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): December 21, 1999 THE COCA-COLA COMPANY (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 001-02217 58-0628465 (State or other (Commission (IRS Employer jurisdiction File Number) Identification No.) of incorporation) One Coca-Cola Plaza Atlanta, Georgia 30313 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (404)676-2121 Item 5. Other Events On December 21, 1999, Standard & Poor's lowered its ratings for The Coca-Cola Company, among other entities, as described in a press release of Standard & Poor's attached as Exhibit 99. Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits (c) Exhibits: 99 Press release of Standard & Poor's issued December 21, 1999 - 2 - 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. THE COCA-COLA COMPANY (REGISTRANT) Date: December 21, 1999 By:/s/ Gary P. Fayard -------------------------- Gary P. Fayard Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - 3 - Exhibit Index Exhibit No. ----------- 99 Press release of Standard & Poor's issued December 21, 1999