Wintergreen Advisers Comments on Shareholder Opposition to Coca-Cola’s Executive Pay

Earlier today, the Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) announced preliminary results of the shareholder vote at its annual meeting, which showed that nearly 20% of the votes cast were opposed to the resolution to approve executive compensation, compared with 9% a year ago.

David J. Winters, CEO of Wintergreen Advisers, said:

“Last year, Wintergreen challenged Coca-Cola’s pay practices and helped stop management’s big grab for excessive compensation. It is gratifying to see that a year later even more investors have grown impatient with executive compensation that rewards failure.

“The vote should pressure the Coca-Cola board to not only reform pay practices further but to move faster on fixing Coca-Cola’s business. Companies across the consumer sector are dramatically restructuring – when will Coca-Cola take the aggressive steps needed to restore profit growth?”

About Wintergreen Advisers

Established in 2005, Wintergreen is an independent global money manager that employs a research-driven value style in managing global securities. As of March 31, 2015, Wintergreen Advisers had approximately $1.5 billion under management on behalf of individuals and institutions through its mutual fund and other clients, and is based in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey. For further information on Wintergreen Advisers, please visit www.wintergreenadvisers.com.

Additional information regarding Wintergreen’s views on the issues at The Coca-Cola Company may be found at www.FixBigSoda.com. For information, forms and documents regarding Wintergreen’s U.S. mutual fund, please visit www.wintergreenfund.com.