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Exhibit 99.1

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news
release

 

 

Media Relations Department
P.O. Drawer 1734, Atlanta, GA 30301
Telephone (404) 676-2121

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

 

 

CONTACT:

 

Media:

 

Ben Deutsch
(404) 676-2683

 

 

 

 

Investors:

 

Larry M. Mark
(404) 676-8054


THE COCA-COLA COMPANY REPORTS
RECORD EARNINGS PER SHARE
OF $1.77 FOR THE YEAR, VERSUS $1.23 IN THE PRIOR YEAR

        ATLANTA, Feb. 11, 2004 — The Coca-Cola Company reported today full year 2003 record results in earnings per share, revenues, cash from operations and unit case sales.

        Doug Daft, chairman and chief executive officer, said, "Our strategy is being well-executed, and our results encourage us now to strive to higher levels of achievement as we continue to create increasing value for our share owners, customers, consumers, and bottling partners."

Financial Highlights


 
  Income (Expense) Per Share
 
 
  Fourth Quarter
  Full Year
 
 
  2003
  2002
  2003
  2002
 
Items Impacting Results:                          
  Streamlining Initiatives   ( $0.08 )       ( $0.15 )      
  Non-Cash Charges — Primarily Related to Investments in Latin America               ( $0.05 ) ( $0.07 )
  Gain on Litigation Settlement                 $0.01        
  Gain on Sale of Kaiser                       $0.01  
  Cumulative Effect of Adopting SFAS 142 — Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets                     ( $0.37 )
   
 
 
 
 
    ( $0.08 ) $ 0.00   ( $0.18 )* ( $0.43 )
   
 
 
 
 

*
Per share amounts do not add due to rounding.

Net operating revenues increased 8 percent during the year to $21.0 billion.

Operating income for the year was $5.2 billion, which included $573 million of Other Operating Charges related primarily to streamlining initiatives, and $399 million related to stock-based compensation expense.

Fourth quarter and full year results benefited from a lower than anticipated tax rate resulting from the resolution of various tax matters during the fourth quarter of 2003.

Cash from operations for the year increased 15 percent to $5.5 billion and the Company expects strong cash flows to continue in the future.

The Company repurchased approximately $1.5 billion of its common stock during 2003 and intends to increase its share repurchase activity in 2004 to at least $2 billion.

Increased equity income during the year demonstrated the results of strategies that are leading to improved health throughout the worldwide Coca-Cola bottling system.

Operational Highlights

North America

2


Europe, Eurasia and Middle East

3


Asia

Latin America

4


Africa

Financial Review

Operating Results

        Revenues for the year increased 8 percent, reflecting an increase in gallon shipments of 3 percent, improving pricing of concentrate, and positive currency trends, partially offset by the impact of creating a supply chain management company in Japan. Gallon shipments also increased 3 percent during the fourth quarter. The following reflects net operating revenues from the Company's operations:

 
  Fourth Quarter
  Full Year
(in millions)

  2003
  2002
  2003
  2002
Company Operations, Excluding Bottling   $ 4,483   $ 4,242   $ 18,236   $ 17,163
Company-Owned Bottling Operations     693     553     2,808     2,401
   
 
 
 
Consolidated Net Operating Revenues   $ 5,176   $ 4,795   $ 21,044   $ 19,564
   
 
 
 

5


        Cost of goods sold for the year increased at a rate greater than revenues, reflecting the consolidation of lower margin bottling operations and the inclusion of the Evian and Danone water transactions, partially offset by the gain related to a litigation settlement.

        Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 7 percent during the year reflecting investments in marketing, the impact of exchange, increased stock option expenses, increases related to structural changes, and the Evian and Danone water transactions, partially offset by the tight management of operating expenses.

        Reported operating income for the year declined 4 percent, which included the negative impact of the other operating charges, increased stock-based compensation expense and the positive effect of a first quarter litigation settlement.

        Currencies positively impacted operating income in the year by approximately 2 percent, as a result of the strength in the Euro, partially offset by less attractive year-over-year hedge rates on the Japanese Yen and weakness in Latin American currencies. For the quarter, currencies benefited operating income by approximately 5 percent.

        Equity income for the year increased 6 percent to $406 million, which included a third quarter charge related to the write-down of assets in Latin America by an equity investee.

Effective Tax Rate

        The reported effective tax rate for the fourth quarter was 17.5 percent. Excluding the tax effect of the streamlining initiatives, the effective tax rate was below the previously anticipated rate of 22 percent because of the favorable resolution of various tax matters during the quarter (approximately $50 million), partially offset by additional taxes primarily related to the repatriation of funds. During the quarter, the favorable resolution of tax matters provided an opportunity for the Company to repatriate additional funds back to the United States. The lower than anticipated tax rate benefited the Company by approximately $0.01 per share in the quarter.

        The reported effective tax rate for the year was 20.9 percent reflecting the impact of higher tax rates related to the streamlining initiatives, the impact of the third quarter charge related to the write down of assets in Latin America by an equity investee, benefits associated with various tax resolutions during the year, and additional taxes related to the repatriation of funds. The effective tax rate for the full year also benefited from strong profit contributions from lower taxed locations where currencies had a favorable impact.

        Looking into next year and for the foreseeable future, based on current tax laws, the Company's effective tax rate on operations is expected to be approximately 25.5 percent.

Streamlining Initiatives

        Throughout 2003, the Company took steps to streamline and simplify its operations. In North America, the Company integrated the operations of its three separate North American business units—Coca-Cola North America, Minute Maid, and Fountain. In Germany, Coca-Cola Erfrischungsgetraenke AG (CCEAG) took steps to improve its efficiency in sales, distribution and manufacturing. Selected other operations also took steps to streamline their operations to improve overall efficiency and effectiveness. These initiatives resulted in a fourth quarter charge of $289 million pre-tax ($197 million after-tax or $0.08 per share) and a full year charge of $561 million pre-tax ($374 million after-tax or $0.15 per share).

6



Creation of a Supply Chain Management Company in Japan

        Effective October 1, 2003, the Company and all of its bottling partners in Japan created a nationally integrated supply chain management company to centralize procurement, production, and logistics operations for the entire Coca-Cola system in Japan. The resources generated from this effort will be invested in marketing activities and customer service programs to enhance the long-term growth of the Coca-Cola system in Japan.

        As a result of the creation of the supply chain management company in Japan, a portion of The Coca-Cola Company's business has essentially been converted from a finished product business model to a concentrate business model. This will continue to affect the comparison of certain line items of the Company's income statement over the next three quarters, but will not impact the Company's underlying operating income.

        In the fourth quarter of 2003, the shift of certain products to a concentrate business model resulted in a reduction of revenues and cost of goods sold for the same amount, thus having no impact on the Company's gross profit or operating profit levels. In addition, over the next three quarters, net operating revenues and cost of goods sold are both expected to be reduced by approximately $750 million when compared to the first three quarters of the previous year.

Conference Call

        The Company will host a conference call with financial analysts to discuss the full year 2003 results on February 11, 2004, at 9:00 a.m. (EST). The Company invites investors to listen to the live audiocast of the conference call at the Company's website, www.coca-cola.com in the "investors" section. Further, the "investors" section of the Company's website includes a disclosure and reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures that may be used periodically by management when discussing the Company's financial results with investors and analysts.

7


THE COCA-COLA COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Income
(UNAUDITED)
(In millions, except per share data)

 
  Three Months Ended
December 31,

 
 
  2003
  2002
  % Change
 
Net Operating Revenues   $ 5,176   $ 4,795   8  
Cost of goods sold     1,850     1,701   9  
   
 
     
Gross Profit     3,326     3,094   7  
Selling, general and administrative expenses     1,945     1,804   8  
Other operating charges     289        
   
 
     
Operating Income     1,092     1,290   (15 )
Interest income     38     53   (28 )
Interest expense     48     43   12  
Equity income     81     34   138  
Other income (loss) — net     (39 )   (61 )  
   
 
     
Income Before Income Taxes     1,124     1,273   (12 )
Income taxes     197     343   (43 )
   
 
     
Net Income   $ 927   $ 930   0  
   
 
     
Diluted Net Income Per Share*   $ 0.38   $ 0.38   0  
   
 
     
Average Shares Outstanding — Diluted*     2,452     2,478   (1 )
   
 
     

*
For the fourth quarter, "Basic Net Income Per Share" was $0.38 for 2003 and $0.38 for 2002 based on "Average Shares Outstanding — Basic" of 2,449 and 2,474 for 2003 and 2002, respectively.

8


THE COCA-COLA COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Income
(UNAUDITED)
(In millions, except per share data)

 
  FULL YEAR
 
 
  2003
  2002
  % Change
 
Net Operating Revenues   $ 21,044   $ 19,564   8  
Cost of goods sold     7,762     7,105   9  
   
 
     
Gross Profit     13,282     12,459   7  
Selling, general and administrative expenses     7,488     7,001   7  
Other operating charges     573        
   
 
     
Operating Income     5,221     5,458   (4 )
Interest income     176     209   (16 )
Interest expense     178     199   (11 )
Equity income     406     384   6  
Other income (loss) — net     (138 )   (353 )  
Gains on issuances of stock by equity investees     8        
   
 
     
Income Before Income Taxes and Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change     5,495     5,499   0  

Income taxes

 

 

1,148

 

 

1,523

 

(25

)
   
 
     
Net Income Before Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change     4,347     3,976   9  
   
 
     
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of income taxes                  
  SFAS 142: Company operations         (367 )  
                     Equity investees         (559 )  
   
 
     
Net Income   $ 4,347   $ 3,050   43  
   
 
     
Diluted Net Income Per Share Before Cumulative Effect   $ 1.77   $ 1.60   11  
   
 
     
Diluted Net Income Per Share*   $ 1.77   $ 1.23   44  
   
 
     
Average Shares Outstanding — Diluted*     2,462     2,483   (1 )
   
 
     

*
For the year, "Basic Net Income Per Share" was $1.77 for 2003 and $1.23 for 2002 based on "Average Shares Outstanding — Basic" of 2,459 and 2,478 for 2003 and 2002, respectively.

Note: Certain amounts previously reported in the Company's 2003 Quarterly Consolidated Statements of Income were reclassified to conform to the Company's year-end 2003 presentation.

9


THE COCA-COLA COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(UNAUDITED)
(In millions, except share data)

Assets

 
  December 31, 2003
  December 31, 2002
Current Assets            
  Cash and cash equivalents   $ 3,362   $ 2,260
  Marketable securities     120     85
   
 
      3,482     2,345
  Trade accounts receivable, less allowances of $61 in 2003 and $55 in 2002     2,091     2,097
  Inventories     1,252     1,294
  Prepaid expenses and other assets     1,571     1,616
   
 
Total Current Assets     8,396     7,352
   
 
Investments and Other Assets            
  Equity method investments            
    Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc.     1,260     972
    Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company S.A.     941     872
    Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A. de C.V.     674     347
    Coca-Cola Amatil Limited     652     492
    Other, principally bottling companies     1,697     2,054
  Cost method investments, principally bottling companies     314     254
  Other assets     3,322     2,694
   
 
      8,860     7,685
   
 
Property, Plant and Equipment            
  Land     419     385
  Building and improvements     2,615     2,332
  Machinery and equipment     6,159     5,888
  Containers     429     396
   
 
      9,622     9,001
  Less allowances for depreciation     3,525     3,090
   
 
      6,097     5,911
   
 
Trademarks With Indefinite Lives     1,979     1,724
Goodwill     1,029     876
Other Intangible Assets     981     858
   
 
    $ 27,342   $ 24,406
   
 

10


THE COCA-COLA COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(UNAUDITED)
(In millions, except share data)

Liabilities and Share-Owners' Equity

 
  December 31, 2003
  December 31, 2002
 
Current Liabilities              
  Accounts payable and accrued expenses   $ 4,058   $ 3,692  
  Loans and notes payable     2,583     2,475  
  Current maturities of long-term debt     323     180  
  Accrued income taxes     922     994  
   
 
 
Total Current Liabilities     7,886     7,341  
   
 
 
Long-Term Debt     2,517     2,701  
   
 
 
Other Liabilities     2,512     2,260  
   
 
 
Deferred Income Taxes     337     304  
   
 
 
Share-Owners' Equity              
  Common Stock, $.25 par value
Authorized: 5,600,000,000 shares
Issued: 3,494,799,258 shares in 2003; 3,490,818,627 shares in 2002
    874     873  
  Capital surplus     4,395     3,857  
  Reinvested earnings     26,687     24,506  
  Accumulated other comprehensive income     (1,995 )   (3,047 )
   
 
 
      29,961     26,189  
  Less treasury stock, at cost (1,053,267,474 shares in 2003; 1,019,839,490 shares in 2002)     15,871     14,389  
   
 
 
      14,090     11,800  
   
 
 
    $ 27,342   $ 24,406  
   
 
 

11


THE COCA-COLA COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(UNAUDITED)
(In millions)

 
  Full Year
 
 
  2003
  2002
 
Operating Activities              
  Net income   $ 4,347   $ 3,050  
  Depreciation and amortization     850     806  
  Stock-based compensation expense     422     365  
  Deferred income taxes     (188 )   40  
  Equity income or loss, net of dividends     (294 )   (256 )
  Foreign currency adjustments     (79 )   (76 )
  Gains on issuances of stock by equity investees     (8 )    
  (Gains) losses on sales of assets     (5 )   3  
  Cumulative effect of accounting change         926  
  Other operating charges     330      
  Other items     249     291  
  Net change in operating assets and liabilities     (168 )   (407 )
   
 
 
    Net cash provided by operating activities     5,456     4,742  
   
 
 
Investing Activities              
  Acquisitions and investments, principally trademarks and bottling companies     (359 )   (544 )
  Purchases of investments and other assets     (177 )   (141 )
  Proceeds from disposals of investments and Other assets     147     243  
  Purchases of property, plant and equipment     (812 )   (851 )
  Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment     87     69  
  Other investing activities     178     159  
   
 
 
    Net cash used in investing activities     (936 )   (1,065 )
   
 
 
Financing Activities              
  Issuances of debt     1,026     1,622  
  Payments of debt     (1,119 )   (2,378 )
  Issuances of stock     98     107  
  Purchases of stock for treasury     (1,440 )   (691 )
  Dividends     (2,166 )   (1,987 )
   
 
 
    Net cash used in financing activities     (3,601 )   (3,327 )
   
 
 
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents     183     44  
   
 
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents              
  Net increase during the year     1,102     394  
  Balance at beginning of year     2,260     1,866  
   
 
 
    Balance at end of year   $ 3,362   $ 2,260  
   
 
 

12


THE COCA-COLA COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Operating Segments
(In millions)

 
  2003
  2002
 
 
  Net Operating
Revenues

  Operating
Income (1)(2)

  Income before
income taxes
and cumulative
effect of
accounting
change (1)(2)

  Net Operating
Revenues

  Operating
Income (2)

  Income before
income taxes
and cumulative
effect of
accounting
change (2)

 
North America   $ 6,344   $ 1,198   $ 1,242   $ 6,264   $ 1,494   $ 1,515  
Africa     827     249     249     684     224     187  
Asia     5,052     1,690     1,740     5,054     1,820     1,848  
Europe, Eurasia & Middle East     6,556     1,908     1,921     5,262     1,612     1,540  
Latin America     2,042     970     975     2,089     1,033     1,081  
Corporate     223     (794 )   (632 )   211     (725 )   (672 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated   $ 21,044   $ 5,221   $ 5,495   $ 19,564   $ 5,458   $ 5,499  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
Operating income and Income before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change include the "other operating charges" of $573 million, primarily related to streamlining initiatives that were taken during the year. The allocation of these charges to individual operating segments is as follows: $273 million for North America, $12 million for Africa, $18 million for Asia, $183 million for Europe, Eurasia & Middle East, $20 million for Latin America, and $67 million for Corporate.

(2)
Operating income and Income before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change include the impact of adopting the fair value method of accounting for stock-based compensation under SFAS No. 123. The full-year impact was a non-cash expense for 2003 of $399 million pre-tax, or $0.13 per share after tax, as compared to an amount in 2002 of $373 million pre-tax, or $0.11 per share after tax. The impact on individual operating segment results is as follows:

 
  2003
  2002
North America   $ 127   $ 119
Africa     26     24
Asia     55     51
Europe, Eurasia & Middle East     54     51
Latin America     24     22
Corporate     113     106
   
 
Consolidated   $ 399   $ 373
   
 

13


The Coca-Cola Company
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2003
Unit Case Volume Results

 
  Unit Case Volume
(% Change)

 
  2003 vs. 2002
 
  Fourth Quarter
  Full Year
Worldwide   3   4
International Operations   4   5
  Africa   10   5
  Asia   3   4
  Europe, Eurasia and Middle East   5   5
  Latin America   2   4
North America Operations   1   2

14


The Coca-Cola Company

        The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's best-known brand, The Coca-Cola Company markets four of the world's top five soft drink brands, including diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light soft drinks, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees and sports drinks. Through the world's largest distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1 billion servings each day. For more information about The Coca-Cola Company, please visit our website at www.coca-cola.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, changes in economic and political conditions; changes in the nonalcoholic beverages business environment, including actions of competitors and changes in consumer preferences; product boycotts; foreign currency and interest rate fluctuations; adverse weather conditions; the effectiveness of our advertising and marketing programs; fluctuations in the cost and availability of raw materials; our ability to achieve earnings forecasts; regulatory and legal changes; our ability to penetrate developing and emerging markets; litigation uncertainties; and other risks discussed in our Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "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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THE COCA-COLA COMPANY REPORTS RECORD EARNINGS PER SHARE OF $1.77 FOR THE YEAR, VERSUS $1.23 IN THE PRIOR YEAR