Current Report

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 


 

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):

November 29, 2004

 


 

COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   0-9286   56-0950585

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

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)

 


 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 



Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On November 29, 2004, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated (the “Company”) issued its Report to Stockholders for the quarter ended September 26, 2004. A copy of the Report to Stockholders is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (c) Exhibits.

 

  99.1 Report to Stockholders for the period ended September 26, 2004.


Signatures

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: November 29, 2004

 

BY:

 

COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

(REGISTRANT)

 

/s/ David V. Singer

       
        David V. Singer
        Principal Financial Officer of the Registrant
        and
        Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC

 

EXHIBITS

 

CURRENT REPORT

ON

FORM 8-K

 

Date of Event Reported:

   Commission File No:

November 29, 2004

   0-9286

 

COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Exhibit Description


99.1   Report to Stockholders for the period ended September 26, 2004.
Quarterly Report to Stockholders

Exhibit 99.1

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Report to Stockholders: For the Period Ended September 26, 2004

 

Dear Stockholders:

 

Your Company reported net income for the third quarter of 2004 of $6.1 million or $.67 per share compared to net income of $13.8 million or $1.53 per share for the third quarter of 2003. Net income in the third quarter of 2003 reflected a net favorable adjustment to income tax expense of $4.6 million related to two nonrecurring items.

 

Overall financial results in the third quarter of 2004 were weak as net sales decreased by 1.3% due to a 3.8% decline in bottle/can volume offset somewhat by an increase of approximately 2.5% in average revenue per case. A combination of unseasonably cool weather in August, several tropical storms in September and less aggressive promotions by certain retailers led to soft sales in the third quarter. The Company’s immediate consumption business, which has higher margins than our future consumption business, declined by almost 5% in the recent quarter. Despite a modest increase in operating expenses of approximately 1% in the third quarter of 2004, operating profit declined in the quarter as a result of lower sales and the high fixed cost nature of our operations.

 

The Company continues to focus on reducing its debt through managing capital spending and working capital. Total debt and capital lease obligations at the end of the third quarter of 2004 was more than $80 million lower than at the end of the third quarter of 2003.

 

Product innovation of both brands and packages has been and will continue to be critical to overall volume growth. The Company introduced Coca-Cola C2, a mid-calorie product from The Coca-Cola Company, during June 2004 and diet Coke with Lime during the first quarter of 2004. For the first nine months of 2004, these two new brands represented approximately 2% of the Company’s bottle/can volume. During the first nine months of 2004, the Company’s diet carbonated soft drink portfolio grew by approximately 6% and the Company’s noncarbonated beverage portfolio also grew, with PowerAde volume increasing by approximately 23% and Dasani up by approximately 4%. The Company’s future success will be significantly impacted by product innovation and revenue management as it continues to strike an appropriate balance between net price realization and volume growth.

 

 

 

J. Frank Harrison, III

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

William B. Elmore

President and Chief Operating Officer

 

 

 

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

In Thousands

 

     Unaudited
Sept. 26,
2004


   Dec. 28,
2003


   Unaudited
Sept. 28,
2003


Assets

                    

Current Assets:

                    

Cash

   $ 7,895    $ 18,044    $ 18,280

Trade accounts receivable, net

     87,876      82,222      83,977

Accounts receivable, other

     15,401      28,775      29,086

Inventories

     51,725      36,891      41,156

Cash surrender value of life insurance, net

            27,765       

Other current assets

     7,948      6,981      7,121
    

  

  

Total current assets

     170,845      200,678      179,620
    

  

  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     421,883      446,708      457,097

Leased property under capital leases, net

     77,760      43,109      43,726

Other assets

     26,703      27,653      59,421

Franchise rights, net

     520,672      520,672      520,672

Goodwill, net

     102,049      102,049      102,049

Other identifiable intangible assets, net

     6,695      9,051      9,844
    

  

  

Total

   $ 1,326,607    $ 1,349,920    $ 1,372,429
    

  

  

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

                    

Current Liabilities:

                    

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 39    $ 78    $ 35,039

Current portion of obligations under capital leases

     1,797      1,337      1,430

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     157,707      132,904      143,912
    

  

  

Total current liabilities

     159,543      134,319      180,381
    

  

  

Deferred income taxes

     161,029      156,094      155,650

Other liabilities

     118,721      125,299      116,349

Obligations under capital leases

     79,643      44,226      44,491

Long-term debt

     703,039      802,639      785,078
    

  

  

Total liabilities

     1,221,975      1,262,577      1,281,949
    

  

  

Minority interest

     38,315      34,871      34,264

Stockholders’ equity

     66,317      52,472      56,216
    

  

  

Total

   $ 1,326,607    $ 1,349,920    $ 1,372,429
    

  

  


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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

In Thousands (Except Per Share Data)

 

     Third Quarter

   First Nine Months

     2004

   2003

   2004

   2003

Net sales

   $ 321,336    $ 325,637    $ 937,774    $ 919,002

Cost of sales, excluding depreciation expense shown below

     169,938      168,949      485,174      474,663
    

  

  

  

Gross margin

     151,398      156,688      452,600      444,339
    

  

  

  

Selling, delivery and administrative expenses, excluding depreciation expense shown below

     109,646      108,329      328,140      316,785

Depreciation expense

     17,795      18,956      53,108      57,253

Amortization of intangibles

     766      846      2,356      2,311
    

  

  

  

Income from operations

     23,191      28,557      68,996      67,990

Interest expense

     10,838      10,414      31,822      31,701

Minority interest

     1,346      1,432      3,444      2,690
    

  

  

  

Income before income taxes

     11,007      16,711      33,730      33,599

Income taxes

     4,899      2,865      14,204      6,446
    

  

  

  

Net income

   $ 6,108    $ 13,846    $ 19,526    $ 27,153
    

  

  

  

Basic net income per share

   $ .67    $ 1.53    $ 2.15    $ 3.00

Diluted net income per share

   $ .67    $ 1.53    $ 2.15    $ 3.00

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

     9,063      9,043      9,063      9,043

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — assuming dilution

     9,063      9,043      9,063      9,043

Cash dividends per share

                           

Common Stock

   $ .25    $ .25    $ .75    $ .75

Class B Common Stock

   $ .25    $ .25    $ .75    $ .75


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STOCKHOLDER INFORMATION

 

Corporate Address

 

The corporate office is located at 4100 Coca-Cola Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28211. The mailing address is Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, P.O. Box 31487, Charlotte, NC 28231.

 

Company Website

 

www.cokeconsolidated.com

 

Common Stock Listing

 

Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated is listed on the Nasdaq National Market System under the ticker symbol - COKE.

 

Stockholder Inquiries

 

The Company’s transfer agent is responsible for stockholder records, issuance of stock certificates and distribution of dividend payments and IRS Form 1099s. The transfer agent also administers plans for dividend reinvestment and direct deposit. Stockholder requests and inquiries concerning these matters are most efficiently answered by corresponding directly with Wachovia Bank, N.A., Attention: Corporate Trust Client Services NC-1153, 1525 West W.T. Harris Blvd. 3C3, Charlotte, NC 28288-1153. Communication may also be made by calling Toll Free (800) 829-8432, Local (704) 590-7375 or Fax (704) 590-7598.

 

Stockholder Reports

 

Additional copies of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) are available without charge upon written request to David V. Singer, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, P.O. Box 31487, Charlotte, NC 28231. These filings are also available on the Company’s website as well as on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

CAUTIONARY INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Report to Stockholders, as well as information included in, or incorporated by reference from, 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 the reduction of debt through management of capital spending and working capital; product innovation of both brands and packages critical to overall volume growth; and an ongoing focus and monitoring of the appropriate balance between net pricing and volume. These statements and expectations are based on the currently available competitive, financial and economic data along with the Company’s operating plans, and are subject to future events and uncertainties. Among the events or uncertainties which could adversely affect future periods are: lower than expected selling prices resulting from increased marketplace competition; an inability to meet performance requirements for expected levels of certain marketing funding support payments from The Coca-Cola Company or other beverage companies; changes in how significant customers market or promote our products; reduced advertising and marketing spending by The Coca-Cola Company or other beverage companies; an inability to meet requirements under bottling contracts; the inability of our aluminum can or PET bottle suppliers to meet our sales demand; significant changes from expectations in the cost of raw materials; higher than expected insurance premiums and fuel costs; lower than anticipated returns on pension plan assets; higher than anticipated health care costs; unfavorable interest rate fluctuations; higher than anticipated cash payments for income taxes; unfavorable weather conditions; significant changes in consumer preferences related to carbonated and noncarbonated soft drinks; inability to increase selling prices to offset higher raw material costs; reduced product innovation; significant changes in credit ratings impacting the Company’s ability to borrow; terrorist attacks, war or other civil disturbances; and changes in financial markets.