UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): March 3, 2006
COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
| Delaware | 0-9286 | 56-0950585 | ||
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| 4100 Coca-Cola Plaza, Charlotte, North Carolina | 28211 | |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (704) 557-4400
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On February 14, 2006, forty-eight Coca-Cola bottler plaintiffs filed suit in United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri against The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. (“CCE”). On February 24, 2006, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding twelve bottlers as plaintiffs. In the lawsuit, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper Bottling Company, et al. vs. The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., Civil Action File No. 06-3056-CV-S, the bottler plaintiffs purport to bring claims for breach of contract and breach of duty and other related claims arising out of CCE’s plan to offer warehouse delivery of PowerAde to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (“Wal-Mart”) within CCE’s territory. The bottler plaintiffs seek preliminary and permanent injunctive relief prohibiting the warehouse delivery of PowerAde and unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
On March 3, 2006, the Company filed a motion seeking permission to intervene in the lawsuit for the limited purpose of opposing the preliminary and permanent injunctive relief sought by the bottler plaintiffs. The Company seeks permission to intervene because it also plans to offer warehouse delivery of PowerAde to Wal-Mart within the Company’s territory and therefore opposes the relief requested by the bottler plaintiffs.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED | ||||
| (REGISTRANT) | ||||
| Date: March 3, 2006 | By: | /s/ Steven D. Westphal | ||
| Steven D. Westphal | ||||
| Principal Financial Officer of the Registrant and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||