UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

☒  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018

Commission File Number 0-9286

 

COCA‑COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

4100 Coca‑Cola Plaza
Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(704) 557-4400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

 

 

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COCA‑COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2018

INDEX

 

 

 

 

 

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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

COCA‑COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

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COCA‑COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

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COCA‑COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

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COCA‑COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

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COCA‑COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

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COCA‑COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

1.Significant Accounting Policies and New Accounting Pronouncements

 

The consolidated condensed financial statements include the accounts of Coca‑Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated and its majority-owned subsidiaries (the “Company”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The consolidated condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments, including normal, recurring accruals, which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented:

 

 

The consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial reporting and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. The accounting policies followed in the presentation of interim financial results are consistent with those followed on an annual basis. These policies are presented in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10‑K for 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

The preparation of consolidated condensed financial statements, in conformity with GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Significant Accounting Policies

 

In the ordinary course of business, the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of results of operations and financial position in the preparation of its consolidated condensed financial statements in conformity with GAAP. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates under different assumptions and conditions. The Company included in its Annual Report on Form 10‑K for 2017 under the caption “Discussion of Critical Accounting Policies, Estimates and New Accounting Pronouncements” in Part II, “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” a discussion of the Company’s most critical accounting policies, which are those the Company believes to be the most important to the portrayal of its financial condition and results of operations and require management’s most difficult, subjective and complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Any changes in critical accounting policies and estimates are discussed with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company during the quarter in which a change is contemplated and prior to making such change.

 

Recently Adopted Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” (the “revenue recognition standard”). Subsequent to the issuance of ASU 2014‑09, the FASB issued several additional accounting standards for revenue recognition to update the effective date of the revenue recognition guidance and to provide additional clarification on the updated standard. The new guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted the revenue recognition standard in the first quarter of 2018, as discussed in Note 2.

 

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 “Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” which revises the classification and measurement of investments in equity securities and the presentation of certain fair value changes in financial liabilities measured at fair value. The new guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 31, 2017. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2018 and there was no material impact to the Company’s consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01 “Clarifying the Definition of a Business,” which clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. The new guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including

 

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interim periods within those periods. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2018 and there was no material impact to the Company’s consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04 “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment,” which simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating step 2 from the goodwill impairment test, which measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount. Under the new guidance, entities should instead perform annual or interim goodwill impairment tests by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognize an impairment charge for the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the respective reporting unit. The new guidance is effective for the annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2018 and there was no material impact to the Company’s consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017‑07 “Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost,” which requires that the service cost component of the Company’s net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost be included in the same line item as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by employees, with the non-service cost components of net periodic benefit cost being classified outside of a subtotal of income from operations. Of the components of net periodic benefit cost, only the service cost component is eligible for asset capitalization. The new guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 31, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2018 using the practical expedient which allows entities to use information previously disclosed in their pension and other postretirement benefit plans note as the estimation basis to apply the retrospective presentation requirements in ASU 2017-07.

 

With the adoption of this guidance in the first quarter of 2018, the Company recorded the non-service cost component of net periodic benefit cost, which totaled $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2018 and $2.0 million in the first three quarters of 2018, to other income (expense), net in the consolidated condensed statements of operations. The Company reclassified $1.3 million from the third quarter of 2017 and $4.0 million from the first three quarters of 2017 of non-service cost components of net periodic benefit cost and other benefit plan charges from selling, delivery and administrative (“S,D&A”) expenses to other income (expense), net in the consolidated condensed statements of operations. The non-service cost component of net periodic benefit cost is included in the Nonalcoholic Beverages segment.

 

Recently Issued Pronouncements

 

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018‑02 “Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income,” which provides the option to reclassify stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and can be early adopted. The Company is currently evaluating whether it will adopt this guidance.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 “Leases,” which requires lessees to recognize a right-to-use asset and a lease liability for virtually all leases (other than leases meeting the definition of a short-term lease). The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods beginning the following fiscal year. The Company anticipates adopting the new accounting standard on December 31, 2018, the first day of fiscal 2019, using the optional transition method, which was approved by the FASB in March 2018 and allows companies the option to use the effective date as the date of initial application on transition and to not adjust comparative period financial information or make the new required disclosures for periods prior to the effective date.

 

The Company has formed a project team, which is in the process of reviewing its existing lease portfolio, including certain service contracts for embedded leases, to determine the size of the Company’s lease portfolio in order to evaluate the impact of this new guidance on the Company’s consolidated condensed financial statements. The Company anticipates the impact of adopting this new guidance will be material to its consolidated condensed balance sheets. The impact on the Company’s consolidated condensed statements of operations is still being evaluated. As the impact of the new guidance is non-cash in nature, the Company does not anticipate the impact of adopting this new guidance will be material to its consolidated condensed statements of cash flows. Additionally, the Company is evaluating the impacts of ASU 2016‑02 beyond accounting, including system, data and process changes required to comply with this standard. The Company anticipates implementing new controls and utilizing a lease accounting software application with the adoption of this new guidance and on a go-forward basis in order to properly approve, track and account for its entire lease portfolio.

 

 

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2.Revenue Recognition

 

The Company adopted the revenue recognition standard, including all relevant amendments and practical expedients, in the first quarter of 2018 using the modified retrospective approach for all contracts not completed at the date of initial adoption, considering materiality and applicability. Upon adoption of this guidance, there was no material impact to the Company’s consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

The Company’s contracts are derived from customer orders, including customer sales incentives, generated through an order processing and replenishment model. The Company has defined its performance obligations for its contracts as either at a point in time or over time.

 

The Company offers a range of nonalcoholic beverage products and flavors designed to meet the demands of its consumers, including both sparkling and still beverages. Sparkling beverages are carbonated beverages and the Company’s principal sparkling beverage is Coca‑Cola. Still beverages include energy products and noncarbonated beverages such as bottled water, tea, ready to drink coffee, enhanced water, juices and sports drinks.

 

The Company’s products are sold and distributed through various channels, which include selling directly to retail stores and other outlets such as food markets, institutional accounts and vending machine outlets. During the first three quarters of 2018, approximately 66% of the Company’s bottle/can sales volume to retail customers was sold for future consumption, while the remaining bottle/can sales volume to retail customers was sold for immediate consumption. All the Company’s beverage sales were to customers in the United States. The Company typically collects payment from customers within 30 days from the date of sale.

 

The Company’s sales are divided into two main categories: (i) bottle/can sales and (ii) other sales. Bottle/can sales include products packaged primarily in plastic bottles and aluminum cans. Other sales include sales to other Coca‑Cola bottlers, “post-mix” products, transportation and equipment maintenance revenue. Post-mix products are dispensed through equipment that mixes fountain syrups with carbonated or still water, enabling fountain retailers to sell finished products to consumers in cups or glasses. Net sales by category were as follows:

 

 

Bottle/can sales represented approximately 83% and 84% in the first three quarters of 2018 and the first three quarters of 2017, respectively. The sparkling beverage category represented approximately 61% and 62% of total bottle/can sales during the first three quarters of 2018 and the first three quarters of 2017, respectively.

 

Bottle/can sales, sales to other Coca‑Cola bottlers and post-mix sales are recognized when control transfers to a customer, which is generally upon delivery and is considered a single point in time (“point in time”). Point in time sales accounted for approximately 97% of the Company’s net sales in both the first three quarters of 2018 and the first three quarters of 2017. Substantially all of the Company’s revenue is recognized at a point in time and is included in the Nonalcoholic Beverages segment.

 

Other sales, which include revenue for service fees related to the repair of cold drink equipment and delivery fees for freight hauling and brokerage services, are recognized over time (“over time”). Revenues related to cold drink equipment repair are recognized as the respective services are completed using a cost-to-cost input method. Repair services are generally completed in less than one day but can extend up to one month. Revenues related to freight hauling and brokerage services are recognized as the delivery occurs using a miles driven output method. Generally, delivery occurs and freight charges are recognized in the same day. Over time sales orders open at the end of a financial period are not considered material to the Company’s consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

 

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The Company participates in various sales programs with The Coca‑Cola Company, other beverage companies and customers to increase the sale of its products. Programs negotiated with customers include arrangements under which allowances can be earned for attaining agreed-upon sales levels. The cost of these various sales incentives are not considered a separate performance obligation and are included as deductions to net sales.

 

Revenues do not include sales or other taxes collected from customers.

 

The majority of the Company’s contracts include multiple performance obligations related to the delivery of specifically identifiable products, which generally have a duration of less than one year. For sales contracts with multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the contract’s transaction price to each performance obligation using stated contractual price, which represents the standalone selling price of each distinct good sold under the contract. Generally, the Company’s service contracts have a single performance obligation.

 

The following table represents a disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers:

 

 

The Company sells its products and extends credit, generally without requiring collateral, based on an ongoing evaluation of the customer’s business prospects and financial condition. The Company evaluates the collectability of its trade accounts receivable based on a number of factors, including the Company’s historic collections pattern and changes to a specific customer’s ability to meet its financial obligations. The Company has established an allowance for doubtful accounts to adjust the recorded receivable to the estimated amount the Company believes will ultimately be collected.

 

The nature of the Company’s contracts gives rise to several types of variable consideration, including prospective and retrospective rebates. The Company accounts for its prospective and retrospective rebates using the expected value method, which estimates the net price to the customer based on the customer’s expected annual sales volume projections.

 

The Company experiences customer returns primarily as a result of damaged or out-of-date product. At any given time, the Company estimates less than 1% of bottle/can sales and post-mix sales could be at risk for return by customers. The Company’s reserve for customer returns was $2.3 million as of September 30, 2018 and was included in the allowance for doubtful accounts in the consolidated condensed balance sheet. Returned product is recognized as a reduction of net sales.

 

3.Acquisitions and Divestitures

 

As part of The Coca‑Cola Company’s plans to refranchise its North American bottling territories, the Company and Piedmont Coca‑Cola Bottling Partnership, a partnership formed by the Company and The Coca‑Cola Company (“Piedmont”), completed a series of transactions from April 2013 to October 2017 with The Coca‑Cola Company, Coca‑Cola Refreshments USA, Inc. (“CCR”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Coca‑Cola Company and Coca‑Cola Bottling Company United, Inc. (“United”), an independent bottler that is unrelated to the Company, to significantly expand the Company’s distribution and manufacturing operations (the “System Transformation”). The System Transformation included the acquisition and exchange of rights to serve distribution territories and related distribution assets, as well as the acquisition and exchange of regional manufacturing facilities and related manufacturing assets.

 

A summary of the System Transformation transactions (the “System Transformation Transactions”) completed by the Company is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10‑K for 2017. Following is a summary of the System Transformation Transactions for which final post-closing adjustments were completed during the third quarter of 2018 in accordance with the terms

 

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and conditions of the applicable asset purchase agreement or asset exchange agreement for such transactions. As of September 30, 2018, the cash purchase prices or settlement amounts for all System Transformation Transactions have been resolved according to the terms of the transaction agreements. The post-closing adjustments made during the third quarter of 2018 resulted in a $10.2 million net adjustment to the gain on exchange transactions in the consolidated condensed statements of operations.

 

Acquisition of Arkansas Distribution Territories and Memphis, Tennessee and West Memphis, Arkansas Regional Manufacturing Facilities in exchange for the Company’s Deep South and Somerset Distribution Territories and Mobile, Alabama Manufacturing Facility (the “CCR Exchange Transaction”)

 

On October 2, 2017, the Company (i) acquired from CCR distribution rights and related assets in territories previously served by CCR through CCR’s facilities and equipment located in central and southern Arkansas and two regional manufacturing facilities located in Memphis, Tennessee and West Memphis, Arkansas and related manufacturing assets (collectively, the “CCR Exchange Business”) in exchange for which the Company (ii) transferred to CCR distribution rights and related assets in territories previously served by the Company through its facilities and equipment located in portions of southern Alabama, southeastern Mississippi, southwestern Georgia and northwestern Florida and in and around Somerset, Kentucky and a regional manufacturing facility located in Mobile, Alabama and related manufacturing assets (collectively, the “Deep South and Somerset Exchange Business”), pursuant to an asset exchange agreement entered into by the Company, certain of its wholly-owned subsidiaries and CCR on September 29, 2017.

 

At closing, the Company paid CCR $15.9 million toward the settlement amount for the CCR Exchange Transaction, representing an estimate of the difference between the value of the CCR Exchange Business acquired by the Company and the value of the Deep South and Somerset Exchange Business acquired by CCR. During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company recorded certain adjustments to this settlement amount as a result of changes in estimated net working capital and other fair value adjustments. The settlement amount was included in accounts payable to The Coca‑Cola Company in the consolidated condensed balance sheet as of December 31, 2017.

 

During the third quarter of 2018, all post-closing adjustments were finalized for the CCR Exchange Transaction, resulting in a final settlement amount for the CCR Exchange Transaction of $26.2 million. A net balance of $10.3 million related to the settlement amount for the CCR Exchange Transaction remained payable to CCR by the Company as of September 30, 2018. This balance was paid to CCR during the fourth quarter of 2018.

 

Acquisition of Memphis, Tennessee Distribution Territories (the “Memphis Transaction”)

 

On October 2, 2017, the Company acquired distribution rights and related assets in territories previously served by CCR through CCR’s facilities and equipment located in and around Memphis, Tennessee, including portions of northwestern Mississippi and eastern Arkansas (the “Memphis Territory”), pursuant to an asset purchase agreement entered by the Company and CCR on September 29, 2017 (the “September 2017 APA”). At closing, the Company paid CCR $39.6 million toward the purchase price for the Memphis Transaction. During the second and third quarters of 2018, all post-closing adjustments were finalized for the Memphis Transaction, resulting in a net increase of $2.6 million in the cash purchase price, which was paid to CCR during the third quarter of 2018.

 

Acquisition of Spartanburg and Bluffton, South Carolina Distribution Territories in exchange for the Company’s Florence and Laurel Territories and Piedmont’s Northeastern Georgia Territories (the “United Exchange Transaction”)

 

On October 2, 2017, the Company and Piedmont completed exchange transactions in which (i) the Company acquired from United distribution rights and related assets in territories previously served by United through United’s facilities and equipment located in and around Spartanburg, South Carolina and a portion of United’s territory located in and around Bluffton, South Carolina (collectively, the “United Distribution Business”) and Piedmont acquired from United similar rights, assets and liabilities, and working capital in the remainder of United’s Bluffton, South Carolina territory, in exchange for which (ii) the Company transferred to United distribution rights and related assets in territories previously served by the Company through its facilities and equipment located in parts of northwestern Alabama, south-central Tennessee and southeastern Mississippi previously served by the Company’s distribution centers located in Florence, Alabama and Laurel, Mississippi (collectively, the “Florence and Laurel Distribution Business”) and Piedmont transferred to United similar rights, assets and liabilities, and working capital of Piedmont’s in territory located in parts of northeastern Georgia (the “Northeastern Georgia Distribution Business”), pursuant to an asset exchange agreement between the Company, certain of its wholly-owned subsidiaries and United dated September 29, 2017 and an asset exchange agreement between Piedmont and United dated September 29, 2017.

 

At closing, the Company and Piedmont paid United $3.4 million toward the settlement amount for the United Exchange Transaction, representing an estimate of (i) the difference between the value of the United Distribution Business acquired by the Company and the value of the Florence and Laurel Distribution Business acquired by United, plus (ii) the difference between the value of the portion of

 

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the Bluffton, South Carolina territory acquired by Piedmont and the value of the Northeastern Georgia Distribution Business acquired by United. During the third quarter of 2018, all post-closing adjustments were finalized for the United Exchange Transaction, resulting in an increase of $2.8 million in the settlement amount, which was included in accounts payable, trade in the consolidated condensed balance sheet as of September 30, 2018. The Company anticipates this balance will be paid to United during the fourth quarter of 2018.

 

Collectively, the CCR Exchange Transaction, the Memphis Transaction and the United Exchange Transaction are the “October 2017 Transactions,” the CCR Exchange Business, the Memphis Territory and the United Distribution Business are the “October 2017 Acquisitions” and the Deep South and Somerset Exchange Business and the Florence and Laurel Distribution Business are the “October 2017 Divestitures.”

 

In addition to the October 2017 Transactions summarized above, the Company completed three additional System Transformation Transactions with CCR in 2017 for which all post-closing adjustments have been completed: (i) the acquisition from CCR of distribution rights and related assets for territories in Anderson, Fort Wayne, Lafayette, South Bend and Terre Haute, Indiana on January 27, 2017 (the “January 2017 Transaction”), (ii) the acquisition from CCR of distribution rights and related assets for territories in Indianapolis and Bloomington, Indiana and Columbus and Mansfield, Ohio and regional manufacturing facilities and related assets located in Indianapolis and Portland, Indiana on March 31, 2017 (the “March 2017 Transactions”), and (iii) the acquisition from CCR of distribution rights and related assets for territories in Akron, Elyria, Toledo, Willoughby and Youngstown, Ohio and a regional manufacturing facility and related assets located in Twinsburg, Ohio on April 28, 2017 (the “April 2017 Transactions”).

 

Post-closing adjustments for the January 2017 Transaction and the March 2017 Transactions were completed during 2017 and post-closing adjustments for the April 2017 Transactions were completed during the second quarter of 2018. During the fourth quarter of 2017, the cash purchase price for the April 2017 Transactions decreased by $4.7 million as a result of net working capital and other fair value adjustments, which was paid to the Company by The Coca‑Cola Company during the second quarter of 2018.

 

The fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities of the System Transformation Transactions that closed during 2017 (the “2017 System Transformation Transactions”), as of the acquisition dates, is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

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The fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities in the October 2017 Acquisitions as of the acquisition date is summarized as follows:

 

 

The goodwill for the 2017 System Transformation Transactions is included in the Nonalcoholic Beverages segment and is primarily attributed to operational synergies and the workforce acquired. Goodwill of $11.4 million, $3.5 million, $8.6 million and $2.7 million is expected to be deductible for tax purposes for the April 2017 Transactions, the CCR Exchange Business, the Memphis Territory and the United Exchange Business, respectively. No goodwill is expected to be deductible for tax purposes for the January 2017 Transaction or the March 2017 Transactions.

 

The carrying value of assets and liabilities divested in the October 2017 Divestitures is summarized as follows:

 

 

The October 2017 Divestitures were recorded in the Company’s Nonalcoholic Beverages segment prior to divestiture.

 

System Transformation Transactions Financial Results

 

The financial results of the System Transformation Transactions have been included in the Company’s consolidated condensed financial statements from their respective acquisition or exchange dates. Net sales and income from operations for certain territories and regional manufacturing facilities acquired and divested by the Company during 2017 are impracticable to separately calculate, as the operations were absorbed into territories and facilities owned by the Company prior to the System Transformation, and therefore have been omitted from the results below. Omission of net sales and income from operations for such territories and facilities is not

 

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considered material to the results presented below. The remaining 2017 System Transformation Transactions contributed the following amounts to the Company’s consolidated condensed statements of operations:

 

 

The Company incurred transaction related expenses for the System Transformation Transactions of $5.6 million in the first three quarters of 2017, which were included within S,D&A expenses on the consolidated condensed statements of operations.

 

System Transformation Transactions Pro Forma Financial Information

 

The purpose of the pro forma disclosure is to present the net sales and the income from operations of the combined entity as though the 2017 System Transformation Transactions had occurred as of the beginning of 2017. The pro forma combined net sales and income from operations do not necessarily reflect what the combined Company’s net sales and income from operations would have been had the acquisitions occurred at the beginning of 2017. The pro forma financial information also may not be useful in predicting the future financial results of the combined company. The actual results may differ significantly from the pro forma amounts reflected herein due to a variety of factors.

 

The following table represents the Company’s unaudited pro forma net sales and unaudited pro forma income from operations for the 2017 System Transformation Transactions.

 

 

The net sales pro forma and the income from operations pro forma reflect adjustments for (i) the inclusion of historic results of operations for the distribution territories and the regional manufacturing facilities acquired in the System Transformation Transactions for the period prior to the Company’s acquisition of the applicable territories or facility, for each period presented and (ii) the elimination of historic results of operations for the October 2017 Divestitures.

 

4.Inventories

 

Inventories consisted of the following:

 

 

 

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5.Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following:

 

 

6.Property, Plant and Equipment, Net

 

The principal categories and estimated useful lives of property, plant and equipment, net were as follows:

 

 

Depreciation expense, which includes amortization expense for leased property under capital leases, was $123.5 million in the first three quarters of 2018 and $108.7 million in the first three quarters of 2017.

 

7.Goodwill

 

A reconciliation of the activity for goodwill for the first three quarters of 2018 and the first three quarters of 2017 is as follows:

 

 

The Company’s goodwill resides entirely within the Nonalcoholic Beverages segment. The Company performs its annual impairment test of goodwill as of the first day of the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. During the first three quarters of 2018, the Company did not experience any triggering events or changes in circumstances indicating the carrying amounts of the Company’s goodwill exceeded fair values.

 

 

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8.Distribution Agreements, Net

 

Distribution agreements, net, which are amortized on a straight line basis and have an estimated useful life of 20 to 40 years, consisted of the following:

 

 

A reconciliation of the activity for distribution agreements, net for the first three quarters of 2018 and the first three quarters of 2017 is as follows:

 

 

 

9.Customer Lists and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets, Net

 

Customer lists and other identifiable intangible assets, net, which are amortized on a straight line basis and have an estimated useful life of 12 to 20 years, consisted of the following:

 

 

A reconciliation of the activity for customer lists and other identifiable intangible assets, net for the first three quarters of 2018 and the first three quarters of 2017 is as follows:

 

 

 

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10.Other Accrued Liabilities

 

Other accrued liabilities consisted of the following:

 

 

 

11.Debt

 

Following is a summary of the Company’s debt:

 

 

 

The Company had capital lease obligations of $37.3 million on September 30, 2018 and $43.5 million on December 31, 2017. The Company mitigates its financing risk by using multiple financial institutions and only entering into credit arrangements with institutions with investment grade credit ratings. The Company monitors counterparty credit ratings on an ongoing basis.

 

On June 8, 2018, the Company entered into a second amended and restated credit agreement for a five-year unsecured revolving credit facility (as amended, the “Revolving Credit Facility”), which amended and restated its prior credit agreement dated October 16, 2014. The Revolving Credit Facility has an aggregate maximum borrowing capacity of $500 million, which may be increased at the Company’s option to $750 million, subject to obtaining commitments from the lenders and satisfying other conditions specified in the credit agreement. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a floating base rate or a floating Eurodollar rate plus an applicable margin, at the Company’s option, dependent on the Company’s credit ratings at the time of borrowing. At the

 

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Company’s current credit ratings, the Company must pay an annual facility fee of 0.15% of the lenders’ aggregate commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility. The Revolving Credit Facility has a scheduled maturity date of June 8, 2023.

 

On March 21, 2018, the Company sold $150 million aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2030 to NYL Investors LLC (“NYL”) and certain of its affiliates pursuant to the Note Purchase and Private Shelf Agreement dated March 6, 2018 between the Company, NYL and the other parties thereto (as amended, the “NYL Shelf Facility”). These notes bear interest at 3.96%, payable quarterly in arrears on March 21, June 21, September 21 and December 21 of each year, and will mature on March 21, 2030, unless earlier redeemed by the Company.

 

In February 2017, the Company sold $125 million aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2023 to PGIM, Inc. (“Prudential”) and certain of its affiliates pursuant to the Note Purchase and Private Shelf Agreement dated June 10, 2016 between the Company, Prudential and the other parties thereto (as amended, the “Prudential Shelf Facility”). These notes bear interest at 3.28%, payable semi-annually in arrears on February 27 and August 27 of each year, and will mature on February 27, 2023 unless earlier redeemed by the Company. The Company may request that Prudential consider the purchase of additional senior unsecured notes of the Company under the Prudential Shelf Facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $175 million.

 

In June 2016, the Company entered into a five-year term loan agreement for a senior unsecured term loan facility (as amended, the “Term Loan Facility”) in the aggregate principal amount of $300 million, maturing June 7, 2021. The Company may request additional term loans under the agreement, provided the Company’s aggregate borrowings under the Term Loan Facility do not exceed $500 million. Borrowings under the Term Loan Facility bear interest at a floating base rate or a floating Eurodollar rate plus an applicable margin, at the Company’s option, dependent on the Company’s credit ratings.

 

During the third quarter of 2018, the Company amended each of the Revolving Credit Facility, the NYL Shelf Facility, the Prudential Shelf Facility and the Term Loan Facility to (i) align the calculation of the two financial covenants and certain events of default under each agreement and (ii) with regard to the Term Loan Facility, to revise the calculation of the rates at which borrowings bear interest to conform with the calculation of such rates under the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

The Revolving Credit Facility, the NYL Shelf Facility, the Prudential Shelf Facility and the Term Loan Facility include two financial covenants: a consolidated cash flow/fixed charges ratio and a consolidated funded indebtedness/cash flow ratio, each as defined in the respective agreements. The Company was in compliance with these covenants as of September 30, 2018. These covenants do not currently, and the Company does not anticipate they will, restrict its liquidity or capital resources.

 

The indentures under which the Company’s public debt was issued do not include financial covenants but do limit the incurrence of certain liens and encumbrances as well as indebtedness by the Company’s subsidiaries in excess of certain amounts.

 

All outstanding long-term debt has been issued by the Company and none has been issued by any of its subsidiaries. There are no guarantees of the Company’s debt.

 

12.Derivative Financial Instruments

 

The Company is subject to the risk of increased costs arising from adverse changes in certain commodity prices. In the normal course of business, the Company manages these risks through a variety of strategies, including the use of derivative instruments. The Company does not use derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. All derivative instruments are recorded at fair value as either assets or liabilities in the Company’s consolidated condensed balance sheets. These derivative instruments are not designated as hedging instruments under GAAP and are used as “economic hedges” to manage certain commodity price risk. Derivative instruments held are marked to market on a monthly basis and recognized in earnings consistent with the expense classification of the underlying hedged item. Settlements of derivative agreements are included in cash flows from operating activities on the Company’s consolidated condensed statements of cash flows.

 

The Company uses several different financial institutions for commodity derivative instruments to minimize the concentration of credit risk. While the Company would be exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by these counterparties, the Company does not anticipate nonperformance by these parties.

 

 

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The following table summarizes pre-tax changes in the fair value of the Company’s commodity derivative financial instruments and the classification of such changes in the consolidated condensed statements of operations.

 

 

The following table summarizes the fair values and classification in the consolidated condensed balance sheets of derivative instruments held by the Company:

 

 

The Company has master agreements with the counterparties to its derivative financial agreements that provide for net settlement of derivative transactions. Accordingly, the net amounts of derivative assets are recognized in either prepaid expenses and other current assets or other assets in the Company’s consolidated condensed balance sheets and the net amounts of derivative liabilities are recognized in other accrued liabilities or other liabilities in the consolidated condensed balance sheets. The following table summarizes the Company’s gross derivative assets and gross derivative liabilities in the consolidated condensed balance sheets:

 

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s outstanding commodity derivative agreements:

 

 

13.Fair Values of Financial Instruments

 

GAAP requires assets and liabilities carried at fair value to be classified and disclosed in one of the following categories:

 

 

 

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The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating the fair values of its financial instruments. There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between levels in any period presented.

 

 

The following tables summarize, by assets and liabilities, the carrying amounts and fair values by level of the Company’s deferred compensation plan, commodity hedging agreements, debt and acquisition related contingent consideration:

 

 

 

Under the CBA, the Company is required to make quarterly sub-bottling payments to CCR on a continuing basis for the grant of exclusive rights to distribute, promote, market and sell specified covered beverages and beverage products in the distribution territories acquired in the System Transformation, excluding territories the Company acquired in an exchange transaction. This

 

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acquisition related contingent consideration is valued using a probability weighted discounted cash flow model based on internal forecasts and the WACC derived from market data, which are considered Level 3 inputs. Each reporting period, the Company adjusts its acquisition related contingent consideration liability related to the distribution territories to fair value by discounting future expected sub-bottling payments required under the CBA using the Company’s estimated WACC.

 

These future expected sub-bottling payments extend through the life of the related distribution assets acquired in each distribution territory, which is generally 40 years. As a result, the fair value of the acquisition related contingent consideration liability is impacted by the Company’s WACC, management’s estimate of the amounts that will be paid in the future under the CBA, and current sub-bottling payments (all Level 3 inputs). Changes in any of these Level 3 inputs, particularly the underlying risk-free interest rate used to estimate the Company’s WACC, could result in material changes to the fair value of the acquisition related contingent consideration and could materially impact the amount of noncash expense (or income) recorded each reporting period.

 

The acquisition related contingent consideration is the Company’s only Level 3 asset or liability. A reconciliation of the Level 3 activity is as follows:

 

 

 

The fair value adjustments to the acquisition related contingent consideration liability during the first three quarters of 2018 were primarily driven by changes to the risk-free interest rate and the projected future operating results of the distribution territories acquired as part of the System Transformation subject to sub-bottling fees, partially offset by cash payments. The fair value adjustments to the acquisition related contingent consideration liability during the first three quarters of 2017 were primarily driven by a change in the risk-free interest rate. These adjustments were recorded in other income (expense), net in the consolidated condensed statements of operations.

 

The anticipated amount the Company could pay annually under the acquisition related contingent consideration arrangements for the System Transformation Transactions is expected to be in the range of $25 million to $47 million.

 

14.Other Liabilities

 

Other liabilities consisted of the following:

 

 

 

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15.Commitments and Contingencies

 

Manufacturing Cooperatives

 

The Company is a shareholder of South Atlantic Canners, Inc. (“SAC”), a manufacturing cooperative in Bishopville, South Carolina. All of SAC’s shareholders are Coca‑Cola bottlers and each has equal voting rights. The Company accounts for SAC as an equity method investment. The Company receives a fee for managing the day-to-day operations of SAC pursuant to a management agreement. Proceeds from management fees received from SAC were $6.8 million in the first three quarters of 2018 and $6.9 million in the first three quarters of 2017.

 

The Company is obligated to purchase 17.5 million cases of finished product from SAC on an annual basis through June 2024. The Company purchased 22.2 million cases and 22.6 million cases of finished product from SAC in the first three quarters of 2018 and the first three quarters of 2017, respectively.

 

The Company is also a shareholder of Southeastern Container (“Southeastern”), a plastic bottle manufacturing cooperative from which the Company is obligated to purchase at least 80% of its requirements of plastic bottles for certain designated territories. The Company accounts for Southeastern as an equity method investment.

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s purchases from these manufacturing cooperatives:

 

 

The Company guarantees a portion of SAC’s debt, which expires at various dates through 2021. The amounts guaranteed were $23.9 million as of both September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. The Company does not anticipate SAC will fail to fulfill its commitment related to the debt. The Company further believes SAC has sufficient assets, including production equipment, facilities and working capital, and the ability to adjust selling prices of its products to adequately mitigate the risk of material loss from the Company’s guarantee.

 

In the event SAC fails to fulfill its commitments under the related debt, the Company would be responsible for payments to the lenders up to the level of the guarantee. The following table summarizes the Company’s maximum exposure under this guarantee if SAC had borrowed up to its aggregate borrowing capacity:

 

 

 

The Company holds no assets as collateral against the SAC guarantee, the fair value of which is immaterial to the Company’s consolidated condensed financial statements. The Company monitors its investments in SAC and would be required to write down its investment if an impairment was identified and the Company determined it to be other than temporary. No impairment of the Company’s investments in SAC was identified as of September 30, 2018, and there was no impairment identified in 2017.

 

Other Commitments and Contingencies

 

The Company has standby letters of credit, primarily related to its property and casualty insurance programs. These letters of credit totaled $35.6 million as of both September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

 

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The Company participates in long-term marketing contractual arrangements with certain prestige properties, athletic venues and other locations. As of September 30, 2018, the future payments related to these contractual arrangements, which expire at various dates through 2033, amounted to $160.0 million.

 

The Company is involved in various claims and legal proceedings which have arisen in the ordinary course of its business. Although it is difficult to predict the ultimate outcome of these claims and legal proceedings, management believes that the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, cash flows or results of operations of the Company. No material amount of loss in excess of recorded amounts is believed to be reasonably possible as a result of these claims and legal proceedings.

 

The Company is subject to audits by tax authorities in jurisdictions where it conducts business. These audits may result in assessments that are subsequently resolved with the authorities or potentially through the courts. Management believes the Company has adequately provided for any assessments likely to result from these audits; however, final assessments, if any, could be different than the amounts recorded in the consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

16.Income Taxes

 

The Company’s effective income tax rate, as calculated by dividing income tax expense by income before income taxes, was 24.1% for the first three quarters of 2018 and 34.8% for the first three quarters of 2017. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily driven by the corporate rate reduction due to the Tax Act and its impact on prior estimates and lower income before income taxes, which was offset by an increase in certain non-deductible expenses.

 

The Company’s effective income tax rate, as calculated by dividing income tax expense by income before income taxes minus net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, was 32.5% for the first three quarters of 2018 and 38.8% for the first three quarters of 2017.

 

Shortly after the Tax Act was enacted, the SEC issued guidance under Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“SAB 118”) to address the application of GAAP and direct taxpayers to consider the impact of the Tax Act as “provisional” when a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for the change in tax law. In accordance with SAB 118, the Company recognized a provisional tax benefit related to the re-measurement of its net deferred tax liability of $69.0 million as of December 31, 2017. During the third quarter of 2018, the Company recorded an additional provisional tax benefit of $1.9 million attributable to the re-measurement of its net deferred tax liability in connection with the filing of its 2017 federal income tax return.

 

The ultimate impact may differ from the provisional amounts, possibly materially, due to, among other things, the significant complexity of the Tax Act, anticipated additional regulatory guidance or related interpretations that may be issued by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), changes in accounting standards, legislative actions, future actions by states within the U.S. and changes in estimates, analysis, interpretations and assumptions made by the Company.

 

The Company had uncertain tax positions, including accrued interest, of $3.0 million on September 30, 2018 and $2.4 million on December 31, 2017, all of which would affect the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized. While it is expected the amount of uncertain tax positions may change in the next 12 months, the Company does not expect such change would have a significant impact on the consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

Prior tax years beginning in year 2002 remain open to examination by the IRS, and various tax years beginning in year 1998 remain open to examination by certain state tax jurisdictions.

 

17.Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI(L)”) is comprised of adjustments relative to the Company’s pension and postretirement medical benefit plans and foreign currency translation adjustments required for a subsidiary of the Company that performs data analysis and provides consulting services outside the United States.

 

 

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A summary of AOCI(L) for the third quarter of 2018 and the third quarter of 2017 is as follows:

 

 

 

 

A summary of AOCI(L) for the first three quarters of 2018 and the first three quarters of 2017 is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

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A summary of the impact of AOCI(L) on certain statements of operations line items is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

18.Capital Transactions 

 

During the first quarter of each year, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Committee”) determines whether any shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock should be issued to J. Frank Harrison, III, in connection with his services for the prior year as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, pursuant to a performance unit award agreement approved in 2008 (the “Performance Unit Award Agreement”). The Performance Unit Award Agreement expires at the end of 2018, with the final potential award to be issued in the first quarter of 2019 in connection with Mr. Harrison’s services during 2018.

 

 

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As permitted under the terms of the Performance Unit Award Agreement, a number of shares were settled in cash in 2018 and 2017 to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of the performance units. The remaining number of shares increased the total shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding. A summary of the awards issued in 2018 and 2017 is as follows:

 

 

Compensation expense for the awards issued pursuant to the Performance Unit Award Agreement, recognized on the closing share price of the last trading day prior to the end of the fiscal period, was as follows:

 

 

During the second quarter of 2018, the Committee and the Company’s stockholders approved a long-term performance equity plan (the “Long-Term Performance Equity Plan”), which will compensate J. Frank Harrison, III based on the Company’s performance and will succeed the Performance Unit Award Agreement upon its expiration. Awards granted under the Long-Term Performance Equity Plan will be earned based on the Company’s attainment during a performance period of certain performance measures, each as specified by the Committee. These awards may be settled in cash and/or shares of Class B Common Stock, based on the average of the closing prices of shares of Common Stock during the last twenty trading days of the performance period. Compensation expense for the Long-Term Performance Equity Plan, which is included in S,D&A expenses on the consolidated condensed statements of operations, was $1.5 million for the first three quarters of 2018.

 

19.Pension and Postretirement Benefit Obligations

 

Pension Plans

 

There are two Company-sponsored pension plans. The primary Company-sponsored pension plan was frozen as of June 30, 2006 and no benefits accrued to participants after this date. The second Company-sponsored pension plan (the “Bargaining Plan”) is for certain employees under collective bargaining agreements. Benefits under the Bargaining Plan are determined in accordance with negotiated formulas for the respective participants. Contributions to the plans are based on actuarially determined amounts and are limited to the amounts currently deductible for income tax purposes.

 

The components of net periodic pension cost were as follows:

 

 

The Company contributed $20.0 million to the two Company sponsored pension plans during the third quarter of 2018 and does not anticipate making additional contributions during the fourth quarter of 2018.

 

 

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Postretirement Benefits

 

The Company provides postretirement benefits for a portion of its current employees. The Company recognizes the cost of postretirement benefits, which consist principally of medical benefits, during covered employees’ periods of active service. The Company does not pre-fund these benefits and has the right to modify or terminate certain of these benefits in the future.

 

The components of net periodic postretirement benefit cost were as follows:

 

 

Multi-Employer Benefits

 

Certain employees of the Company whose employment is covered under collective bargaining agreements participate in a multi-employer pension plan, the Employers-Teamsters Local Union Nos. 175 and 505 Pension Fund (the “Teamsters Plan”). The Company makes monthly contributions to the Teamsters Plan on behalf of such employees. The collective bargaining agreements covering the Teamsters Plan expire at various times by April 2020. The Company expects these agreements will be re-negotiated.

 

The risks of participating in the Teamsters Plan are different from single-employer plans as contributed assets are pooled and may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers. If a participating employer stops contributing to the Teamsters Plan, the unfunded obligations of the Teamsters Plan may be borne by the remaining participating employers. If the Company chooses to stop participating in the Teamsters Plan, the Company could be required to pay the Teamsters Plan a withdrawal liability based on the underfunded status of the Teamsters Plan. The Company does not anticipate withdrawing from the Teamsters Plan.

 

In 2015, the Company increased its contribution rates to the Teamsters Plan, with additional increases occurring annually, as part of a rehabilitation plan, which was incorporated into the renewal of collective bargaining agreements with the unions effective April 28, 2014 and adopted by the Company as a rehabilitation plan effective January 1, 2015. This was a result of the Teamsters Plan being certified by its actuary as being in “critical” status for the plan year beginning January 1, 2013.

 

20.Related Party Transactions

 

The Coca‑Cola Company

 

The Company’s business consists primarily of the production, marketing and distribution of nonalcoholic beverages of The Coca‑Cola Company, which is the sole owner of the formulas under which the primary components of its soft drink products, either concentrate or syrup, are manufactured.

 

As of September 30, 2018, The Coca‑Cola Company owned approximately 27% of the Company’s total outstanding Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on a consolidated basis, representing approximately 5% of the total voting power of the Company’s Common Stock and Class B Common Stock voting together. As long as The Coca‑Cola Company holds the number of shares of Common Stock it currently owns, it has the right to have a designee proposed by the Company for nomination to the Company’s Board of Directors, and J. Frank Harrison, III, the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and trustees of certain trusts established for the benefit of certain relatives of J. Frank Harrison, Jr. have agreed to vote the shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock which they control, representing approximately 86% of the total voting power of the Company’s combined Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, in favor of such designee. The Coca‑Cola Company does not own any shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock.

 

 

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The following table and the subsequent descriptions summarize the significant transactions between the Company and The Coca‑Cola Company:

 

 

Coca‑Cola Refreshments USA, Inc.

 

The Company previously had a production arrangement with CCR to buy and sell finished products at cost and transported products for CCR to the Company’s and other Coca‑Cola bottlers’ locations. Following the completion of the October 2017 Transactions discussed in Note 3, the Company no longer transacts with CCR other than making quarterly sub-bottling payments, as discussed below. The following table summarizes purchases and sales under these arrangements between the Company and CCR prior to the closing of the October 2017 Transactions:

 

 

Pursuant to the CBA, the Company is required to make quarterly sub-bottling payments to CCR on a continuing basis for the grant of exclusive rights to distribute, promote, market and sell the authorized brands of The Coca‑Cola Company and related products in the territories acquired in the System Transformation, excluding territories the Company acquired in an exchange transaction. These sub-bottling payments are based on gross profit derived from sales of certain beverages and beverage products that are sold under the same trademarks that identify a covered beverage, beverage product or certain cross-licensed brands. Sub-bottling payments to CCR were $18.3 million during the first three quarters of 2018 and $11.7 million during the first three quarters of 2017. The following table summarizes the liability recorded by the Company to reflect the estimated fair value of contingent consideration related to future sub‑bottling payments to CCR:

 

 

Glacéau Distribution Termination Agreement

 

On January 1, 2017, the Company obtained the rights to market, promote, distribute and sell glacéau vitaminwater, glacéau smartwater and glacéau vitaminwater zero drops in certain geographic territories including the District of Columbia and portions of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, pursuant to an agreement entered into by the Company, The Coca‑Cola Company and CCR in June 2016. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company made a payment of $15.6 million to The Coca‑Cola Company during the first quarter of 2017, which represented a portion of the total payment made by The Coca‑Cola Company to terminate a distribution arrangement with a prior distributor in this territory.

 

 

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Coca‑Cola Bottlers’ Sales and Services Company, LLC (“CCBSS”)

 

Along with all other Coca‑Cola bottlers in the United States, the Company is a member of CCBSS, a company formed in 2003 for the purpose of facilitating various procurement functions and distributing certain specified beverage products of The Coca‑Cola Company with the intention of enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of the Coca‑Cola bottling system in the United States.

 

CCBSS negotiates the procurement for the majority of the Company’s raw materials, excluding concentrate, and the Company receives a rebate from CCBSS for the purchase of these raw materials. The Company had rebates due from CCBSS of $13.9 million on September 30, 2018 and $11.2 million on December 31, 2017, which were classified as accounts receivable, other in the consolidated condensed balance sheets.

 

In addition, the Company pays an administrative fee to CCBSS for its services. The Company incurred administrative fees to CCBSS of $2.2 million in the first three quarters of 2018 and $2.0 million in the first three quarters of 2017, which were classified as S,D&A expenses in the consolidated condensed statements of operations.

 

National Product Supply Group (“NPSG”)

 

The Company is a member of the NPSG, an organization comprised of The Coca‑Cola Company and other Coca‑Cola bottlers who are regional producing bottlers (“RPBs”) in The Coca‑Cola Company’s national product supply system, pursuant to a national product supply governance agreement executed in October 2015 with The Coca‑Cola Company and other RPBs (the “NPSG Governance Agreement”). The stated objectives of the NPSG include, among others, (i) Coca‑Cola system strategic infrastructure investment and divestment planning; (ii) network optimization of all plant to distribution center sourcing; and (iii) new product/packaging infrastructure planning.

 

Under the NPSG Governance Agreement, the NPSG members established certain governance mechanisms, including a governing board (the “NPSG Board”) comprised of a representative of (i) the Company, (ii) The Coca‑Cola Company and (iii) each other RPB. As of September 30, 2018, the NPSG Board consisted of The Coca‑Cola Company, the Company and seven other RPBs. The NPSG Board makes and/or oversees and directs certain key decisions regarding the NPSG, including decisions regarding the management and staffing of the NPSG and the funding for its ongoing operations.

 

Pursuant to the decisions of the NPSG Board made from time to time and subject to the terms and conditions of the NPSG Governance Agreement, each RPB is required to make investments in its respective manufacturing assets and implement Coca‑Cola system strategic investment opportunities consistent with the NPSG Governance Agreement. The Company is also obligated to pay a certain portion of the costs of operating the NPSG. The Company incurred NPSG operating costs of $0.9 million in the first three quarters of 2018 and $0.8 million in the first three quarters of 2017, which were classified as S,D&A expense in the consolidated condensed statements of operations.

 

CONA Services LLC (“CONA”)

 

The Company is a member of CONA, an entity formed with The Coca‑Cola Company and certain other Coca‑Cola bottlers pursuant to a limited liability company agreement executed in January 2016 (as amended, the “CONA LLC Agreement”) to provide business process and information technology services to its members.

 

Under the CONA LLC Agreement, the business and affairs of CONA are managed by a board of directors comprised of representatives of its members (the “CONA Board”). All directors are entitled to one vote, regardless of the percentage interest in CONA held by each member. The Company currently has the right to designate one of the members of the CONA Board and has a percentage interest in CONA of approximately 20%. Most matters to be decided by the CONA Board require approval by a majority of a quorum of the directors, provided that the approval of 80% of the directors is required to, among other things, require members to make additional capital contributions, approve CONA’s annual operating and capital budgets, and approve capital expenditures in excess of certain agreed upon amounts. Each CONA member is required to make capital contributions to CONA if and when approved by the CONA Board.

 

The Company made capital contributions to CONA of $2.1 million in the first three quarters of 2018 and $2.0 million in the first three quarters of 2017, which were classified as other assets in the consolidated condensed balance sheets. No CONA member may transfer its membership interest (or any portion thereof) except to a purchaser of the member’s bottling business (or any portion thereof) and as permitted under the member’s comprehensive beverage agreement with The Coca‑Cola Company.

 

The CONA LLC Agreement further provides that, if CCR grants any major North American Coca‑Cola bottler other than a CONA member rights to (i) manufacture, produce and package or (ii) market, promote, distribute and sell Coca‑Cola products, CCR will

 

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require the bottler to become a CONA member, to implement the CONA System in the bottler’s operations and to enter into a master services agreement with CONA.

 

The Company is also party to an amended and restated master services agreement with CONA (the “CONA MSA”), pursuant to which CONA agreed to make available, and the Company became authorized to use, the Coke One North America system (the “CONA System”), a uniform information technology system developed to promote operational efficiency and uniformity among North American Coca‑Cola bottlers. As part of making the CONA System available, CONA provides the Company with certain business process and information technology services, including the planning, development, management and operation of the CONA System in connection with the Company’s direct store delivery and manufacture of products (collectively, the “CONA Services”).

 

The Company is also authorized under the CONA MSA to use the CONA System in connection with its distribution, promotion, marketing, sale and manufacture of beverages it is authorized to distribute or manufacture under the CBA, the Company’s regional manufacturing agreement or any other agreement with The Coca‑Cola Company, subject to the provisions of the CONA LLC Agreement and any licenses or other agreements relating to products or services provided by third parties and used in connection with the CONA System.

 

In exchange for the Company’s rights to use the CONA System and receive the CONA Services under the CONA MSA, it is charged service fees by CONA. Currently, the service fees are based on the number of physical cases of beverages the Company distributed or manufactured during the applicable period in the portion of its territories where the CONA Services have then been implemented.

 

Upon the earlier of (i) all members of CONA beginning to use the CONA System in all territories in which they distribute and manufacture Coca‑Cola products (excluding certain territories of CCR that are expected to be sold to bottlers that are neither members of CONA nor users of the CONA System), or (ii) December 31, 2018, the service fees will be changed to be an amount per physical case of beverages distributed or manufactured in any portion of the Company’s territories equal to the aggregate costs incurred by CONA to maintain and operate the CONA System and provide the CONA Services divided by the total number of cases distributed or manufactured by all of the members of CONA, subject to certain exceptions and provided that the aggregate costs related to CONA’s manufacturing functionality will be borne solely amongst the CONA members who have rights to manufacture beverages of The Coca‑Cola Company.

 

The Company is obligated to pay the service fees under the CONA MSA even if it is not using the CONA System for all or any portion of its distribution and manufacturing operations. The Company incurred CONA services fees of $15.5 million in the first three quarters of 2018 and $9.2 million in the first three quarters of 2017.

 

Related Party Leases

 

The Company leases its headquarters office facility and an adjacent office facility in Charlotte, North Carolina from Beacon Investment Corporation, of which J. Frank Harrison, III is the majority stockholder and Morgan H. Everett is a minority stockholder. The annual base rent the Company is obligated to pay under this lease agreement is subject to adjustment for increases in the Consumer Price Index and the lease expires on December 31, 2021.

 

The Company leases the Snyder Production Center and an adjacent sales facility in Charlotte, North Carolina from Harrison Limited Partnership One, which is directly and indirectly owned by trusts of which J. Frank Harrison, III, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Sue Anne H. Wells, a director of the Company, are trustees and beneficiaries and of which Morgan H. Everett, Vice President and a director of the Company, is a permissible, discretionary beneficiary. The annual base rent the Company is obligated to pay under this lease agreement is subject to an adjustment for an inflation factor and the lease expires on December 31, 2020.

 

A summary of the principal balance outstanding under these related party capital leases is as follows:

 

 

 

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A summary of rental payments related to these capital leases is as follows:

 

 

21.Net Income Per Share

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic net income per share and diluted net income per share under the two-class method:

 

 

 

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NOTES TO TABLE

 

 

22.Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information

 

Changes in current assets and current liabilities affecting cash flows were as follows:

 

 

23.Segments

 

The Company evaluates segment reporting in accordance with the FASB Accounting Standards Codification 280, Segment Reporting, each reporting period, including evaluating the reporting package reviewed by the Chief Operation Decision Maker (“CODM”). The Company has concluded the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as a group, represent the CODM. In conjunction with the completion of the System Transformation Transactions in October 2017 and integration of acquired operations, management continues to assess whether changes are necessary to the Company’s reportable segments.

 

 

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The Company believes four operating segments exist. Nonalcoholic Beverages represents the vast majority of the Company’s consolidated revenues, income from operations and assets. The additional three operating segments do not meet the quantitative thresholds for separate reporting, either individually or in the aggregate, and therefore have been combined into “All Other.”

 

The Company’s segment results are as follows:

 

 

 

 

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The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Coca‑Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated (together with its majority-owned subsidiaries, the “Company,” “we” or “our”) should be read in conjunction with the consolidated condensed financial statements of the Company and the accompanying notes to the consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

The Company’s fiscal year generally ends on the Sunday closest to December 31 of each year. The consolidated condensed financial statements presented are:

 

 

The consolidated condensed financial statements include the consolidated operations of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries including Piedmont Coca‑Cola Bottling Partnership (“Piedmont”), the Company’s only subsidiary with a significant noncontrolling interest. This noncontrolling interest consists of The Coca‑Cola Company’s interest in Piedmont, which was 22.7% for all periods presented.

 

Our Business and the Nonalcoholic Beverage Industry

 

Coca‑Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, a Delaware corporation, distributes, markets and manufactures nonalcoholic beverages in territories spanning 14 states and the District of Columbia. The Company was incorporated in 1980 and, together with its predecessors, has been in the nonalcoholic beverage manufacturing and distribution business since 1902. We are the largest independent Coca‑Cola bottler in the United States. Approximately 94% of our total bottle/can sales volume to retail customers consists of products of The Coca‑Cola Company, which include some of the most recognized and popular beverage brands in the world. We also distribute products for several other beverage brands including Dr Pepper, Sundrop and Monster Energy. Our purpose is to honor God, to serve others, to pursue excellence and to grow profitably. Our stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “COKE.”

 

We offer a range of nonalcoholic beverage products and flavors designed to meet the demands of our consumers, including both sparkling and still beverages. Sparkling beverages are carbonated beverages and the Company’s principal sparkling beverage is Coca‑Cola. Still beverages include energy products and noncarbonated beverages such as bottled water, tea, ready to drink coffee, enhanced water, juices and sports drinks.

 

Our sales are divided into two main categories: (i) bottle/can sales and (ii) other sales. Bottle/can sales include products packaged primarily in plastic bottles and aluminum cans. Other sales include sales to other Coca‑Cola bottlers, “post-mix” products, transportation revenue and equipment maintenance revenue. Post-mix products are dispensed through equipment that mixes fountain syrups with carbonated or still water, enabling fountain retailers to sell finished products to consumers in cups or glasses.

 

Net sales by product category were as follows:

 

 

 

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The nonalcoholic beverage market is highly competitive for both sparkling and still beverages. Our competitors include bottlers and distributors of nationally and regionally advertised and marketed products, as well as bottlers and distributors of private label beverages. Our principal competitors include local bottlers of Pepsi-Cola and, in some regions, local bottlers of Dr Pepper, Royal Crown and/or 7‑Up products.

 

The principal methods of competition in the nonalcoholic beverage industry are point-of-sale merchandising, new product introductions, new vending and dispensing equipment, packaging changes, pricing, price promotions, product quality, retail space management, customer service, frequency of distribution and advertising. We believe we are competitive in our territories with respect to these methods of competition.

 

Business seasonality results primarily from higher unit sales of the Company’s products in the second and third quarters of the fiscal year. We believe that we and other manufacturers from whom we purchase finished goods have adequate production capacity to meet sales demand for sparkling and still beverages during these peak periods. Sales volume can also be impacted by weather conditions. Fixed costs, such as depreciation expense, are not significantly impacted by business seasonality.

 

Executive Summary

 

During the third quarter of 2018, our Company made meaningful progress towards the strategic priorities we set during the second quarter of 2018, even in the midst of continued challenges in the commodities and transportation markets. Our pricing actions delivered over 4% revenue growth versus the third quarter of 2017 on relatively flat volume of almost 87 million physical cases. Our performance during the third quarter of 2018 brings our year-to-date volume growth to 5.9% and our year-to-date revenue growth to 9.8%. Our organic case volume decline in the third quarter of 2018 was 0.4% versus the third quarter of 2017, and our year-to-date organic case volume growth was 0.3% versus the prior year period. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2018, we will have cycled all of the transactions completed during our system transformation initiative, and results should be comparable on a year-over-year basis. As discussed last quarter, the mid-week July 4th holiday resulted in volume being split between the second and third quarters in 2018. Additionally, Hurricane Florence impacted our operations in much of our coastal territory in September, although identified incremental costs due to the storm were immaterial.

 

Integral to the strategic priorities we set during the second quarter of 2018, we implemented numerous pricing actions throughout our territory in the third quarter of 2018 to address our increased input costs. Gross margin in the third quarter of 2018 was 60 basis points lower than the third quarter of 2017 (34.7% in the third quarter of 2018 versus 35.3% in the third quarter of 2017), which reflects significant and sequential improvement over the gross margin declines we experienced in the first half of 2018. The primary drivers of the year-over-year margin decline remain (in order of significance): (i) rising commodity costs, (ii) the volume shift to lower-margin still products, and (iii) newly acquired territories generally experiencing margins lower than our legacy territories. We continue to refine our pricing strategies and focus on driving operating efficiencies in our supply chain to improve margin performance and address the rising input costs across the consumer products landscape.

 

Selling, delivery and administrative (“S,D&A”) expenses in the third quarter of 2018 increased approximately $3.0 million, or 0.8%, as compared to the third quarter of 2017. Notably, our S,D&A expenses as a percent of revenue declined to 31.0% in the third quarter of 2018 from 32.1% in the third quarter of 2017. We believe this leveraging of operating expenses was the result of our actions taken during the second quarter of 2018 and our strong revenue performance in the third quarter of 2018. These improvements were partially offset by the expenses associated with our continuing territory integration efforts. While we are pleased with our operating expense performance in the third quarter, we will continue to refine and optimize our operating model across our Company to drive improvements in efficiency and profitability.

 

Income from operations was $44.4 million in the third quarter of 2018, increasing from $37.5 million in the third quarter of 2017. We have completed our system transformation transactions and are nearing steady state from an IT system perspective. As such, we incurred $2.7 million less in system transformation expenses in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to the third quarter of 2017. We are encouraged with our progress in operating income performance and recognize we have additional improvement opportunities.

 

During the third quarter of 2018, we spent $10.4 million on system transformation expenses, which primarily related to the implementation of our integrated CONA information systems platform. We anticipate spending between $6 million and $8 million on system transformation expenses in the fourth quarter of 2018 and expect to see these expenses continue to decrease over the next few quarters.

 

Capital spending for the third quarter was approximately $27.8 million, bringing our year-to-date total capital investments to $113.1 million. We anticipate capital spending in the range of $25 million to $35 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Diligent capital management processes have been put in place to continue our focus on debt reduction, while investing in the highest impact projects. In addition to our capital spending, the Company contributed $20 million to fund our pension plans during the third quarter of 2018.

 

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We expect to begin distribution of the fast-growing premium sports drink, BodyArmor, in a portion of our territories in the fourth quarter of 2018. We are excited about the addition of BodyArmor to our powerful portfolio of brands, and, while we do not expect the impact on our 2018 results to be material, we do anticipate our BodyArmor distribution rights will provide ongoing benefits and round out our sports drink portfolio.

 

System Transformation Transactions

 

As part of The Coca‑Cola Company’s plans to refranchise its North American bottling territories, the Company completed a series of transactions from April 2013 to October 2017 with The Coca‑Cola Company, Coca‑Cola Refreshments USA, Inc. (“CCR”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Coca‑Cola Company, and Coca‑Cola Bottling Company United, Inc. (“United”), an independent bottler that is unrelated to the Company, to significantly expand the Company’s distribution and manufacturing operations (the “System Transformation”). The System Transformation included the acquisition and exchange of rights to serve distribution territories and related distribution assets, as well as the acquisition and exchange of regional manufacturing facilities and related manufacturing assets. A summary of the System Transformation transactions (the “System Transformation Transactions”) completed by the Company is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2017. As of September 30, 2018, the cash purchase prices or settlement amounts for all System Transformation Transactions have been resolved according to the terms of the transaction agreements. The post-closing adjustments made during the third quarter of 2018 resulted in a $10.2 million net adjustment to the gain on exchange transactions in the consolidated condensed statements of operations.

 

The financial results of the System Transformation Transactions have been included in the Company’s consolidated condensed financial statements from their respective acquisition or exchange dates. Net sales and income from operations for certain territories and regional manufacturing facilities acquired and divested by the Company during 2017 are impracticable to separately calculate, as the operations were absorbed into territories and facilities owned by the Company prior to the System Transformation, and therefore have been omitted from the results below. Omission of net sales and income from operations for such territories and facilities is not considered material to the results presented below. The remaining System Transformation Transactions that closed during 2017 (the “2017 System Transformation Transactions”) contributed the following amounts to the Company’s consolidated condensed statements of operations:

 

 

See Note 3 to the consolidated condensed financial statements for additional information on the October 2017 Divestitures.

 

Areas of Emphasis

 

Key priorities for the Company include integration of the territories and regional manufacturing facilities acquired during the System Transformation, revenue management, product innovation and beverage portfolio expansion, distribution cost management and productivity.

 

Revenue Management:  Revenue management requires a strategy that reflects consideration for pricing of brands and packages within product categories and channels, highly effective working relationships with customers and disciplined fact-based decision-making. Revenue management has been and continues to be a key driver which has a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations.

 

Product Innovation and Beverage Portfolio Expansion:  Innovation of both new brands and packages has been and is expected to continue to be important to the Company’s overall revenue. Recent product introductions from the Company and The Coca‑Cola Company include new flavor varieties within certain brands such as Sprite Cherry, POWERade Citrus Passionfruit, Monster Ultra Violet, Monster Juice Mango Loco, Peace Tea Georgia Peach, Peace Tea Razzleberry, Minute Maid 5% Berry Punch,

 

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Dunkin’ Donuts Mocha Iced Coffee, Dunkin’ Donuts French Vanilla Iced Coffee and Coke Zero Sugar. Recent packaging introductions include the 13.7-ounce bottle for Dunkin’ Donuts Iced Coffees, 0.5-liter energy drink cans and eight-packs of 16-ounce energy drinks.

 

Distribution Cost Management:  Distribution costs represent the costs of transporting finished goods from Company locations to customer outlets. Total distribution costs, including warehouse costs, were $458.7 million in the first three quarters of 2018 and $407.1 million in the first three quarters of 2017. Management of these costs will continue to be a key area of emphasis for the Company.

 

The Company has three primary delivery systems: (i) bulk delivery for large supermarkets, mass merchandisers and club stores, (ii) advanced sale delivery for convenience stores, drug stores, small supermarkets and on-premises accounts and (iii) full service delivery for its full service vending customers.

 

Productivity:  A key driver in the Company’s selling, delivery and administrative (“S,D&A”) expense management relates to ongoing improvements in labor productivity and asset productivity.

 

Results of Operations

 

Third Quarter Results

 

Our results of operations for the third quarter of 2018 and the third quarter of 2017 are highlighted in the table below and discussed in the following paragraphs:

 

 

Items Impacting Operations and Financial Condition

 

The following items affect the comparability of the financial results:

 

Third Quarter 2018

 

 

Third Quarter 2017

 

 

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Net Sales

 

Net sales increased $49.1 million, or 4.2%, to $1.21 billion in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $1.16 billion in the third quarter of 2017. The increase in net sales was primarily attributable to the following (in millions):

 

 

The Company’s bottle/can sales to retail customers accounted for approximately 84% of the Company’s total net sales in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to approximately 83% in the third quarter of 2017. Bottle/can net pricing is based on the invoice price charged to customers reduced by promotional allowances. Bottle/can net pricing per unit is impacted by the price charged per package, the sales volume generated for each package and the channels in which those packages are sold.

 

Product category sales volume of physical cases in the third quarter of 2018 and the third quarter of 2017 as a percentage of total bottle/can sales volume and the percentage change by product category were as follows:

 

 

Cost of Sales

 

Cost of sales includes the following: raw material costs, manufacturing labor, manufacturing overhead including depreciation expense, manufacturing warehousing costs, shipping and handling costs related to the movement of finished goods from manufacturing locations to sales distribution centers and the purchase of finished goods. Inputs representing a substantial portion of the Company’s total cost of sales include: (i) sweeteners, (ii) packaging materials, including plastic bottles and aluminum cans, and (iii) finished products purchased from other vendors.

 

Cost of sales increased $39.1 million, or 5.2%, to $791.3 million in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $752.2 million in the third quarter of 2017. The increase in cost of sales was primarily attributable to the following (in millions):

 

 

The Company relies extensively on advertising and sales promotion in the marketing of its products. The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies that supply concentrates, syrups and finished products to the Company make substantial marketing and advertising expenditures to promote sales in the Company’s territories. Certain of the marketing expenditures by The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies are made pursuant to annual arrangements. The Company also benefits from national advertising programs conducted by The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies. Total marketing funding support from The Coca‑Cola Company and other

 

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beverage companies, which includes both direct payments to the Company and payments to customers for marketing programs, was $33.1 million in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $32.5 million in the third quarter of 2017.

 

The Company’s cost of sales may not be comparable to other peer companies, as some peer companies include all costs related to their distribution network in cost of sales. The Company includes a portion of these costs in S,D&A expenses, as described below.

 

S,D&A Expenses

 

S,D&A expenses include the following: sales management labor costs, distribution costs from sales distribution centers to customer locations, sales distribution center warehouse costs, depreciation expenses related to sales centers, delivery vehicles and cold drink equipment, point-of-sale expenses, advertising expenses, cold drink equipment repair costs, amortization of intangibles and administrative support labor and operating costs.

 

S,D&A expenses increased by $3.0 million, or 0.8%, to $375.9 million in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $372.9 million in the third quarter of 2017. S,D&A expenses as a percentage of net sales increased to 31.0% in the third quarter of 2018 from 32.1% in the third quarter of 2017. The increase in S,D&A expenses was primarily attributable to the following (in millions):

 

 

Shipping and handling costs related to the movement of finished goods from manufacturing locations to sales distribution centers are included in cost of sales. Shipping and handling costs related to the movement of finished goods from sales distribution centers to customer locations, including warehouse costs, are included in S,D&A expenses and totaled $157.5 million in the third quarter of 2018 and $147.9 million in the third quarter of 2017.

 

As a result of the Company adopting Accounting Standards Update 2017-07 “Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost” (“ASU 2017‑07”) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board in March 2017, the Company reclassified $1.3 million from the third quarter of 2017 of non-service cost components of net periodic benefit cost and other benefit plan charges from S,D&A expenses to other income, net. The non-service cost component of net periodic benefit cost is included in the Nonalcoholic Beverages segment.

 

Interest Expense, Net

 

Interest expense, net, increased $2.1 million to $12.8 million in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $10.7 million in the third quarter of 2017. The increase was primarily a result of additional borrowings to finance the 2017 System Transformation Transactions and additional borrowings during 2018 to support working capital and capital expenditure needs.

 

Other Income, Net

 

A summary of other income, net is as follows:

 

 

Each reporting period, the Company adjusts its contingent consideration liability related to the territories acquired as part of the System Transformation, excluding territories acquired pursuant to an exchange transaction, to fair value. The fair value is determined by discounting future expected sub-bottling payments required under the CBA, using the Company’s estimated weighted average cost of capital (“WACC”), which is impacted by many factors, including long-term interest rates; projected future operating results; and post-closing settlement of cash purchase prices for the territories acquired as part of the System Transformation. These future expected

 

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sub-bottling payments extend through the life of the related distribution asset acquired in the System Transformation, which is generally 40 years. The Company is required to pay the current portion of the sub-bottling fee on a quarterly basis.

 

The fair value adjustments to the acquisition related contingent consideration liability during the third quarter of 2018 were primarily driven by changes to the risk-free interest rate and the projected future operating results of the distribution territories acquired as part of the System Transformation subject to sub-bottling fees, partially offset by cash payments. The fair value adjustments to the acquisition related contingent consideration liability during the third quarter of 2017 were primarily a result of a change in the risk-free interest rate.

 

Gain on Exchange Transactions

 

As a result of final post-closing adjustments for the 2017 System Transformation Transactions made during the third quarter of 2018, the Company recorded a $10.2 million net adjustment to the gain on exchange transactions.

 

Income Tax Expense

 

The Company’s effective income tax rate, calculated by dividing income tax expense by income before income taxes, was 38.0% for the third quarter of 2018 and 38.3% for the third quarter of 2017. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily driven by higher income before income taxes for the third quarter of 2018 as compared to income before income taxes for the third quarter of 2017 and the corporate rate reduction due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) and its impact on prior estimates, which was offset by an increase in certain non-deductible expenses. The Company’s effective tax rate, calculated by dividing income tax expense by income before income taxes minus net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, was 39.6% for the third quarter of 2018 and 40.4% for the third quarter of 2017.

 

Noncontrolling Interest

 

The Company recorded net income attributable to noncontrolling interest of $1.8 million in the third quarter of 2018 and $1.6 million in the third quarter of 2017, each related to the portion of Piedmont owned by The Coca‑Cola Company.

 

Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax

 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax was $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2018 and $0.4 million in the third quarter of 2017. The increase was primarily a result of actuarial gains on the Company’s pension plans.

 

First Three Quarters Results

 

Our results of operations for the first three quarters of 2018 and the first three quarters of 2017 are highlighted in the table below and discussed in the following paragraphs:

 

 

 

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Items Impacting Operations and Financial Condition

 

The following items affect the comparability of the financial results:

 

First Three Quarters 2018

 

 

First Three Quarters 2017

 

 

Net Sales

 

Net sales increased $313.5 million, or 9.8%, to $3.51 billion in the first three quarters of 2018, as compared to $3.20 billion in the first three quarters of 2017. The increase in net sales was primarily attributable to the following (in millions):

 

 

The Company’s bottle/can sales to retail customers accounted for approximately 83% of the Company’s total net sales in the first three quarters of 2018, as compared to approximately 84% in the first three quarters of 2017.

 

Product category sales volume as a percentage of total bottle/can sales volume and the percentage change by product category were as follows:

 

 

 

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The Company’s products are sold and distributed through various channels, which include selling directly to retail stores and other outlets such as food markets, institutional accounts and vending machine outlets. During the first three quarters of 2018, approximately 66% of the Company’s bottle/can sales volume to retail customers was sold for future consumption, while the remaining bottle/can sales volume to retail customers was sold for immediate consumption.

 

The following table summarizes the percentage of the Company’s total bottle/can sales volume to its largest customers, as well as the percentage of the Company’s total net sales that such volume represents:

 

 

Cost of Sales

 

Cost of sales increased $273.7 million, or 13.4%, to $2.31 billion in the first three quarters of 2018, as compared to $2.04 billion in the first three quarters of 2017. The increase in cost of sales was primarily attributable to the following (in millions):

 

 

Total marketing funding support from The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies, which includes both direct payments to the Company and payments to customers for marketing programs, was $96.9 million in the first three quarters of 2018, as compared to $89.4 million in the first three quarters of 2017.

 

 

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S,D&A Expenses

 

S,D&A expenses increased by $95.7 million, or 9.1%, to $1.15 billion in the first three quarters of 2018, as compared to $1.06 billion in the first three quarters of 2017. S,D&A expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased to 32.8% in the first three quarters of 2018 from 33.0% in the first three quarters of 2017. The increase in S,D&A expenses was primarily attributable to the following (in millions):

 

 

During the first three quarters of 2018, the Company incurred $32.7 million of expenses related to the System Transformation, the majority of which were information technologies related costs. The Company anticipates System Transformation expenses for the remainder of 2018 to be in the range of $6 million to $8 million.

 

Shipping and handling costs related to the movement of finished goods from sales distribution centers to customer locations, including warehouse costs, are included in S,D&A expenses and totaled $458.7 million in the first three quarters of 2018 and $407.1 million in the first three quarters of 2017.

 

As a result of the Company adopting ASU 2017‑07, the Company reclassified $4.0 million in the first three quarters of 2017 of non-service cost components of net periodic benefit cost and other benefit plan charges from S,D&A expenses to other expense, net.

 

Interest Expense, Net

 

Interest expense, net, increased $7.0 million to $37.6 million in the first three quarters of 2018, as compared to $30.6 million in the first three quarters of 2017. The increase was primarily a result of additional borrowings to finance the 2017 System Transformation Transactions and additional borrowings during the first three quarters of 2018 to support working capital and capital expenditure needs.

 

Other Expense, Net

 

A summary of other expense, net is as follows:

 

 

 

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The fair value adjustments to acquisition related contingent consideration liability in the first three quarters of 2018 were primarily driven by changes to the risk-free interest rate and the projected future operating results of the distribution territories acquired as part of the System Transformation subject to sub-bottling fees, partially offset by cash payments. The fair value adjustment to the acquisition related contingent consideration liability in the first three quarters of 2017 was primarily a result of a change in the risk-free interest rate.

 

Gain on Exchange Transactions

 

As a result of final post-closing adjustments for the 2017 System Transformation Transactions made during the third quarter of 2018, the Company recorded a $10.2 million net adjustment to the gain on exchange transactions.

 

Income Tax Expense

 

The Company’s effective income tax rate, calculated by dividing income tax expense by income before income taxes, was 24.1% in the first three quarters of 2018 and 34.8% in the first three quarters of 2017. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily driven by the corporate rate reduction due to the Tax Act and its impact on prior estimates and lower income before income taxes, which was offset by an increase in certain non-deductible expenses. The Company’s effective tax rate, calculated by dividing income tax expense by income before income taxes minus net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, was 32.5% in the first three quarters of 2018 and 38.8% in the first three quarters of 2017.

 

Noncontrolling Interest

 

The Company recorded net income attributable to noncontrolling interest of $3.6 million in the first three quarters of 2018 and $3.5 million in the first three quarters of 2017, each related to the portion of Piedmont owned by The Coca‑Cola Company.

 

Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax

 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax was $2.2 million in the first three quarters of 2018 and $1.3 million in the first three quarters of 2017. The increase was primarily a result of actuarial gains on the Company’s pension plans.

 

Segment Operating Results

 

The Company evaluates segment reporting in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 280, Segment Reporting, each reporting period, including evaluating the reporting package reviewed by the Chief Operation Decision Maker (“CODM”). The Company has concluded the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as a group, represent the CODM. In conjunction with the completion of the System Transformation Transactions in October 2017 and integration of acquired operations, management continues to assess whether changes are necessary to the Company’s reportable segments.

 

The Company believes four operating segments exist. Nonalcoholic Beverages represents the vast majority of the Company’s consolidated revenues, income from operations and assets. The additional three operating segments do not meet the quantitative thresholds for separate reporting, either individually or in the aggregate, and therefore have been combined into “All Other.”

 

The Company’s segment results are as follows:

 

 

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Organic / Adjusted Results

 

The Company reports its financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). However, management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide users with additional meaningful financial information that should be considered when assessing the Company’s ongoing performance. Further, with the transformation of the Company’s business through System Transformation Transactions with The Coca‑Cola Company and the conversion of its information technology systems, the Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures allow users to better appreciate the impact of these transactions on the Company’s performance.

 

Management also uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating and planning decisions and in evaluating the Company’s performance. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company’s non-GAAP financial information does not represent a comprehensive basis of accounting. The following tables reconcile reported GAAP results to organic / adjusted results (non-GAAP):

 

 

 

 

 

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Following is an explanation of non-GAAP adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

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Financial Condition

 

Total assets were $3.07 billion on September 30, 2018, which was a decrease of $0.5 million from December 31, 2017. Net working capital, defined as current assets less current liabilities, was $286.6 million on September 30, 2018, which was an increase of $131.5 million from December 31, 2017.

 

Significant changes in net working capital on September 30, 2018 from December 31, 2017 were as follows:

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Capital Resources

 

The Company’s sources of capital include cash flows from operations, available credit facilities and the issuance of debt and equity securities. The Company has obtained the majority of its long-term debt, other than capital leases, from public markets, private placements and bank facilities. Management believes the Company has sufficient sources of capital available to refinance its maturing debt, finance its business plan, meet its working capital requirements and maintain an appropriate level of capital spending for at least the next 12 months from the issuance of these consolidated condensed financial statements. The amount and frequency of future dividends will be determined by the Company’s Board of Directors in light of the earnings and financial condition of the Company at such time, and no assurance can be given that dividends will be declared or paid in the future.

 

On June 8, 2018, the Company entered into a second amended and restated credit agreement for a five-year unsecured revolving credit facility (as amended, the “Revolving Credit Facility”), which amended and restated its prior credit agreement dated October 16, 2014. The Revolving Credit Facility has an aggregate maximum borrowing capacity of $500 million, which may be increased at the Company’s option to $750 million, subject to obtaining commitments from the lenders and satisfying other conditions specified in the credit agreement. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a floating base rate or a floating Eurodollar rate, at the Company’s option, plus an applicable margin dependent on the Company’s credit ratings. At the Company’s current credit ratings,

 

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the Company must pay an annual facility fee of 0.15% of the lenders’ aggregate commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility. The Revolving Credit Facility has a scheduled maturity date of June 8, 2023. As of September 30, 2018, the Company had borrowed $170.0 million under the Revolving Credit Facility, and therefore had $330.0 million borrowing capacity remaining. The Company currently believes all banks participating in the Revolving Credit Facility have the ability to and will meet any funding requests from the Company.

 

On March 21, 2018, the Company sold $150 million aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2030 to NYL Investors LLC (“NYL”) and certain of its affiliates pursuant to the Note Purchase and Private Shelf Agreement dated March 6, 2018 between the Company, NYL and the other parties thereto (as amended, the “NYL Shelf Facility”). These notes bear interest at 3.96%, payable quarterly in arrears on March 21, June 21, September 21 and December 21 of each year, and will mature on March 21, 2030 unless earlier redeemed by the Company. The Company used the proceeds for general corporate purposes.

 

In February 2017, the Company sold $125 million aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2023 to PGIM, Inc. (“Prudential”) and certain of its affiliates pursuant to the Note Purchase and Private Shelf Agreement dated June 10, 2016 between the Company, Prudential and the other parties thereto (as amended, the “Prudential Shelf Facility”). These notes bear interest at 3.28%, payable semi-annually in arrears on February 27 and August 27 of each year, and will mature on February 27, 2023 unless earlier redeemed by the Company. The Company used the proceeds toward repayment of outstanding indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility and for other general corporate purposes. The Company may request that Prudential consider the purchase of additional senior unsecured notes of the Company under the Prudential Shelf Facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $175 million.

 

In June 2016, the Company entered into a five-year term loan agreement for a senior unsecured term loan facility (as amended, the “Term Loan Facility”) in the aggregate principal amount of $300 million, maturing June 7, 2021. The Company may request additional term loans under the agreement, provided the Company’s aggregate borrowings under the Term Loan Facility do not exceed $500 million. Borrowings under the Term Loan Facility bear interest at a floating base rate or a floating Eurodollar rate, at the Company’s option, plus an applicable margin dependent on the Company’s credit ratings.

 

During the third quarter of 2018, the Company amended each of the Revolving Credit Facility, the NYL Shelf Facility, the Prudential Shelf Facility and the Term Loan Facility to (i) align the calculation of the two financial covenants and certain events of default under each agreement and (ii) with regard to the Term Loan Facility, to revise the calculation of the rates at which borrowings bear interest to conform with the calculation of such rates under the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

Pursuant to the Term Loan Facility and the indenture under which the senior notes due in 2019 were issued, principal payments will be due in the next twelve months. The Company intends to refinance these amounts and has the capacity to do so under the Revolving Credit Facility, which is classified as long-term debt. As such, any amounts due in the next twelve months were classified as non-current as of September 30, 2018. See Note 11 to the consolidated condensed financial statements for additional information on the senior notes due in 2019.

 

The Revolving Credit Facility, the NYL Shelf Facility, the Prudential Shelf Facility and the Term Loan Facility include two financial covenants: a consolidated cash flow/fixed charges ratio and a consolidated funded indebtedness/cash flow ratio, each as defined in the respective agreements. The Company was in compliance with these covenants as of September 30, 2018. These covenants do not currently, and the Company does not anticipate they will, restrict its liquidity or capital resources.

 

The indentures under which the Company’s public debt was issued do not include financial covenants but do limit the incurrence of certain liens and encumbrances as well as indebtedness by the Company’s subsidiaries in excess of certain amounts.

 

All outstanding long-term debt has been issued by the Company and none has been issued by any of its subsidiaries. There are no guarantees of the Company’s debt.

 

The Company’s credit ratings are reviewed periodically by the respective rating agencies. Changes in the Company’s operating results or financial position could result in changes in the Company’s credit ratings. Lower credit ratings could result in higher borrowing costs for the Company or reduced access to capital markets, which could have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. During the second quarter of 2018, Standard & Poor’s reaffirmed the Company’s BBB rating and revised the Company’s rating outlook to negative from stable. Moody’s rating outlook for the Company is currently stable. As of September 30, 2018, the Company’s credit ratings were as follows:

 

 

 

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Total net debt and capital lease obligations as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were as follows:

 

 

 

The Company is subject to interest rate risk on its floating rate debt, including the Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Loan Facility. Assuming no changes in the Company’s financial structure, if market interest rates average 1% more over the next twelve months than the interest rates as of September 30, 2018, interest expense for the next twelve months would increase by approximately $4.6 million.

 

The Company’s only Level 3 asset or liability is the acquisition related contingent consideration liability incurred as a result of the System Transformation Transactions. There were no transfers from Level 1 or Level 2. Fair value adjustments were noncash, and therefore did not impact the Company’s liquidity or capital resources. Following is a summary of the Level 3 activity:

 

 

 

 

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Cash Sources and Uses

 

The primary sources of cash for the Company in the first three quarters of 2018 were debt financings. The primary uses of cash in the first three quarters of 2018 were repayments of debt and additions to property, plant and equipment. The primary sources of cash for the Company in the first three quarters of 2017 were debt financings, the Territory Conversion Fee (as defined below) received from The Coca‑Cola Company and operating activities. The primary uses of cash in the first three quarters of 2017 were repayments of debt, acquisitions of territories and regional manufacturing facilities as part of the System Transformation and additions to property, plant and equipment. A summary of cash-based activity is as follows:

 

 

 

 

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Cash Flows From Operating Activities

 

During the first three quarters of 2018, cash provided by operating activities was $26.0 million, which was a decrease of $176.4 million as compared to the first three quarters of 2017. The decrease was primarily a result of the non-reoccurrence of the Territory Conversion Fee, which was received during the first quarter of 2017, and changes in net working capital, as discussed above.

 

Cash Flows From Investing Activities

 

During the first three quarters of 2018, cash used in investing activities was $106.0 million, which was a decrease of $301.9 million as compared to the first three quarters of 2017. The decrease was driven primarily by the Company’s completion of its System Transformation Transactions in October 2017.

 

Additions to property, plant and equipment were $113.1 million during the first three quarters of 2018. As of September 30, 2018, $4.1 million of additions to property, plant and equipment were accrued in accounts payable, trade. The Company anticipates additions to property, plant and equipment for the remainder of 2018 will be in the range of $25 million to $35 million.

 

Additions to property, plant and equipment during the first three quarters of 2017 were $115.0 million. As of October 1, 2017, $13.7 million of additions to property, plant and equipment were accrued in accounts payable, trade. These additions exclude $161.2 million in property, plant and equipment acquired in System Transformation Transactions and $8.4 million in proceeds from cold drink equipment.

 

Cash Flows From Financing Activities

 

During the first three quarters of 2018, cash provided by financing activities was $72.5 million, which was a decrease of $123.0 million as compared to the first three quarters of 2017. The decrease was primarily driven by a reduced need for capital as a result of the Company’s completion of its System Transformation Transactions in October 2017.

 

The Company had cash payments for acquisition related contingent consideration of $18.3 million during the first three quarters of 2018 and $11.7 million during the first three quarters of 2017. The Company anticipates that the amount it could pay annually under the acquisition related contingent consideration arrangements for the distribution territories acquired in the System Transformation, excluding territories the Company acquired in exchange transactions, will be in the range of $25 million to $47 million.

 

Significant Accounting Policies

 

See Note 1 and Note 2 to the consolidated condensed financial statements for information on the Company’s significant accounting policies.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

The Company is a member of, and has equity ownership in, South Atlantic Canners, Inc. (“SAC”), a manufacturing cooperative comprised of Coca‑Cola bottlers, and has guaranteed $23.9 million of SAC’s debt as of September 30, 2018. The Company does not anticipate SAC will fail to fulfill its commitments related to the debt. The Company further believes SAC has sufficient assets, including production equipment, facilities and working capital, and the ability to adjust selling prices of its products to adequately mitigate the risk of material loss from the Company’s guarantee.

 

In the event SAC fails to fulfill its commitments under the related debt, the Company would be responsible for payment to the lenders up to the level of the guarantee. As of September 30, 2018, the Company’s maximum exposure under the guarantee, if SAC borrowed up to its aggregate borrowing capacity, would have been $32.1 million, including the Company’s equity interests. See Note 15 to the consolidated condensed financial statements for additional information.

 

Hedging Activities

 

The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to movements in certain commodity prices. Fees paid by the Company for derivative instruments are amortized over the corresponding period of the instrument. The Company accounts for its commodity hedges on a mark-to-market basis with any expense or income reflected as an adjustment to cost of sales or S,D&A expenses.

 

The Company uses several different financial institutions for commodity derivative instruments to minimize the concentration of credit risk. The Company has master agreements with the counterparties to its derivative financial agreements that provide for net

 

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settlement of derivative transactions. The net impact of the commodity hedges on the consolidated condensed statements of operations was as follows:

 

 

Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain statements contained in this report, or in other public filings, press releases, or other written or oral communications made by Coca‑Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated or its representatives, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements address, among other things, Company plans, activities or events which the Company expects will or may occur in the future and may include express or implied projections of revenue or expenditures; statements of plans and objectives for future operations, growth or initiatives; statements of future economic performance, including, but not limited to, the state of the economy, capital investment and financing plans, net sales, cost of sales, S,D&A expenses, gross profit, income tax rates, earnings per diluted share, dividends, pension plan contributions, estimated acquisition related contingent consideration payments; or statements regarding the outcome or impact of certain new accounting pronouncements and pending or threatened litigation. These statements include:

 

 

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These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of the words “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “probably,” “should,” “project,” “intend,” “continue,” and other similar terms and expressions. Various risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. Factors, uncertainties and risks that may result in actual results differing from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, those listed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2017, as well as other factors discussed throughout this report, including, without limitation, the factors described under “Significant Accounting Policies” in our consolidated condensed financial statements, or in other filings or statements made by the Company. All of the forward-looking statements in this report and other documents or statements are qualified by these and other factors, risks and uncertainties.

 

Caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements included in this report. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, even if experience or future changes make it clear that projected results expressed or implied in such statements will not be realized, except as may be required by law. In evaluating forward-looking statements, these risks and uncertainties should be considered, together with the other risks described from time to time in the Company’s other reports and documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

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Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

The Company is exposed to certain market risks that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company may enter into derivative financial instrument transactions to manage or reduce market risk. The Company does not enter into derivative financial instrument transactions for trading or speculative purposes. A discussion of the Company’s primary market risk exposure and interest rate risk is presented below.

 

Debt and Derivative Financial Instruments

 

The Company is subject to interest rate risk on its floating rate debt, including the Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Loan Facility. Assuming no changes in the Company’s financial structure, if market interest rates average 1% more over the next twelve months than the interest rates as of September 30, 2018, interest expense for the next twelve months would increase by approximately $4.6 million. This amount was determined by calculating the effect of the hypothetical interest rate on the Company’s variable rate debt. This calculated, hypothetical increase in interest expense for the following twelve months may be different from the actual increase in interest expense from a 1% increase in interest rates due to varying interest rate reset dates on the Company’s floating debt.

 

The Company’s acquisition related contingent consideration, which is adjusted to fair value at each reporting period, is also impacted by changes in interest rates. The risk-free interest rate used to estimate the Company’s WACC is a component of the discount rate used to calculate the present value of future cash flows due under the CBA. As a result, any changes in the underlying risk-free interest rates will impact the fair value of the acquisition related contingent consideration and could materially impact the amount of noncash expense (or income) recorded each reporting period.

 

Raw Material and Commodity Price Risk

 

The Company is also subject to commodity price risk arising from price movements for certain commodities included as part of its raw materials. The Company manages this commodity price risk in some cases by entering into contracts with adjustable prices to hedge commodity purchases. The Company periodically uses derivative commodity instruments in the management of this risk. The Company estimates a 10% increase in the market prices of commodities included as part of its raw materials over the current market prices would cumulatively increase costs during the next 12 months by approximately $56.5 million assuming no change in volume.

 

Fees paid by the Company for agreements to hedge commodity purchases are amortized over the corresponding period of the instruments. The Company accounts for commodity hedges on a mark-to-market basis with any expense or income being reflected as an adjustment to cost of sales or S,D&A expenses.

 

Effects of Changing Prices

 

The annual rate of inflation in the United States, as measured by year-over-year changes in the Consumer Price Index (the “CPI”), was 2.1% in 2017 and 2016. Inflation in the prices of those commodities important to the Company’s business is reflected in changes in the CPI, but commodity prices are volatile and in recent years have moved at a faster rate of change than the CPI.

 

The principal effect of inflation in both commodity and consumer prices on the Company’s operating results is to increase costs, both of goods sold and S,D&A expenses. Although the Company can offset these cost increases by increasing selling prices for its products, consumers may not have the buying power to cover these increased costs and may reduce their volume of purchases of those products. In that event, selling price increases may not be sufficient to offset completely the Company’s cost increases.

 

Item 4.Controls and Procedures.

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) of the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2018.

 

There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

The Company is from time to time a party to various lawsuits, claims and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. With respect to all such lawsuits, claims and proceedings, the Company records reserves when it is probable a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company does not believe that any of these proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, would be expected to have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, financial position or cash flows. The Company maintains liability insurance for certain risks that is subject to certain self-insurance limits.

 

 

There have been no material changes in the Company’s risk factors from those disclosed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10‑K for 2017.

 

 

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* Certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

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