resources, cash sources and uses, investing activities, financing activities, off-balance sheet arrangements, aggregate contractual obligations and interest rate hedging.

 

   

Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.

 

The fiscal years presented are the 52-week periods ended December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006 and the 53-week period ended January 2, 2005. The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Sunday closest to December 31 of each year.

 

The consolidated statements of operations and consolidated statements of cash flows for fiscal years 2006, 2005 and 2004 and the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006 include the consolidated operations of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries including Piedmont Coca-Cola Bottling Partnership (“Piedmont”). Minority interest consists of The Coca-Cola Company’s interest in Piedmont, which was 22.7% for all periods presented.

 

TWO-CLASS METHOD FOR NET INCOME PER SHARE

 

During 2006, the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) reviewed the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2006. The review was completed by the SEC in November 2006. The Company considered this review and concluded the application of the two-class method for calculating and presenting net income per share was appropriate for its Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. In determining the relevance of the two-class method, the Company considered dividend, voting and conversion rights of the Class B Common Stock. These aggregated participation rights along with the Company’s history of paying dividends equally on a per share basis on Common Stock and Class B Common Stock also led the Company to conclude undistributed earnings (net income less dividends) should be allocated equally on a per share basis between Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. This change had no impact on the income per share amounts previously reported. The Company has applied the two-class method prospectively starting with the third quarter of 2006. See Note 1 and Note 20 of the consolidated financial statements for additional information about the application of the two-class method.

 

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OUR BUSINESS AND THE NONALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE INDUSTRY

 

The Company produces, markets and distributes nonalcoholic beverages, primarily products of The Coca-Cola Company, which include some of the most recognized and popular beverage brands in the world. The Company is the second largest bottler of products of The Coca-Cola Company in the United States, operating in eleven states primarily in the Southeast. The Company also distributes several other beverage brands. The Company’s product offerings include carbonated soft drinks, bottled water, teas, juices, sports drinks and energy products. The Company had net sales of $1.4 billion in 2006.

 

The nonalcoholic beverage market is highly competitive. The Company’s competitors in these markets include bottlers and distributors of nationally and regionally advertised and marketed products and private label products. In each region in which the Company operates, between 75% and 95% of carbonated soft drink sales in bottles, cans and other containers are accounted for by the Company and its principal competitors, which in each region includes the local bottler of Pepsi-Cola and, in some regions, the local bottler of Dr Pepper, Royal Crown and/or 7-Up products. During the last three years, industry sales of sugar carbonated beverages, other than energy products, have declined. The decline in sales of sugar carbonated beverages has generally been offset by growth in other nonalcoholic beverage product categories.

 

The Company’s net sales by product category were as follows:

 

     Fiscal Year
In Thousands    2006    2005    2004

Product Category

        

Bottle/can sales:

        

Carbonated beverages (including energy products)

   $ 1,021,508    $ 1,004,664    $ 971,719

Noncarbonated beverages

     182,124      167,715      150,199
                    

Total bottle/can sales

     1,203,632      1,172,379      1,121,918
                    

Other sales:

        

Sales to other bottlers

     152,426      134,656      73,805

Post-mix sales

     74,947      73,137      71,504
                    

Total other sales

     227,373      207,793      145,309
                    

Total net sales

   $ 1,431,005    $ 1,380,172    $ 1,267,227
                    

 

AREAS OF EMPHASIS

 

Key priorities for the Company include revenue management, product innovation, distribution cost management and productivity.

 

Revenue Management

 

Revenue management requires a strategy which reflects consideration for pricing of brands and packages within product categories and channels, as well as highly effective working relationships with customers and disciplined fact-based decision-making. Revenue management has been and continues to be a key driver which has significant impact on the Company’s results of operations.

 

Product Innovation

 

Growth of carbonated beverages, other than energy products, has slowed over the past several years. Innovation of both new brands and packages has been and will continue to be critical to the Company’s overall revenue. During 2006, the Company introduced Vault Zero, Tab Energy, Cinnabon Premium Coffee Lattes and Full Throttle Blue Demon. In 2005, the Company introduced Vault, Coca-Cola Zero, Dasani flavors and Full

 

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Throttle. The Company introduced diet Coke with lime, Coca-Cola C2 and Rockstar in 2004. In addition, the Company has also developed specialty packaging for customers in certain channels over the past several years.

 

Distribution Cost Management

 

Distribution costs represent the costs of transporting finished goods from Company locations to customer outlets. Total distribution costs amounted to $193.8 million, $183.1 million and $176.3 million in 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively. Over the past several years, the Company has focused on converting its distribution system from a conventional routing system to a predictive system. This conversion to a predictive system has allowed the Company to more efficiently handle increasing numbers of brands and packages. In addition, the Company has closed a number of smaller sales distribution centers reducing its fixed warehouse-related costs.

 

The Company has three primary delivery systems for its current business:

 

   

bulk delivery for large supermarkets, mass merchandisers and club stores;

 

   

pre-sell delivery for convenience stores, drug stores, small supermarkets and on-premise accounts; and

 

   

full service delivery for its full service vending customers.

 

In 2006, the Company began changing its delivery method for its pre-sell delivery system. Historically, the Company loaded its trucks at a warehouse with products the route delivery employee would deliver. The delivery employee was responsible for pulling the required products off a side load truck at each customer location to fill the customer’s order. The Company began using a new CooLift® delivery system in 2006 which involves pre-building orders in the warehouse on a small pallet the delivery employee can roll off a truck directly into the customer’s location. The CooLift® delivery system involves the use of a rear loading truck rather than a conventional side loading truck. The Company anticipates the implementation of this delivery system will continue over the next several years. This rollout required additional capital spending for the new type of delivery vehicle. Capital spending increased from $40.0 million in 2005 to $63.2 million in 2006 primarily due to the purchase of this new type of delivery vehicle. The Company anticipates that this change in delivery methodology will result in significant savings in future years, more efficient delivery of a greater number of products and improved employee safety.

 

Distribution cost management will continue to be a key area of emphasis for the Company for the next several years.

 

Productivity

 

A key driver in the Company’s selling, delivery and administrative (“S,D&A”) expense management relates to ongoing improvements in labor productivity and asset productivity. On February 2, 2007, the Company initiated plans to simplify and streamline its operating management structure, which included a separation of the sales function from the delivery function to provide dedicated focus on each function and enhanced productivity in the future. The Company continues to focus on its supply chain and distribution functions for opportunities to improve productivity.

 

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OVERVIEW OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

The following is a summary of key information concerning the Company’s financial results for the three years ended December 31, 2006.

 

The comparison of operating results for 2006 and 2005 to operating results for 2004 were affected by the impact of one additional selling week in 2004 due to the Company’s fiscal year ending on the Sunday closest to December 31 of each year. The estimated net sales, gross margin and S,D&A expenses for the additional selling week in 2004 of approximately $23.9 million, $11.1 million and $8.1 million, respectively, were included in the reported results for 2004.

 

     Fiscal Year
In Thousands (Except Per Share Data)    2006(1)    2005(2)(3)(4)    2004(5)(6)

Net sales

   $ 1,431,005    $ 1,380,172    $ 1,267,227

Gross margin

     622,579      618,911      600,693

S,D&A expenses

     537,365      525,903      513,227

Income from operations

     84,664      92,128      84,349

Interest expense

     50,286      49,279      43,983

Income before income taxes

     31,160      38,752      36,550

Income taxes

     7,917      15,801      14,702

Net income

     23,243      22,951      21,848

Basic net income per share

        

Common Stock

   $ 2.55    $ 2.53    $ 2.41

Class B Common Stock

   $ 2.55    $ 2.53    $ 2.41

Diluted net income per share

        

Common Stock

   $ 2.55    $ 2.53    $ 2.41

Class B Common Stock

   $ 2.54    $ 2.53    $ 2.41

 

(1) Results for 2006 included a favorable adjustment of $4.9 million related to agreements with two state taxing authorities to settle certain prior tax positions resulting in the reduction of the valuation allowance on related deferred tax assets and the reduction of the liability for uncertain tax positions, which was reflected as a reduction of income tax expense.
(2) Results for 2005 included a favorable adjustment of $7.0 million (pre-tax), or $4.2 million after tax, related to the settlement of high fructose corn syrup litigation, which was reflected as a reduction in cost of sales.
(3) Results for 2005 included a favorable adjustment of $1.1 million (pre-tax), or $.7 million after tax, related to an adjustment of amounts accrued for certain executive benefits due to the resignation of an executive, which was reflected as a reduction to S,D&A expenses.
(4) Results for 2005 included financing transaction costs of $1.7 million (pre-tax), or $1.0 million after tax, related to the exchange of $164.8 million of the Company’s debt and the redemption of $8.6 million of debentures, which were reflected in interest expense.
(5) Results for 2004 included an unfavorable non-cash adjustment of $1.7 million (pre-tax), or $1.0 million after tax, related to a change in the pricing of concentrate purchased from The Coca-Cola Company, which was reflected as an increase to cost of sales.
(6) Results for 2004 included a favorable adjustment of approximately $2 million (pre-tax), or $1.1 million after tax, for certain customer-related marketing programs between the Company and The Coca-Cola Company, which was reflected as a reduction in cost of sales.

 

The Company’s net sales grew approximately 13% from 2004 to 2006. The net sales increase was primarily due to an increase in average revenue per bottle/can unit of 4.9%, and an approximately 107%, or $78.6 million, increase in sales to other Coca-Cola bottlers. The increase in sales to other Coca-Cola bottlers related primarily to shipments of Full Throttle, an energy drink of The Coca-Cola Company.

 

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The Company has seen declines in the demand for sugar carbonated beverages over the past several years and expects this trend will continue. The Company anticipates overall bottle/can revenue growth will be primarily dependent upon continued growth in diet products, sports drinks, bottled water and energy products as well as the introduction of new beverage products and the appropriate pricing of brands and packaging within sales channels.

 

Gross margin increased approximately 4% from 2004 to 2006. The Company’s gross margin percentage as a percentage of net sales declined from 47.4% in 2004 to 43.5% in 2006 due to higher raw material costs and an increase in sales to other Coca-Cola bottlers, which have lower margins than the Company’s bottle/can sales. Sales to other Coca-Cola bottlers accounted for 2.1% of the 3.9% decrease in the gross margin percentage. The Company’s raw material packaging costs increased significantly in 2006 and 2005 and the Company increased selling prices to partially offset these increased costs.

 

S,D&A expenses increased approximately 5% from 2004 to 2006. The increase in S,D&A expenses was primarily attributable to increases in employee compensation of 9.2%, property and casualty insurance costs of 14.6% and fuel costs of 41.1%. Depreciation expense decreased approximately 8% from 2004 to 2006 due to lower levels of capital spending over the past several years and employee benefit plan costs decreased by approximately 3% primarily due to the amendment of the principal Company-sponsored pension plan and changes to the Company’s postretirement health care plan.

 

Income from operations was flat from 2004 to 2006 as the increase in gross margin and lower depreciation expense were offset by higher S,D&A expenses.

 

Interest expense increased approximately 14% from 2004 to 2006 despite a reduction in total net debt and capital lease obligations. The increase primarily reflected higher interest rates on the Company’s floating rate debt. The Company’s overall weighted average interest rate increased from an average of 5.4% in 2004 to 6.6% in 2006. As of December 31, 2006 and January 2, 2005, approximately 42% of the Company’s debt and capital lease obligations of $769.0 million and $789.1 million, respectively, was maintained on a floating rate basis and was subject to changes in short-term interest rates.

 

Income tax expense decreased 46% from 2004 to 2006 primarily due to lower taxable income and agreements in 2006 with state taxing authorities which required a reduction in the valuation allowance related to state net operating loss carryforwards and the liability for uncertain tax positions.

 

Net debt and capital lease obligations were summarized as follows:

 

     Dec. 31, 2006    Jan. 1, 2006    Jan. 2, 2005
In Thousands               

Debt

   $ 691,450    $ 697,989    $ 708,039

Capital lease obligations

     77,506      79,202      81,028
                    

Total debt and capital lease obligations

     768,956      777,191      789,067

Less: Cash and cash equivalents

     61,823      39,608      8,885
                    

Total net debt and capital lease obligations (1)

   $ 707,133    $ 737,583    $ 780,182
                    

 

(1) The non-GAAP measure “Total net debt and capital lease obligations” is used to provide investors with additional information which management believes is helpful in the evaluation of the Company’s capital structure and financial leverage.

 

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DISCUSSION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES, ESTIMATES AND NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

In the ordinary course of business, the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of results of operations and financial position in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates under different assumptions and conditions. The Company believes the following discussion addresses the Company’s most critical accounting policies, which are those most important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and require management’s most difficult, subjective and complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.

 

The Company has not made changes in any critical accounting policies during 2006. Any significant changes in critical accounting policies and estimates are discussed with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company during the quarter in which a change is contemplated and prior to making such change.

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

The Company evaluates the collectibility of its trade accounts receivable based on a number of factors. In circumstances where the Company becomes aware of a customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations to the Company, a specific reserve for bad debts is estimated and recorded which reduces the recognized receivable to the estimated amount the Company believes will ultimately be collected. In addition to specific customer identification of potential bad debts, bad debt charges are recorded based on the Company’s recent past loss history and an overall assessment of past due trade accounts receivable outstanding.

 

The Company’s review of potential bad debts considers the specific industry in which a particular customer operates, such as supermarket retailers, convenience stores and mass merchandise retailers, and the general economic conditions that currently exist in that specific industry. The Company then considers the effects of concentration of credit risk in a specific industry and for specific customers within that industry.

 

Property, Plant and Equipment

 

Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost and is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of such assets. Changes in circumstances such as technological advances, changes to the Company’s business model or changes in the Company’s capital spending strategy could result in the actual useful lives differing from the Company’s current estimates. Factors such as changes in the planned use of manufacturing equipment, vending equipment, transportation equipment, warehouse facilities or software could also result in shortened useful lives. In those cases where the Company determines that the useful life of property, plant and equipment should be shortened, the Company depreciates the net book value in excess of the estimated salvage value over its revised remaining useful life.

 

The Company evaluates the recoverability of the carrying amount of its property, plant and equipment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. If the Company determines that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group is not recoverable based upon the expected undiscounted future cash flows of the asset or asset group, an impairment loss is recorded equal to the excess of the carrying amounts over the estimated fair value of the asset or asset group.

 

Franchise Rights

 

The Company considers franchise rights with The Coca-Cola Company and other beverage companies to be indefinite lived because the agreements are perpetual or, in situations where agreements are not perpetual, the Company anticipates the agreements will continue to be renewed upon expiration. The cost of renewals is

 

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minimal and the Company has not had any renewals denied. The Company considers franchise rights as indefinite lived intangible assets under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” (“SFAS No. 142”) and therefore, does not amortize the value of such assets. Instead, franchise rights are tested at least annually for impairment.

 

Impairment Testing of Franchise Rights and Goodwill

 

SFAS No. 142 requires testing of intangible assets with indefinite lives and goodwill for impairment at least annually. The Company conducts its annual impairment test in the third quarter of each fiscal year. The Company also reviews intangible assets with indefinite lives and goodwill for impairment if there are significant changes in business conditions that could result in impairment.

 

For the annual impairment analysis of franchise rights, the fair value for the Company’s acquired franchise rights is estimated using a multi-period excess earnings approach. This approach involves projecting future earnings, discounting those estimated earnings using an appropriate discount rate and subtracting a contributory charge for net working capital; property, plant and equipment; assembled workforce and customer relationships to arrive at excess earnings attributable to franchise rights. The present value of the excess earnings attributable to franchise rights is their estimated fair value and is compared to their carrying value on an aggregated basis. As a result of this analysis, there was no impairment of the Company’s recorded franchise rights in 2006. The projection of earnings includes a number of assumptions such as projected net sales, cost of sales, operating expenses and income taxes. Changes in the assumptions required to estimate the present value of the excess earnings attributable to franchise rights could materially impact the fair value estimate.

 

The Company has determined that it has one reporting unit for the Company as a whole. For the annual impairment analysis of goodwill, the Company develops an estimated fair value for the reporting unit using an average of three different approaches:

 

   

market value, using the Company’s stock price plus outstanding debt and minority interest;

 

   

discounted cash flow analysis; and

 

   

multiple of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization based upon relevant industry data.

 

The estimated fair value of the reporting unit is then compared to the Company’s carrying amount including goodwill. If the estimated fair value exceeds the carrying amount, goodwill will be considered not to be impaired and the second step of the SFAS No. 142 impairment test is not necessary. If the carrying amount including goodwill exceeds its estimated fair value, the second step of the impairment test is performed to measure the amount of the impairment, if any. Based on this analysis, there was no impairment of the Company’s recorded goodwill in 2006. The discounted cash flow analysis includes a number of assumptions such as weighted average cost of capital, projected sales volume, net sales, cost of sales and operating expenses. Changes in these assumptions could materially impact the fair value estimates.

 

Income Tax Estimates

 

The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce the carrying value of its deferred tax assets if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is determined it is more likely than not that such assets will not ultimately be realized. While the Company considers future taxable income and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for a valuation allowance, should the Company determine it will not be able to realize all or part of its net deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment to the valuation allowance will be charged to income in the period in which such determination is made. A reduction in the valuation allowance and corresponding adjustment to income may be required if the likelihood of realizing existing deferred tax assets increases to a more likely than not level. The Company regularly reviews the realizability of deferred tax assets and initiates a review when significant changes in the Company’s business occur that could impact the realizability assessment.

 

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In addition to a valuation allowance related to state net operating loss carryforwards, the Company records liabilities for uncertain tax positions principally related to state income taxes and certain federal income tax positions. These liabilities reflect the Company’s best estimate of the ultimate income tax liability based on currently known facts and information. Material changes in facts or information as well as the expiration of statutes of limitations and/or settlements with individual state or federal jurisdictions may result in material adjustments to these estimates in the future. The Company recorded adjustments to its valuation allowance and reserve for uncertain tax positions in 2006 as a result of settlements reached with certain states on a basis more favorable than previously estimated.

 

Risk Management Programs

 

In general, the Company is self-insured for the costs of workers’ compensation, employment practices, vehicle accident claims and medical claims. The Company uses commercial insurance for claims as a risk reduction strategy to minimize catastrophic losses. Losses are accrued using assumptions and procedures followed in the insurance industry, adjusted for company-specific history and expectations. The Company has standby letters of credit, primarily related to its property and casualty insurance programs. On December 31, 2006, these letters of credit totaled $22.1 million.

 

Pension and Postretirement Benefit Obligations

 

The Company sponsors pension plans covering substantially all full-time nonunion employees and certain union employees who meet eligibility requirements. As discussed below, the Company ceased further benefit accruals under the principal Company-sponsored pension plan effective June 30, 2006. Several statistical and other factors, which attempt to anticipate future events, are used in calculating the expense and liability related to the plans. These factors include assumptions about the discount rate, expected return on plan assets, employee turnover, age at retirement and rate of future compensation increases as determined by the Company, within certain guidelines. In addition, the Company uses subjective factors such as mortality rates to estimate the projected benefit obligation. The actuarial assumptions used by the Company may differ materially from actual results due to changing market and economic conditions, higher or lower withdrawal rates or longer or shorter life spans of participants. These differences may result in a significant impact to the amount of net periodic pension cost recorded by the Company in future periods. In 2006, the discount rate used in determining the actuarial present value of the projected benefit obligation for the Company’s pension plans did not change from the 5.75% used in 2005. The discount rate assumption is generally the estimate which can have the most significant impact on net periodic pension cost and the projected benefit obligation for these pension plans. The Company determines an appropriate discount rate annually based on the annual yield on long-term corporate bonds as of the measurement date and reviews the discount rate assumption at the end of each year.

 

On February 22, 2006, the Board of Directors of the Company approved an amendment to the principal Company-sponsored pension plan to cease further benefit accruals under the plan effective June 30, 2006. The annual expense for Company-sponsored pension plans decreased from $11.8 million in 2005 to $8.1 in 2006. The Company anticipates the annual expense for the Company-sponsored pension plans will decrease to approximately $.2 million in 2007.

 

A .25% increase or decrease in the discount rate assumption would have impacted the projected benefit obligation and net periodic pension cost of the Company-sponsored pension plans as follows:

 

In Thousands

   .25% Increase     .25% Decrease

(Decrease) increase in:

    

Projected benefit obligation at December 31, 2006

   $ (7,552 )   $ 8,051

Net periodic pension cost in 2006

     (1,404 )     1,490

 

The weighted average expected long-term rate of return of plan assets was 8% for 2004, 2005 and 2006. This rate reflects an estimate of long-term future returns for the pension plan assets. This estimate is primarily a

 

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function of the asset classes (equities versus fixed income) in which the pension plan assets are invested and the analysis of past performance of these asset classes over a long period of time. This analysis includes expected long-term inflation and the risk premiums associated with equity and fixed income investments. See Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements for the details by asset type of the Company’s pension plan assets at December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006, and the weighted average expected long-term rate of return of each asset type. The actual return of pension plan assets was 13.0% and 8.3% for 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

The Company sponsors a postretirement health care plan for employees meeting specified qualifying criteria. Several statistical and other factors, which attempt to anticipate future events, are used in calculating the net periodic postretirement benefit cost and postretirement benefit obligation for this plan. These factors include assumptions about the discount rate and the expected growth rate for the cost of health care benefits. In addition, the Company uses subjective factors such as withdrawal and mortality rates to estimate the projected liability under this plan. The actuarial assumptions used by the Company may differ materially from actual results due to changing market and economic conditions, higher or lower withdrawal rates or longer or shorter life spans of participants. The Company does not pre-fund its postretirement benefits and has the right to modify or terminate certain of these benefits in the future.

 

In October 2005, the Company announced changes to its postretirement health care plan. Due to these changes the Company’s expense and liability related to its postretirement health care plan was reduced. Both the expense and liability for postretirement health care benefits are subject to actuarial determination and include numerous variables that affect the impact of the changes. The annual expense for the postretirement health care plan decreased from $4.5 million in 2005 to $2.1 million in 2006. The Company anticipates the annual expense for postretirement health care will be approximately the same in 2007 as in 2006.

 

The discount rate assumption, the annual health care cost trend and the ultimate trend rate for health care costs are key estimates which can have a significant impact on the net periodic postretirement benefit cost and postretirement obligation in future periods. The Company annually determines the health care cost trend based on recent actual medical trend experience and projected experience for subsequent years.

 

The discount rate assumptions used to determine the pension and postretirement benefit obligations are based on yield rates available on double-A bonds as of each plan’s measurement date. The discount rates for 2006 were derived using the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve which is a set of yields on hypothetical double-A zero-coupon bonds with maturities up to 30 years. Projected benefit payouts from each plan are matched to the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve and an equivalent flat discount rate is derived and then rounded to the nearest quarter percent.

 

A .25% increase or decrease in the discount rate assumption would have impacted the projected benefit obligation and service cost and interest cost of the Company’s postretirement benefit plan as follows:

 

In Thousands

   .25% Increase     .25% Decrease

(Decrease) increase in:

    

Postretirement benefit obligation at December 31, 2006

   $ (913 )   $ 953

Service cost and interest cost in 2006

     (86 )     91

 

A 1% increase or decrease in the annual health care cost trend would have impacted the postretirement benefit obligation and service cost and interest cost of the Company’s postretirement benefit plan as follows:

 

In Thousands

   1% Increase    1% Decrease  

Increase (decrease) in:

     

Postretirement benefit obligation at December 31, 2006

   $ 4,423    $ (3,797 )

Service cost and interest cost in 2006

     342      (305 )

 

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New Accounting Pronouncements

 

Recently Adopted Pronouncements

 

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Pension and Other Postretirement Plans.” This SFAS required the following for defined pension and other postretirement plans:

 

  (1) Recognition in the statement of financial position of the overfunded or underfunded status of the plans.

 

  (2) Recognition as a component of other comprehensive income, net of tax, the actuarial gains and losses and the prior service costs and credits that arise during the period but are not recognized as components of net periodic benefit costs.

 

  (3) Recognition as an adjustment to retained earnings, net of tax of any remaining transition asset or transition obligation.

 

  (4) Measurement of defined benefit plan assets and obligations as of the date of the employer’s statement of financial position.

 

  (5) Disclosure of additional information in the notes to the consolidated financial statements about certain effects on periodic benefit costs in the upcoming fiscal year that arise from delayed recognition of the actuarial gains and losses and the prior service costs and credits.

 

The Statement was effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2006, except for the requirement that the benefit plan assets and obligations be measured as of the date of the employer’s statement of financial position, which is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. The Company’s current measurement dates are November 30 (pension) and September 30 (postretirement). The Company anticipates changing the measurement dates to its fiscal year end date in fiscal 2008. The impact of the adoption of the Statement was to increase the Company’s pension and postretirement liabilities by $4.2 million with a corresponding adjustment to other comprehensive loss, net of tax effect, of $1.6 million. See Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.

 

The SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108 (“SAB 108”) in September 2006. SAB 108 expresses the views of the SEC staff regarding the process of quantifying the materiality of financial misstatements. SAB 108 requires both the balance sheet and income statement approaches be used when quantifying the materiality of misstatement amounts. In addition, SAB 108 contains guidance on correcting errors under the dual approach and provides transition guidance for correcting errors existing in prior years. SAB 108 was effective in the Company’s fourth quarter of 2006. The adoption of SAB 108 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment.” This Statement is a revision of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” and was effective as of the beginning of the first quarter of 2006 (“Q1 2006”). This Statement requires public companies to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of an equity instrument based on the grant-date fair value of the award. The adoption of this Statement did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. See the “Liquidity and Capital Resources – Financing Activities” section of M,D&A for additional information.

 

Recently Issued Pronouncements

 

In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments—an amendment of SFAS No. 133 and 140.” This Statement simplifies accounting for certain hybrid financial instruments, eliminates the interim guidance in Statement 133 Implementation Issue No. D1, “Application of Statement 133 to Beneficial Interest in Securitized Financial Assets,” and eliminates a restriction of the passive

 

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derivative instruments that a qualifying special-purpose entity may hold. The Statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2006. The adoption of this Statement is not anticipated to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In June 2006, FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” This Interpretation clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized by prescribing a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Interpretation also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods and disclosure. The Interpretation is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company is in the process of determining the impact of this Interpretation on the consolidated financial statements.

 

In September 2006, FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” This Statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The Statement does not require any new fair value measurements but could change the current practice in measuring fair value. The Statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is in the process of determining the impact of this Statement on the consolidated financial statements.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

2006 Compared to 2005

 

A summary of key information concerning the Company’s financial results for 2006 and 2005 follows:

 

     Fiscal Year             
     2006(1)    2005(2)(3)(4)    Change     % Change  
In Thousands (Except Per Share Data)                       

Net sales

   $ 1,431,005    $ 1,380,172    $ 50,833     3.7  

Gross margin

     622,579      618,911      3,668     .6  

S,D&A expenses

     537,365      525,903      11,462     2.2  

Interest expense

     50,286      49,279      1,007     2.0  

Income before income taxes

     31,160      38,752      (7,592 )   (19.6 )

Income taxes

     7,917      15,801      (7,884 )   (49.9 )

Net income

     23,243      22,951      292     1.3  

Basic net income per share:

          

Common Stock

   $ 2.55    $ 2.53    $ .02     .8  

Class B Common Stock

   $ 2.55    $ 2.53    $ .02     .8  

Diluted net income per share:

          

Common Stock

   $ 2.55    $ 2.53    $ .02     .8  

Class B Common Stock

   $ 2.54    $ 2.53    $ .01     .4  

 

(1) Results for 2006 included a favorable adjustment of $4.9 million related to agreements with two state taxing authorities to settle certain prior tax positions resulting in the reduction of the valuation allowance on related deferred tax assets and the reduction of the liability for uncertain tax positions, which was reflected as a reduction of income tax expense.
(2) Results for 2005 included a favorable adjustment of $7.0 million (pre-tax), or $4.2 million after tax, related to the settlement of high fructose corn syrup litigation, which was reflected as a reduction in cost of sales.
(3) Results for 2005 included a favorable adjustment of $1.1 million (pre-tax), or $.7 million after tax, related to an adjustment of amounts accrued for certain executive benefits due to the resignation of an executive, which was reflected as a reduction to S,D&A expenses.
(4) Results for 2005 included financing transaction costs of $1.7 million (pre-tax), or $1.0 million after tax, related to the exchange of $164.8 million of the Company’s debt and the redemption of $8.6 million of debentures, which was reflected in interest expense.

 

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Net Sales

 

Net sales increased $50.8 million, or approximately 3.7%, to $1.43 billion in 2006 compared to $1.38 billion in 2005.

 

The increase in net sales was a result of the following:

 

Amount   

Attributable to:

(In Millions)     
$17.8    13% increase in sales to other Coca-Cola bottlers primarily related to higher pricing per unit for Full Throttle
13.3    .6% increase in bottle/can sales volume primarily due to growth in energy products and water products offset by decreased volume in sugar carbonated beverages
12.6    2% increase in average bottle/can revenue per unit
2.9    Increase in delivery fee revenue
1.8    2% increase in post-mix sales primarily related to an increase in sales price per unit
2.4    Other
    
$50.8    Total increase in net sales
    

 

In 2006, the Company’s bottle/can volume to retail customers accounted for 84% of the Company’s total net sales. Bottle/can net pricing is based on the invoice price charged to customers reduced by promotional allowances. Bottle/can net pricing per unit is impacted by the price charged per package, the volume generated in each package and the channels in which those packages are sold. To the extent the Company is able to increase volume in higher margin packages sold through higher margin channels, bottle/can net pricing per unit can increase without an actual increase in wholesale pricing. The increase in the Company’s bottle/can net price per unit in 2006 compared to 2005 was primarily due to higher prices for energy products and sports drinks offset by a decrease in pricing in the supermarket channel in response to competitive pressures and ongoing pricing pressures in the bottled water category. Energy products comprised .7% of the overall bottle/can volume in 2006 compared to .5% in 2005.

 

Product category sales volume in 2006 and 2005 as a percentage of total bottle/can sales volume and the percentage change by product category was as follows:

 

    Bottle/Can Sales Volume    

Bottle/Can Sales Volume

% Increase (Decrease)

 

Product Category

        2006                 2005          

Carbonated beverages (including energy products)

  86.7 %   87.9 %   (.7 )

Noncarbonated beverages

  13.3 %   12.1 %   10.1  
             

Total bottle/can sales volume

  100.0 %   100.0 %   .6  
             

 

The Company introduced several new products during 2006 including Vault Zero, Tab Energy, Cinnabon Premium Coffee Lattes and Full Throttle Blue Demon.

 

Product innovation will continue to be an important factor impacting the Company’s overall bottle/can revenue in the future. Beginning in 2007, the Company began distribution of two of its own products, Respect and Tum-E Yummies, in addition to Enviga, a new product from The Coca-Cola Company.

 

The Company’s products are sold and distributed through various channels. These channels include selling directly to retail stores and other outlets such as food markets, institutional accounts and vending machine outlets. During 2006, approximately 68% of the Company’s bottle/can sales volume was sold for future consumption. The remaining bottle/can sales volume of approximately 32% was sold for immediate consumption. The Company’s largest customer, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., accounted for approximately 16% of the

 

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Company’s total bottle/can sales volume during 2006. The Company’s second largest customer, Food Lion, LLC, accounted for approximately 12% of the Company’s total bottle/can sales volume in 2006. All of the Company’s sales are to customers in the United States.

 

Cost of Sales

 

Cost of sales includes the following: raw material costs, manufacturing labor, manufacturing overhead including depreciation expense, manufacturing warehousing costs and shipping and handling costs related to the movement of finished goods from manufacturing locations to sales distribution centers.

 

Cost of sales increased 6.2%, or $47.2 million, to $808.4 million in 2006 compared to $761.2 million in 2005. The increase in cost of sales was principally attributable to the following:

 

Amount    

Attributable to:

(In Millions)      
$ 24.6     4% increase in raw material costs (primarily concentrate, sweetener and packaging costs)
  10.8     Increase in other manufacturing costs
  7.0     Increase due to benefit in 2005 resulting from receipts of proceeds from high fructose corn syrup litigation
  4.8     Increase due to higher sales volume
  (4.3 )   Increase in marketing funding received primarily from The Coca-Cola Company
  4.3     Other
       
$ 47.2     Total increase in cost of sales
       

 

The Company anticipates that beginning in 2007, the majority of the Company’s aluminum requirements will not have any ceiling price protection. Based upon current market prices for aluminum, the Company anticipates the cost of aluminum cans may increase by 10% to 20% in 2007. High fructose corn syrup costs are also expected to increase significantly in 2007 as a result of increasing demand for corn products around the world and as a result of alternate uses for corn, such as ethanol. Based upon current market prices for corn, the Company anticipates the costs of high fructose corn syrup will increase by 20% to 35% in 2007. The combined impact of increasing costs for aluminum cans and high fructose corn syrup, assuming flat volume, is anticipated to range between $24 million and $45 million.

 

The Company relies extensively on advertising and sales promotion in the marketing of its products. The Coca-Cola Company and other beverage companies that supply concentrates, syrups and finished products to the Company make substantial marketing and advertising expenditures to promote sales in the local territories served by the Company. The Company also benefits from national advertising programs conducted by The Coca-Cola Company and other beverage companies. Certain of the marketing expenditures by The Coca-Cola Company and other beverage companies are made pursuant to annual arrangements. Although The Coca-Cola Company has advised the Company that it intends to continue to provide marketing funding support, it is not obligated to do so under the Company’s Bottle Contracts. Significant decreases in marketing funding support from The Coca-Cola Company or other beverage companies could adversely impact operating results of the Company in the future.

 

Total marketing funding support from The Coca-Cola Company and other beverage companies, which includes direct payments to the Company and payments to customers for marketing programs, was $33.2 million for 2006 compared to $28.9 million for 2005 and was recorded as a reduction in cost of sales.

 

Gross Margin

 

Gross margin increased $3.7 million, or .6%, to $622.6 million in 2006 from $618.9 million in 2005. Gross margin as a percentage of net sales decreased to 43.5% in 2006 from 44.8% in 2005.

 

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The increase in gross margin was primarily the result of the following:

 

Amount    

Attributable to:

(In Millions)      
$ (24.6 )   4% increase in raw material costs (primarily concentrate, sweetener and packaging cost)
  19.5     15% increase in average sales price per unit for sales to other bottlers related to growth in sales of energy products
  12.6     2% increase in average bottle/can price per unit
  (10.8 )   Increase in manufacturing costs
  (7.0 )   Decrease as the result of proceeds received in 2005 from high fructose corn syrup litigation
  6.2     Increase in sales volume
  4.3     Increase in marketing funding received primarily from The Coca-Cola Company
  2.9     Increase in delivery fee revenue
  .6     Other
       
$ 3.7     Total increase in gross margin
       

 

The 1.3% decrease in gross margin as a percentage of net sales resulted primarily from higher raw material costs and higher manufacturing costs in 2006 and the high fructose corn syrup litigation proceeds received in 2005.

 

The Company’s gross margins may not be comparable to other companies, since some entities include all costs related to their distribution network in cost of sales. The Company includes a portion of these costs in S,D&A expenses.

 

S,D&A Expenses

 

S,D&A expenses include the following: sales management labor costs, distribution costs from sales distribution centers to customer locations, sales distribution center warehouse costs, depreciation expense related to sales centers, delivery vehicles and cold drink equipment, point-of-sale expenses, advertising expenses, vending equipment repair costs and administrative support labor and operating costs such as treasury, legal, information services, accounting, internal audit, human resources and executive management costs.

 

S,D&A expenses increased by $11.5 million, or 2.2%, to $537.4 million in 2006 from $525.9 million in 2005.

 

The increase in S,D&A expenses was primarily due to the following:

 

Amount    

Attributable to:

(In Millions)      
$ 12.8     Increase in employee related expenses primarily related to wage increases and additional personnel
  (2.2 )   Decrease in employee benefit costs primarily due to the amendment of the principal Company-sponsored pension plan and changes to the Company’s postretirement health care plan
  1.9     Increase in property and casualty insurance costs
  1.8     Increase in energy costs primarily related to the movement of finished goods from sales distribution centers to customer locations
  (1.1 )   Decrease in depreciation expense primarily due to lower levels of capital spending over the past several years
  (1.1 )   Favorable adjustment in 2005 due to the resignation of a Company executive and related impact on amounts accrued for certain benefit plans
  (.6 )   Other
       
$ 11.5     Total increase in S,D&A expenses
       

 

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Shipping and handling costs related to the movement of finished goods from manufacturing locations to sales distribution centers are included in cost of sales. Shipping and handling costs related to the movement of finished goods from sales distribution centers to customer locations are included in S,D&A expenses and totaled $193.8 million and $183.1 million in 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Company charges certain customers a delivery fee to offset a portion of the Company’s delivery and handling costs. The Company initiated this delivery fee in October 2005. The delivery fee is recorded in net sales and was $3.6 million and $.7 million in 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

In February 2006, the Company announced an amendment to its principal Company-sponsored pension plan to cease further benefit accruals under the plan effective June 30, 2006. Net periodic pension expense decreased to $8.1 million in 2006 from $11.8 million in 2005. The Company anticipates expense for its pension plans will be approximately $.2 million in 2007. The Company also announced in February 2006 plans to enhance its 401(k) Savings Plan for eligible employees beginning in the first quarter of 2007. The Company anticipates expense for its 401(k) plan will increase to a range of approximately $8 million to $9 million in 2007 from $4.7 million in 2006.

 

In October 2005, the Company announced changes to its postretirement health care plan. Primarily as a result of these changes, the Company’s expense for postretirement health care decreased to $2.1 million in 2006 from $4.5 million in 2005. The Company anticipates the annual expense for postretirement health care will be approximately the same in 2007 as in 2006.

 

Amortization of Intangibles

 

Amortization of intangibles expense for 2006 declined by $.3 million compared to 2005. The decline in amortization expense was due to the impact of certain customer relationships recorded in other identifiable intangible assets which are now fully amortized.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense increased 2.0%, or $1.0 million, to $50.3 million in 2006 from $49.3 million in 2005. The change primarily reflected higher interest rates on the Company’s floating rate debt partially offset by a $1.0 million increase in interest earned on short-term cash investments in 2006. Interest expense in 2005 included $1.7 million of financing transaction costs related to the exchange of $164.8 million of the Company’s debt and the redemption of $8.6 million of debentures. Excluding the impact of the $1.7 million financing transaction costs, the Company’s overall weighted average interest rate increased to 6.6% during 2006 from 6.2% during 2005. See the “Liquidity and Capital Resources—Interest Rate Hedging” section of M,D&A for additional information.

 

Minority Interest

 

The Company recorded minority interest of $3.2 million in 2006 compared to $4.1 million in 2005 related to the portion of Piedmont owned by The Coca-Cola Company. The decreased amount in 2006 was due to unfavorable changes in operating results at Piedmont.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company’s effective income tax rate for 2006 was 25.4% compared to 40.8% in 2005. The deduction for qualified production activities provided within the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 reduced the Company’s effective income tax rate by approximately 1% in 2006.

 

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In 2006, the Company reached agreements with two state taxing authorities to settle certain prior tax positions for which the Company had previously provided reserves due to uncertainty of resolution. As a result, the Company reduced the valuation allowance on related deferred tax assets by $2.6 million and reduced the liability for uncertain tax positions by $2.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2006 (“Q4 2006”). This $4.9 million adjustment was reflected as a reduction of income tax expense in Q4 2006. Also during Q4 2006, the Company increased the liability for uncertain tax positions by $.5 million to reflect an interest accrual and an adjustment of the reserve for uncertain tax positions. The net effect of adjustments to the valuation allowance and liability for uncertain tax positions during Q4 2006 was a reduction in income tax expense of $4.4 million.

 

During 2005, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with a state whereby the Company agreed to reduce certain net operating loss carryforwards and to pay certain additional taxes and interest relating to prior years. The loss of state net operating loss carryforwards, net of federal tax benefit, of $4.4 million did not have an effect on the provision for income taxes due to a valuation allowance previously recorded for such deferred tax assets. Under this settlement, the Company was required to pay $5.7 million in 2005 and was required to pay an additional $5.0 million by April 15, 2006. The amounts paid in excess of liabilities previously recorded had the effect of increasing income tax expense by approximately $4.1 million in 2005. Based on an analysis of facts and available information, the Company also made adjustments to liabilities for income tax exposure related to other states in 2005 which had the effect of decreasing income tax expense by $3.8 million in 2005.

 

During 2005, the Company also entered into settlement agreements with two other states regarding certain tax years. The effect of these settlements was the reduction of certain state net operating loss carryforwards with a tax effect, net of federal tax benefit, of $.6 million, the payment of $1.1 million in previously accrued tax and the reduction of valuation allowances of $1.2 million, net of federal tax benefit, related to net operating loss utilization in these states. The Company recognized in 2005 an increase in the average state income tax rate which is used in determining the net deferred income tax liability. This increase in the state income tax rate resulted in additional income tax expense in 2005 of $1.6 million.

 

The Company’s income tax assets and tax liabilities are subject to adjustment in future periods based on the Company’s ongoing evaluations of such assets and liabilities and new information that becomes available to the Company.

 

Net Income and Net Income Per Share

 

The Company reported net income for 2006 of $23.2 million, or $2.55 basic net income per share for both Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, compared with net income for 2005 of $23.0 million, or $2.53 basic net income per share for both Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. The changes in net income and net income per share were the result of the net effect of changes in gross margin, S,D&A expenses, amortization of intangibles, interest expense, minority interest and income taxes as previously described.

 

2005 Compared to 2004

 

The comparison of operating results for 2005 to operating results for 2004 were affected by the impact of one additional selling week in 2004 due to the Company’s fiscal year ending on the Sunday closest to December 31 of each year. The estimated net sales, gross margin and S,D&A expenses for the additional selling week in 2004 of approximately $23.9 million, $11.1 million and $8.1 million, respectively, were included in the reported results for 2004.

 

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A summary of key information concerning the Company’s financial results for 2005 and 2004 follows:

 

     Fiscal Year          
     2005(1)(2)(3)    2004(4)(5)    Change    % Change
In Thousands (Except Per Share Data)                    

Net sales

   $ 1,380,172    $ 1,267,227    $ 112,945    8.9

Gross margin

     618,911      600,693      18,218    3.0

S,D&A expenses

     525,903      513,227      12,676    2.5

Interest expense

     49,279      43,983      5,296    12.0

Net income

     22,951      21,848      1,103    5.0

Basic net income per share:

           

Common Stock

   $ 2.53    $ 2.41    $ .12    5.0

Class B Common Stock

   $ 2.53    $ 2.41    $ .12    5.0

Diluted net income per share:

           

Common Stock

   $ 2.53    $ 2.41    $ .12    5.0

Class B Common Stock

   $ 2.53    $ 2.41    $ .12    5.0

 

(1) Results for 2005 included a favorable adjustment of $7.0 million (pre-tax), or $4.2 million after tax, related to the settlement of high fructose corn syrup litigation, which was reflected as a reduction in cost of sales.
(2) Results for 2005 included a favorable adjustment of $1.1 million (pre-tax), or $.7 million after tax, related to an adjustment of amounts accrued for certain executive benefits due to the resignation of an executive, which was reflected as a reduction to S,D&A expenses.
(3) Interest expense for 2005 included financing transaction costs of $1.7 million (pre-tax), or $1.0 million after tax, related to the exchange of $164.8 million of the Company’s debt and the redemption of $8.6 million of debentures, which was reflected in interest expense.
(4) Results for 2004 included an unfavorable non-cash adjustment of $1.7 million (pre-tax), or $1.0 million after tax, related to a change in the pricing of concentrate purchased from The Coca-Cola Company, which was reflected as an increase to cost of sales.
(5) Results for 2004 included a favorable adjustment of approximately $2 million (pre-tax), or $1.1 million after tax, for certain customer-related marketing programs between the Company and The Coca-Cola Company, which was reflected as a reduction in cost of sales.

 

Net Sales

 

Net sales increased by $112.9 million, or approximately 9%, to $1.38 billion in 2005 compared to $1.27 billion in 2004.

 

The increase in net sales was a result of the following:

 

Amount    

Attributable to:

(In Millions)      
$ 60.9     82% increase in sales to other Coca-Cola bottlers primarily related to shipments of Full Throttle
  54.9     4% increase in bottle/can sales volume for the comparable period primarily due to growth in diet carbonated beverages, sports drinks, energy products and water products offset by decreased volume in sugar carbonated beverages
  (23.9 )   Decrease due to extra selling week in 2004
  15.1     3% increase in average bottle/can revenue per unit
  1.6     2% increase in post-mix sales primarily related to an increase in sales price per unit
  4.3     Other
       
$ 112.9     Total increase in net sales
       

 

In 2005, the Company’s bottle/can sales accounted for 85% of the Company’s net sales. Bottle/can net pricing is based on the invoice price charged to customers reduced by promotional allowances. Bottle/can net

 

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pricing per unit is impacted by the price charged per package, the volume generated in each package and the channels in which those packages are sold. To the extent the Company is able to increase volume in higher margin packages that are sold through higher margin channels, bottle/can net pricing per unit can increase without an actual increase in wholesale pricing. In 2005, the increase in the Company’s bottle/can net price per unit was primarily achieved with price increases, but also reflects additional mix benefit associated with new products, including energy products, Vault, Dasani flavors and Coca-Cola Zero.

 

Product category sales volume in 2005 and 2004 as a percentage of total bottle/can sales volume and the percentage increase by product category for a comparable period was as follows:

 

    

Bottle/Can Sales Volume

   

Bottle/Can Sales Volume
% Increase

Product Category

         2005                 2004          

Carbonated beverages (including energy products)

   87.9 %   89.1 %   2.2

Noncarbonated beverages

   12.1 %   10.9 %   15.6
              

Total bottle/can sales volume

   100.0 %   100.0 %   3.7
              

 

The Company’s noncarbonated beverage portfolio provided strong volume growth in 2005 with Dasani growing 23% and POWERade growing 29%. Newly introduced energy products, including Full Throttle, accounted for .5% of total volume in 2005. Noncarbonated beverages comprised 12.1% of overall bottle/can volume in 2005 compared to 10.9% in 2004. The Company encountered significant pricing pressure in the supermarket channel for bottled water with average revenue per unit declining by approximately 13% in 2005 compared to 2004.

 

The Company introduced several new products during 2005. During the first quarter of 2005, the Company introduced Full Throttle, an energy product. During the second quarter of 2005, the Company introduced Coca-Cola Zero, Dasani flavors and Vault in certain markets. Vault was introduced to the Company’s remaining markets in the fourth quarter of 2005.

 

The Company’s products are sold and distributed through various channels. These channels include selling directly to retail stores and other outlets such as food markets, institutional accounts and vending machine outlets. During 2005, approximately 67% of the Company’s bottle/can sales volume was sold for future consumption. The remaining bottle/can sales volume of approximately 33% was sold for immediate consumption. The Company’s largest customer, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., accounted for approximately 15% of the Company’s total bottle/can sales volume during 2005. The Company’s second largest customer, Food Lion, LLC, accounted for approximately 10% of the Company’s total bottle/can sales volume in 2005.

 

Cost of Sales

 

Cost of sales increased 14.2%, or $94.7 million, to $761.2 million in 2005 compared to $666.5 million in 2004.

 

The increase in cost of sales was principally attributable to the following:

 

Amount    

Attributable to:

(In Millions)      
$ 67.1     Increase in sales volume
  16.7     5% increase in raw material costs (primarily concentrate, sweetener and packaging costs)
  13.4     Increase due to energy products having higher cost per unit
  (12.8 )   Decrease due to impact of extra selling week in 2004
  11.0     Decrease in marketing funding received primarily from The Coca-Cola Company
  (7.0 )   Decrease as the result of proceeds received in 2005 from high fructose corn syrup litigation
  6.3     Other
       
$ 94.7     Total increase in cost of sales
       

 

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At the beginning of 2004, the Company reclassified plastic shells, premix tanks and CO2 tanks, which totaled $10.4 million, from property, plant and equipment to inventories. These items were reclassified as the Company believes that they are more closely related to the sale of finished product inventories than to a component of property, plant and equipment. This reclassification had no significant impact on the Company’s overall financial position or results of operations. Costs associated with these items have been reflected in cost of sales beginning in 2004. Previously, costs associated with these items were recorded as depreciation expense.

 

Total marketing funding support from The Coca-Cola Company and other beverage companies, which includes direct payments to the Company and payments to customers for marketing programs, was $28.9 million for 2005 versus $39.9 million for 2004 and was recorded as a reduction in cost of sales. Since May 28, 2004, The Coca-Cola Company has provided the majority of the Company’s marketing funding support for bottle/can products through a reduction in the price of concentrate. The change in concentrate price represents a significant portion of the marketing funding support that previously would have been paid to the Company in cash related to the sale of bottle/can products of The Coca-Cola Company. Accordingly, the amounts received in cash from The Coca-Cola Company for marketing funding support decreased significantly in 2005 as compared to 2004. However, this change in marketing funding support, after taking into account the related reduction in concentrate price, did not have a significant impact on overall results of operations in 2004 or 2005.

 

Gross Margin

 

Gross margin increased $18.2 million, or 3.0%, to $618.9 million in 2005 from $600.7 million in 2004. Gross margin as a percentage of net sales decreased to 44.8% in 2005 from 47.4% in 2004.

 

The increase in gross margin was primarily the result of the following:

 

Amount    

Attributable to:

(In Millions)      
$ 24.7     Increase in sales volume
  21.9     19% increase in average bottler sales price per unit
  (16.7 )   5% increase in raw material costs (primarily concentrate, sweetener and packaging costs)
  15.1     3% increase in average bottle/can price per unit
  (13.4 )   Decrease due to energy products having higher cost per unit
  (11.1 )   Decrease due to impact of extra selling week in 2004
  (11.0 )   Decrease in marketing funding received primarily from The Coca-Cola Company
  7.0     Increase as the result of proceeds received in 2005 from high fructose corn syrup litigation
  1.7     Other
       
$ 18.2     Total increase in gross margin
       

 

The 2.6% decrease in gross margins as a percentage of net sales resulted primarily from the impact of higher sales to other bottlers, which have lower margins (2.0% of the 2.6% decrease). The remainder of the decrease was due to higher raw material costs (primarily packaging) offset by the high fructose corn syrup litigation proceeds.

 

The Company’s gross margins may not be comparable to other companies, since some entities include all costs related to their distribution network in cost of sales. The Company includes a portion of these costs in S,D&A expenses.

 

S,D&A Expenses

 

S,D&A expenses increased by $12.7 million, or 2.5%, to $525.9 million in 2005 from $513.2 million in 2004.

 

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The increase in S,D&A expenses was primarily due to the following:

 

Amount    

Attributable to:

(In Millions)      
$ 9.0     Increase in employee related expenses primarily related to wage increases and additional personnel
  (4.3 )   Decrease in depreciation expense primarily due to lower levels of capital spending over the past several years
  3.7     Increase in energy costs primarily related to the movement of finished goods from sales distribution centers to customer locations
  1.1     Increase in employee benefit costs primarily due to increased costs of the principal Company-sponsored pension plan and health care plan costs
  (1.1 )   Favorable adjustment in 2005 due to the resignation of a Company executive and related impact on amounts accrued for certain benefit plans
  4.3     Other
       
$ 12.7     Total increase in S,D&A expenses
       

 

Shipping and handling costs related to the movement of finished goods from manufacturing locations to sales distribution centers are included in cost of sales. Shipping and handling costs related to the movement of finished goods from sales distribution centers to customer locations are included in S,D&A expenses and totaled $183.1 million and $176.3 million in 2005 and 2004, respectively. The Company charges certain customers a delivery fee to offset a portion of the Company’s delivery and handling costs. The Company initiated this delivery fee in October 2005. The delivery fee is recorded in net sales and was $.7 million in 2005.

 

Amortization of Intangibles

 

Amortization of intangibles expense for 2005 declined by $2.2 million compared to 2004. The decline in amortization expense was due to the impact of certain customer relationships recorded in other identifiable intangible assets which are now fully amortized.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense increased $5.3 million in 2005 compared to 2004. The increase was attributable to financing transaction costs of $1.7 million related to the exchange of $164.8 million of the Company’s debt and the early retirement of $8.6 million of its debentures, and higher interest rates on the Company’s floating rate debt, partially offset by interest earned on short-term cash investments of $.5 million. The Company’s overall weighted average interest rate, excluding the financing transaction costs related to the debt exchange and the premium related to the early retirement of debentures, increased from an average of 5.4% during 2004 to 6.2% during 2005.

 

Minority Interest

 

The Company recorded minority interest of $4.1 million in 2005 compared to $3.8 million in 2004 related to the portion of Piedmont owned by The Coca-Cola Company. The increase in 2005 was due to improvements in operating results at Piedmont.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company’s effective income tax rate for 2005 was 40.8% compared to 40.2% in 2004. The deduction for qualified production activities provided within the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 reduced the Company’s effective income tax rate by approximately 1% in 2005.

 

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Net Income and Net Income Per Share

 

The Company reported net income for 2005 of $23.0 million, or $2.53 basic net income per share for both Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, compared with net income for 2004 of $21.8 million, or $2.41 basic net income per share for both Common and Class B Common Stock. The changes in net income and net income per share were the result of the net effect of changes in gross margin, S,D&A expenses, amortization of intangibles, interest expense, minority interest and income taxes as previously described.

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

Total assets increased to $1.36 billion at December 31, 2006 from $1.34 billion at January 1, 2006 primarily due to increases in cash and cash equivalents and inventories, partially offset by a decrease in property, plant and equipment, net. Property, plant and equipment, net decreased primarily due to lower levels of capital spending over the past several years.

 

Net working capital, defined as current assets less current liabilities, decreased by $66.4 million from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006.

 

Significant changes in net working capital from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006 were as follows:

 

   

An increase in cash and cash equivalents of $22.2 million due to cash flows from operating activities.

 

   

An increase in inventories of $8.8 million due to the addition of new products and increased raw material levels of concentrate and cans.

 

   

An increase in current portion of debt of $93.5 million primarily due to reclassification from long-term to current of $100 million in debentures due in November 2007.

 

   

An increase in accounts payable, trade of $8.7 million primarily due to increased inventories.

 

   

An increase in accounts payable to The Coca-Cola Company of $6.2 million primarily due to timing of payments.

 

Debt and capital lease obligations were $769.0 million as of December 31, 2006 compared to $777.2 million as of January 1, 2006. Debt and capital lease obligations as of December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006 included $77.5 million and $79.2 million, respectively, of capital lease obligations related primarily to Company facilities.

 

The Company recorded a minimum pension liability adjustment of $4.3 million, net of tax, as of January 1, 2006 to reflect the difference between the fair market value of the Company’s pension plan assets and the accumulated benefit obligation of the pension plans. The Company recorded an adjustment to decrease the minimum pension liability of $5.4 million, net of tax, as of December 31, 2006 as a result of the plan curtailment discussed in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements. The Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Pension and Other Postretirement Plans” (“SFAS No. 158”), at the end of 2006. Pension and postretirement liabilities were adjusted to reflect the excess of the projected benefit obligation (pension) and the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (postretirement medical) over available plan assets. The total SFAS No. 158 adjustment to increase benefit liabilities was $2.6 million, net of tax, with a corresponding adjustment to other comprehensive loss. Contributions to the Company’s pension plans were $.5 million in 2006 and $8.0 million in 2005. The Company anticipates there will be no contributions to the principal Company-sponsored pension plan in 2007.

 

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Capital Resources

 

The Company’s sources of capital include cash flow from operations, available credit facilities and the issuance of debt and equity securities. Management believes 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 payments and dividends for stockholders. 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.

 

As of December 31, 2006, the Company had $100 million available under its revolving credit facility to meet its cash requirements. The Company borrows periodically under its available lines of credit. These lines of credit, in the aggregate amount of $60 million at December 31, 2006, are made available at the discretion of two participating banks at rates negotiated at the time of borrowing and may be withdrawn at any time by such banks.

 

The Company currently plans to use cash on hand and its revolving credit facility to repay or refinance the $100 million maturity of debentures in November 2007.

 

The Company has obtained all of its long-term debt financing other than capital leases from the public markets. As of December 31, 2006, $691.5 million of the Company’s total outstanding balance of debt and capital lease obligations of $769.0 million was financed through publicly offered debt. The Company had capital lease obligations of $77.5 million as of December 31, 2006. The Company’s interest rate derivative contracts are with several different financial institutions to minimize the concentration of credit risk. The Company has master agreements with the counterparties to its derivative financial agreements that provide for net settlement of derivative transactions.

 

On March 8, 2007, the Company entered into a new $200 million revolving credit facility, replacing its $100 million facility. The new facility matures in March 2012, and includes an option to extend the term for an additional year at the discretion of the participating banks. The facility bears interest at a floating base rate or a floating rate of LIBOR plus an interest rate spread of .35%. In addition, there is a fee of .10% required for this facility. Both the interest rate spread and the facility fee are determined from a commonly-used pricing grid based on the Company’s long-term senior unsecured debt rating. The facility contains similar financial covenants as the previous $100 million facility. The two financial covenants are related to ratio requirements for interest coverage and long-term debt to cash flow, each as defined in the credit agreement.

 

Cash Sources and Uses

 

The primary source of cash for the Company has been cash provided by operating activities. The primary uses of cash in 2006 have been for capital expenditures, the repayment of debt maturities and capital lease obligations, income tax payments and dividends.

 

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A summary of cash activity for 2006 and 2005 follows:

 

     Fiscal Year
     2006      2005
In Millions            

Cash sources

       

Cash provided by operating activities (excluding income tax payments)

   $ 120.1      $ 113.3

Other

     2.4        5.2
               

Total cash sources

   $ 122.5      $ 118.5
               

Cash uses

       

Capital expenditures

   $ 63.2      $ 40.0

Investment in plastic bottle manufacturing cooperative

     2.3        —  

Payment of debt and capital lease obligations

     8.2        11.9

Income tax payments

     17.2        11.2

Premium on exchange of debt

     —          15.6

Dividends

     9.1        9.1

Other

     .3        —  
               

Total cash uses

   $ 100.3      $ 87.8
               

Increase in cash

   $ 22.2      $ 30.7
               

 

Based on current projections, which include a number of assumptions such as the Company’s pre-tax earnings, the Company anticipates its cash requirements for income taxes will be between $15 million and $20 million in 2007. The cash requirement for income taxes in 2006 included $5 million related to the settlement of a state tax audit accrued in 2005.

 

Investing Activities

 

Additions to property, plant and equipment during 2006 were $63.2 million compared to $40.0 million in 2005. Capital expenditures during 2006 were funded with cash flows from operations. The increase in capital expenditures in 2006 was primarily due to the purchase of new route delivery vehicles and costs associated with the Company’s ongoing implementation of its ERP computer system. Leasing is used for certain capital additions when considered cost effective relative to other sources of capital. The Company currently leases its corporate headquarters, two production facilities and several sales distribution facilities and administrative facilities.

 

The Company anticipates that additions to property, plant and equipment in 2007 will be in the range of $40 million to $50 million and plans to fund such additions through cash flows from operations and its available lines of credit.

 

Financing Activities

 

In December 2005, the Company repurchased $8.6 million of its outstanding 6.375% debentures due May 2009. The Company used cash on hand to retire these debentures.

 

In June 2005, the Company issued $164.8 million of new 5.00% senior notes due 2016 in exchange for $122.2 million of its outstanding 6.375% debentures due 2009 and $42.6 million of its outstanding 7.20% debentures due 2009. The exchange of debt lengthened maturities on portions of the Company’s debt, and reduced refinancing requirements in the near-term by extending the maturity dates on a portion of its total debt.

 

The Company has a five-year $100 million revolving credit facility. On December 31, 2006, there were no amounts outstanding under the facility. The facility matures in April 2010 and includes an option to extend the term for an additional year at the discretion of the participating banks. The facility bears interest at a floating base

 

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rate or a floating rate of LIBOR plus an interest rate spread of .375%. In addition, there is a facility fee of .125% required for this facility. Both the interest rate spread and the facility fee are determined from a commonly-used pricing grid based on the Company’s long-term senior unsecured debt rating. The facility contains two financial covenants related to ratio requirements for interest coverage and long-term debt to cash flow, each as defined in the credit agreement. These covenants do not currently, and the Company does not anticipate they will, restrict its liquidity or capital resources.

 

The Company borrows periodically under its available lines of credit. These lines of credit, in the aggregate amount of $60 million at December 31, 2006, are made available at the discretion of the two participating banks at rates negotiated at the time of borrowing and may be withdrawn at any time by such banks. The Company can utilize its revolving credit facility in the event the lines of credit are not available. On December 31, 2006, there was no amount outstanding under the lines of credit. On January 1, 2006, $6.5 million was outstanding under the lines of credit.

 

In January 1999, the Company filed a shelf registration for up to $800 million of debt and equity securities. The Company has issued $500 million of debt under this shelf registration. The Company currently has up to $300 million available for use under this shelf registration which, subject to the Company’s ability to consummate a transaction on acceptable terms, could be used for long-term financing or refinancing of debt maturities.

 

The Company currently provides financing for Piedmont under the terms of an agreement that expires on December 31, 2010. Piedmont pays the Company interest on its borrowings at the Company’s average cost of funds plus .50%. The loan balance at December 31, 2006 was $89.5 million and was eliminated in consolidation.

 

All of the outstanding debt has been issued by the Company with none having been issued by any of the Company’s subsidiaries. There are no guarantees of the Company’s debt. The Company or its subsidiaries have entered into four capital leases.

 

At December 31, 2006, the Company’s credit ratings were as follows:

 

     Long-Term Debt

Standard & Poor’s

   BBB

Moody’s

   Baa2

 

The Company’s credit ratings are reviewed periodically by the respective rating agencies. Changes in the Company’s operating results or financial position could result in changes in the Company’s credit ratings. Lower credit ratings could result in higher borrowing costs for the Company. There were no changes in these credit ratings from the prior year. It is the Company’s intent to continue to reduce its financial leverage over time.

 

The Company’s public debt is not subject to financial covenants but does limit the incurrence of certain liens and encumbrances as well as indebtedness by the Company’s subsidiaries in excess of certain amounts.

 

The Company issued 20,000 shares of Class B Common Stock to J. Frank Harrison, III, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, with respect to 2005, effective January 2, 2006, under a restricted stock award plan that provides for annual awards of such shares subject to the Company achieving at least 80% of the overall goal achievement factor in the Company’s Annual Bonus Plan.

 

The Company adopted SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” on January 2, 2006. The Company applied the modified prospective transition method and prior periods were not restated. The Company’s only share based compensation is the restricted stock award to Mr. Harrison, III. The award provides the shares of restricted stock vest at the rate of 20,000 shares per year over a ten-year period. The vesting of each annual installment is contingent upon the Company achieving at least 80% of the overall goal achievement factor

 

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in the Company’s Annual Bonus Plan. Each annual 20,000 share tranche has an independent performance requirement as it is not established until the Company’s Annual Bonus Plan targets are approved for each year. As a result, each 20,000 share tranche is considered to have its own service inception date, grant-date fair value and requisite service period.

 

The Company’s Annual Bonus Plan targets, which establish the performance requirement for the restricted stock award in 2006, were approved by the Board of Directors in the first quarter of 2006 and the Company recorded the 20,000 share award at the grant-date price of $46.45 per share. Total stock compensation expense was $929,000 over the one-year service period (fiscal 2006) as the Company achieved at least 80% of the overall goal achievement factor in the Company’s Annual Bonus Plan. In addition, the Company reimburses Mr. Harrison, III for income taxes to be paid on the shares if the performance requirement is met and the shares are issued. The Company accrues the estimated cost of the income tax reimbursement over the one-year service period. Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123, the Company accrued compensation expense over the course of the one-year service period with the full year expense based upon the end of the period stock price.

 

The following table illustrates the effect on reported net income and earnings per share for 2005 and 2004 had the Company accounted for the stock grant using the fair value method in SFAS No. 123:

 

     Fiscal Year  
     2005     2004  
In Thousands (Except Per Share Data)             

Net income as reported

   $ 22,951     $ 21,848  

Add: Restricted stock grant expense, net of tax

     891       1,194  

Less: Restricted stock grant expense under SFAS No. 123, net of tax

     (1,104 )     (1,087 )
                

Net income—pro forma

   $ 22,738     $ 21,955  
                

Net income per share:

    

Common Stock:

    

Basic—as reported

   $ 2.53     $ 2.41  
                

Basic—pro forma

   $ 2.50     $ 2.42  
                

Diluted—as reported

   $ 2.53     $ 2.41  
                

Diluted—pro forma

   $ 2.50     $ 2.42  
                

Class B Common Stock:

    

Basic—as reported

   $ 2.53     $ 2.41  
                

Basic—pro forma

   $ 2.50     $ 2.42  
                

Diluted—as reported

   $ 2.53     $ 2.41  
                

Diluted—pro forma

   $ 2.49     $ 2.41  
                

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

The Company is a member of two manufacturing cooperatives that are variable interest entities. The Company has guaranteed $42.9 million of debt and related lease obligations for these cooperatives. As of December 31, 2006, the Company’s variable interest in these cooperatives includes an equity ownership in each of the entities and the guarantees. As of December 31, 2006, the Company’s maximum exposure, if the cooperatives borrowed up to their borrowing capacity, would have been $65.8 million including the Company’s equity interest. The Company has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of either of the cooperatives. See Note 13 of the consolidated financial statements for additional information about these cooperatives.

 

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Aggregate Contractual Obligations

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of December 31, 2006:

 

     Payments Due by Period
     Total    2007    2008-2009    2010-2011    2012 and
Thereafter
In Thousands                         

Contractual obligations:

              

Total debt, net of interest

   $ 691,450    $ 100,000    $ 176,693    $ —      $ 414,757

Capital lease obligations, net of interest (1)

     82,650      2,435      5,383      6,152      68,680

Estimated interest on debt and capital lease obligations (2)

     336,370      45,065      72,101      55,513      163,691

Purchase obligations (3)

     641,171      86,450      172,900      172,900      208,921

Other long-term liabilities (4)

     83,972      5,344      10,343      9,530      58,755

Operating leases

     17,560      3,120      4,743      1,923      7,774

Long-term contractual arrangements (5)

     28,481      7,526      11,885      5,837      3,233

Interest rate swap agreements

     9,277      4,239      3,649      966      423

Purchase orders (6)

     17,221      17,221         
                                  

Total contractual obligations

   $ 1,908,152    $ 271,400    $ 457,697    $ 252,821    $ 926,234
                                  

 

(1) Adjusted to reflect the modified lease on the corporate facilities, which was effective January 1, 2007.
(2) Includes interest payments based on contractual terms and current interest rates for variable rate debt.
(3) Represents an estimate of the Company’s obligation to purchase 17.5 million cases of finished product on an annual basis through May 2014 from South Atlantic Canners, a manufacturing cooperative.
(4) Includes obligations under executive benefit plans, non-compete liabilities and other long-term liabilities.
(5) Includes contractual arrangements with certain prestige properties, athletic venues and other locations, and other long-term marketing commitments.
(6) Purchase orders include commitments in which a written purchase order has been issued to a vendor, but the goods have not been received or the services performed.

 

The Company is a member of Southeastern Container, a plastic bottle manufacturing cooperative, from which the Company is obligated to purchase at least 80% of its requirements of plastic bottles for certain designated territories. This obligation is not included in the Company’s table of contractual obligations and commercial commitments since there are no minimum purchase requirements.

 

The Company has $22.1 million of standby letters of credit, primarily related to its property and casualty insurance programs, as of December 31, 2006. See Note 13 of the consolidated financial statements for additional information related to commercial commitments, guarantees, legal and tax matters.

 

The Company anticipates there will be no contributions to the principal Company-sponsored pension plan in 2007. Postretirement medical care payments are expected to be approximately $2.7 million in 2007. See Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information related to pension and postretirement obligations.

 

Interest Rate Hedging

 

The Company periodically uses interest rate hedging products to modify risk from interest rate fluctuations. The Company has historically altered its fixed/floating rate mix based upon anticipated cash flows from operations relative to the Company’s debt level and the potential impact of changes in interest rates on the Company’s overall financial condition. 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.

 

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The Company currently has nine interest rate swap agreements. Three of the nine interest rate swap agreements totaling $75 million were entered into in January 2007. These interest rate swap agreements effectively convert $325 million of the Company’s debt from a fixed rate to a floating rate and are accounted for as fair value hedges.

 

During 2006, 2005 and 2004, interest expense was reduced by $1.7 million, $1.7 million and $1.9 million, respectively, due to amortization of the deferred gains on previously terminated interest rate swap agreements and forward interest rate agreements. Interest expense will be reduced by the amortization of these deferred gains in 2007 through 2011 as follows: $1.7 million, $1.7 million, $.9 million, $.3 million and $.3 million, respectively.

 

The weighted average interest rate of the Company’s debt and capital lease obligations after taking into account all of the interest rate hedging activities was 6.9% as of December 31, 2006 compared to 6.2% as of January 1, 2006. The Company’s overall weighted average interest rate on its debt and capital lease obligations, excluding the financing transaction costs related to the debt exchange and early debt retirement in 2005, increased to 6.6% in 2006 from 6.2% in 2005. Including the $1.7 million of financing transaction costs related to the Company’s debt exchange and early debt retirement, the overall weighted average interest rate in 2005 was 6.4%. Approximately 42% of the Company’s debt and capital lease obligations of $769.0 million as of December 31, 2006 was maintained on a floating rate basis and was subject to changes in short-term interest rates. During January 2007, the Company entered into additional interest rate swap agreements totaling $75 million which effectively converted fixed rate debt to floating rates. Additionally, a floating rate capital lease of $30.7 million was modified on a fixed rate basis. After giving effect for the additional interest rate swap agreements of $75 million and the modification of a floating rate capital lease to a fixed rate basis, approximately 48% of the Company’s debt and capital lease obligations would have been subject to changes in short-term interest rates.

 

Assuming no changes in the Company’s capital structure, if market interest rates average 1% more in 2007 than the interest rates as of December 31, 2006, interest expense for 2007 would increase by approximately $3.2 million. This amount is determined by calculating the effect of a hypothetical interest rate increase of 1% on outstanding floating rate debt and capital lease obligations as of December 31, 2006, including the effects of the Company’s derivative financial instruments. This calculated, hypothetical increase in interest expense for the following twelve months may be different from the actual increase in interest expense from a 1% increase in interest rates due to varying interest rate reset dates on the Company’s floating rate debt and derivative financial instruments.

 

CAUTIONARY INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as information included in future filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and information contained in written material, press releases and oral statements issued by or on behalf of the Company, contains, or may contain, forward-looking management comments and other statements that reflect management’s current outlook for future periods. These statements include, among others, statements relating to:

 

   

anticipated return on pension plan investments;

 

   

the Company’s belief that other parties to certain contractual arrangements will perform their obligations;

 

   

potential marketing funding support from The Coca-Cola Company and other beverage companies;

 

   

the Company’s belief that the risk of loss with respect to funds deposited with banks is minimal;

 

   

the Company’s belief that disposition of certain claims and legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, cash flows or results of operations and that no material amount of loss in excess of recorded amounts is reasonably possible;

 

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management’s belief that the Company has adequately provided for any ultimate amounts that are likely to result from tax audits;

 

   

the Company’s expectation of exercising its option to extend certain lease obligations;

 

   

the effects of the closings of sales distribution centers;

 

   

the Company’s intention to continue to evaluate its distribution system in an effort to optimize the process of distributing products;

 

   

management’s belief that the Company has sufficient financial resources to maintain current operations and provide for its current capital expenditure and working capital requirements, scheduled debt payments, interest and income tax payments and dividends for stockholders;

 

   

the Company’s intention to reduce its financial leverage over time;

 

   

the Company’s belief that the cooperatives whose debt and lease obligations the Company guarantees have sufficient assets and the ability to adjust selling prices of their products to adequately mitigate the risk of material loss and that the cooperatives will perform their obligations under their debt and lease agreements;

 

   

the Company’s intention to renew the lines of credit as they mature;

 

   

the Company’s ability to issue $300 million of securities under acceptable terms under its shelf registration statement;

 

   

the Company’s belief that certain franchise rights are perpetual or will be renewed upon expiration;

 

   

the Company’s intention to provide for Piedmont’s future financing requirements;

 

   

the Company’s key priorities which are revenue management, product innovation, distribution cost management and productivity;

 

   

the Company’s belief that its liquidity or capital resources will not be restricted by certain financial covenants in the Company’s credit agreements;

 

   

the Company’s hypothetical calculation of the impact of a 1% increase in interest rates on outstanding floating rate debt and capital lease obligations for the next twelve months as of December 31, 2006;

 

   

anticipated cash payments for income taxes of approximately $15 million to $20 million in 2007;

 

   

anticipated additions to property, plant and equipment in 2007 will be in the range of $40 million to $50 million;

 

   

the Company’s belief that compliance with environmental laws will not have a material adverse effect on its capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position;

 

   

the Company’s belief that demand for sugar carbonated beverages will continue to decline;

 

   

the Company’s belief that its pension expense will be approximately $.2 million in 2007;

 

   

the Company’s belief that there will be no contribution to the principal Company-sponsored pension plan in 2007;

 

   

the Company’s belief that its postretirement benefit expense will be approximately the same in 2007 as in 2006;

 

   

the Company’s belief that postretirement benefit payments are expected to be approximately $3 million in 2007;

 

   

the Company’s beliefs and estimates regarding the impact of the adoption of certain new accounting pronouncements;

 

   

the Company’s belief that CCBSS will increase purchasing efficiency and reduce future increases in cost of sales and other operating expenses;

 

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the Company’s belief that it will continue to produce Full Throttle for many of the Coca-Cola bottlers in the eastern half of the United States in 2007;

 

   

the Company’s expectation that its overall bottle/can revenue will be primarily dependent upon continued growth in diet products, sports drinks, bottled water and energy products, the introduction of new products and the pricing of brands and packages within channels;

 

   

the Company’s belief that the implementation of its new delivery system will continue over the next several years and should generate significant vehicle productivity gains and labor productivity improvements in future years;

 

   

the Company’s belief that its Board of Directors would not systematically declare dividends on its Common Stock without declaring dividends on its Class B Common Stock;

 

   

the Company’s belief that the cost of aluminum cans may increase by 10% to 20% in 2007;

 

   

the Company’s belief that the cost of high fructose corn syrup may increase by 20% to 35% in 2007;

 

   

the anticipated impact of increasing costs for aluminum cans and high fructose corn syrup, assuming flat volume, is in the range of $24 million to $45 million;

 

   

the purpose and intended effect of the change in operating management structure and workforce reduction plans, the expected timeframe for completion of the change in operating management structure and workforce reduction plans and estimated amounts and timing of charges and cash expenditures resulting from the plans;

 

   

the Company’s belief that it has the ability, subject to normal market conditions, to raise selling prices to offset cost increases over time;

 

   

the Company’s belief that its expense for its 401(k) plan will increase to a range of approximately $8 million to $9 million in 2007;

 

   

the Company’s belief that the majority of its deferred tax assets will be realized; and

 

   

the Company’s intention to renew substantially all the Allied Bottle Contracts and Noncarbonated Beverage Contracts as they expire.

 

These statements and expectations are based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data along with the Company’s operating plans, and are subject to future events and uncertainties that could cause anticipated events not to occur or actual results to differ materially from historical or anticipated results. Factors that could impact those differences or adversely affect future periods include, but are not limited to, the factors set forth under Item 1A.—Risk Factors.

 

Caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management of the Company only as of the time such statements are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

The Company is exposed to certain market risks that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company may enter into derivative financial instrument transactions to manage or reduce market risk. The Company does not enter into derivative financial instrument transactions for trading purposes. A discussion of the Company’s primary market risk exposure and interest rate risk is presented below.

 

Debt and Derivative Financial Instruments

 

The Company is subject to interest rate risk on its fixed and floating rate debt. The Company periodically uses interest rate hedging products to modify risk from interest rate fluctuations. The Company has historically

 

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altered its fixed/floating rate mix based upon anticipated cash flows from operations relative to the Company’s overall financial condition. Sensitivity analyses are performed to review the impact on the Company’s financial position and coverage of various interest rate movements. The counterparties to these interest rate hedging arrangements are major financial institutions with which the Company also has other financial relationships. While the Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by these counterparties, the Company does not anticipate nonperformance by these parties. The Company generally maintains between 40% and 60% of total borrowings at variable interest rates after taking into account all of the interest rate hedging activities. While this is the target range for the percentage of total borrowings at variable interest rates, the financial position of the Company and market conditions may result in strategies outside of this range at certain points in time. Approximately 42% of the Company’s debt and capital lease obligations of $769.0 million as of December 31, 2006 was subject to changes in short-term interest rates.

 

As it relates to the Company’s variable rate debt and variable rate leases, assuming no changes in the Company’s financial structure, if market interest rates average 1% more in 2007 than the interest rates as of December 31, 2006, interest expense for 2007 would increase by approximately $3.2 million. This amount was determined by calculating the effect of the hypothetical interest rate on our variable rate debt and variable rate leases after giving consideration to all our interest rate hedging activities. This calculated, hypothetical increase in interest expense for the following twelve months may be different from the actual increase in interest expense from a 1% increase in interest rates due to varying interest rate reset dates on the Company’s floating rate debt and derivative financial instruments.

 

Raw Material and Commodity Price Risk

 

The Company anticipates that, beginning in 2007 the majority of the Company’s aluminum requirements will not have any ceiling price protection. Based upon current market prices for aluminum, the Company anticipates the cost of aluminum cans may increase from 10% to 20% in 2007. High fructose corn syrup costs are also expected to increase significantly in 2007 as a result of increasing demand for corn products around the world and as a result of alternative uses for corn, such as ethanol. Based upon current market prices for corn, the Company anticipates the cost of high fructose corn syrup will increase from 20% to 35% in 2007. The combined impact of increasing costs for aluminum cans and high fructose corn syrup, assuming flat volume, is anticipated to range between $24 million and $45 million.

 

The Company is also subject to commodity price risk arising from price movements for certain other commodities included as part of its raw materials. In addition, there is no limit on the price The Coca-Cola Company and other beverage companies can charge for concentrate. The Company manages this commodity price risk in some cases by entering into contracts with adjustable prices. The Company has not historically used derivative commodity instruments in the management of this risk.

 

During 2007, the Company began using derivative instruments to hedge a portion of the Company’s vehicle fuel purchases. These derivative instruments relate to diesel fuel and unleaded gasoline used in the Company’s delivery fleet. Instruments used include puts and calls which effectively form an upper and lower limit on the Company’s price of fuel within periods covered by the instruments. The Company pays a fee for these instruments which is amortized over the corresponding period of the instrument. The Company currently accounts for its fuel hedges on a mark-to-market basis with any expense or income being reflected as an adjustment of fuel costs.

 

Effect of Changing Prices

 

The principal effect of inflation on the Company’s operating results is to increase costs. Subject to normal competitive market conditions, the Company believes it has the ability to raise selling prices to offset these cost increases over time.

 

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Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

     Fiscal Year
     2006    2005    2004
In Thousands (Except Per Share Data)               

Net sales

   $ 1,431,005    $ 1,380,172    $ 1,267,227

Cost of sales

     808,426      761,261      666,534
                    

Gross margin

     622,579      618,911      600,693
                    

Selling, delivery and administrative expenses

     537,365      525,903      513,227

Amortization of intangibles

     550      880      3,117
                    

Income from operations

     84,664      92,128      84,349
                    

Interest expense

     50,286      49,279      43,983

Minority interest

     3,218      4,097      3,816
                    

Income before income taxes

     31,160      38,752      36,550

Income taxes

     7,917      15,801      14,702
                    

Net income

   $ 23,243    $ 22,951    $ 21,848
                    

Basic net income per share:

        

Common Stock

   $ 2.55    $ 2.53    $ 2.41
                    

Weighted average number of Common shares outstanding

     6,643      6,643      6,643

Class B Common Stock

   $ 2.55    $ 2.53    $ 2.41
                    

Weighted average number of Class B Common shares outstanding

     2,460      2,440      2,420

Diluted net income per share:

        

Common Stock

   $ 2.55    $ 2.53    $ 2.41
                    

Weighted average number of Common shares outstanding—assuming dilution

     9,120      9,083      9,063

Class B Common Stock

   $ 2.54    $ 2.53    $ 2.41
                    

Weighted average number of Class B Common shares outstanding—assuming dilution

     2,477      2,440      2,420

 

See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

      Dec. 31, 2006    Jan. 1, 2006
In Thousands (Except Share Data)          

ASSETS

     

Current assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 61,823    $ 39,608

Accounts receivable, trade, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,334 and $1,318, respectively

     91,299      94,576

Accounts receivable from The Coca-Cola Company

     4,915      2,719

Accounts receivable, other

     8,565      8,388

Inventories

     67,055      58,233

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     13,485      8,862
             

Total current assets

     247,142      212,386
             

Property, plant and equipment, net

     384,464      389,199

Leased property under capital leases, net

     69,851      73,244

Other assets

     35,542      39,235

Franchise rights, net

     520,672      520,672

Goodwill, net

     102,049      102,049

Other identifiable intangible assets, net

     4,747      5,054
             

Total

   $ 1,364,467    $ 1,341,839
             

 

See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

 

     Dec. 31, 2006     Jan. 1, 2006  

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current liabilities:

    

Current portion of debt

   $ 100,000     $ 6,539  

Current portion of obligations under capital leases

     2,435       1,709  

Accounts payable, trade

     44,050       35,333  

Accounts payable to The Coca-Cola Company

     21,748       15,516  

Other accrued liabilities

     51,030       60,079  

Accrued compensation

     19,671       18,969  

Accrued interest payable

     10,008       9,670  
                

Total current liabilities

     248,942       147,815  
                

Deferred income taxes

     162,694       167,131  

Pension and postretirement benefit obligations

     57,757       54,844  

Other liabilities

     88,598       85,188  

Obligations under capital leases

     75,071       77,493  

Long-term debt

     591,450       691,450  
                

Total liabilities

     1,224,512       1,223,921  
                

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 13)

    

Minority interest

     46,002       42,784  

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Convertible Preferred Stock, $100.00 par value:

    

Authorized-50,000 shares; Issued-None

    

Nonconvertible Preferred Stock, $100.00 par value:

    

Authorized-50,000 shares; Issued-None

    

Preferred Stock, $.01 par value:

    

Authorized-20,000,000 shares; Issued-None

    

Common Stock, $1.00 par value:

    

Authorized-30,000,000 shares; Issued-9,705,551 and 9,705,451 shares, respectively

     9,705       9,705  

Class B Common Stock, $1.00 par value:

    

Authorized-10,000,000 shares; Issued-3,088,266 and 3,068,366 shares, respectively

     3,088       3,068  

Class C Common Stock, $1.00 par value:

    

Authorized-20,000,000 shares; Issued-None

    

Capital in excess of par value

     101,145       99,376  

Retained earnings

     68,495       54,355  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (27,226 )     (30,116 )
                
     155,207       136,388  
                

Less-Treasury stock, at cost:

    

Common Stock-3,062,374 shares

     60,845       60,845  

Class B Common Stock-628,114 shares

     409       409  
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     93,953       75,134  
                

Total

   $ 1,364,467     $ 1,341,839  
                

 

See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

     Fiscal Year  
     2006     2005     2004  
In Thousands                   

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

      

Net income

   $ 23,243     $ 22,951     $ 21,848  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Depreciation expense

     67,334       68,222       70,798  

Amortization of intangibles

     550       880       3,117  

Deferred income taxes

     (7,030 )     3,105       14,244  

Losses on sale of property, plant and equipment

     1,340       775       752  

Amortization of debt costs

     2,638       1,967       1,101  

Stock compensation expense

     929       860       1,141  

Amortization of deferred gains related to terminated interest rate agreements

     (1,689 )     (1,679 )     (1,945 )

Minority interest

     3,218       4,097       3,816  

(Increase) decrease in current assets less current liabilities

     5,863       4,042       (9,239 )

(Increase) decrease in other noncurrent assets

     3,585       (1,475 )     531  

Increase (decrease) in other noncurrent liabilities

     2,736       (1,471 )     11,596  

Other

     180       (180 )     101  
                        

Total adjustments

     79,654       79,143       96,013  
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

     102,897       102,094       117,861  
                        

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

      

Additions to property, plant and equipment

     (63,179 )     (39,992 )     (52,860 )

Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment

     2,454       4,443       2,225  

Proceeds from the redemption of life insurance policies

         29,049  

Investment in plastic bottle manufacturing cooperative

     (2,338 )    

Other

     (243 )    
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (63,306 )     (35,549 )     (21,586 )
                        

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

      

Payment of long-term debt

       (8,550 )     (85,000 )

Payment of current portion of long-term debt

     (39 )       (78 )

Payment of lines of credit, net

     (6,500 )     (1,500 )     (9,600 )

Cash dividends paid

     (9,103 )     (9,084 )     (9,063 )

Principal payments on capital lease obligations

     (1,696 )     (1,826 )     (1,843 )

Premium on exchange of long-term debt

       (15,554 )  

Other

     (38 )     692       150  
                        

Net cash used in financing activities

     (17,376 )     (35,822 )     (105,434 )
                        

Net increase (decrease) in cash

     22,215       30,723       (9,159 )
                        

Cash at beginning of year

     39,608       8,885       18,044  
                        

Cash at end of year

   $ 61,823     $ 39,608     $ 8,885  
                        

Significant non-cash investing and financing activities

      

Issuance of Class B Common Stock in connection with stock award

   $ 860     $ 1,141     $ 1,055  

Capital lease obligations incurred

         37,307  

Exchange of long-term debt

       164,757    

 

See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

     Common
Stock
   Class B
Common
Stock
    Capital in
Excess of
Par Value
   Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
    Treasury
Stock
    Total  
In Thousands                                         

Balance on December 28, 2003

   $ 9,704    $ 3,029     $ 97,220    $ 27,703     $ (23,930 )   $ (61,254 )   $ 52,472  

Comprehensive income:

                

Net income

             21,848           21,848  

Net gain on derivatives, net of tax

               62         62  

Net change in minimum pension liability adjustment, net of tax

               (1,935 )       (1,935 )
                      

Total comprehensive income

                   19,975  

Cash dividends paid

                

Common ($1.00 per share)

             (6,642 )         (6,642 )

Class B Common ($1.00 per share)

             (2,421 )         (2,421 )

Issuance of Class B Common Stock

        20       1,035            1,055  
                                                      

Balance on January 2, 2005

   $ 9,704    $ 3,049     $ 98,255    $ 40,488     $ (25,803 )   $ (61,254 )   $ 64,439  
                                                      

Comprehensive income:

                

Net income

             22,951           22,951  

Net change in minimum pension liability adjustment, net of tax

               (4,313 )       (4,313 )
                      

Total comprehensive income

                   18,638  

Cash dividends paid

                

Common ($1.00 per share)

             (6,643 )         (6,643 )

Class B Common ($1.00 per share)

             (2,441 )         (2,441 )

Issuance of Class B Common Stock

        20       1,121            1,141  

Conversion of Class B Common Stock into Common Stock

     1      (1 )              —    
                                                      

Balance on January 1, 2006

   $ 9,705    $ 3,068     $ 99,376    $ 54,355     $ (30,116 )   $ (61,254 )   $ 75,134  
                                                      

Comprehensive income:

                

Net income

             23,243           23,243  

Net change in minimum pension liability adjustment, net of tax

               5,442         5,442  
                      

Total comprehensive income

                   28,685  

Adjustment to initially apply SFAS No. 158, net of tax

               (2,552 )       (2,552 )

Cash dividends paid
Common ($1.00 per share)

             (6,643 )         (6,643 )

Class B Common ($1.00 per share)

             (2,460 )         (2,460 )

Issuance of Class B Common Stock

        20       840            860  

Stock compensation expense

          929            929  
                                                      

Balance on December 31, 2006

   $ 9,705    $ 3,088     $ 101,145    $ 68,495     $ (27,226 )   $ (61,254 )   $ 93,953  
                                                      

 

See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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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 nonalcoholic beverages, primarily products of The Coca-Cola Company. The Company operates in portions of 11 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.

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States 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.

 

The fiscal years presented are the 52-week periods ended December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006 and the 53-week period ended January 2, 2005. The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Sunday closest to December 31 of each year.

 

Certain prior year amounts reported in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations have been conformed to current year classifications. In prior periods, the Company reported depreciation expense separately in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company began reporting depreciation expense in cost of sales and selling, delivery and administrative (“S,D,&A”) expenses in the first quarter of 2006. The Company’s results of operations for 2005 and 2004 have been conformed to the 2006 presentation. Depreciation expense in cost of sales was $9.0 million, $8.8 million and $7.1 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Depreciation expense in S,D&A expenses was $58.3 million, $59.4 million and $63.7 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

The Company’s 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. The Company maintains cash deposits with major banks which from time to time may exceed federally insured limits. The Company periodically assesses the financial condition of the institutions and believes that the risk of any loss is minimal.

 

Credit Risk of Trade Accounts Receivable

 

The Company sells its products to supermarkets, convenience stores and other customers and extends credit, generally without requiring collateral, based on an ongoing evaluation of the customer’s business prospects and financial condition. The Company’s trade accounts receivable are typically collected within approximately 30 days from the date of sale. The Company monitors its exposure to losses on trade accounts receivable and maintains an allowance for potential losses or adjustments. Past due trade accounts receivable balances are written off when the Company’s collection efforts have been unsuccessful in collecting the amount due.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined on the first-in, first-out method for finished products and manufacturing materials and on the average cost method for plastic shells, plastic pallets and other inventories.

 

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COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

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. Leasehold improvements on operating leases are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful lives or the term of the lease, including renewal options the Company determines are reasonably assured. 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, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the gains or losses, if any, are reflected in the statement of operations. Gains or losses on the disposal of manufacturing equipment and manufacturing facilities are included in cost of sales. Gains or losses on the disposal of all other property, plant and equipment are included in S,D&A expenses. Disposals of property, plant and equipment generally occur when it is not cost effective to repair an asset.

 

The Company evaluates the recoverability of the carrying amount of its property, plant and equipment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. If the Company determines that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group is not recoverable based upon the expected undiscounted future cash flows of the asset or asset group, an impairment loss is recorded equal to the excess of the carrying amounts over the estimated fair value of the asset or asset group.

 

Leased Property Under Capital Leases

 

Leased property under capital leases is depreciated using the straight-line method over the lease term.

 

Internal Use Software

 

The Company capitalizes costs incurred in the development or acquisition of internal use software. The Company expenses costs incurred in the preliminary project planning stage. Costs, such as maintenance and training, are also expensed as incurred. Capitalized costs are amortized over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Amortization expense, which is included in depreciation expense, for internal-use software was $5.1 million, $4.7 million and $4.7 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

Franchise Rights and Goodwill

 

Under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, “Business Combinations,” and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“SFAS No. 142”), all business combinations are accounted for using the purchase method and goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized but instead are tested for impairment annually, or more frequently if facts and circumstances indicate such assets may be impaired. The only intangible assets the Company classifies as indefinite lived are franchise rights and goodwill. The Company performs its annual impairment test in the third quarter of each year.

 

For the annual impairment analysis of franchise rights, the fair value of the Company’s acquired franchise rights is estimated using a multi-period excess earnings approach. This approach involves a projection of future earnings, discounting those estimated earnings using an appropriate discount rate, and subtracting a contributory charge for net working capital; property, plant and equipment; assembled workforce and customer relationships to arrive at excess earnings attributable to franchise rights. The present value of the excess earnings attributable to franchise rights is their estimated fair value and is compared to the carrying value.

 

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The Company has determined that it has one reporting unit for the Company as a whole. For the annual impairment analysis of goodwill, the Company develops an estimated fair value for the reporting unit using an average of three different approaches:

 

   

Market value, using the Company’s stock price plus outstanding debt and minority interest;

 

   

Discounted cash flow analysis; and

 

   

Multiple of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization based upon relevant industry data.

 

The estimated fair value of the reporting unit is then compared to the Company’s carrying amount including goodwill. If the estimated fair value exceeds the carrying amount, goodwill is considered not impaired, and the second step of the impairment test is not necessary. If the carrying amount including goodwill exceeds its estimated fair value, the second step of the impairment test is performed to measure the amount of the impairment, if any.

 

Other Identifiable Intangible Assets

 

Other identifiable intangible assets primarily represent customer relationships and are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives.

 

Pension and Postretirement 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 and 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.

 

The discount rate assumptions used to determine the pension and postretirement benefit obligations are based on yield rates available on double-A bonds as of each plan’s measurement date.

 

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.

 

The Company records an additional minimum pension liability adjustment, when necessary, for the amount of underfunded accumulated pension obligations in excess of accrued pension costs. The Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Pension and Other Postretirement Plans,” at the end of 2006 (“SFAS No. 158”). Liabilities for pension and postretirement liabilities were adjusted to reflect the excess of the projected benefit obligation (pension) and the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (postretirement medical) over available plan assets.

 

On February 22, 2006, the Board of Directors of the Company approved an amendment to the pension plan covering substantially all nonunion employees to cease further accruals under the plan effective June 30, 2006. The plan amendment was accounted for as a plan “curtailment” under SFAS No. 88, “Employers’ Accounting for Settlements and Curtailments of Defined Benefit Pension Plans and for Termination Benefits (as amended).” The

 

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curtailment resulted in a reduction of the Company’s projected benefit obligation which was offset against the Company’s unrecognized net loss.

 

See Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information on the pension curtailment and the effects of adopting SFAS No. 158.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to operating loss and tax credit carryforwards as well as differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

A valuation allowance will be provided against deferred tax assets if the Company determines it is more likely than not, such assets will not ultimately be realized. In addition, the Company records liabilities for uncertain tax positions principally related to state income taxes and certain federal income tax attributes. These liabilities reflect the Company’s best estimate of the ultimate income tax liabilities based on currently known facts and information. Material changes in facts and information as well as the expiration of statutes and/or settlements with the individual state or federal jurisdictions could result in material adjustments to these estimates in the future.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Revenues are recognized when finished products are delivered to customers and both title and the risks and benefits of ownership are transferred and, in the case of full service vending, when cash is collected from the vending machines. Appropriate provision is made for uncollectible accounts.

 

The Company receives service fees from The Coca-Cola Company related to the delivery of fountain syrup products to The Coca-Cola Company’s fountain customers. In addition, the Company receives service fees from The Coca-Cola Company related to the repair of fountain equipment owned by The Coca-Cola Company. The fees received from The Coca-Cola Company for the delivery of fountain syrup products to their customers and the repair of their fountain equipment are recognized as revenue when the respective services are completed.

 

Marketing Programs and Sales Incentives

 

The Company participates in various marketing and sales programs and arrangements with customers to increase the sale of its products by its customers. Among the programs negotiated with customers are arrangements under which allowances can be earned for attaining agreed-upon sales levels and/or for participating in specific marketing programs. Coupon programs are also developed on a territory-specific basis. The cost of these various marketing programs and sales incentives, included as deductions to net sales, totaled $47.2 million, $45.7 million and $40.0 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

Marketing Funding Support

 

The Company receives marketing funding support payments in cash from The Coca-Cola Company and other beverage companies. Payments to the Company for marketing programs to promote the sale of bottle/can

 

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volume and fountain syrup volume are recognized in earnings primarily on a per unit basis over the year as product is sold. Payments for periodic programs are recognized in the periods for which they are earned.

 

Under the provisions of Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 02-16 “Accounting by a Customer (Including a Reseller) for Certain Consideration Received from a Vendor,” cash consideration received by a customer from a vendor is presumed to be a reduction of the prices of the vendor’s products or services and are, therefore, to be accounted for as a reduction of cost of sales in the statements of operations unless those payments are specific reimbursements of costs or payments for services. Payments the Company receives from The Coca-Cola Company and other beverage companies for marketing funding support are classified as reductions of cost of sales.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

 

The Company records all derivative instruments in the financial statements at fair value.

 

The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to movements in interest rates and fuel prices. 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. Credit risk related to the derivative financial instruments is considered minimal and is managed by requiring high credit standards for its counterparties and periodic settlements.

 

Interest Rate Hedges

 

The Company periodically enters into derivative financial instruments. The Company has standardized procedures for evaluating the accounting for financial instruments. These procedures include:

 

   

Identifying and matching of the hedging instrument and the hedged item to ensure that significant features coincide such as maturity dates and interest reset dates;

 

   

Identifying the nature of the risk being hedged and the Company’s intent for undertaking the hedge;

 

   

Assessing the hedging instrument’s effectiveness in offsetting the exposure to changes in the hedged item’s fair value or variability to cash flows attributable to the hedged risk;

 

   

Assessing evidence that, at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, it is expected that the hedging relationship will be highly effective in achieving an offsetting change in the fair value or cash flows that are attributable to the hedged risk; and

 

   

Maintaining a process for assessment of ongoing hedge effectiveness.

 

To the extent the interest rate agreements meet the specified criteria; they are accounted for as either fair value or cash flow hedges. Changes in the fair values of designated and qualifying fair value hedges are recognized in earnings as offsets to changes in the fair value of the related hedged liabilities. Changes in the fair value of cash flow hedging instruments are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income and are subsequently reclassified to earnings as an adjustment to interest expense in the same periods the forecasted payments affect earnings. Ineffectiveness of a cash flow hedge, defined as the amount by which the change in the value of the hedge does not exactly offset the change in the value of the hedged item, is reflected in current results of operations.

 

The Company evaluates its mix of fixed and floating rate debt on an ongoing basis. Periodically, the Company may terminate an interest rate derivative when the underlying debt remains outstanding in order to

 

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achieve its desired fixed/floating rate mix. Upon termination of an interest rate derivative accounted for as a cash flow hedge, amounts reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income are reclassified to earnings consistent with the variability of the cash flows previously hedged, which is generally over the life of the related debt that was hedged. Upon termination of an interest rate derivative accounted for as a fair value hedge, the value of the hedge as recorded on the Company’s balance sheet is eliminated against either the cash received or cash paid for settlement and the fair value adjustment of the related debt is amortized to earnings over the remaining life of the debt instrument as an adjustment to interest expense.

 

Interest rate derivatives designated as cash flow hedges are used to hedge the variability of cash flows related to a specific component of the Company’s long-term debt. Interest rate derivatives designated as fair value hedges are used to hedge the fair value of a specific component of the Company’s long-term debt. If the hedged component of long-term debt is repaid or refinanced, the Company generally terminates the related hedge due to the fact the forecasted schedule of payments will not occur or the changes in fair value of the hedged debt will not occur and the derivative will no longer qualify as a hedge. Any gain or loss on the termination of an interest rate derivative related to the repayment or refinancing of long-term debt is recognized currently in the Company’s statement of operations as an adjustment to interest expense. In the event a derivative previously accounted for as a hedge was retained and did not qualify for hedge accounting, changes in the fair value would be recognized in the statement of operations currently as an adjustment to interest expense.

 

Fuel Hedges

 

During 2007, the Company began using derivative instruments to hedge a portion of the Company’s vehicle fuel purchases. These derivative instruments relate to diesel fuel and unleaded gasoline used in the Company’s delivery fleet. Instruments used include puts and calls which effectively form an upper and lower limit on the Company’s price of fuel within periods covered by the instruments. The Company pays a fee for these instruments which is amortized over the corresponding period of the instrument. The Company currently accounts for its fuel hedges on a mark-to-market basis with any expense or income being reflected as an adjustment of fuel costs which are included in S,D&A expenses.

 

Risk Management Programs

 

In general, the Company is self-insured for the costs of workers’ compensation, employment practices, vehicle accident claims and medical claims. The Company uses commercial insurance for claims as a risk reduction strategy to minimize catastrophic losses. Losses are provided for using assumptions and procedures followed in the insurance industry, adjusted for company-specific history and expectations.

 

Cost of Sales

 

The following expenses are included in cost of sales: raw material costs, manufacturing labor, manufacturing overhead including depreciation expense, manufacturing warehousing costs and shipping and handling costs related to the movement of finished goods from manufacturing locations to sales distribution centers.

 

Selling, Delivery and Administrative Expenses

 

The following expenses are included in S,D&A expenses: sales management labor costs, distribution costs from sales distribution centers to customer locations, sales distribution center warehouse costs, depreciation expense related to sales centers, delivery vehicles and cold drink equipment, point-of-sale expenses, advertising

 

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expenses, vending equipment repair costs and administrative support labor and operating costs such as treasury, legal, information services, accounting, internal audit, human resources and executive management costs.

 

Shipping and Handling Costs

 

Shipping and handling costs related to the movement of finished goods from manufacturing locations to sales distribution centers are included in cost of sales. Shipping and handling costs related to the movement of finished goods from sales distribution centers to customer locations are included in S,D&A expenses and were $193.8 million, $183.1 million and $176.3 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

Certain customers pay the Company separately for shipping and handling costs. Beginning in October 2005, certain customers have been billed a delivery fee. The delivery fee revenue is recorded in net sales and was $3.6 million and $.7 million in 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

Compensation Cost for Unvested/Restricted Stock with Contingent Vesting

 

The Company has a restricted stock plan for the Company’s Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer. The plan initially included 200,000 shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock, which are issued in the amount of 20,000 shares per year, contingent upon the achievement of 80% of the overall goal achievement factor in the Annual Bonus Plan.

 

The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123 (revised 2004), on January 2, 2006. The Company applied the modified prospective transition method and prior periods were not restated. The Company’s only share based compensation is the restricted stock award to the Company’s Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer as described above. Each annual 20,000 share tranche has an independent performance requirement as it is not established until the Company’s Annual Bonus Plan targets are approved each year by the Company’s Board of Directors. As a result, each 20,000 share tranche is considered to have its own service inception date, grant-date fair value and requisite service period. The Company recognizes compensation expense over the requisite service period (one fiscal year) based on the Company’s stock price at the measurement date (date approved by the Board of Directors), unless the achievement of the performance requirement for the fiscal year is considered unlikely. See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.

 

Net Income Per Share

 

During 2006, the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commision reviewed the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2006. The Company considered this review and concluded the application of the two-class method for calculating and presenting net income per share was appropriate for its Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.

 

As noted in SFAS No. 128, “Earnings per Share (as amended),” the two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock according to dividends declared (or accumulated) and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Under that method:

 

  (a) Income from continuing operations (or net income) is reduced by the amount of dividends declared in the current period for each class of stock and by the contractual amount of dividends that must be paid for the current period.

 

  (b)

The remaining earnings, or “undistributed earnings,” are allocated to Common Stock and Class B Common Stock to the extent that each security may share in earnings as if all of the earnings for the

 

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period had been distributed. The total earnings allocated to each security is determined by adding together the amount allocated for dividends and the amount allocated for a participation feature.

 

  (c) The total earnings allocated to each security is then divided by the number of outstanding shares of the security to which the earnings are allocated to determine the earnings per share for the security.

 

  (d) Basic and diluted EPS data are presented for each class of common stock.

 

In applying the two-class method, the Company determined that undistributed earnings should be allocated equally on a per share basis between the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock due to the aggregate participation rights of the Class B Common Stock (i.e., the voting and conversion rights) and the Company’s history of paying dividends equally on a per share basis on the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.

 

Under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may declare dividends on Common Stock without declaring equal or any dividends on the Class B Common Stock. Notwithstanding, Class B Common Stock has voting and conversion rights that allow the Class B stockholders to participate equally on a per share basis with Common Stock.

 

The Class B Common Stock is entitled to 20 votes per share and the Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share with respect to each matter to be voted upon by the stockholders of the Company. With the exception of any matter required by law, the holders of the Class B Common Stock and Common Stock vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to the Company’s stockholders, including the election of the Board of Directors. As a result of this voting structure, the holders of the Class B Common Stock control approximately 88% of the total voting power of the stockholders of the Company and control the election of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has declared and the Company has paid dividends on the Class B Common Stock and Common Stock and each class of common stock has participated equally in all dividends declared by the Board of Directors and paid by the Company since 1994.

 

The Class B Common Stock conversion rights allow the Class B Common Stock to participate in dividends equally with the Common Stock. The Class B Common Stock is convertible into Common Stock on a one-for-one per share basis at any time at the option of the holder (i.e., via an action within the holder’s control). Accordingly, the holders of the Class B Common Stock can participate equally in any dividends declared on the Common Stock by exercising their conversion rights.

 

As a result of the Class B Common Stock’s aggregated participation rights, the Company determined that undistributed earnings should be allocated equally on a per share basis to the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock under the two-class method.

 

The Company further concluded the application of the two-class method to its net income per share calculation for the fiscal years ended January 1, 2006 (“fiscal 2005”) and January 2, 2005 (“fiscal 2004”) would not have materially impacted the financial statements for fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004. For example, the Company reported basic and diluted net income per share for fiscal 2005 of $2.53. Under the two-class method, the Company would have reported basic and diluted net income per share for fiscal 2005 as follows: Common Stock—Basic $2.53; Class B Common Stock—Basic $2.53; Common Stock—Diluted $2.53; and Class B Common Stock—Diluted $2.53. Therefore, the Company began presenting the application of the two-class method prospectively in the quarter ended October 1, 2006.

 

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) excludes potential common shares that were dilutive and is computed by dividing net income available for common stockholders by the weighted average number of Common and

 

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Class B Common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS for Common Stock and Class B Common Stock gives effect to all securities representing potential common shares that were dilutive and outstanding during the period.

 

2.    Piedmont Coca-Cola Bottling Partnership

 

On July 2, 1993, the Company and The Coca-Cola Company formed Piedmont Coca-Cola Bottling Partnership (“Piedmont”) to distribute and market nonalcoholic beverages primarily in certain portions of North Carolina and South Carolina. 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. These intercompany transactions are eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

 

Minority interest as of December 31, 2006, January 1, 2006, and January 2, 2005 represents the portion of Piedmont which is owned by The Coca-Cola Company. The Coca-Cola Company’s interest in Piedmont was 22.7% in all periods reported.

 

3.    Inventories

 

Inventories were summarized as follows:

 

      Dec. 31,
2006
   Jan. 1,
2006
In Thousands          

Finished products

   $ 32,934    $ 34,181

Manufacturing materials

     19,333      9,222

Plastic shells, plastic pallets and other inventories

     14,788      14,830
             

Total inventories

   $ 67,055    $ 58,233
             

 

4.    Property, Plant and Equipment

 

The principal categories and estimated useful lives of property, plant and equipment were as follows:

 

      Dec. 31,
2006
   Jan. 1,
2006
   Estimated
Useful Lives
In Thousands               

Land

   $ 12,455    $ 12,605   

Buildings

     110,444      110,208    10-50 years

Machinery and equipment

     100,519      96,495    5-20 years

Transportation equipment

     184,861      167,762    4-13 years

Furniture and fixtures

     39,184      44,364    4-10 years

Cold drink dispensing equipment

     331,174      339,330    6-13 years

Leasehold and land improvements

     57,837      56,788    5-20 years

Software for internal use

     36,665      32,258    3-10 years

Construction in progress

     13,464      6,627   
                

Total property, plant and equipment, at cost

     886,603      866,437   

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     502,139      477,238   
                

Property, plant and equipment, net

   $ 384,464    $ 389,199   
                

 

Depreciation and amortization expense was $67.3 million, $68.2 million and $70.8 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. These amounts included amortization expense for leased property under capital leases.

 

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5.    Leased Property Under Capital Leases

 

Leased property under capital leases was summarized as follows:

 

      Dec. 31,
2006
   Jan. 1,
2006
   Estimated
Useful Lives
In Thousands               

Leased property under capital leases

   $ 83,475    $ 84,035    3-29 years

Less: Accumulated amortization

     13,624      10,791   
                

Leased property under capital leases, net

   $ 69,851    $ 73,244   
                

 

As of December 31, 2006, real estate represented all of the leased property under capital leases, net, of which $63.5 million is provided by related parties as described in Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

6.    Franchise Rights and Goodwill

 

Franchise rights and goodwill were summarized as follows:

 

      Dec. 31,
2006
   Jan. 1,
2006
In Thousands          

Franchise rights

   $ 677,769    $ 677,769

Goodwill

     155,487      155,487
             

Franchise rights and goodwill

     833,256      833,256

Less: Accumulated amortization

     210,535      210,535
             

Franchise rights and goodwill, net

   $ 622,721    $ 622,721
             

 

The Company performed its annual impairment test of franchise rights and goodwill during the third quarter of 2006 and determined there was no impairment of the carrying value of these assets.

 

There was no activity for franchise rights and goodwill in 2006 or 2005.

 

7.    Other Identifiable Intangible Assets

 

Other identifiable intangible assets were summarized as follows:

 

      Dec. 31,
2006
   Jan. 1,
2006
   Estimated
Useful Lives
In Thousands               

Other identifiable intangible assets

   $ 6,599    $ 9,877    1-18 years

Less: Accumulated amortization

     1,852      4,823   
                

Other identifiable intangible assets, net

   $ 4,747    $ 5,054   
                

 

During 2006 and 2005, the Company wrote off fully amortized identifiable intangible assets in the amount of $3.5 million and $51.2 million, respectively. Amortization expense related to other identifiable intangible assets was $.6 million, $.9 million and $3.1 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Assuming no impairment of these other identifiable intangible assets, amortization expense in future years based upon

 

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recorded amounts as of December 31, 2006 will be $.4 million, $.4 million, $.4 million, $.4 million and $.3 million for 2007 through 2011, respectively. Other identifiable intangible assets primarily represent customer relationships.

 

8.    Other Accrued Liabilities

 

Other accrued liabilities were summarized as follows:

 

      Dec. 31,
2006
   Jan. 1,
2006
In Thousands          

Accrued marketing costs

   $ 6,659    $ 5,578

Accrued insurance costs

     12,495      10,463

Accrued taxes (other than income taxes)

     2,068      729

Employee benefit plan accruals

     8,427      8,946

Checks and transfers yet to be presented for payment from zero balance cash account

     10,199      20,530

All other accrued expenses

     11,182      13,833
             

Total other accrued liabilities

   $ 51,030    $ 60,079
             

 

9.    Debt

 

Debt was summarized as follows:

 

     Maturity      Interest
Rate
   

Interest

Paid

   Dec. 31,
2006
   Jan. 1,
2006
In Thousands                            

Lines of Credit

          Varies    $ —      $ 6,500

Debentures

   2007      6.85 %   Semi-annually      100,000      100,000

Debentures

   2009      7.20 %   Semi-annually      57,440      57,440

Debentures

   2009      6.375 %   Semi-annually      119,253      119,253

Senior Notes

   2012      5.00 %   Semi-annually      150,000      150,000

Senior Notes

   2015      5.30 %   Semi-annually      100,000      100,000

Senior Notes

   2016      5.00 %   Semi-annually      164,757      164,757

Other notes payable

          Quarterly      —        39
                       
               691,450      697,989

Less: Current portion of debt

     100,000      6,539
                       

Long-term debt

   $ 591,450    $ 691,450
                       

 

The principal maturities of debt outstanding on December 31, 2006 were as follows:

 

In Thousands     

2007

   $ 100,000

2008

     —  

2009

     176,693

2010

     —  

2011

     —  

Thereafter

     414,757
      

Total debt

   $ 691,450
      

 

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The Company has obtained all of its long-term debt financing other than capital leases from the public markets. As of December 31, 2006, $691.5 million of the Company’s total outstanding debt and capital lease obligations of $769.0 million was financed through publicly offered debt. The Company had capital lease obligations of $77.5 million as of December 31, 2006.

 

In December 2005, the Company repurchased $8.6 million of its outstanding 6.375% debentures due May 2009. The premium and associated transaction fees totaling $.4 million were included in interest expense in 2005.

 

In June 2005, the Company issued $164.8 million of 5.00% senior notes due 2016 in exchange for $122.2 million of its outstanding 6.375% debentures due 2009 and $42.6 million of its outstanding 7.20% debentures due 2009. The exchange was conducted as a private placement to holders of the existing debentures that were “qualified institutional buyers” within the meaning of Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. As part of the exchange, the Company paid a premium of $15.6 million to holders participating in the exchange. The transaction was accounted for as an exchange of debt, and the $15.6 million premium is being amortized over the life of the new notes. The Company incurred financing transaction costs of $1.3 million related to the exchange of debt which were included in interest expense during 2005. In August 2005, the Company successfully completed a registered exchange offer in which all of the previously issued private notes were exchanged for substantially identical registered notes.

 

On April 7, 2005, the Company entered into a new five-year $100 million revolving credit facility replacing the previous $125 million facility that was scheduled to expire in December 2005. On December 31, 2006, there were no amounts outstanding under this $100 million facility. The $100 million facility matures in April 2010 and includes an option to extend the term for an additional year at the discretion of the participating banks and bears interest at a floating base rate or a floating rate of LIBOR plus an interest rate spread of .375%. In addition, there is a facility fee of .125% required for this $100 million facility. Both the interest rate spread and the facility fee are determined from a commonly used pricing grid based on the Company’s long-term senior unsecured noncredit-enhanced debt rating. The Company’s $100 million facility contains two financial covenants related to ratio requirements for interest coverage and long-term debt to cash flow, each as defined in the credit agreement. These covenants do not currently, and the Company does not anticipate that they will, restrict its liquidity or capital resources.

 

The Company borrows periodically under its available lines of credit. These lines of credit, in the aggregate amount of $60 million at December 31, 2006, are made available at the discretion of the two participating banks and may be withdrawn at any time by such banks. The Company intends to renew the lines of credit as they mature. On December 31, 2006, there was no amount outstanding under the lines of credit. On January 1, 2006, amounts outstanding under the lines of credit were $6.5 million. The weighted average interest rate on the lines of credit was 4.77% as of January 1, 2006.

 

The Company currently provides financing for Piedmont under an agreement that expires on December 31, 2010. Piedmont pays the Company interest on its borrowings at the Company’s average cost of funds plus 0.50%. The loan balance at December 31, 2006 was $89.5 million and was eliminated in consolidation.

 

The Company filed an $800 million shelf registration for debt and equity securities in January 1999. The Company used this shelf registration to issue long-term debt of $250 million in 1999, $150 million in 2002 and $100 million in 2003. The Company currently has up to $300 million available for use under this shelf registration which, subject to the Company’s ability to consummate a transaction on acceptable terms, could be used for long-term financing or refinancing of debt maturities.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

After taking into account all of the interest rate hedging activities, the Company had a weighted average interest rate of 6.9% and 6.2% for its debt and capital lease obligations as of December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006, respectively. The Company’s overall weighted average interest rate on its debt and capital lease obligations was 6.6%, 6.4% and 5.4% for 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Excluding the $1.7 million of financing transaction costs related to the Company’s debt exchange in June 2005 and the early retirement of debt in December 2005, the overall weighted average interest rate for 2005 was 6.2%. As of December 31, 2006, approximately 42% of the Company’s debt and capital lease obligations of $769.0 million was subject to changes in short-term interest rates.

 

During January 2007, the Company entered into additional interest rate swap agreements totaling $75 million which effectively converted fixed rate debt to floating rates. Additionally, a floating rate capital lease of $30.7 million was modified on a fixed rate basis. After giving effect for the additional interest rate swap agreements of $75 million and the modification of a floating rate capital lease to a fixed rate basis, approximately 48% of the Company’s debt and capital lease obligations would have been subject to changes in short-term interest rates.

 

The Company currently plans to use cash on hand and its revolving credit facility to repay or refinance the $100 million maturity of Company debentures in November 2007.

 

The Company’s public debt is not subject to financial covenants but does limit the incurrence of certain liens and encumbrances as well as the incurrence of indebtedness by the Company’s subsidiaries in excess of certain amounts.

 

All of the outstanding long-term debt has been issued by the Company with none being issued by any of the Company’s subsidiaries. There are no guarantees of the Company’s debt.

 

10.    Derivative Financial Instruments

 

The Company periodically uses interest rate hedging products to modify risk from interest rate fluctuations. The Company has historically altered its fixed/floating rate mix based upon anticipated cash flows from operations relative to the Company’s debt level and the potential impact of changes in interest rates on the Company’s overall financial condition. 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. All of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements are LIBOR-based.

 

Derivative financial instruments were summarized as follows:

 

     Dec. 31, 2006    Jan. 1, 2006
     Notional
Amount
   Remaining
Term
   Notional
Amount
   Remaining
Term
In Thousands                    

Interest rate swap agreement-floating

   $ 25,000    .92 years    $ 25,000    1.92 years

Interest rate swap agreement-floating

     25,000    .92 years      25,000    1.92 years

Interest rate swap agreement-floating

     50,000    2.42 years      50,000    3.42 years

Interest rate swap agreement-floating

     50,000    .92 years      50,000    1.92 years

Interest rate swap agreement-floating

     50,000    2.58 years      50,000    3.58 years

Interest rate swap agreement-floating

     50,000    5.92 years      50,000    6.92 years

 

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The Company had six interest rate swap agreements as of December 31, 2006 with varying terms that effectively converted $250 million of the Company’s fixed rate debt portfolio to a floating rate. All of the interest rate swap agreements have been accounted for as fair value hedges.

 

In January 2007, the Company entered into three new interest rate swap agreements converting $75 million of the Company’s fixed rate debt portfolio to a floating rate. The new swap agreements have been accounted for as fair value hedges.

 

During 2006, 2005 and 2004, the Company amortized deferred gains related to previously terminated interest rate swap agreements and forward interest rate agreements, which reduced interest expense by $1.7 million, $1.7 million and $1.9 million, respectively. Interest expense will be reduced by the amortization of these deferred gains in 2007 through 2011 as follows: $1.7 million, $1.7 million, $.9 million, $.3 million and $.3 million, respectively.

 

The counterparties to these contractual arrangements are major financial institutions with which the Company also has other financial relationships. The Company uses several different financial institutions for interest rate derivative contracts to minimize the concentration of credit risk. While the Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by these counterparties, the Company does not anticipate nonperformance by these parties. The Company has master agreements with the counterparties to its derivative financial agreements that provide for net settlement of derivative transactions.

 

11.    Fair Values of Financial Instruments

 

The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating the fair values of its financial instruments:

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable

 

The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate carrying values due to the short maturity of these items.

 

Public Debt Securities

 

The fair values of the Company’s public debt securities are based on estimated current market prices.

 

Non-Public Variable Rate 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 other notes payable are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses based on the Company’s current borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

 

The fair values for the Company’s interest rate swap agreements are based on current settlement values.

 

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Letters of Credit

 

The fair values of the Company’s letters of credit, obtained from financial institutions, are based on the notional amounts of the instruments. These letters of credit primarily relate to the Company’s property and casualty insurance programs.

 

The carrying amounts and fair values of the Company’s debt, derivative financial instruments and letters of credit were as follows:

 

     Dec. 31, 2006    Jan. 1, 2006
     Carrying
Amount
   Fair Value    Carrying
Amount
   Fair Value
In Thousands                    

Public debt securities

   $ 691,450    $ 679,991    $ 691,450    $ 696,171

Non-public variable rate debt

     —        —        6,500      6,500

Non-public fixed rate long-term debt

     —        —        39      39

Interest rate swap agreements

     6,950      6,950      8,118      8,118

Letters of credit

     —        22,068      —        17,374

 

The fair value of the interest rate swap agreements at December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006 represent the estimated amounts the Company would have paid upon termination of these agreements, which were the then current settlement values.

 

12.    Other Liabilities

 

Other liabilities were summarized as follows:

 

      Dec. 31,
2006
   Jan. 1,
2006
In Thousands          

Accruals for executive benefit plans

   $ 69,547    $ 61,674

Other

     19,051      23,514
             

Total other liabilities

   $ 88,598    $ 85,188
             

 

The accruals for executive benefit plans relate to three benefit programs for eligible executives of the Company. These benefit programs are the Supplemental Savings Incentive Plan (“Supplemental Savings Plan”), the Officer Retention Plan (“Retention Plan”) and a replacement benefit plan.

 

Pursuant to the Supplemental Savings Plan, as amended effective January 1, 2005, eligible participants may elect to defer a portion of their annual salary and bonus. Prior to 2006, the Company matched 30% of the first 6% of salary (excluding bonuses) deferred by the participant. Participants are immediately vested in all deferred contributions they make and become fully vested in Company contributions upon completion of five years of service, termination of employment due to death, retirement or a change in control. Participant deferrals and Company contributions made in years prior to 2006 are deemed invested in either a fixed benefit option or certain investment funds specified by the Company. Beginning in 2006, the Company matches 50% of the first 6% of salary (excluding bonuses) deferred by the participant. The Company will also make additional contributions during 2006, 2007 and 2008 ranging from 10% to 40% of a participant’s annual salary (excluding bonuses), with contributions above the 10% level depending on the attainment by the Company of certain annual performance objectives. The Company may also make discretionary contributions to participants’ accounts. The

 

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long-term liability under this plan was $46.3 million and $40.3 million as of December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006, respectively.

 

Under the Retention Plan, as amended effective January 1, 2005, eligible participants may elect to receive an annuity payable in equal monthly installments over a 10, 15 or 20-year period commencing at retirement or, in certain instances, upon termination of employment. The benefits under the Retention Plan increase with each year of participation as set forth in an agreement between the participant and the Company. Benefits under the Retention Plan are 50% vested until age 50. After age 50, the vesting percentage increases by an additional 5% each year until the benefits are fully vested at age 60. The long-term liability under this plan was $22.3 million and $20.4 million as of December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006, respectively.

 

In conjunction with the elimination in 2003 of a split-dollar life insurance benefit for officers of the Company, a replacement benefit plan was established. The replacement benefit plan provides a supplemental benefit to eligible participants that increases with each additional year of service and is comparable to benefits provided to eligible participants previously through certain split-dollar life insurance agreements. Upon separation from the Company, participants receive an annuity payable in up to ten annual installments or a lump sum. In 2005, participants were provided a one-time option to terminate their agreements under this plan and receive all of their accrued benefit in cash. A number of participants elected this option. Accordingly, the Company paid $1.6 million to participants under this one-time option in July 2005. The long-term liability was $1.0 million under this plan as of December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006.

 

13.    Commitments and Contingencies

 

Rental expense incurred for noncancellable operating leases during 2006, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

 

     Fiscal Year  
     2006    2005    2004  
In Thousands                 

Minimum rentals

   $ 3,597    $ 3,168    $ 3,550  

Contingent rentals

     —        —        (71 )
                      

Total rental expense

   $ 3,597    $ 3,168    $ 3,479  
                      

 

See Note 5 and Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.

 

The Company leases office and warehouse space, machinery and other equipment under noncancellable operating lease agreements which expire at various dates through 2017. These leases generally contain scheduled rent increases or escalation clauses, renewal options, or in some cases, purchase options. The Company leases certain warehouse space and other equipment under capital lease agreements which expire at various dates through 2030. These leases contain scheduled rent increases or escalation clauses. Amortization of assets recorded under capital leases is included in depreciation expense.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The following is a summary of future minimum lease payments for all capital leases and noncancellable operating leases as of December 31, 2006, adjusted to reflect the modified capital lease on the corporate office facility which was effective January 1, 2007. The modified lease increased the present value of minimum lease payments from $77.5 million to $82.6 million. The current portion of obligations under capital leases at December 31, 2006 has been adjusted to reflect the effects of this modified lease. See Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information on the modified lease.

 

      Capital Leases    Operating Leases    Total
In Thousands               

2007

   $ 9,017    $ 3,120    $ 12,137

2008

     9,456      2,846      12,302

2009

     9,612      1,897      11,509

2010

     9,733      1,062      10,795

2011

     9,856      861      10,717

Thereafter

     171,856      7,774      179,630
                    

Total minimum lease payments

   $ 219,530    $ 17,560    $ 237,090
                    

Less: Amounts representing interest

     136,880      
            

Present value of minimum lease payments

     82,650      

Less: Current portion of obligations under capital leases

     2,435      
            

Long-term portion of obligations under capital leases

   $ 80,215      
            

 

Future minimum lease payments for noncancellable operating and capital leases in the preceding table include renewal options the Company has determined to be reasonably assured.

 

The Company is a member of South Atlantic Canners, Inc. (“SAC”), a manufacturing cooperative from which it is obligated to purchase 17.5 million cases of finished product on an annual basis through May 2014. The Company is also a member of Southeastern Container (“Southeastern”), a plastic bottle manufacturing cooperative, from which it is obligated to purchase at least 80% of its requirements of plastic bottles for certain designated territories. See Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information concerning SAC and Southeastern.

 

The Company guarantees a portion of SAC’s and Southeastern’s debt and lease obligations. The amounts guaranteed were $42.9 million as of December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006. The Company has not recorded any liability associated with these guarantees. The Company holds no assets as collateral against these guarantees and no contractual recourse provision exists that would enable the Company to recover amounts guaranteed. The guarantees relate to debt and lease obligations of SAC and Southeastern, which resulted primarily from the purchase of production equipment and facilities. These guarantees expire at various times through 2021. The members of both cooperatives consist solely of Coca-Cola bottlers. The Company does not anticipate either of these cooperatives will fail to fulfill their commitments. The Company further believes each of these cooperatives has sufficient assets, including production equipment, facilities and working capital, and the ability to adjust selling prices of their products to adequately mitigate the risk of material loss.

 

The Company has identified SAC and Southeastern as variable interest entities and has determined it is not the primary beneficiary of either of the cooperatives. The Company’s variable interest in these cooperatives includes an equity ownership in each of the entities and the guarantee of certain indebtedness. As of December 31, 2006, SAC had total assets of approximately $39 million and total debt of approximately

 

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$17 million. SAC had total revenues for 2006 of approximately $173 million. As of December 31, 2006, Southeastern had total assets of approximately $379 million and total debt of approximately $279 million. Southeastern had total revenue for 2006 of approximately $566 million. In the event either of these cooperatives fail to fulfill their commitments under the related debt and lease obligations, the Company would be responsible for payments to the lenders up to the level of the guarantees. If these cooperatives had borrowed up to their borrowing capacity, the Company’s maximum exposure under these guarantees on December 31, 2006 would have been $57.4 million and the Company’s maximum total exposure, including its equity investment, would have been $35.4 million for SAC and $30.4 million for Southeastern. The Company has been purchasing plastic bottles and finished products from these cooperatives for more than ten years.

 

The Company has standby letters of credit, primarily related to its property and casualty insurance programs. On December 31, 2006, these letters of credit totaled $22.1 million.

 

The Company participates in long-term marketing contractual arrangements with certain prestige properties, athletic venues and other locations. The future payments related to these contractual arrangements as of December 31, 2006 amounted to $28.5 million and expire at various dates through 2014.

 

On February 14, 2006, forty-eight Coca-Cola bottler plaintiffs filed suit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri against The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. (“CCE”). On February 24, 2006, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding twelve bottlers as plaintiffs. In the lawsuit, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company, et al. vs. The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., the bottler plaintiffs purport to bring claims for breach of contract and breach of duty and other related claims arising out of CCE’s plan to offer warehouse delivery of POWERade to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (“Wal-Mart”) within CCE’s territory. The bottler plaintiffs seek preliminary and permanent injunctive relief prohibiting the warehouse delivery of POWERade and unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. On March 17, 2006, the Missouri District Court transferred the case, for the convenience of the parties, to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (the “District Court”).

 

In April 2006, warehouse delivery of POWERade commenced in the Company’s exclusive bottling territory. On September 5, 2006, the District Court granted the Company’s motion to intervene as defendant for the limited purpose of opposing the injunctive relief sought by the bottler plaintiffs. The District Court found that the Company had a legally protectable interest at stake in the litigation in that the relief requested would preclude the Company from warehouse delivery of POWERade within its exclusive bottling territory.

 

In February 2007, The Coca-Cola Company, CCE, the Company and many of the plaintiffs entered into a series of agreements that the Company expects will result in the dismissal without prejudice of the lawsuit and the implementation of a program to test various new route-to-market service systems. The new alternative route-to-market program provides, among other things, that during the next two years, through December 31, 2008, any Coca-Cola bottler that desires to implement an alternative route-to-market delivery plan shall present the plan for advance discussion and approval by representatives of The Coca-Cola Company and the Coca-Cola bottling system. The agreements preserve all parties’ rights, and afford the Coca-Cola bottling system an opportunity to meet to discuss whether the new route-to-market service system should be continued. The agreements also provide that the lawsuit will be dismissed in the near future.

 

The Company is involved in various other claims and legal proceedings which have arisen in the ordinary course of its business. Although it is difficult to predict the ultimate outcome of these other claims and legal proceedings, management believes the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse

 

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effect on the financial condition, cash flows or results of operations of the Company. No material amount of loss in excess of recorded amounts is believed to be reasonably possible as a result of these claims and legal proceedings.

 

The Company’s tax filings are subject to audit by taxing authorities in jurisdictions where it conducts business. These audits may result in assessments of additional taxes that are subsequently resolved with the authorities or potentially through the courts. Management believes the Company has adequately provided for any ultimate amounts that are likely to result from these audits; however, final assessments, if any, could be different than the amounts recorded in the consolidated financial statements.

 

14.    Income Taxes

 

The current income tax provision represents the estimated amount of income taxes paid or payable for the year, as well as changes in estimates from prior years. The deferred income tax provision represents the change in deferred tax liabilities and assets. The following table presents the significant components of the provision for income taxes for 2006, 2005 and 2004.

 

     Fiscal Year
     2006     2005    2004
In Thousands                

Current:

       

Federal

   $ 14,359     $ 11,645    $ —  

State

     588       1,051      458
                     

Total current provision

   $ 14,947     $ 12,696    $ 458
                     

Deferred:

       

Federal

   $ (4,881 )   $ 1,771    $ 11,912

State

     (2,149 )     1,334      2,332
                     

Total deferred provision (benefit)

   $ (7,030 )   $ 3,105    $ 14,244
                     

Income tax expense

   $ 7,917     $ 15,801    $ 14,702
                     

 

 

The Company’s effective tax rate was 25.4%, 40.8% and 40.2% for 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The following table provides a reconciliation of income tax expense at the statutory federal rate to actual income tax expense.

 

     Fiscal Year  
     2006     2005     2004  
In Thousands                   

Statutory expense

   $ 10,906     $ 13,563     $ 12,793  

State income taxes, net of federal benefit

     1,357       1,789       1,473  

Change in effective state tax rate

       1,554       2,320  

Change in reserve for uncertain tax positions

     (1,673 )    

Valuation allowance change

     (2,637 )     (1,188 )     (1,980 )

Meals and entertainment

     701       729       780  

Other, net

     (737 )     (646 )     (684 )
                        

Income tax expense

   $ 7,917     $ 15,801     $ 14,702  
                        

 

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In October 2004, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the “Jobs Act”) was enacted. The Jobs Act provided for a tax deduction for qualified production activities. In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Staff Position No. FAS 109-1, “Application of FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, to the Tax Deduction on Qualified Production Activities Provided by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004” (“FAS 109-1”), which was effective immediately. FAS 109-1 provides guidance on the accounting for the provision within the Jobs Act that provides a tax deduction on qualified production activities. The deduction for qualified production activities provided within the Jobs Act and the Company’s related adoption of FAS 109-1 reduced the Company’s effective income tax rate by approximately 1% in 2005 and 2006.

 

In 2006, the Company reached agreements with two state taxing authorities to settle certain prior tax positions for which the Company had previously provided reserves due to uncertainty of resolution. As a result, the Company reduced the valuation allowance on related deferred tax assets by $2.6 million and reduced the liability for uncertain tax positions by $2.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2006 (“Q4 2006”). This adjustment was reflected as a $4.9 million reduction of income tax expense in Q4 2006. Also during Q4 2006, the Company increased the liability for uncertain tax positions by $.5 million to reflect an interest accrual and an adjustment of the reserve for uncertain tax positions. The net effect of adjustments to the valuation allowance and liability for uncertain tax positions during Q4 2006 was a reduction in income tax expense of $4.4 million.

 

During 2005, the Company entered into settlement agreements with two states regarding certain tax years. The effect of these settlements was the reduction of certain state net operating loss carryforwards with a tax effect, net of federal tax benefit, of $.6 million, the payment of $1.1 million in previously accrued tax and the reduction of valuation allowances of $1.2 million, net of federal tax benefit, related to net operating losses in these states, which the Company now believes more likely than not will be utilized to reduce state liabilities in the future.

 

During 2005, the Company also entered into a settlement agreement with another state whereby the Company agreed to reduce certain net operating loss carryforwards and to pay certain additional taxes and interest relating to prior years. The loss of state net operating loss carryforwards, net of federal tax benefit, of $4.4 million did not have an effect on the provision for income taxes due to a valuation allowance previously recorded for such deferred tax assets. Under this settlement, the Company was required to pay $5.7 million in 2005 and was required to pay an additional $5.0 million by April 15, 2006. The amounts paid and remaining to be paid in excess of liabilities previously recorded had the effect of increasing income tax expense by approximately $4.1 million in 2005. Based on an analysis of facts and available information, the Company also made adjustments for income tax exposure in other states in 2005 which had the effect of decreasing income tax expense by $3.8 million in 2005.

 

The Company’s income tax liabilities are subject to adjustment in future periods based on the Company’s ongoing evaluations of such liabilities and new information that becomes available to the Company.

 

The valuation allowance decreases in 2006, 2005 and 2004 were due to the Company’s assessments of its ability to use certain state net operating loss carryforwards primarily due to agreements with state taxing authorities as previously discussed.

 

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Deferred income taxes are recorded based upon temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities and available net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Temporary differences and carryforwards that comprised deferred income tax assets and liabilities were as follows:

 

      Dec. 31, 2006     Jan. 1, 2006  
In Thousands             

Intangible assets

   $ 118,690     $ 117,478  

Depreciation

     75,258       85,567  

Investment in Piedmont

     34,149       29,422  

Pension

     7,455       10,407  

Debt exchange premium

     5,072       5,762  

Inventory

     5,002       5,040  
                

Gross deferred income tax liabilities

     245,626       253,676  
                

Net operating loss carryforwards

     (14,264 )     (16,292 )

Alternative minimum tax credits

       (5,092 )

Deferred compensation

     (28,896 )     (27,149 )

Postretirement benefits

     (14,534 )     (14,398 )

Termination of interest rate agreements

     (2,286 )     (2,950 )

Capital lease agreements

     (2,704 )     (2,121 )

Other

     (3,384 )     (1,723 )
                

Gross deferred income tax assets

     (66,068 )     (69,725 )
                

Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets

     1,091       3,728  
                

Total deferred income tax liability

     180,649       187,679  

Net current deferred income tax liability

     86       802  
                

Net noncurrent deferred income tax liability

     180,563       186,877  
                

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     (17,869 )     (19,746 )
                

Net noncurrent deferred income tax liability

   $ 162,694     $ 167,131  
                

 

Deferred tax assets are recognized for the tax benefit of deductible temporary differences and for federal and state net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Valuation allowances are recognized on these assets if the Company believes that it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company believes the majority of the deferred tax assets will be realized because of the reversal of certain significant temporary differences and anticipated future taxable income from operations.

 

In addition to a valuation allowance related to state net operating loss carryforwards, the Company records liabilities for uncertain tax positions principally related to state income taxes and certain federal income tax positions. These liabilities reflect the Company’s best estimate of the ultimate income tax liability based on currently known facts and information. Material changes in facts or information as well as the expiration of statutes and/or settlements with individual state or federal jurisdictions may result in material adjustments to these estimates in the future.

 

The valuation allowance of $1.1 million and $3.7 million as of December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006, respectively, was established primarily for state net operating loss carryforwards which expire in varying amounts through 2023. There were no AMT credit carryforwards as of December 31, 2006 as the Company used its AMT credits to reduce its federal tax obligation for fiscal 2006.

 

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15.    Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of net income and other adjustments, including derivatives gain (loss) and minimum pension liability adjustment. In addition, the adjustment to initially apply SFAS No. 158 “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Pension and Other Postretirement Plans” was recorded directly to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at the end of 2006. A summary of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is as follows:

 

      Derivatives
Gain/(Loss)
    Unrecognized
Losses and
Prior Service
Cost, net
    Total  
In Thousands                   

Balance at December 28, 2003

   $ (62 )   $ (23,868 )   $ (23,930 )

Pretax activity

     101       (3,174 )     (3,073 )

Tax effect

     (39 )     1,239       1,200  
                  

Balance at January 2, 2005

       (25,803 )     (25,803 )

Pretax activity

       (7,073 )     (7,073 )

Tax effect

       2,760       2,760  
                  

Balance at January 1, 2006

       (30,116 )     (30,116 )

Pretax activity

       8,977       8,977  

Tax effect

       (3,535 )     (3,535 )
                  
       (24,674 )     (24,674 )

Adjustment to initially apply SFAS No. 158

      

Pretax activity

       (4,210 )     (4,210 )

Tax effect

       1,658       1,658  
                        

Balance at December 31, 2006

   $  —       $ (27,226 )   $ (27,226 )
                        

 

16.    Capital Transactions

 

The Company has two classes of common stock outstanding, Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. The Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Marketsm tier of The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC® under the symbol COKE. There is no established public trading market for the Class B Common Stock. Shares of the Class B Common Stock are convertible on a share-for-share basis into shares of Common Stock at any time at the option of the holders of Class B Common Stock.

 

Pursuant to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, no cash dividend or dividend of property or stock other than stock of the Company, as specifically described in the Certificate of Incorporation, may be declared and paid on the Class B Common Stock unless an equal or greater dividend is declared and paid on the Common Stock. During 2006, 2005 and 2004, dividends of $1.00 per share were declared and paid on both Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.

 

Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share at all meetings of stockholders and each share of Class B Common Stock is entitled to 20 votes per share at such meetings. Except to the extent otherwise required by law, holders of the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock vote together as a single class on all matters brought before the Company’s stockholders.

 

In the event of liquidation, there is no preference between the two classes of common stock.

 

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COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Pursuant to a Stock Rights and Restriction Agreement dated January 27, 1989, between the Company and The Coca-Cola Company, in the event that the Company issues new shares of Class B Common Stock upon the exchange or exercise of any security, warrant or option of the Company which results in The Coca-Cola Company owning less than 20% of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and less than 20% of the total votes of all outstanding shares of all classes of the Company, The Coca-Cola Company has the right to exchange shares of Common Stock for shares of Class B Common Stock in order to maintain its ownership of 20% of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and 20% of the total votes of all outstanding shares of all classes of the Company. Under the Stock Rights and Restrictions Agreement, The Coca-Cola Company also has a preemptive right to purchase a percentage of any newly issued shares of any class as necessary to allow it to maintain ownership of both 29.67% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of all classes and 22.59% of the total votes of all outstanding shares of all classes.

 

On May 12, 1999, the stockholders of the Company approved a restricted stock award for J. Frank Harrison, III, the Company’s Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, consisting of 200,000 shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock. The fair value of the restricted stock award, when approved, was approximately $11.7 million based on the market price of the Common Stock on the effective date of the award. The award provides the shares of restricted stock vest at the rate of 20,000 shares per year over a ten-year period. The vesting of each annual installment is contingent upon the Company achieving at least 80% of the overall goal achievement factor in the Company’s Annual Bonus Plan. The restricted stock award does not entitle Mr. Harrison, III to participate in dividend or voting rights until each installment has vested and the shares are issued.

 

On February 23, 2005, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors determined 20,000 shares of restricted Class B Common Stock vested and should be issued, pursuant to the performance-based award discussed above, to Mr. Harrison, III in connection with his services as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2005. On February 22, 2006, the Compensation Committee determined an additional 20,000 shares of restricted Class B Common Stock vested to Mr. Harrison, III in connection with his services for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2006.

 

The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment,” on January 2, 2006. The Company applied the modified prospective transition method and prior periods were not restated. The Company’s only share based compensation is the restricted stock award to Mr. Harrison, III, as previously described. Each annual 20,000 share tranche has an independent performance requirement as it is not established until the Company’s Annual Bonus Plan targets are approved each year by the Company’s Board of Directors. As a result, each 20,000 share tranche is considered to have its own service inception date, grant-date fair value and requisite service period.

 

The Company’s Annual Bonus Plan targets, which establish the performance requirement for the restricted stock award in 2006, were approved by the Board of Directors in the first quarter of 2006 and the Company recorded the 20,000 share award at the grant-date price of $46.45 per share. Total stock compensation expense was $929,000 over the one-year service period (fiscal 2006) as the Company achieved at least 80% of the overall goal achievement factor in the Company’s Annual Bonus Plan. In addition, the Company reimburses Mr. Harrison, III for income taxes to be paid on the shares if the performance requirement is met and the shares are issued. The Company accrues the estimated cost of the income tax reimbursement over the one-year service period.

 

Prior to the adoption of this statement, the Company accrued compensation expense over the course of the one-year service period with the full year expense based upon the end of the period stock price.

 

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COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The following table illustrates the effect on reported net income and earnings per share for 2005 and 2004 had the Company accounted for the stock grant using the fair value method in SFAS No. 123:

 

     Fiscal Year  
     2005     2004  
In Thousands (Except Per Share Data)             

Net income as reported

   $ 22,951     $ 21,848  

Add: Restricted stock grant expense, net of tax

     891       1,194  

Less: Restricted stock grant expense under SFAS No. 123, net of tax

     (1,104 )     (1,087 )
                

Net income—pro forma

   $ 22,738     $ 21,955  
                

Net income per share:

    

Common Stock:

    

Basic—as reported

   $ 2.53     $ 2.41  
                

Basic—pro forma

   $ 2.50     $ 2.42  
                

Diluted—as reported

   $ 2.53     $ 2.41  
                

Diluted—pro forma

   $ 2.50     $ 2.42  
                

Class B Common Stock:

    

Basic—as reported

   $ 2.53     $ 2.41  
                

Basic—pro forma

   $ 2.50     $ 2.42  
                

Diluted—as reported

   $ 2.53     $ 2.41  
                

Diluted—pro forma

   $ 2.49     $ 2.41  
                

 

The increase in the number of shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding in 2006 was due to the issuance of 20,000 shares of Class B Common Stock related to the restricted stock award in 2006 reduced by the conversion of 100 shares of Class B Common Stock into 100 shares of Common Stock. The increase in the number of shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding in 2005 was due to the issuance of 20,000 shares of Class B Common Stock related to the restricted stock award in 2005 reduced by the conversion of 500 shares of Class B Common Stock into 500 shares of Common Stock.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

17.    Benefit Plans

 

Recently Adopted Pronouncement

 

The Company adopted SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans,” (“SFAS No. 158”) at the end of fiscal 2006. The Company applied the modified prospective transition method and prior periods were not restated. The incremental effect of applying SFAS No. 158 in the balance sheet as of December 31, 2006 was as follows:

 

    

Prior to
Recording
Minimum Pension

Liability
Adjustment

    Minimum
Pension
Liability
Adjustment
    Before
Application
of SFAS No. 158
    Adjustments     After
Application
of SFAS No. 158
 
In Thousands                               

Other accrued liabilities

   $ 3,328     $ —       $ 3,328     $ —       $ 3,328  

Pension and postretirement benefit obligations

     62,524       (8,977 )     53,547       4,210       57,757  

Deferred income taxes

     160,817       3,535       164,352       (1,658 )     162,694  

Total liabilities

     1,227,402       (5,442 )     1,221,960       2,552       1,224,512  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (30,116 )     5,442       (24,674 )     (2,552 )     (27,226 )

Total stockholders’ equity

     91,063       5,442       96,505       (2,552 )     93,953  

 

Pension Plans

 

Retirement benefits under the two Company-sponsored pension plans 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 plans are based on the projected unit credit actuarial funding method and are limited to the amounts that are currently deductible for income tax purposes.

 

On February 22, 2006, the Board of Directors of the Company approved an amendment to the principal Company-sponsored pension plan to cease further benefit accruals under the plan effective June 30, 2006. The plan amendment was accounted for as a plan “curtailment” under SFAS No. 88, “Employers’ Accounting for Settlements and Curtailments of Defined Benefit Pension Plans and for Termination Benefits (as amended).” The curtailment resulted in a reduction of the Company’s projected benefit obligation which was offset against the Company’s unrecognized net loss. The impacts of the curtailment on net income and the effect on net periodic pension expense prior to the effective date of June 30, 2006 were immaterial. Net periodic pension expense was reduced beginning in the third quarter of 2006 as the Company no longer accrues current service cost for the principal Company-sponsored pension plan.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The following tables set forth pertinent information for the two Company-sponsored pension plans:

 

Changes in Projected Benefit Obligation

 

     Fiscal Year  
     2006     2005  
In Thousands             

Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 200,093     $ 170,800  

Service cost

     5,386       6,987  

Interest cost

     10,377       10,115  

Actuarial loss

     2,931       17,001  

Benefits paid

     (4,981 )     (4,810 )

Change in plan provisions

     (28,002 )     —    
                

Projected benefit obligation at end of year

   $ 185,804     $ 200,093  
                

 

The projected benefit obligations and accumulated benefit obligations for both of the Company’s pension plans were in excess of plan assets at December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006. The accumulated benefit obligation was $185.8 million and $173.8 million at December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006, respectively.

 

Change in Plan Assets

 

     2006     2005  
In Thousands             

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

   $ 150,400     $ 135,843  

Actual return on plan assets

     17,839       11,367  

Employer contributions

     550       8,000  

Benefits paid

     (4,981 )     (4,810 )
                

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

   $ 163,808     $ 150,400  
                

 

Funded Status

 

     Dec. 31, 2006     Jan. 1, 2006  
In Thousands             

Funded status of the plans

     (1)     $ (49,694 )

Unrecognized prior service cost

     (1)       75  

Unrecognized net loss

     (1)       76,134  

Projected benefit obligation

   $ (185,804 )     (1)  

Plan assets at fair value

     163,808       (1)  
                

Net funded status

   $ (21,996)     $ 26,515  
                

 

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COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Amounts Recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet

 

      Dec. 31, 2006     Jan. 1, 2006  
In Thousands             

Accrued benefit liability

   $ (1)     $ (23,422 )

Intangible asset

     (1)       75  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     (1)       49,862 (2)

Current liabilities

     (550)       (1)  

Noncurrent liabilities

     (21,446)       (1)  
                

Net amount recognized

   $ (21,996)     $ 26,515  
                

 

(1)

These disclosures are not applicable since SFAS No. 158 was effective at the end of fiscal 2006.

(2)

Gross accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax effect of $19,746, was reflected in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

 

Net Periodic Pension Cost

 

     Fiscal Year  
     2006     2005     2004  
In Thousands                   

Service cost

   $ 5,386     $ 6,987     $ 5,908  

Interest cost

     10,377       10,115       9,062  

Expected return on plan assets

     (12,106 )     (10,689 )     (9,306 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     24       24       20  

Recognized net actuarial loss

     4,444       5,341       4,840  
                        

Net periodic pension cost

   $ 8,125     $ 11,778     $ 10,524  
                        

 

Significant Assumptions Used

 

      2006   2005   2004

Projected benefit obligation at the measurement date:

      

Discount rate

   5.75%   5.75%   6.00%

Weighted average rate of compensation increase

   4.00%   4.00%   4.00%

Net periodic pension cost for the fiscal year:

      

Discount rate

   5.75%   6.00%   6.25%

Weighted average expected long-term rate of return on plan assets

   8.00%   8.00%   8.00%

Weighted average rate of compensation increase

   4.00%   4.00%   4.00%

Measurement date

   Nov. 30   Nov. 30   Nov. 30

 

The Company anticipates changing the measurement date to its fiscal year end date in fiscal 2008.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Cash Flows

 

In Thousands     

Anticipated future pension benefit payments reflecting expected future service for the fiscal years:

  

2007

   $ 5,148

2008

     5,570

2009

     5,917

2010

     6,560

2011

     7,143

2012—2016

     46,931

 

There is no minimum actuarial required contribution for the two Company-sponsored pension plans in 2007.

 

Plan Assets

 

The Company’s pension plans target asset allocation for 2007, actual asset allocation at December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006 and the expected weighted average long-term rate of return by asset category were as follows:

 

    

Target
Allocation

2007

   

Percentage of Plan
Assets at Fiscal Year-End

   

Weighted Average
Expected Long-Term

 Rate of Return—2006 

 
       2006     2005    

U.S. large capitalization equity securities

   40 %   47 %   46 %   4.0 %

U.S. small/mid-capitalization equity securities

   10 %   5 %   5 %   .5 %

International equity securities

   15 %   15 %   15 %   1.5 %

Debt securities

   35 %   33 %   34 %   2.0 %
                        

Total

   100 %   100 %   100 %   8.0 %
                        

 

The investments in the Company’s pension plans include U.S. equities, international equities and debt securities. All of the plan assets are invested in institutional investment funds managed by professional investment advisors. The objective of the Company’s investment philosophy is to earn the plans’ targeted rate of return over longer periods without assuming excess investment risk. The general guidelines for plan investments include 30%—50% in large capitalization equity securities, 0%—20% in U.S. small and mid-capitalization equity securities, 0%—20% in international equity securities and 10%—50% in debt securities. The Company currently has 67% of its plan investments in equity securities and 33% in debt securities.

 

U.S. large capitalization equity securities include domestic based companies that are generally included in common market indices such as the S&P 500™ and the Russell 1000™. U.S. small and mid-capitalization equity securities include small domestic equities as represented by the Russell 2000™ index. International equity securities include companies from developed markets outside of the United States. Debt securities at December 31, 2006 are comprised of investments in two institutional bond funds with a weighted average duration of approximately three years.

 

The weighted average expected long-term rate of return of plan assets of 8% was used in determining both net periodic pension cost in both 2006 and 2005. This rate reflects an estimate of long-term future returns for the pension plan assets. This estimate is primarily a function of the asset classes (equities versus fixed income) in

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

which the pension plan assets are invested and the analysis of past performance of these asset classes over a long period of time. This analysis includes expected long-term inflation and the risk premiums associated with equity investments and fixed income investments.

 

The Company also participates in various multi-employer pension plans covering certain employees who are part of collective bargaining agreements. Total pension expense for multi-employer plans in 2006, 2005 and 2004 was $1.4 million, $1.4 million and $1.3 million, respectively.

 

401(k) Plan

 

The Company provides a 401(k) Savings Plan for substantially all of its employees who are not part of collective bargaining agreements. Under provisions of the 401(k) Savings Plan, an employee is vested with respect to Company contributions upon the completion of two years of service with the Company. The total costs for this benefit in 2006, 2005 and 2004 were $4.7 million, $4.6 million and $4.3 million, respectively. In conjunction with the change to the principal Company-sponsored pension plan previously discussed, the Company’s Board of Directors also approved an amendment to the 401(k) Savings Plan to increase the Company’s matching contribution under the 401(k) Savings Plan effective January 1, 2007. The amendment to the 401(k) Savings Plan will provide for fully vested matching contributions equal to one hundred percent of a participant’s elective deferrals to the 401(k) Savings Plan up to a maximum of 5% of a participant’s eligible compensation.

 

Postretirement Benefits

 

The Company provides postretirement benefits for a portion of its current employees. 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 benefits in the future.

 

In October 2005, the Company changed certain provisions of its postretirement health care plan that reduced future benefit obligations to eligible participants. Subsequent to these changes, the Company’s expense and liability related to its postretirement health care plan was reduced.

 

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COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The following tables set forth a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the benefit obligation, a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the fair value of plan assets and funded status of the Company’s postretirement benefit plan:

 

     Fiscal Year  
     2006     2005  
In Thousands             

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 41,718     $ 53,356  

Service cost

     332       689  

Interest cost

     2,227       3,125  

Plan participants’ contributions

     595       789  

Actuarial loss (gain)

     (2,218 )     5,428  

Benefits paid

     (3,002 )     (3,514 )

Change in plan provisions

     —         (18,155 )

Medicare Part D subsidy reimbursement

     72       —    
                

Benefit obligation at end of year

   $ 39,724     $ 41,718  
                

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

   $ —       $ —    

Employer contributions

     2,335       2,725  

Plan participants’ contributions

     595       789  

Benefits paid

     (3,002 )     (3,514 )

Medicare Part D subsidy reimbursement

     72       —    
                

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

   $ —       $ —    
                

 

      Dec. 31, 2006     Jan. 1, 2006  
In Thousands             

Funded status of the plan

     (1 )   $ (41,718 )

Unrecognized net loss

     (1 )     25,855  

Unrecognized prior service cost and transition obligation

     (1 )     (19,932 )

Contributions between measurement date and fiscal year-end

   $ 635       818  

Benefit obligation

     (39,724 )     (1 )
                

Accrued liability

   $ (39,089 )   $ (34,977 )
                

Plan assets at fair value

   $ —       $ —    

Accrued liability at beginning of year

     (1 )     (33,215 )

Contribution during the year

     (1 )     2,761  

Net periodic postretirement benefit cost

     (1 )     (4,523 )

Current liabilities

     (2,778 )     (1 )

Noncurrent liabilities

     (36,311 )     (1 )
                

Accrued liability at end of year

   $ (39,089 )   $ (34,977 )
                

 

(1)

These disclosures are not applicable since SFAS No. 158 was effective at the end of fiscal 2006.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The components of net periodic postretirement benefit cost were as follows:

 

     Fiscal Year  
     2006     2005     2004  
In Thousands                   

Service cost

   $ 332     $ 689     $ 549  

Interest cost

     2,227       3,125       2,819  

Amortization of unrecognized transitional assets

     (25 )     (25 )     (25 )

Recognized net actuarial loss

     1,355       1,006       827  

Amortization of prior service cost

     (1,784 )     (272 )     (272 )
                        

Net periodic postretirement benefit cost

   $ 2,105     $ 4,523     $ 3,898  
                        

 

      2006     2005     2004  
Significant Assumptions Used                   

Benefit obligation at the measurement date:

      

Discount rate

   5.75 %   5.50 %   6.00 %

Net periodic postretirement benefit cost for the fiscal year:

      

Discount rate

   5.50 %   6.00 %   6.00 %

Measurement date

   Sept. 30     Sept. 30     Sept. 30  

 

The Company anticipates changing the measurement date to its fiscal year end date in fiscal 2008.

 

The weighted average health care cost trend used in measuring the postretirement benefit expense in 2006 was 9% graded down to an ultimate rate of 5% by 2011. The weighted average health care cost trend used in measuring the postretirement benefit expense in 2005 was 10% graded down to an ultimate rate of 5% by 2010. The weighted average health care cost trend used in measuring the postretirement benefit expense in 2004 was 10% graded down to an ultimate rate of 5% by 2009.

 

A 1% increase or decrease in this annual health care cost trend would have impacted the postretirement benefit obligation and service cost and interest cost of the Company’s postretirement benefit plan as follows:

 

In Thousands

   1% Increase    1% Decrease  

Increase (decrease) in:

     

Postretirement benefit obligation at December 31, 2006

   $ 4,423    $ (3,797 )

Service cost and interest cost in 2006

     342      (305 )

 

Cash Flows

 

In Thousands     

Anticipated future postretirement benefit payments reflecting expected future service for the fiscal years:

2007

   $ 2,627

2008

     2,753

2009

     2,862

2010

     2,931

2011

     2,977

2012—2016

     15,175

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Anticipated future postretirement benefit payments are shown net of Medicare Part D subsidy reimbursements which are not material.

 

The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income that have not yet been recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost at December 31, 2006 are as follows:

 

      Pension
Plans
   Postretirement
Medical
    Total  
In Thousands                  

Actuarial loss

   $ 40,885    $ 22,282     $ 63,167  

Prior service cost (credit)

     51      (18,000 )     (17,949 )

Transitional asset

     —        (123 )     (123 )
                       
   $ 40,936    $ 4,159     $ 45,095  
                       

 

The amounts of accumulated other comprehensive income that are expected to be recognized as components of net periodic cost during 2007 are as follows:

 

      Pension
Plans
   Postretirement
Medical
    Total  
In Thousands                  

Actuarial loss

   $ 2,490    $ 1,221     $ 3,711  

Prior service cost (credit)

     24      (1,784 )     (1,760 )

Transitional asset

     —        (25 )     (25 )
                       
   $ 2,514    $ (588 )   $ 1,926  
                       

 

18.     Related Party Transactions

 

The Company’s business consists primarily of the production, marketing and distribution of nonalcoholic beverages of The Coca-Cola Company, which is the sole owner of the secret formulas under which the primary components (either concentrate or syrup) of its soft drink products are manufactured. As of December 31, 2006, The Coca-Cola Company had a 27.3% interest in the Company’s total outstanding Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on a combined basis.

 

The following table summarizes the significant transactions between the Company and The Coca-Cola Company:

 

     Fiscal Year
     2006    2005    2004
In Millions               

Payments by the Company for concentrate, syrup, sweetener and other purchases

   $ 341.7    $ 333.4    $ 287.2

Less: marketing funding support payments to the Company

     22.9      19.6      31.3
                    

Payments by the Company net of marketing funding support

   $ 318.8    $ 313.8    $ 255.9

Payments by the Company for customer marketing programs

   $ 46.6    $ 45.2    $ 39.3

Payments by the Company for cold drink equipment parts

     6.0      3.8      4.0

Fountain delivery and equipment repair fees paid to the Company

     8.8      8.1      7.6

Presence marketing support provided by The Coca-Cola Company on the Company’s behalf

     4.2      6.4      6.3

Sale of energy products to The Coca-Cola Company

     40.9      27.9      .6

 

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COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The Company received proceeds in 2005 as a result of a settlement of a class action lawsuit known as In re: High Fructose Corn Syrup Antitrust Litigation Master File No. 95-1477 in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. The lawsuit related to purchases of high fructose corn syrup by several companies, including The Coca-Cola Company and its subsidiaries, The Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Association and various Coca-Cola bottlers, during the period from July 1, 1991 to June 30, 1995. The Company recognized the proceeds received of $7.0 million as a reduction of cost of sales in 2005.

 

Marketing funding support in the first quarter of 2004 included favorable nonrecurring items of approximately $2 million for certain customer-related marketing programs between the Company and The Coca-Cola Company.

 

The Company has a production arrangement with CCE to buy and sell finished products at cost. Sales to CCE under this agreement were $56.5 million, $46.6 million and $26.2 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Purchases from CCE under this arrangement were $15.7 million, $17.2 million and $19.0 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The Coca-Cola Company has significant equity interests in the Company and CCE. As of December 31, 2006, CCE held 10.5% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock but held no shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock, giving CCE a 7.6% interest in the Company’s total outstanding Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on a combined basis.

 

Along with all the other Coca-Cola bottlers in the United States, the Company is a member in Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Sales and Services Company, LLC (“CCBSS”), which was formed in 2003 for the purposes of facilitating various procurement functions and distributing certain specified beverage products of The Coca-Cola Company with the intention of enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of the Coca-Cola bottling system in the United States. CCBSS negotiated the procurement for the majority of the Company’s raw materials (excluding concentrate) in 2006, 2005 and 2004. The Company paid $.3 million, $.2 million and $.4 million to CCBSS for its share of CCBSS’ administrative costs in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Amounts due from CCBSS for rebates on raw material purchases were $2.9 million and $2.5 million as of December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006, respectively. CCE is also a member of CCBSS.

 

The Company provides a portion of the finished products for Piedmont at cost and receives a fee for managing the operations of Piedmont pursuant to a management agreement. The Company sold product at cost to Piedmont during 2006, 2005 and 2004 totaling $77.1 million, $65.9 million and $77.2 million, respectively. The Company received $21.7 million, $21.1 million and $20.8 million for management services pursuant to its management agreement with Piedmont for 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The Company provides financing for Piedmont at the Company’s average cost of funds plus 0.50%. As of December 31, 2006, the Company had loaned $89.5 million to Piedmont. The loan was amended on August 25, 2005 to extend the maturity date from December 31, 2005 to December 31, 2010 on terms comparable to the previous loan. The Company also subleases various fleet and vending equipment to Piedmont at cost. These sublease rentals amounted to $8.0 million, $8.6 million and $8.7 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions between the Company and Piedmont have been eliminated.

 

The Company’s Snyder Production Center (“SPC”) in Charlotte, North Carolina, is leased from Harrison Limited Partnership One (“HLP”) pursuant to a ten-year lease that expires on December 31, 2010. HLP’s sole limited partner is a trust of which J. Frank Harrison III, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is a trustee. The annual base rent the Company is obligated to pay for its lease of this property is subject to adjustment for an inflation factor and for increases or decreases in interest rates, using LIBOR as the measurement device. The Company recorded a capital lease of $41.6 million in 2002 related to this lease as the Company received a renewal option to extend the term of the lease, which it expects to exercise. The principal balance outstanding under this capital lease as of December 31, 2006 was $39.1 million.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The minimum rentals and contingent rental payments that relate to this lease were as follows:

 

     Fiscal Year  
     2006     2005     2004  
In Millions                   

Minimum rentals

   $ 4.5     $ 4.3     $ 4.3  

Contingent rentals

     (.5 )     (.9 )     (1.5 )
                        

Total rental payments

   $ 4.0     $ 3.4     $ 2.8  
                        

 

The contingent rentals in 2006, 2005 and 2004 reduce the minimum rentals as a result of changes in interest rates, using LIBOR as the measurement device. Increases or decreases in lease payments that result from changes in the interest rate factor are recorded as adjustments to interest expense.

 

On June 1, 1993, the Company entered into a lease agreement with Beacon Investment Corporation (“Beacon”) related to the Company’s headquarters office facility. Beacon’s sole shareholder is J. Frank Harrison, III. On January 5, 1999, the Company entered into a new ten-year lease agreement with Beacon which included the Company’s headquarters office facility and an adjacent office facility. On March 1, 2004, the Company recorded a capital lease of $32.4 million related to these facilities when the Company received a renewal option to extend the term of the lease. On December 18, 2006, the Company modified the lease agreement (effective January 1, 2007) with Beacon related to the Company’s headquarters office facility which expires in December 2021. The modified lease would not have changed the classification of the existing lease had it been in effect on March 1, 2004 when the lease was capitalized and did not extend the term of the lease (remaining lease term was reduced from 21 years to 15 years). Accordingly, the present value of the leased property under capital lease and capital lease obligations was adjusted by an amount equal to the difference between the future minimum lease payments under the modified lease agreement and the present value of the existing obligation on the commencement date of the modified lease (January 1, 2007). The principal balance outstanding as of December 31, 2006 was $30.7 million. The capital lease obligation and leased property under capital leases was increased by $5.1 million on January 1, 2007. The principal balance outstanding as of January 1, 2007 was $35.8 million. The annual base rent the Company is obligated to pay under the modified lease is subject to adjustment for increases in the Consumer Price Index. The prior lease annual base rent was subject to adjustment for increases in the Consumer Price Index and for increases or decreases in interest rates using the adjusted Eurodollar Rate as the measurement device.

 

The minimum rentals and contingent rental payments that relate to this lease were as follows:

 

     Fiscal Year  
     2006    2005    2004  
In Millions                 

Minimum rentals

   $ 3.2    $ 3.2    $ 3.2  

Contingent rentals

     .6      .1      (.3 )
                      

Total rental payments

   $ 3.8    $ 3.3    $ 2.9  
                      

 

The contingent rentals in 2006 and 2005 that relate to this lease increase minimum rentals as a result of changes in the Consumer Price Index partially offset by decreases in interest rates. The contingent rentals in 2004 reduce minimum rentals as a result of changes in interest rates partially offset by increases in the Consumer Price Index. Increases or decreases in lease payments that result from changes in the Consumer Price Index or changes in the interest rate factor are recorded as adjustments to interest expense beginning in March 2004.

 

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The Company is a shareholder in two cooperatives from which it purchases substantially all of its requirements for plastic bottles. Net purchases from these entities were $70.0 million, $69.2 million and $59.3 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. In conjunction with its participation in one of these cooperatives, the Company has guaranteed a portion of the cooperative’s debt. Such guarantee amounted to $23.2 million as of December 31, 2006. Additionally, the Company has recorded a capital investment of $2.3 million in one of these cooperatives as of December 31, 2006.

 

The Company is a member of SAC, a manufacturing cooperative. SAC sells finished products to the Company and Piedmont at cost. Purchases from SAC by the Company and Piedmont for finished products were $133 million, $127 million and $108 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The Company manages the operations of SAC pursuant to a management agreement. Management fees earned from SAC were $1.6 million, $1.5 million and $1.6 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The Company has also guaranteed a portion of debt for SAC. Such guarantee was $19.7 million as of December 31, 2006.

 

In May 2000, the Company entered into a five-year consulting agreement with Reid M. Henson. Mr. Henson served as a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1983 to May 2000. Payments in 2005, and 2004 related to the consulting agreement totaled $145,833 and $350,000, respectively.

 

In March 2005, the Company entered into a two-year consulting agreement with Robert D. Pettus, Jr. Mr. Pettus served as an officer of the Company in various capacities from 1984 and is currently the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company. Mr. Pettus received $350,000 per year plus additional benefits as described in the consulting agreement during the term of this consulting agreement.

 

In June 2005, the Company entered into a two-year consulting agreement with David V. Singer. Mr. Singer served the Company as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer until his resignation on May 11, 2005. The Company agreed to waive the 50% reduction in Mr. Singer’s accrued benefits under the Company’s Officer Retention Plan due to the termination of his employment before age 55. Under the consulting agreement, Mr. Singer agreed to certain non-compete restrictions for a five-year period following his resignation.

 

19.    Net Sales by Product Category

 

Net sales by product category were as follows:

 

     Fiscal Year
     2006    2005    2004
In Thousands               

Product Category

        

Bottle/can sales:

        

Carbonated beverages (including energy products)

   $ 1,021,508    $ 1,004,664    $ 971,719

Noncarbonated beverages

     182,124      167,715      150,199
                    

Total bottle/can sales

     1,203,632      1,172,379      1,121,918
                    

Other sales:

        

Sales to other bottlers

     152,426      134,656      73,805

Post-mix

     74,947      73,137      71,504
                    

Total other sales

     227,373      207,793      145,309
                    

Total net sales

   $ 1,431,005    $ 1,380,172    $ 1,267,227
                    

 

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20.    Net Income Per Share

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic net income per share and diluted net income per share under the two-class method. See Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information related to net income per share.

 

     Fiscal Year
     2006    2005    2004
In Thousands (Except Per Share Data)               

Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock and Class B Common Stock share:

        

Net income

   $ 23,243    $ 22,951    $ 21,848

Less dividends:

        

Common Stock

     6,643      6,643      6,642

Class B Common Stock

     2,460      2,441      2,421
                    

Total undistributed earnings

   $ 14,140    $ 13,867    $ 12,785
                    

Common Stock undistributed earnings—basic

   $ 10,319    $ 10,142    $ 9,371

Class B Common Stock undistributed earnings—basic

     3,821      3,725      3,414
                    

Total undistributed earnings

   $ 14,140    $ 13,867    $ 12,785
                    

Numerator for basic net income per Common Stock share

   $ 16,962    $ 16,785    $ 16,013
                    

Numerator for basic net income per Class B Common Stock share

   $ 6,281    $ 6,166    $ 5,835
                    

Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share:

        

Dividends on Common Stock

   $ 6,643    $ 6,643    $ 6,642

Dividends on Class B Common Stock assumed converted to Common Stock

     2,460      2,441      2,421

Common Stock undistributed earnings—diluted

     14,140      13,867      12,785
                    

Numerator for diluted net income per Common Stock share

   $ 23,243    $ 22,951    $ 21,848
                    

Numerator for diluted net income per Class B Common Stock share:

        

Dividends on Class B Common Stock

   $ 2,460    $ 2,441    $ 2,421

Class B Common Stock undistributed earnings—diluted

     3,840      3,725      3,414
                    

Numerator for diluted net income per Class B Common Stock share

   $ 6,300    $ 6,166    $ 5,835
                    

Denominator for basic net income per Common Stock and Class B Common Stock share:

        

Common Stock weighted average shares outstanding—basic

     6,643      6,643      6,643

Class B Common Stock weighted average shares outstanding—basic

     2,460      2,440      2,420

Denominator for diluted net income per Common Stock and Class B Common Stock share:

        

Common Stock weighted average shares outstanding—diluted (assumes conversion of Class B Common Stock to Common Stock)

     9,120      9,083      9,063

Class B Common Stock weighted average shares outstanding—diluted

     2,477      2,440      2,420

Net income per share—basic:

        

Common Stock

   $ 2.55    $ 2.53    $ 2.41
                    

Class B Common Stock

   $ 2.55    $ 2.53    $ 2.41
                    

Net income per share—diluted:

        

Common Stock

   $ 2.55    $ 2.53    $ 2.41
                    

Class B Common Stock

   $ 2.54    $ 2.53    $ 2.41
                    

 

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COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTES TO TABLE

 

(1) For purposes of the diluted net income per share computation for Common Stock, shares of Class B Common Stock are assumed to be converted; therefore, 100% of undistributed earnings is allocated to Common Stock.

 

(2) For purposes of the diluted net income per share computation for Class B Common Stock, weighted average shares of Class B Common Stock are assumed to be outstanding for the entire period and not converted.

 

(3) Denominator for diluted net income per share for Common Stock and Class B Common Stock for 2006 includes the diluted effect of shares relative to the restricted stock award.

 

21.    Risks and Uncertainties

 

Approximately 90% of the Company’s bottle/can sales volume to retail customers are products of The Coca-Cola Company, which is the sole supplier of the concentrates or syrups required to manufacture these products. The remaining 10% of the Company’s bottle/can sales volume to retail customers are products of other beverage companies. The Company has bottling contracts under which it has various requirements to meet. Failure to meet the requirements of these bottling contracts could result in the loss of distribution rights for the respective product.

 

The Company’s products are sold and distributed directly by its employees to retail stores and other outlets. During 2006, approximately 68% of the Company’s bottle/can sales volume to retail customers was sold for future consumption. The remaining bottle/can sales volume to retail customers of approximately 32% was sold for immediate consumption. The Company’s largest customers, Wal-Mart and Food Lion, LLC, accounted for approximately 16% and 12% of the Company’s total bottle/can sales volume to retail customers during 2006, respectively. Wal-Mart accounted for approximately 11% of the Company’s total net sales.

 

The Company currently obtains all of its aluminum cans from one domestic supplier. The Company currently obtains all of its plastic bottles from two domestic cooperatives.

 

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 pension liability.

 

Approximately 7% of the Company’s labor force is currently covered by collective bargaining agreements. Two collective bargaining contracts covering less than 1% of the Company’s employees expire during 2007.

 

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22.    Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information

 

Changes in current assets and current liabilities affecting cash were as follows:

 

     Fiscal Year  
     2006     2005     2004  
In Thousands                   

Accounts receivable, trade, net

   $ 3,277     $ (12,540 )   $ 186  

Accounts receivable from The Coca-Cola Company

     (2,196 )     4,330       11,063  

Accounts receivable, other

     (177 )     (1,751 )     1,026  

Inventories

     (8,822 )     (9,347 )     (1,597 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (4,806 )     618       (1,429 )

Accounts payable, trade

     8,717       4,344       (8,504 )

Accounts payable to The Coca-Cola Company

     6,232       (2,707 )     6,443  

Other accrued liabilities

     1,738       22,366       (14,916 )

Accrued compensation

     1,562       2,064       (1,986 )

Accrued interest payable

     338       (3,335 )     475  
                        

(Increase) decrease in current assets less current liabilities

   $ 5,863     $ 4,042     $ (9,239 )
                        

 

Cash payments for interest and income taxes were as follows:

 

     Fiscal Year
     2006    2005    2004
In Thousands               

Interest

   $ 50,843    $ 51,663    $ 44,123

Income taxes (net of refunds)

     17,213      11,183      3,381

 

23.    New Accounting Pronouncements

 

Recently Adopted Pronouncements

 

In September 2006, FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Pension and Other Postretirement Plans.” This SFAS required the following for defined pension and other postretirement plans:

 

(1) Recognition in the statement of financial position of the overfunded or underfunded status of the plans.

 

(2) Recognition as a component of other comprehensive income, net of tax, the actuarial gains and losses and the prior service costs and credits that arise during the period but are not recognized as components of net periodic benefit costs.

 

(3) Recognition as an adjustment to retained earnings, net of tax, any remaining transition asset or transition obligation.

 

(4) Measurement of defined benefit plan assets and obligations as of the date of the employer’s statement of financial position.

 

(5) Disclosure of additional information in the notes to the consolidated financial statements about certain effects on periodic benefit costs in the upcoming fiscal year that arise from delayed recognition of the actuarial gains and losses and the prior service costs and credits.

 

The Statement was effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2006, except for the requirement that the benefit plan assets and obligations be measured as of the date of the employer’s statement of financial

 

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position, which is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. The impact of the adoption of this Statement was to increase the Company’s pension and postretirement liabilities by $4.2 million with a corresponding adjustment to other comprehensive loss, net of tax effect, of $1.6 million. See Note 17 of the consolidated financial statements for additional information.

 

The SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108 (“SAB 108”) in September 2006. SAB 108 expresses the views of the SEC staff regarding the process of quantifying the materiality of financial misstatements. SAB 108 requires both the balance sheet and income statement approaches be used when quantifying the materiality of misstatement amounts. In addition, SAB 108 contains guidance on correcting errors under the dual approach and provides transition guidance for correcting errors existing in prior years. SAB 108 was effective in the Company’s fourth quarter of 2006. The adoption of SAB 108 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment.” This Statement is a revision of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” and was effective as of the beginning of 2006. This Statement requires public companies to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of an equity instrument based on the grant-date fair value of the award. The adoption of this Statement did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.

 

Recently Issued Pronouncements

 

In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments—an amendment of SFAS No. 133 and 140.” This Statement simplifies accounting for certain hybrid financial instruments, eliminates the interim guidance in Statement 133 Implementation Issue No. D1, “Application of Statement 133 to Beneficial Interest in Securitized Financial Assets,” and eliminates a restriction of the passive derivative instruments that a qualifying special-purpose entity may hold. The Statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2006. The adoption of this Statement is not anticipated to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In June 2006, FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” This Interpretation clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized by prescribing a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Interpretation also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods and disclosure. The Interpretation is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company is in the process of determining the impact of this Interpretation on the consolidated financial statements.

 

In September 2006, FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” This Statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The Statement does not require any new fair value measurements but could change the current practice in measuring current fair value measurements. The Statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is in the process of determining the impact of this Statement on the consolidated financial statements.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

24.    Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

 

Set forth below are unaudited quarterly financial data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006.

 

      Quarter

Year Ended December 31, 2006

   1    2    3    4
In Thousands (Except Per Share Data)                    

Net sales

   $ 333,179    $ 386,624    $ 370,626    $ 340,576

Gross margin

     146,026      167,689      157,389      151,475

Net income

     815      8,887      4,941      8,600

Basic net income per share:

           

Common Stock

     .09      .98      .54      .94

Class B Common Stock

     .09      .98      .54      .94

Diluted net income per share:

           

Common Stock

     .09      .98      .54      .94

Class B Common Stock

     .09      .97      .54      .94
     Quarter

Year Ended January 1, 2006

   1    2    3    4
In Thousands (Except Per Share Data)                    

Net sales

   $ 309,185    $ 361,224    $ 362,046    $ 347,717

Gross margin

     139,534      166,365      161,140      151,872

Net income

     719      11,519      8,792      1,921

Basic net income per share:

           

Common Stock

     .08      1.27      .97      .21

Class B Common Stock

     .08      1.27      .97      .21

Diluted net income per share:

           

Common Stock

     .08      1.27      .97      .21

Class B Common Stock

     .08      1.27      .97      .21

 

Sales are seasonal, with the highest sales volume occurring in May, June, July and August.

 

25.    Subsequent Events

 

On February 2, 2007, the Company initiated plans to simplify its operating management structure and reduce its workforce in order to improve operating efficiencies across the Company’s business. The Company believes these changes will allow it to better compete in the marketplace. The Company anticipates the completion of these plans prior to the end of February 2007. As a result of these plans, the Company estimates incurring $1.5 million to $2.0 million for one-time termination benefits and $1.0 million to $1.5 million for other associated costs, primarily relocation expenses for certain employees, in connection with these changes. In total, the Company estimates incurring $2.5 million to $3.5 million related to these changes. Further, the Company estimates that $1.0 million to $2.0 million of the charges identified above will result in cash expenditures subsequent to the first quarter of 2007 and anticipates substantially all of the cash expenditures occurring prior to 2007 fiscal year end.

 

On March 8, 2007, the Company entered into a new $200 million revolving credit facility, replacing its $100 million facility. The new facility matures in March 2012 and includes an option to extend the term for an

 

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additional year at the discretion of the participating banks. The facility bears interest at a floating base rate or a floating rate of LIBOR plus an interest rate spread of .35%. In addition, there is a fee of .10% required for this facility. Both the interest rate spread and the facility fee are determined from a commonly-used pricing grid based on the Company’s long-term senior unsecured debt rating. The facility contains similar financial covenants as the previous $100 million facility. The two financial covenants are related to ratio requirements for interest coverage and long-term debt to cash flow, each as defined in the credit agreement.

 

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Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Management of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated (the “Company”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with the U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that:

 

(i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect transactions and dispositions of assets of the Company;

 

(ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the directors of the Company; and

 

(iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect all misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate due to changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

As of December 31, 2006, management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the framework established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this assessment, management determined that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006 is effective.

 

Management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report appearing on pages 98 and 99, which expresses unqualified opinions on management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting and on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006.

 

March 13, 2007

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated:

 

We have completed integrated audits of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated’s December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006 consolidated financial statements and of its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Our opinions, based on our audits, are presented below.

 

Consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the accompanying index appearing under Item 15(a)(1) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2006, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2006 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index appearing under Item 15(a)(2) presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. These financial statements and the financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and the financial statement schedule based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit of financial statements 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 our opinion.

 

As discussed in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for pension and postretirement benefits in 2006.

 

Internal control over financial reporting

 

Also, in our opinion, management’s assessment, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing on page 97, that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006 based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on those criteria. Furthermore, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the COSO. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on management’s assessment and on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We conducted our audit of internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. An audit of internal control over financial reporting includes obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we consider necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.

 

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A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

/s/ PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

Charlotte, North Carolina

March 13, 2007

 

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The financial statement schedule required by Regulation S-X is set forth in response to Item 15 below.

 

The supplementary data required by Item 302 of Regulation S-K is set forth in Note 24 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 9A.    Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)) pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) of the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective for the purpose of providing reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed in the reports the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

 

See page 97 for “Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.” See pages 98 and 99 for the “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.”

 

There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2006 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 9B.    Other Information

 

Not applicable.

 

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PART III

 

Item 10.    Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 

For information with respect to the executive officers of the Company, see “Executive Officers of the Company” included as a separate item at the end of Part I of this Report. For information with respect to the Directors of the Company, see the “Proposal 1: Election of Directors” section of the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is incorporated herein by reference. For information with respect to Section 16 reports, see the Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” section of the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is incorporated herein by reference. For information with respect to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, see the “Corporate Governance—The Audit Committee” section of the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers, which is intended to qualify as a “code of ethics” within the meaning of Item 406 of Regulation S-K of the Exchange Act (the “Code of Ethics”). The Code of Ethics applies to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer; Chief Operating Officer; Chief Financial Officer; Vice President, Controller; Vice President, Treasurer and any other person performing similar functions. The Code of Ethics is available on the Company’s website at www.cokeconsolidated.com. The Company intends to disclose any substantive amendments to, or waivers from, its Code of Ethics on its website or in a report on Form 8-K.

 

Item 11.    Executive Compensation

 

For information with respect to executive and director compensation, see the “Executive Compensation,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation,” “Compensation Committee Report” and “Director Compensation” sections of the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

 

For information with respect to security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management, see the “Principal Stockholders” and “Beneficial Ownership of Management” sections of the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which are incorporated herein by reference. For information with respect to securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans, see the “Equity Compensation Plan Information” section of the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

 

For information with respect to certain relationships and related transactions, see the “Certain Transactions” section of the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is incorporated herein by reference. For certain information with respect to director independence, see the disclosures in the “Corporate Governance” section of the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders regarding director independence, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 14.    Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

For information with respect to principal accountant fees and services, see the “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” section of the Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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PART IV

 

Item 15.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

(a) List of documents filed as part of this report.

 

  1. Financial Statements

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

  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

 

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Exhibit Index

 

Number

  

Description

  

Incorporated by Reference

or Filed Herewith

(3.1)

   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.   

Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended

June 29, 2003 (File No. 0-9286).

(3.2)

   Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company.   

Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended

June 29, 2003 (File No. 0-9286).

(4.1)

   Specimen of Common Stock Certificate.   

Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement (File No. 2-97822) on Form S-1

as filed on May 31, 1985 (File No. 0-9286).

(4.2)

   Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 3, 1995, between the Company and Citibank, N.A. (as successor to National Bank of Georgia, National Association, the initial trustee).    Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2002 (File No. 0-9286).

(4.3)

   Form of the Company’s 6.85% Debentures due 2007.   

Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K

for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2002 (File No. 0-9286).

(4.4)

   Form of the Company’s 7.20% Debentures due 2009.   

Exhibit 4.6 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K

for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2002 (File No. 0-9286).

(4.5)

   Form of the Company’s 6.375% Debentures due 2009.    Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 4, 1999 (File No. 0-9286).

(4.6)

   Form of the Company’s 5.00% Senior Notes due 2012.   

Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K

filed on November 21, 2002
(File No. 0-9286).

(4.7)

   Form of the Company’s 5.30% Senior Notes due 2015.   

Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K

filed on March 27, 2003
(File No. 0-9286).

(4.8)

   5.00% Senior Note due 2016.   

Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 2, 2005

(File No. 0-9286).

 

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Number

  

Description

  

Incorporated by Reference

or Filed Herewith

(4.9)

   Second Amended and Restated Promissory Note, dated as of August 25, 2005, by and between the Company and Piedmont Coca-Cola Bottling Partnership.   

Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 2, 2005

(File No. 0-9286).

(4.10)

   The registrant, by signing this report, agrees to furnish the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon its request, a copy of any instrument which defines the rights of holders of long-term debt of the registrant and its consolidated subsidiaries which authorizes a total amount of securities not in excess of 10 percent of the total assets of the registrant and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.   

(10.1)

   Stock Rights and Restrictions Agreement, dated January 27, 1989, by and between the Company and The Coca-Cola Company.    Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2002
(File No. 0-9286).

(10.2)

   Example of bottling franchise agreement between the Company
and The Coca-Cola Company.
   Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2002
(File No. 0-9286).

(10.3)

   Lease, dated as of January 1, 1999, by and between the Company and the Ragland Corporation.    Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000
(File No. 0-9286).

(10.4)

   Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2000, between the Company and Harrison Limited Partnership One.    Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000
(File No. 0-9286).

(10.5)

   Lease Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2000, between the Company and Harrison Limited Partnership One.    Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000
(File No. 0-9286).

(10.6)

   Partnership Agreement of Carolina Coca-Cola Bottling Partnership,* dated as of July 2, 1993, by and among Carolina Coca-Cola Bottling Investments, Inc., Coca-Cola Ventures, Inc., Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Affiliated, Inc., Fayetteville Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Palmetto Bottling Company.    Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2002
(File No. 0-9286).

(10.7)

   Management Agreement, dated as of July 2, 1993, by and among the Company, Carolina Coca-Cola Bottling Partnership,* CCBC of Wilmington, Inc., Carolina Coca-Cola Bottling Investments, Inc., Coca-Cola Ventures, Inc. and Palmetto Bottling Company.    Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2002
(File No. 0-9286).

 

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Number

  

Description

  

Incorporated by Reference

or Filed Herewith

(10.8)

   First Amendment to Management Agreement (relating to the Management Agreement designated as Exhibit 10.7 of this Exhibit Index) dated as of January 1, 2001.    Exhibit 10.14 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000
(File No. 0-9286).

(10.9)

   Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement, effective as of July 15, 1993, for the benefit of Southeastern Container, Inc.    Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2002
(File No. 0-9286).

(10.10)

   Management Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2004, by and among CCBCC Operations LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and South Atlantic Canners, Inc.    Exhibit 10.11 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 27, 2004 (File No. 0-9286).

(10.11)

   Agreement, dated as of March 1, 1994, between the Company and South Atlantic Canners, Inc.    Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2002
(File No. 0-9286).

(10.12)

   Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement, dated, as of May 18, 2000, between the Company and Wachovia Bank of North Carolina, N.A.   

Exhibit 10.17 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2001

(File No. 0-9286).

(10.13)

   Guaranty Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2001, between the Company and Wachovia, N.A.   

Exhibit 10.18 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2001

(File No. 0-9286).

(10.14)

   Description of the Company's 2006 Bonus Plan.**   

Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 28, 2006

(File No. 0-9286).

(10.15)

   Transfer and Assumption of Liabilities Agreement, dated December 19, 1996, by and between CCBCC, Inc., (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) and Piedmont Coca-Cola Bottling Partnership.    Exhibit 10.17 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2002
(File No. 0-9286).

(10.16)

   Lease Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2006, between CCBCC Operations, LLC (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) and Beacon Investment Company.    Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 21, 2006.
(File No. 0-9286).

 

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Number

  

Description

  

Incorporated by Reference

or Filed Herewith

(10.17)

   Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated Director Deferral Plan, effective January 1, 2005.**   

Exhibit 10.17 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year

ended January 1, 2006
(File No. 0-9286).

(10.18)

   Restricted Stock Award to J. Frank Harrison, III (effective January 4, 1999).**   

Annex A to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 1999 Annual Meeting

(File No. 0-9286).

(10.19)

   Supplemental Savings Incentive Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2005, between Eligible Employees of the Company and the Company.**   

Exhibit 10.19 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K

for the fiscal year ended
January 1, 2006
(File No. 0-9286).

(10.20)

   Officer Retention Plan (ORP), as amended and restated effective January 1, 2005, between Eligible Employees of the Company and the Company.**   

Exhibit 10.20 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K

for the fiscal year ended
January 1, 2006
(File No. 0-9286).

(10.21)

   Master Amendment to Partnership Agreement, Management Agreement and Definition and Adjustment Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2002, by and among Piedmont Coca-Cola Bottling Partnership, The Coca-Cola Company and the Company.   

Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K

dated January 14, 2002
(File No. 0-9286).

(10.22)

   First Amendment to Lease (relating to the Lease Agreement designated as Exhibit 10.3 of this Exhibit Index) and First Amendment to Memorandum of Lease, dated as of August 30, 2002, between Ragland Corporation and the Company.    Exhibit 10.33 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2002
(File No. 0-9286).

(10.23)

   Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Sales & Services Company, LLC, dated as of December 11, 2002, by and between Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Sales & Services Company, LLC and Consolidated Beverage Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.   

Exhibit 10.35 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2002

(File No. 0-9286).

(10.24)

   Form of Amended and Restated Split-Dollar and Deferred Compensation Replacement Benefit Agreement, effective as of January 1, 2005, between the Company and Eligible Employees of the Company.**   

Exhibit 10.24 to the Company’s Annual Report of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2006

(File No. 0-9286).

(10.25)

   Fourth Amendment to Partnership Agreement, dated as of March 28, 2003, by and among Piedmont Coca-Cola Bottling Partnership, Piedmont Partnership Holding Company and Coca-Cola Ventures, Inc.   

Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 30, 2003

(File No. 0-9286).

 

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Number

  

Description

  

Incorporated by Reference

or Filed Herewith

(10.26)

   Amendment to Officer Retention Plan Agreement by and between the Company and David V. Singer, effective as of January 12, 2004.**   

Exhibit 10.31 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K

for fiscal year ended

December 28, 2003

(File No. 0-9286).

(10.27)

   Life Insurance Benefit Agreement, effective as of December 28, 2003, by and between the Company and Jan M. Harrison, Trustee under the J. Frank Harrison, III 2003 Irrevocable Trust, John R. Morgan, Trustee under the Harrison Family 2003 Irrevocable Trust, and J. Frank Harrison, III.**   

Exhibit 10.37 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K

for the fiscal year ended
December 28, 2003
(File No. 0-9286).

(10.28)

   Consulting Agreement, effective as of March 1, 2005, between the Company and Robert D. Pettus, Jr.**   

Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K

filed on March 4, 2005
(File No. 0-9286).

(10.29)

   U.S. $100,000,000 Credit Agreement, dated as of April 7, 2005, among the Company, the banks named therein and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.   

Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K

filed on April 12, 2005
(File No. 0-9286).

(10.30)

   Consulting Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2005, between the Company and David V. Singer.   

Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K

filed on June 3, 2005

(File No. 0-9286).

(10.31)

   Form of Split-dollar Deferred Compensation Replacement Benefit Agreement Election Form and Agreement Amendment, effective as of June 20, 2005, between the Company and certain executive officers of the Company.   

Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K

filed on June 24, 2005
(File No. 0-9286).

(12)

   Ratio of earnings to fixed charges    Filed herewith.

(21.1)

   List of subsidiaries.    Filed herewith.

(23.1)

   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm to Incorporation by reference into Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-54657) and Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-71003).    Filed herewith.

(31.1)

   Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002.    Filed herewith.

(31.2)

   Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002.    Filed herewith.

(32)

   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.    Filed herewith.

 

* 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 15(c) of this report.

 

(b) Exhibits.

 

See Item 15(a)3

 

(c) Financial Statement Schedules.

 

See Item 15(a)2

 

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Schedule II

 

COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

 

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES

 

(IN THOUSANDS)

 

Description

   Balance at
Beginning
of Year
   Additions
Charged to
Costs and
Expenses
   Deductions    Balance
at End
of Year

Allowance for doubtful accounts:

           

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2006

   $ 1,318    $ 314    $ 298    $ 1,334
                           

Fiscal year ended January 1, 2006

   $ 1,678    $ 1,315    $ 1,675    $ 1,318
                           

Fiscal year ended January 2, 2005

   $ 1,723    $ 339    $ 384    $ 1,678
                           

 

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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 14, 2007   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.

 

    

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

By:

  

/s/    J. FRANK HARRISON, III        

J. Frank Harrison, III

 

Chairman of the Board of Directors,
Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

March 14, 2007

By:

  

/s/    H. W. MCKAY BELK        

H. W. McKay Belk

 

Director

 

March 14, 2007

By:

  

/s/    SHARON A. DECKER        

Sharon A. Decker

 

Director

 

March 14, 2007

By:

  

/s/    WILLIAM B. ELMORE        

William B. Elmore

 

President, Chief Operating Officer
and Director

 

March 14, 2007

By:

  

/s/    JAMES E. HARRIS        

James E. Harris

 

Director

 

March 14, 2007

By:

  

/s/    DEBORAH S. HARRISON        

Deborah S. Harrison

 

Director

 

March 14, 2007

By:

  

/s/    NED R. MCWHERTER        

Ned R. McWherter

 

Director

 

March 14, 2007

By:

  

/s/    JOHN W. MURREY, III        

John W. Murrey, III

 

Director

 

March 14, 2007

By:

  

/s/    ROBERT D. PETTUS, JR.        

Robert D. Pettus, Jr.

 

Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director

 

March 14, 2007

By:

  

/s/    CARL WARE        

Carl Ware

 

Director

 

March 14, 2007

By:

  

/s/    DENNIS A. WICKER        

Dennis A. Wicker

 

Director

 

March 14, 2007

By:

  

/s/    STEVEN D. WESTPHAL        

Steven D. Westphal

 

Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

 

March 14, 2007

By:

  

/s/    WILLIAM J. BILLIARD        

William J. Billiard

 

Vice President, Controller and
Chief Accounting Officer

 

March 14, 2007

 

109