The Board of Directors of The Coca-Cola Company today approved the
Company's 52nd consecutive annual dividend increase, raising the
quarterly dividend 9 percent from 28 cents to 30.5 cents per common
share. This is equivalent to an annual dividend of $1.22 per share, up
from $1.12 per share in 2013. The first quarterly dividend is payable
April 1, 2014, to shareowners of record as of March 14, 2014.
The increase reflects the Board's confidence in the Company's long-term
cash flow.
The Coca-Cola Company returned $9.8 billion to shareowners in 2013,
through $5.0 billion in dividends and $4.8 billion in gross share
repurchases, bringing to $34.7 billion the amount returned to
shareowners through dividends and share repurchases since Jan. 1, 2010.
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage
company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still
brands. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and
recognizable brands, our Company's portfolio features 17 billion-dollar
brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater,
Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are
the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and
juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage
distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our
beverages at a rate of 1.9 billion servings a day. With an enduring
commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused
on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active,
healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our
associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities
where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the
world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system
associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com,
follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo,
visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com
or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.
Copyright Business Wire 2014