The Board of Directors of The Coca-Cola Company Announces Quarterly Dividend
Elects Carletta Ooton as Vice President and Gloria Bowden as Secretary
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Board of Directors of The Coca-Cola Company today approved the quarterly dividend of 44 cents per common share. The dividend is payable July 1, 2010, to shareowners of record as of June 15, 2010.
In February, the Board of Directors of The Coca-Cola Company approved the Company's 48th consecutive annual dividend increase, raising the quarterly dividend approximately 7 percent from 41 cents to 44 cents per common share. This is equivalent to an annual dividend of $1.76 per share, up from $1.64 per share in 2009. The dividend reflects the Board's confidence in the Company's long-term cash flow.
The Company returned $5.3 billion to shareowners in 2009, through $3.8 billion in dividends and $1.5 billion in share repurchases.
The Board also elected Carletta Ooton as vice president and Gloria Bowden as secretary of the Company and associate general counsel.
As chief quality and product integrity officer, Ooton has overarching accountability for the policies and standards, audits, analytical services, performance measures and operations support delivered by the Global Quality organization. She joined The Coca-Cola Company in 2006.
Ooton holds dual bachelor's degrees in biological sciences and chemistry, as well as a master's degree in microbiology from Southern Illinois University.
In her role as secretary and associate general counsel, Bowden oversees planning for Board meetings, ensures the Board and Company are in compliance with legal and corporate governance requirements, and monitors regulatory and legislative developments impacting the Company. She joined the Company in 1999 and has served as assistant secretary since October 2009. Bowden holds a bachelor's degree in public policy from Duke University and earned her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio includes 12 other billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply and Georgia Coffee. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.
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Source: The Coca-Cola Company
Released April 22, 2010