Exhibit 5.1
SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP
FOUR TIMES SQUARE
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| www.skadden.com | HOUSTON |
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| LOS ANGELES |
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| PALO ALTO |
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| WASHINGTON, D.C. |
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| WILMINGTON |
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| BEIJING |
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| BRUSSELS |
| March 5, 2013 | FRANKFURT |
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| HONG KONG |
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| LONDON |
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| MOSCOW |
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| MUNICH |
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| PARIS |
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| SÃO PAULO |
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| SHANGHAI |
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| SINGAPORE |
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| SYDNEY |
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| TOKYO |
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| TORONTO |
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| VIENNA |
The Coca-Cola Company
One Coca-Cola Plaza
Atlanta, Georgia 30313
RE: The Coca-Cola Company — Senior Notes Offering
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to The Coca-Cola Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the public offering of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Notes due 2015, $1,250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 1.150% Notes due 2018 and $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.500% Notes due 2023 (collectively, the “Securities”) to be issued under the Indenture, dated as of April 26, 1988, as amended by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 24, 1992, and the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 1, 2007 (as so amended, the “Indenture”), between the Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (as successor to Bankers Trust Company), as trustee (the “Trustee”). On February 28, 2013, the Company entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), relating to the sale by the Company to the Underwriters of the Securities. The Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Note Certificates (as defined below) are referred to herein collectively as the “Transaction Agreements.”
This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
In rendering the opinions stated herein, we have examined and relied upon the following:
(i) the registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-170331) of the Company relating to the Securities and other securities of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act, on November 4, 2010, allowing for delayed offerings pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act (the “Rules and Regulations”), including information deemed to be a part of the registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Rules and Regulations (such registration statement being hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”);
(ii) an executed copy of the Underwriting Agreement;
(iii) the global certificates evidencing the Securities (the “Note Certificates”) in the form delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication and delivery;
(iv) an executed copy of the Indenture;
(v) an executed copy of a certificate of Gloria K. Bowden, Secretary of the Company, dated the date hereof (the “Secretary’s Certificate”);
(vi) a copy of the action of the Treasurer of the Company, adopted February 28, 2013, including a form of the Note Certificates, as certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate;
(vii) a copy of the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and as in effect on the date hereof, certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate;
(viii) a copy of the Company’s Bylaws, as amended and in effect as of the date hereof, certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate; and
(ix) copies of certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company, adopted on April 21, 1988 and February 21, 2013, and certain resolutions of the Finance Committee thereof, adopted on February 20, 2013, each certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate.
We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Company and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions stated below.
In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures including endorsements, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as facsimile, electronic, certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others and of public officials.
We do not express any opinion with respect to the laws of any jurisdiction other than (i) the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) and (ii) the laws, rules and regulations of the State of New York that, in our experience, are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Transaction Agreements, and, to the extent that judicial or regulatory orders or decrees or consents, approvals, licenses, authorizations, validations, filings, recordings or registrations with governmental authorities are relevant, to those required under such laws (all of the foregoing being referred to as “Opined on Law”). We do not express any opinion as to the effect of any non-Opined on Law on the opinions stated herein.
Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Note Certificates have been duly authorized and executed by the Company, and when duly authenticated by the Trustee and issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefore in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture, the Note Certificates will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
The opinions stated herein are subject to the following qualifications:
(a) the opinions stated herein are limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, preference
and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law);
(b) except to the extent expressly stated in the opinions contained herein, we do not express any opinion with respect to the effect on the opinions stated herein of (i) the compliance or non-compliance of any party to any of the Transaction Agreements with any laws, rules or regulations applicable to such party or (ii) the legal status or legal capacity of any party to any of the Transaction Agreements;
(c) except to the extent expressly stated in the opinions contained herein, we do not express any opinion with respect to any law, rule or regulation that is applicable to any party to any of the Transaction Agreements or the transactions contemplated thereby solely because such law, rule or regulation is part of a regulatory regime applicable to such party or any of its affiliates as a result of the specific assets or business operations of such party or such affiliates; and
(d) to the extent that any opinion relates to the enforceability of the choice of New York law and choice of New York forum provisions contained in any Transaction Agreement, the opinions stated herein are subject to the qualification that such enforceability may be subject to, in each case, (i) the exceptions and limitations in New York General Obligations Law sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 and (ii) principles of comity or constitutionality.
In addition, in rendering the foregoing opinions, we have assumed that neither the execution and delivery by the Company of the Transaction Agreements and delivery by the Company of the Transaction Agreements nor the performance by the Company of its obligations under each of the Transaction Agreements: (i) constitutes or will a violation of, or a default under, any lease, indenture, instrument or other agreement to which the Company or its property is subject, (ii) contravenes or will contravene any order or decree of any governmental authority to which the Company or its property is subject, (iii) violates or will violate any law, rule or regulation to which the Company or its property is subject or (iv) requires the consent, approval, licensing or authorization of, or any filing, recording or registration with, any governmental authority under any law, rule or regulation of any jurisdiction.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K being filed on the date hereof, and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. We also hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Opinions” in the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable law.
| Very truly yours, |
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| /s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP |