NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Aug. 15, 2014--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that its ratings on Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Co., including the 'AA' corporate credit rating, are not affected by its announced purchase of a 16.7% equity stake in Monster and entrance into definitive long-term strategic partnership agreements for a cash payment of $2.15 billion. We expect the transaction to close at the earliest in late 2014 and we anticipate it to be funded with available cash and liquidity, and to be largely leverage neutral. Coca-Cola's corporate credit rating is underpinned by its "excellent" business risk profile and our belief that its credit measures will continue to support a "modest" financial risk profile, including leverage of 2x or
