Exhibit
99.4
Media
Relations
Department
P.O. Box
1734, Atlanta, Georgia 30301
Telephone
(404)
676-2121
FOR
IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Contact: Ben
Deutsch
(404)
676-2683
THE
COCA-COLA COMPANY CLOSES ACQUISITION OF GLACÉAU,
MAKER
OF VITAMINWATER
ATLANTA,
June 7, 2007 – The Coca-Cola Company today announced that it has closed
its previously announced acquisition of Energy Brands, Inc., known as glacéau,
and its full range of fast-growing, enhanced water brands, including
vitaminwater. Glacéau will now operate as a separate business unit of
Coca-Cola North America, giving it a strong platform from which to accelerate
its growth in active lifestyle beverages.
“This
acquisition fits perfectly within our focus on our North American business
and
our belief that, alongside our sparkling beverage leadership, an expanded active
lifestyle business will greatly enhance our still beverage line-up,” said Muhtar
Kent, president and chief operating officer, The Coca-Cola
Company. “We’re pleased to have closed the transaction, and now we
are moving full speed ahead to fully leverage glacéau’s growth potential, first
in the United States and then around the world.”
Today’s
closing of the acquisition follows the expiration of the waiting period under
the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and the satisfaction of other customary closing
conditions.
About
The Coca-Cola Company
The
Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with
Coca-Cola®, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company markets
four of the world's top five nonalcoholic sparkling beverage brands, including
Diet Coke®, Fanta® and Sprite®, and a wide range of other beverages, including
diet and light beverages, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees, energy
and sports drinks.
Through
the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200
countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1.4 billion servings
each day. For more information about The Coca-Cola Company, please visit our
website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.
About
glacéau
it
all
started when one thirsty man named darius wanted better water, but couldn’t find
any worth drinking, so he decided to make his own. along came a guy from queens
named mike (he’s like darius’ robin…but don’t tell him that) and because mike
has a gift for gab, it’s no wonder word got around, thus emerged glacéau, a
fresh new approach to bottled water. today glacéau, the creator and leader of
the enhanced water category, is the maker of vitaminwater®,
fruitwater®, smartwater® and
vitaminenergy™. now
with 1,000+ full and part-time employees,
(that’s a big holiday party) glacéau is all about helping thirsty people like
you hydrate responsibly with products that are free of sodium and artificial
ingredients. that means no artificial sweeteners, no artificial colors and
especially no artificial intelligence (never to be trusted). for more
information visit www.glaceau.com.
Forward-Looking
Statements
This
press
release may contain statements, estimates or projections that constitute
“forward-looking statements” as defined under U.S. federal securities laws.
Generally, the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,”
“project,” “will” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements,
which generally are not historical in nature. Forward-looking statements are
subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to
differ materially from The Coca-Cola Company’s historical experience and our
present expectations or projections. These risks include, but are not limited
to, obesity concerns; scarcity and quality of water; changes in the nonalcoholic
beverages business environment, including changes in consumer preferences based
on health and nutrition considerations and obesity concerns; shifting consumer
tastes and needs, changes in lifestyles and increased consumer information;
increased competition; our ability to expand our operations in emerging markets;
foreign currency and interest rate fluctuations; our ability to maintain good
relationships with our bottling partners; the financial condition of our
bottlers; our ability to maintain good labor relations, including our ability
to
renew collective bargaining agreements on satisfactory terms and avoid strikes
or work stoppages; increase in the cost of energy; increase in cost, disruption
of supply or shortage of raw materials; changes in laws and regulations relating
to beverage containers and packaging, including mandatory deposit, recycling,
eco-tax and/or product stewardship laws or regulations; adoption of significant
additional labeling or warning requirements; unfavorable economic and political
conditions in international markets, including civil
unrest and product boycotts; changes in commercial or market practices and
business model within the European Union; litigation uncertainties; adverse
weather conditions; our ability to maintain brand image and product quality
as
well as other product issues such as product recalls; changes in legal and
regulatory environments; changes in accounting standards and taxation
requirements; our ability to achieve overall long-term goals; our ability to
protect our information systems; additional impairment charges; our ability
to
successfully manage Company-owned bottling operations; global or regional
catastrophic events; and other risks discussed in our Company’s filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Annual Report on Form
10-K, which filings are available from the SEC. You should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they
are
made. The Coca-Cola Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statements.
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