The Coca-Cola Company Plans Two-for-One Stock Split
The board of The Coca-Cola Company has recommend a two-for-one stock split to shareowners. The split would be the 11th in the stock’s 92-year history and the first in 16 years.
“Our recommended two-for-one stock split reflects the board of directors’ continued confidence in the long-term growth and financial performance of our company,” explains Muhtar Kent, chairman and chief executive of The Coca-Cola Company. “Our system’s 2020 Vision to double our revenues over this decade provides a clear roadmap for creating value for our consumers, customers, bottling partners and shareowners. A stock split reflects our desire to share value with an ever-growing number of people and organisations around the world.”
Implementation of the stock split is subject to approval by shareowners of an increase in the number of authorised shares of the company’s common stock from 5.6 billion to 11.2 billion. These matters will be voted on at a special shareowners meeting anticipated to be held on July 10, 2012. If approved, the record date for the split is expected to be on or about July 27, 2012. Each shareowner of record on the close of business on the record date will receive one additional share of common stock for each share held. The new shares are expected to be distributed on or about August 10, 2012.
The Coca-Cola Company’s common stock began trading in 1919. Since its original listing, the stock has split 10 times – first in 1927 and most recently in 1996. With all dividends reinvested annually, one share of common stock purchased for $40 in 1919 would be worth approximately $9.8 million today. During the same time, The Coca-Cola Company’s market value has grown from approximately $20 million to more than $165 billion.
Earlier this year, the company also announced its 50th consecutive annual dividend increase, raising the quarterly dividend 8.5% from 47 to 51 cents per common share. This is equivalent to an annual dividend of $2.04 per share, up from $1.88 per share in 2011. The increase builds on the $8.6 billion the company returned to shareowners in 2011 through $4.3 billion in dividends and $4.3 billion in share repurchases.
