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Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. - Annual Report: 2014 (Form 10-K)


 
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
 Form 10-K
R
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014
or
£
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from          to          
 Commission file number 001-33829
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
 
98-0517725
(State or other jurisdiction of
 
(I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)
 
identification number)
 
 
 
5301 Legacy Drive, Plano, Texas
 
75024
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip code)
 Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(972) 673-7000
 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class
 
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
COMMON STOCK, $0.01 PAR VALUE
 
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
 Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes R     No o
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 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 R     No o
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 Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  o     
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).  Yes o     No R
 The aggregate market value of the common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant (assuming for these purposes, but without conceding, that all executive officers and directors are "affiliates" of the registrant) as of June 30, 2014, the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was $11,403,612,484 (based on the closing sales price of the registrant's common stock on that date as reported on the New York Stock Exchange).
 As of February 17, 2015, there were 192,962,748 shares of the registrant's common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding.
 DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 Portions of the registrant's definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the registrant's Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 21, 2015 are incorporated by reference in Part III.
 



DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
FORM 10-K
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014

 
 
Page
 
 
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers of the Registrant and Corporate Governance
 
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
 
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
 
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence
 
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
 
 
 
 
 
 


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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements including, in particular, statements about future events, future financial performance including earnings estimates, plans, strategies, expectations, prospects, competitive environment, regulation and availability of raw materials. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as the words "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "plan," "intend" or the negative of these terms or similar expressions in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Our actual financial performance could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of estimates, forecasts and projections, as well as a variety of other risks and uncertainties and other factors, and our financial performance may be better or worse than anticipated. Given these uncertainties, you should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date that they were made. We do not undertake any duty to update the forward-looking statements, and the estimates and assumptions associated with them after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" under "Risks Related to Our Business" and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. These risk factors may not be exhaustive as we operate in a continually changing business environment with new risks emerging from time to time that we are unable to predict or that we currently do not expect to have a material adverse effect on our business. You should carefully read this report in its entirety as it contains important information about our business and the risks we face.
Our forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including:
changes in consumer preferences, trends and health concerns;
the impact of new or proposed beverage taxes or regulations on our business;
the highly competitive markets in which we operate and our ability to compete with companies that have significant financial resources;
maintaining our relationships with our large retail customers;
dependence on third party bottling and distribution companies;
future impairment of our goodwill and other intangible assets;
increases in the cost of employee benefits and withdrawal liabilities associated with multi-employer plans;
changes in the cost of commodities used in our business;
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;
recession, financial and credit market disruptions and other economic conditions;
the need to service our debt;
disruptions to our information systems and third-party service providers;
litigation claims or legal proceedings against us;
shortages of materials used in our business;
substantial disruption at our manufacturing or distribution facilities;
failure to comply with governmental regulations in the countries in which we operate;
weather, climate changes and the availability of water; 
our products meeting health and safety standards or contamination of our products;
fluctuations in our tax obligations;
strikes or work stoppages;
infringement of our intellectual property rights by third parties, intellectual property claims against us or adverse events regarding licensed intellectual property;
the need for substantial investment and restructuring at our manufacturing, distribution and other facilities;
maintaining our relationships with our allied brand owners;
our ability to retain or recruit qualified personnel;
changes in accounting standards; and
other factors discussed in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" under "Risks Related to Our Business" and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


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PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS
OUR COMPANY
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. is a leading integrated brand owner, manufacturer and distributor of non-alcoholic beverages in the United States ("U.S."), Canada and Mexico with a diverse portfolio of flavored (non-cola) carbonated soft drinks ("CSDs") and non-carbonated beverages ("NCBs"), including ready-to-drink teas, juices, juice drinks, water and mixers. We have some of the most recognized beverage brands in North America, with significant consumer awareness levels and long histories that evoke strong emotional connections with consumers. References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to "we", "our", "us", "DPS" or "the Company" refer to Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.
The following provides highlights about our company:
#1 flavored CSD company in the U.S.
Approximately 84% of our volume from brands that are either #1 or #2 in their category
#3 North American liquid refreshment beverage ("LRB") business
$6.1 billion of net sales in 2014 from the U.S. (88%), Canada (4%) and Mexico and the Caribbean (8%)
History of Our Business
We have built our business over the last three decades through a series of strategic acquisitions. In the 1980's through the mid-1990's, we began building on our then-existing Schweppes business by adding brands such as Mott's, Canada Dry and A&W and a license for Sunkist soda. We also acquired the Peñafiel business in Mexico. In 1995, we acquired Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc., having previously made minority investments in the company. In 1999, we acquired a 40% interest in Dr Pepper/Seven Up Bottling Group, Inc., ("DPSUBG"), which was then our largest independent bottler, and increased our interest to 45% in 2005. In 2000, we acquired Snapple and other brands, significantly increasing our share of the U.S. NCB market segment. During 2006 and 2007, we acquired the remaining 55% of DPSUBG and several smaller bottlers and integrated them into our Packaged Beverages segment, thereby expanding our geographic coverage.
We were incorporated in Delaware on October 24, 2007. In 2008, Cadbury Schweppes plc ("Cadbury Schweppes") separated its beverage business in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean (the "Americas Beverages business") from its global confectionery business by contributing the subsidiaries that operated its Americas Beverages business to us.
PRODUCTS AND DISTRIBUTION
We are a leading integrated brand owner, manufacturer and distributor of non-alcoholic beverages in the U.S, Mexico and Canada, and we also distribute our products in the Caribbean. We sold 1.6 billion equivalent 288 fluid ounce cases in 2014. The highlights about our significant brands are as follows:
CSDs
 
 
 
 
 
 #1 in its flavor category and #2 overall flavored CSD in the U.S.
Distinguished by its unique blend of 23 flavors and loyal consumer following
Flavors include regular, diet, cherry and Dr Pepper TEN
Oldest major soft drink in the U.S., introduced in 1885

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Our Core 4 brands
 
 
 
 
   
#1 ginger ale in the U.S. and Canada, which includes regular, diet and Canada Dry TEN
Brand also includes club soda, tonic, sparkling seltzer water and other mixers
Created in Toronto, Canada in 1904 and introduced in the U.S. in 1919
 
 
                      
#2 lemon-lime CSD in the U.S.
Flavors include regular, diet, 7UP TEN and cherry
The original "Un-Cola," created in 1929
 
 
               
#1 root beer in the U.S.
Flavors include regular, diet, A&W TEN and cream soda
A classic all-American beverage first sold at a veteran's parade in 1919
 
 
          
#1 orange CSD in the U.S.
Flavors include orange, diet, grape, strawberry, Sunkist TEN and other fruits
Licensed to us as a CSD by the Sunkist Growers Association since 1986
 
 

Other CSD brands
 
 
 
 
    
#1 grapefruit CSD in the U.S. and a leading grapefruit CSD in Mexico
Founded in 1938
 
 
 
 
                     
#1 carbonated mineral water brand in Mexico
Brand also includes Orangeade, Lemonade, Flavors and Twist
Mexico's oldest mineral water
 
 
                      

#3 orange CSD in the U.S.
Flavors include orange, diet and other fruits
Brand began as the all-natural orange flavor drink in 1906
 
 
          
#2 ginger ale in the U.S. and Canada
Brand includes club soda, tonic, sparkling seltzer water and other mixers
First carbonated beverage in the world, invented in 1783
 
 

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Royal Crown Cola originated in Columbus, Georgia in 1905
Flavors include regular, diet, RC TEN and cherry
 
 
 
 
              
NCBs
 
 
 
 
 
A leading ready-to-drink tea in the U.S.
A full range of tea products including premium (regular and diet) and value teas
Brand also includes premium juices and juice drinks
Founded in Brooklyn, New York in 1972
#1 branded shelf-stable fruit punch brand in the U.S.
Brand includes a variety of fruit flavored and reduced calorie juice drinks
Developed originally as an ice cream topping known as "Leo's Hawaiian Punch" in 1934
 
 
#1 branded apple juice and #1 apple sauce brand in the U.S.
Juice products include apple and other fruit juices and Mott's for Tots
Apple sauce products include regular, unsweetened and flavored
Brand began as a line of apple cider and vinegar offerings in 1842
A leading spicy tomato juice brand in the U.S., Canada and Mexico
Key ingredient in Canada's popular cocktail, the Bloody Caesar, and mixed with beer in Mexico
Brand includes seafood blend and clamato shrimp
Created in 1969
              
Brand of water which includes Frutal and Figura
Created in 1993 in Guadalajara, Mexico
 
 
 
 
  
#1 portfolio of mixer brands in the U.S.
#1 Bloody Mary brand (Mr & Mrs T) in the U.S.
Leading mixers (Margaritaville and Rose's) in their flavor categories
 
 
_______________________________________________________
The market and industry data in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is from independent industry sources, including The Nielsen Company ("Nielsen") and Beverage Digest. See "Market and Industry Data" below for further information.
All information regarding our brand market positions in the U.S. is from Nielsen and is based on retail dollar sales in 2014.

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The Sunkist soda logo is a registered trademark of Sunkist Growers, Inc. The Rose's logo is a registered trademark of Cadbury Ireland Limited, which was acquired by Mondelēz International, Inc. ("Mondelēz") (formerly known as Kraft Foods, Inc.) on February 2, 2010. The Margaritaville logo is a registered trademark of Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC. Each of these logos are used by us under license.
All other logos in the table above are registered trademarks of DPS or its subsidiaries.
In the CSD market in the U.S. and Canada, we participate primarily in the flavored CSD category. Our key brands are Dr Pepper, Canada Dry, 7UP, A&W, Crush, Sunkist soda, Schweppes, RC Cola, Squirt and we also sell regional and smaller niche brands. In the CSD market, we distribute finished beverages and manufacture beverage concentrates and fountain syrups. Beverage concentrates are highly concentrated proprietary flavors used to make syrup or finished beverages. We manufacture beverage concentrates that are used by our own Packaged Beverages and Latin America Beverages segments, as well as sold to third party bottling companies. According to Nielsen, we had a 20.5% share of the U.S. CSD market in 2014 (measured by retail sales), which decreased 0.2% compared to 2013. We also manufacture fountain syrup that we sell to the foodservice industry directly, through bottlers or through third parties.
In the NCB market segment in the U.S., we participate primarily in the ready-to-drink tea, juice, juice drinks, water and mixer categories. Our key NCB brands are Hawaiian Punch, Snapple, Mott's, and Clamato, and we also sell regional and smaller niche brands. We manufacture most of our NCBs as ready-to-drink beverages and distribute them through our own distribution network and through third parties or direct to our customers' warehouses. In addition to NCB beverages, we also manufacture Mott's apple sauce as a finished product.
In Mexico and the Caribbean, we participate primarily in the carbonated mineral water, flavored CSDs, bottled water and vegetable juice categories. Our key brands in Mexico include Peñafiel, Squirt, Aguafiel, Clamato and Crush. In Mexico, we manufacture and sell our brands through both our own manufacturing and distribution operations as well as third party bottlers. In the Caribbean, we distribute our products solely through third party distributors and bottlers. We have also begun to distribute certain products in other international jurisdictions through various third party bottlers and distributors.
In 2014, we manufactured and/or distributed approximately 51% of our total products sold in the U.S. (as measured by volume). In addition, our businesses manufacture and/or distribute a variety of brands owned by third parties in specified licensed geographic territories.
OUR STRENGTHS
 The key strengths of our business are:
Strong portfolio of leading, consumer-preferred brands.  We own a diverse portfolio of well-known CSD and NCB brands. Many of our brands enjoy high levels of consumer awareness, preference and loyalty rooted in their rich heritage, which drive their market positions. Our diverse portfolio provides our bottlers, distributors and retailers with a wide variety of products and provides us with a platform for growth and profitability. We are the #1 flavored CSD company in the U.S. Our largest brand, Dr Pepper, is the #2 flavored CSD in the U.S., according to Nielsen, and our Snapple brand is a leading ready-to-drink tea. Overall, in 2014, approximately 84% of our volume was generated by brands that hold either the #1 or #2 position in their category. The strength of our significant brands has allowed us to launch innovations and brand extensions such as our Mott’s Fruit Punch Rush, Wild Grape Surge and Strawberry Boom and a new line of Schweppes sparkling waters in 2014. We also began test marketing new Naturally Sweetened Dr Pepper, Canada Dry and 7UP, which contain 60 calories per 12oz can, and are sweetened with real sugar and the latest generation of stevia blends.

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Integrated business model.  Our integrated business model provides opportunities for net sales and profit growth through the alignment of the economic interests of our brand ownership and our manufacturing and distribution businesses. For example, we can focus on maximizing profitability for our company as a whole rather than focusing on profitability generated from either the sale of beverage concentrates or the bottling and distribution of our products. Additionally, our integrated business model enables us to be more flexible and responsive to the changing needs of our large retail customers by coordinating sales, service, distribution, promotions and product launches and allows us to more fully leverage our scale and reduce costs by creating greater geographic manufacturing and distribution coverage. Our manufacturing and distribution system in the U.S. also enables us to improve focus on our brands, especially certain brands such as 7UP, Sunkist soda, A&W, Squirt, RC Cola, Hawaiian Punch and Snapple, which do not have a large presence in the bottler systems affiliated with The Coca-Cola Company ("Coca-Cola") or PepsiCo, Inc. ("PepsiCo").
Strong customer relationships.  Our brands have enjoyed long-standing relationships with many of our top customers. We sell our products to a wide range of customers, from bottlers and distributors to national retailers, large food service and convenience store customers. We have strong relationships with some of the largest bottlers and distributors, including those affiliated with Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, some of the largest and most important retailers, including Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ("WalMart"), The Kroger Co., SUPERVALU, Inc., Safeway Inc., Publix Super Markets, Inc. and Target Corporation, some of the largest food service customers, including McDonald's Corporation, Yum! Brands, Inc., Burger King Corp., Sonic Corp., The Wendy's Company, Subway Restaurants, Jack in the Box, Inc., Chick-fil-A, Inc., Whataburger Restaurants LLC and Arby's Group, Inc., and convenience store customers, including 7-Eleven, Inc., Circle K Enterprises, Inc. and OXXO. Our portfolio of strong brands, operational scale and experience across beverage segments has enabled us to maintain strong relationships with our customers.
Attractive positioning within a large and profitable market.  We hold the #1 position in the U.S. flavored CSD beverage markets by volume according to Beverage Digest. We are also a leader in the Canada and Mexico beverage markets. Our portfolio of products is biased toward flavored CSDs, which continue to gain market share versus cola CSDs, but also focuses on emerging categories such as teas and juices. We believe marketing and product innovations that target fast growing population segments, such as the Hispanic community in the U.S., could drive market growth.
Broad geographic manufacturing and distribution coverage.  As of December 31, 2014, we had 19 manufacturing facilities and 106 principal distribution centers and warehouse facilities in the U.S., as well as two manufacturing facilities and 12 principal distribution centers and warehouse facilities in Mexico. These facilities use a variety of manufacturing processes. We have strategically located manufacturing and distribution capabilities, enabling us to better align our operations with our customers, reduce transportation costs and have greater control over the timing and coordination of new product launches. In addition, our warehouses are generally located at or near bottling plants and geographically dispersed to ensure our products are available to meet consumer demand. We actively manage transportation of our products using our own fleet of approximately 4,500 and 1,500 vehicles in the U.S. and Mexico, respectively, and third party logistics providers on a selected basis.
Strong operating margins and stable cash flows.  The breadth of our brand portfolio has enabled us to generate strong operating margins which have delivered stable cash flows. These cash flows enable us to consider a variety of alternatives, such as investing in our business, repurchasing shares of our common stock, paying dividends to our stockholders and reducing our debt. As a result of our stable cash flows and the reduction of our capital expenditures, we have been able to increase our dividends each year in order to return more cash to our stockholders.
Experienced executive management team.  Our executive management team has over 200 years of collective experience in the food and beverage industry. The team has broad experience in brand ownership, manufacturing and distribution, and enjoys strong relationships both within the industry and with major customers. In addition, our management team has diverse skills that support our operating strategies, including driving organic growth through targeted and efficient marketing, improving productivity of our operations, aligning manufacturing and distribution interests and executing strategic acquisitions.
OUR STRATEGY
 The key elements of our business strategy are to:
Build our brands.  We have a well-defined portfolio strategy to allocate our marketing and sales resources. We use an on-going process of market and consumer analysis to identify key brands that we believe have the greatest potential for profitable sales growth. We continue to invest most heavily in our key brands to drive profitable and sustainable growth by strengthening consumer awareness, developing innovative products and extending brands to take advantage of evolving consumer trends, improving distribution and increasing promotional effectiveness. We also focus on new distribution agreements for emerging, high-growth third party brands in new categories that can use our manufacturing and distribution network. We can provide these new brands with distribution capability and resources to grow, and they provide us with exposure to growing segments of the market with relatively low risk and capital investment.

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Execute with excellence.  We are focused on improving our product presence in high margin channels, such as convenience stores, vending machines and small independent retail outlets, through increased selling activity and repositioning our investments in coolers and other cold drink equipment to locations that provide a better return on our investment. We also intend to increase demand for high margin products like single-serve packages for many of our key brands through increased in-store activity.
We believe our integrated brand ownership, manufacturing and distribution business model provides us opportunities for net sales and profit growth through the alignment of the economic interests of our brand ownership and our manufacturing and distribution businesses. We intend to continue leveraging our integrated business model to reduce costs by creating greater geographic manufacturing and distribution coverage and to be more flexible and responsive to the changing needs of our large retail customers by coordinating sales, service, distribution, promotions and product launches.
Strengthening our route-to-market will ensure the ongoing health of our brands. We continue to invest in information technology ("IT") to improve route productivity and data integrity and standards. With third party bottlers, we continue to deliver programs that maintain priority for our brands in their systems.
Rapid Continuous Improvement.  We have been able to create multi-product manufacturing facilities which provide a region with a wide variety of our products at reduced transportation and co-packing costs. In 2011, we launched our Rapid Continuous Improvement ("RCI") initiative, which uses Lean and Six Sigma methods to deliver customer value and improve productivity. We believe RCI is a means to achieve net income growth and increase the amount of cash returned to our stockholders.
OUR BUSINESS OPERATIONS
 As of December 31, 2014, our operating structure consists of three business segments: Beverage Concentrates, Packaged Beverages and Latin America Beverages. Segment financial data for 2014, 2013 and 2012, including financial information about foreign and domestic operations, is included in Note 22 of the Notes to our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements.
Beverage Concentrates
Our Beverage Concentrates segment is principally a brand ownership business. In this segment we manufacture and sell beverage concentrates in the U.S. and Canada. Most of the brands in this segment are CSD brands. In 2014, our Beverage Concentrates segment had net sales of approximately $1,228 million. Key brands include Dr Pepper, Canada Dry, Crush, Schweppes, Sunkist soda, 7UP, A&W, Sun Drop, RC Cola, Squirt, Diet Rite, Vernors and the concentrate form of Hawaiian Punch.
 We are the industry leader in flavored CSDs with a 38.8% market share in the U.S. for 2014 as measured by retail sales according to Nielsen. We are also the third largest CSD brand owner as measured by 2014 retail sales in the U.S. and Canada and we own a leading brand in most of the CSD categories in which we compete.
Almost all of our beverage concentrates are manufactured at our plant in St. Louis, Missouri.
Beverage concentrates are shipped to third party bottlers, as well as to our own manufacturing systems, who combine them with carbonation, water, sweeteners and other ingredients, package the combined product in PET containers, glass bottles and aluminum cans, and sell them as a finished beverage to retailers. Beverage concentrates are also manufactured into syrup, which is shipped to fountain customers, such as fast food restaurants, who mix the syrup with water and carbonation to create a finished beverage at the point of sale to consumers. Dr Pepper represents most of our fountain channel volume. Concentrate prices historically have been reviewed and adjusted at least on an annual basis.
Our Beverage Concentrates brands are sold by our bottlers, including our own Packaged Beverages segment, through all major retail channels including supermarkets, fountains, mass merchandisers, club stores, vending machines, convenience stores, gas stations, small groceries, drug chains and dollar stores. Unlike the majority of our other CSD brands, 59% of Dr Pepper volumes are distributed through the Coca-Cola affiliated and PepsiCo affiliated bottler systems.
PepsiCo and Coca-Cola are the two largest customers of the Beverage Concentrates segment, and constituted approximately 27% and 21%, respectively, of the segment's net sales during 2014.

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Packaged Beverages
Our Packaged Beverages segment is principally a brand ownership, manufacturing and distribution business. In this segment, we primarily manufacture and distribute packaged beverages and other products, including our brands, third party owned brands and certain private label beverages, in the U.S. and Canada. In 2014 our Packaged Beverages segment had net sales of approximately $4,361 million. Key NCB brands in this segment include Snapple, Hawaiian Punch, Mott's, Clamato, Yoo-Hoo, FIJI mineral water, Deja Blue, AriZona tea, ReaLemon, Mr and Mrs T mixers, Vita Coco coconut water, Nantucket Nectars, Mistic Garden Cocktail, Bai 5 and Rose's. Key CSD brands in this segment include 7UP, Dr Pepper, A&W, Canada Dry, Sunkist soda, Squirt, RC Cola, Big Red, Vernors, Diet Rite and Sun Drop. 
Approximately 83% of our 2014 Packaged Beverages net sales of branded products come from our own brands, with the remaining from the distribution of third party brands such as Big Red, FIJI mineral water, AriZona tea, Vita Coco coconut water, Bai 5, Neuro beverages, Sparkling Fruit2O and Hydrive energy drinks. A portion of our sales also comes from bottling beverages and other products for private label owners or others, which is also referred to as contract manufacturing. Although the majority of our Packaged Beverages' net sales relate to our brands, we also provide a route-to-market for these third party brand owners seeking effective distribution for their new and emerging brands. These brands give us exposure in certain markets to fast growing segments of the beverage industry with minimal capital investment.
Our Packaged Beverages' products are manufactured in multiple facilities across the U.S. and are sold or distributed to retailers and their warehouses by our own distribution network or by third party distributors. The raw materials used to manufacture our products include aluminum cans and ends, glass bottles, PET bottles and caps, paper products, sweeteners, juices, water and other ingredients.
We sell our Packaged Beverages' products both through our Direct Store Delivery system ("DSD") and our Warehouse Direct delivery system ("WD"), both of which include the sales to all major retail channels, including supermarkets, fountain channel, mass merchandisers, club stores, vending machines, convenience stores, gas stations, small groceries, drug chains and dollar stores.
In 2014, WalMart, the largest customer of our Packaged Beverages segment, accounted for approximately 16% of our net sales in this segment.
Latin America Beverages
Our Latin America Beverages segment is a brand ownership, manufacturing and distribution business. This segment participates mainly in the carbonated mineral water, flavored CSD, bottled water and vegetable juice categories, with particular strength in carbonated mineral water, vegetable juice categories and grapefruit flavored CSDs. In 2014, our Latin America Beverages segment had net sales of $532 million, with our operations in Mexico representing approximately 91% of the net sales of this segment. Key brands include Peñafiel, Squirt, Aguafiel, Clamato, and Crush.
In Mexico, we manufacture and distribute our products through our bottling operations and third party bottlers and distributors. In the Caribbean, we distribute our products through third party bottlers and distributors. We have also begun to distribute certain products in other international jurisdictions through various third party bottlers and distributors. In Mexico, we also participate in a joint venture to manufacture Aguafiel brand water with Acqua Minerale San Benedetto. We provide expertise in the Mexican beverage market and Acqua Minerale San Benedetto provides expertise in water production and new packaging technologies.
We sell our finished beverages through all major Mexican retail channels, including "mom and pop" stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets and on premise channels.
BOTTLER AND DISTRIBUTOR AGREEMENTS
In the U.S. and Canada, we generally grant perpetual, exclusive license agreements for CSD brands and packages to bottlers for specific geographic areas. Many of our brands such as Snapple, Mistic, Nantucket Nectars, Yoo-Hoo and Orangina, are licensed for distribution in various territories to bottlers and a number of smaller distributors such as beer wholesalers, wine and spirit distributors, independent distributors and retail brokers. These agreements prohibit bottlers and distributors from selling the licensed products outside their exclusive territory and selling any imitative products in that territory. Generally, we may terminate bottling and distribution agreements only for cause or change in control and the bottler or distributor may terminate without cause upon giving certain specified notice and complying with other applicable conditions. Fountain agreements for bottlers generally are not exclusive for a territory, but do restrict bottlers from carrying imitative product in the territory.

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Agreements with PepsiCo and Coca-Cola
On February 26, 2010, we completed the licensing of certain brands to PepsiCo following PepsiCo's acquisition of Pepsi Bottling Group and PepsiAmericas, Inc. The agreements have an initial period of 20 years with automatic 20-year renewal periods and require PepsiCo to meet certain performance conditions.
On October 4, 2010, we completed the licensing of certain brands to Coca-Cola following Coca-Cola's acquisition of Coca-Cola Enterprises' North American Bottling Business and executed separate agreements pursuant to which Coca-Cola began offering Dr Pepper and Diet Dr Pepper in local fountain accounts and its Freestyle fountain program. The agreements have an initial period of 20 years with automatic 20-year renewal periods and require Coca-Cola to meet certain performance conditions.
Under a separate agreement, Coca-Cola has agreed to include Dr Pepper and Diet Dr Pepper brands in its Freestyle fountain program. The Freestyle fountain program agreement has a period of 20 years.
CUSTOMERS
We primarily serve two groups of customers: 1) bottlers and distributors and 2) retailers.
Bottlers buy beverage concentrates from us and, in turn, they manufacture, bottle, sell and distribute finished beverages. Bottlers also manufacture and distribute syrup for the fountain foodservice channel. In addition, bottlers and distributors purchase finished beverages from us and sell them to retail and other customers. We have strong relationships with bottlers affiliated with Coca-Cola and PepsiCo primarily because of the strength and market position of our key Dr Pepper brand.
Retailers also buy finished beverages directly from us. Our portfolio of strong brands, operational scale and experience in the beverage industry have enabled us to maintain strong relationships with major retailers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In 2014, our largest retailer was WalMart, representing approximately 12% of our consolidated net sales.
SEASONALITY
The beverage market is subject to some seasonal variations. Our beverage sales are generally higher during the warmer months and also can be influenced by the timing of holidays as well as weather fluctuations.
COMPETITION
The LRB industry is highly competitive and continues to evolve in response to changing consumer preferences. Competition is generally based upon brand recognition, taste, quality, price, availability, selection and convenience. We compete with multinational corporations with significant financial resources. Our two largest competitors in the LRB market are Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, which collectively represent approximately 60% of the U.S. LRB market by volume, according to Beverage Digest. We also compete against other large companies, including Nestlé, S.A. ("Nestle"), Kraft Foods Group, Inc. ("Kraft Foods") and The Campbell Soup Company ("Campbell Soup"). These competitors can use their resources and scale to rapidly respond to competitive pressures and changes in consumer preferences by introducing new products, reducing prices or increasing promotional activities. As a bottler and manufacturer, we also compete with a number of smaller bottlers and distributors and a variety of smaller, regional and private label manufacturers, such as The Cott Corporation ("Cott"). Smaller companies may be more innovative, better able to bring new products to market and better able to quickly exploit and serve niche markets. Other bottlers and manufacturers could also expand their contract manufacturing. We have lower exposure to some of the faster growing non-carbonated and bottled water segments in the overall LRB market. In Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, we compete with many of these same international companies as well as a number of regional competitors.
Although these bottlers and distributors are our competitors, many of these companies are also our customers as they purchase beverage concentrates from us.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND TRADEMARKS
Our Intellectual Property.  We possess a variety of intellectual property rights that are important to our business. We rely on a combination of trademarks, copyrights, patents and trade secrets to safeguard our proprietary rights, including our brands and ingredient and production formulas for our products.

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Our Trademarks.  Our trademark portfolio includes approximately 2,200 registrations and applications in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and other countries. Brands we own through various subsidiaries in various jurisdictions include Dr Pepper, Canada Dry, 7UP, Squirt, Peñafiel, Crush, A&W, Schweppes, RC Cola, Sun Drop, Venom, Hawaiian Punch, Snapple, Mott's, Clamato, Aguafiel, Deja Blue, Mistic, ReaLemon, Mr & Mrs T and Nantucket Nectars. We own trademark registrations for most of these brands in the U.S., and we own trademark registrations for some but not all of these brands in Canada, Mexico and other countries. We also own trademark registrations for a number of smaller regional brands. Some of our other trademark registrations are in countries where we do not currently have any significant level of business. In addition, in many countries outside the U.S., Canada and Mexico, our rights to many of our CSD brands, including our Dr Pepper trademark and formula, were sold by Cadbury Schweppes beginning over a decade ago to third parties including, in certain cases, to competitors such as Coca-Cola.
Trademarks Licensed from Others.  We license various trademarks from third parties, which generally allow us to manufacture and distribute certain products or brands throughout the U.S. and/or Canada and Mexico. For example, we license from third parties the Sunkist soda, Country Time, Stewart's, Rose's, Orangina and Margaritaville trademarks. Although these licenses vary in length and other terms, they generally are long-term, cover the entire U.S. and/or Canada and Mexico and generally include a royalty payment to the licensor.
Licensed Distribution Rights.  We have rights in certain territories to bottle and/or distribute various brands we do not own, such as Big Red, FIJI mineral water, AriZona tea, Vita Coco coconut water, Bai 5, Neuro beverages, Sparkling Fruit2O and Hydrive energy drinks. Some of these arrangements are relatively shorter in term and limited in geographic scope, and the licensor may be able to terminate the agreement upon an agreed period of notice, in some cases without payment to us.
Intellectual Property We License to Others.  We license some of our intellectual property, including trademarks, to others. For example, we license the Dr Pepper trademark to certain companies for use in connection with food, confectionery and other products. We also license certain brands, such as Dr Pepper and Snapple, to third parties for use in beverages in certain countries where we own the brand but do not otherwise operate our business.
MARKETING
Our marketing strategy is to grow our brands through continuously providing new solutions to meet consumers' changing preferences and needs. We identify these preferences and needs and then develop innovative consumer and shopper programs to address the opportunities. Solutions include new and reformulated products, improved packaging design, pricing and enhanced availability. We use advertising, sponsorships, merchandising, public relations, promotions and social media to provide maximum impact for our brands and messages. We also apply a marketing return on investment analysis to ensure we focus our marketing spend in a manner to drive profitable and sustainable growth in our key brands.
MANUFACTURING
As of December 31, 2014, we operated 21 manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and Mexico. Almost all of our CSD beverage concentrates are manufactured at a single plant in St. Louis, Missouri. All of our manufacturing facilities are either regional manufacturing facilities, with the capacity and capabilities to manufacture many brands and packages, facilities with particular capabilities that are dedicated to certain brands or products, or smaller bottling plants with a more limited range of packaging capabilities.
We have a variety of production capabilities, including hot-fill, cold-fill and aseptic bottling processes, and we manufacture beverages in a variety of packaging materials, including aluminum, glass and PET cans and bottles and a variety of package formats, including single-serve and multi-serve packages and "bag-in-box" fountain syrup packaging.
In 2014, 90% of our manufactured volumes came from our brands and 10% from third party and private-label products. We also use third party manufacturers to package our products for us on a limited basis.


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WAREHOUSING AND DISTRIBUTION
As of December 31, 2014, our distribution network consisted of 106 principal distribution centers and warehouses in the U.S. and 12 principal distribution centers and warehouses in Mexico. Our warehouses are generally located at or near bottling plants and are geographically dispersed to ensure product is available to meet consumer demand. We actively manage the sale, merchandising and transportation of our products using a combination of our own fleet of approximately 4,500 and 1,500 vehicles in the U.S. and Mexico, respectively, and third party logistics providers on a selected basis.
RAW MATERIALS
The principal raw materials we use in our business are aluminum cans and ends, glass bottles, PET bottles and caps, paper products, sweeteners, juice, fruit, water and other ingredients. The cost of such raw materials can fluctuate substantially. In addition, we are significantly impacted by changes in fuel costs due to the large truck fleet we operate in our distribution businesses.
Under many of our supply arrangements for these raw materials, the price we pay fluctuates along with certain changes in underlying commodities costs, such as aluminum in the case of cans, natural gas in the case of glass bottles, resin in the case of PET bottles and caps, corn in the case of sweeteners and pulp in the case of paperboard packaging. When appropriate, we mitigate the exposure to volatility in the prices of certain commodities used in our production process through the use of forward contracts and supplier pricing agreements. The intent of the contracts and agreements is to provide a certain level of short-term predictability in our operating margins and our overall cost structure, while remaining in what we believe to be a competitive cost position.
Manufacturing costs for our Packaged Beverages segment, where we manufacture and bottle finished beverages, are higher as a percentage of our net sales than our Beverage Concentrates segment as the Packaged Beverages segment requires the purchase of a much larger portion of the packaging and ingredients. Although we have contracts with a relatively small number of suppliers, we have generally not experienced any difficulties in obtaining the required amount of raw materials.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Our research and development team is composed of scientists and engineers in the U.S. and Mexico who are focused on developing high quality products which have broad consumer appeal, can be sold at competitive prices and can be safely and consistently produced across a diverse manufacturing network. Our research and development team engages in activities relating to product development, microbiology, analytical chemistry, process engineering, sensory science, nutrition, knowledge management and regulatory compliance. We have particular expertise in flavors and sweeteners, which allows us to focus our research in areas of importance to the industry, such as new sweetener development. Research and development costs are expensed when incurred and amounted to $18 million, $21 million and $21 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. These expenses are recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Income.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
We use a variety of IT systems and networks configured to meet our business needs. Our primary IT data center is hosted in Toronto, Canada by a third party provider. We also use a third party vendor for application support and maintenance, which is based in India and provides resources offshore and onshore.
EMPLOYEES
At December 31, 2014, we employed approximately 19,000 employees.
In the U.S., we have approximately 16,000 full-time employees. We have union collective bargaining agreements covering approximately 4,000 full-time employees. Several agreements cover multiple locations. These agreements address working conditions as well as wage rates and benefits. In Mexico and the Caribbean, we employ approximately 3,000 full-time employees, with approximately 2,000 employees party to collective bargaining agreements. We do not have a significant number of employees in Canada.
We believe we have good relations with our employees.

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REGULATORY MATTERS
We are subject to a variety of federal, state and local laws and regulations in the countries in which we do business. Regulations apply to many aspects of our business, including our products and their ingredients, manufacturing, safety, labeling, transportation, recycling, advertising and sale. For example, our products and their manufacturing, labeling, marketing and sale in the U.S. are subject to various aspects of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Lanham Act, state consumer protection laws and state warning and labeling laws. In Canada and Mexico, the manufacture, distribution, marketing and sale of our many products are also subject to similar statutes and regulations. Additionally, the government of Mexico enacted broad based tax reform, including a one peso per liter tax on the manufacturing of certain sugar-sweetened beverages, which went into effect January 1, 2014, as a result of concerns about the public health consequences and health care costs associated with obesity.
We and our bottlers use various refillable and non-refillable, recyclable bottles and cans in the U.S. and other countries. Various states and other authorities require deposits, eco-taxes or fees on certain containers. Similar legislation or regulations may be proposed in the future at local, state and federal levels, both in the U.S. and elsewhere. In Mexico, the government has encouraged the soft drink industry to comply voluntarily with collection and recycling programs of plastic material, and we are in compliance with these programs.
ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY MATTERS
In the normal course of our business, we are subject to a variety of federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. We maintain environmental, health and safety policies and a quality, environmental, health and safety program designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The cost of such compliance measures does not have a material financial impact on our operations.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
Our web site address is www.drpeppersnapplegroup.com. Information on our web site is not incorporated by reference in this document. We make available, free of charge through this web site, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.
MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA
The market and industry data in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is from independent industry sources, including Nielsen and Beverage Digest. Although we believe that these independent sources are reliable, we have not verified the accuracy or completeness of this data or any assumptions underlying such data.
Nielsen is a marketing information provider, primarily serving consumer packaged goods manufacturers and retailers. We use Nielsen data as our primary management tool to track market performance because it has broad and deep data coverage, is based on consumer transactions at retailers, and is reported to us monthly. Nielsen data provides measurement and analysis of marketplace trends such as market share, retail pricing, promotional activity and distribution across various channels, retailers and geographies. Measured categories provided to us by Nielsen Scantrack include CSDs, energy drinks, single-serve bottled water, non-alcoholic mixers and NCBs, including ready-to-drink teas, single-serve and multi-serve juice and juice drinks, and sports drinks. Nielsen also provides data on other food items such as apple sauce. Nielsen data we present in this report is from Nielsen's Scantrack service, which compiles data based on scanner transactions in key retail channels, including grocery stores, mass merchandisers (including WalMart), drug chains, convenience stores and gas stations. However, this data does not include the fountain or vending channels, or small independent retail outlets, which together represent a meaningful portion of the U.S. LRB market and of our net sales and volume.
Beverage Digest is an independent beverage research company that publishes an annual Beverage Digest Fact Book. We use Beverage Digest primarily to track market share information and broad beverage and channel trends. This annual publication provides a compilation of data supplied by beverage companies. Beverage Digest covers the following categories: CSDs, energy drinks, bottled water and NCBs (including ready-to-drink teas, juice and juice drinks and sports drinks). Beverage Digest data does not include multi-serve juice products or bottled water in packages of 1.5 liters or more. Data is reported for certain sales channels, including grocery stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, drug chains, convenience stores, gas stations, fountains, vending machines and the "up-and-down-the-street" channel consisting of small independent retail outlets.

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We use both Nielsen and Beverage Digest to assess both our own and our competitors' performance and market share in the U.S. Different market share rankings can result for a specific beverage category depending on whether data from Nielsen or Beverage Digest is used, in part because of the differences in the sales channels reported by each source. For example, because the fountain channel (where we have a relatively small business except for Dr Pepper) is not included in Nielsen data, our market share using Nielsen data is generally higher for our CSD portfolio than the Beverage Digest data, which does include the fountain channel.
In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, all information regarding the beverage market in the U.S. is from Beverage Digest, and, except as otherwise indicated, is from 2013. All information regarding our brand market positions in the U.S. is from Nielsen and is based on retail dollar sales in 2014.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS
In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the risks described below, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. Any of the following risks, as well as other risks and uncertainties, could harm our business and financial condition. 
We may not effectively respond to changing consumer preferences, trends, health concerns and other factors.
Consumers' preferences can change due to a variety of factors, including the age and ethnic demographics of the population, social trends, negative publicity, economic downturn or other factors. For example, consumers are increasingly concerned about health and wellness, focusing on the caloric intake associated with regular CSDs and the use of artificial sweeteners in diet CSDs. As such, the demand for CSDs has decreased as consumers have shifted towards NCBs, such as water, ready-to-drink teas and sports drinks. If we do not effectively anticipate these trends and changing consumer preferences, then quickly develop new products in response, our sales could suffer. Developing and launching new products can be risky and expensive. We may not be successful in responding to changing markets and consumer preferences, and some of our competitors may be better able to respond to these changes, either of which could negatively affect our business and financial performance.
New or proposed beverage taxes or regulations could impact our sales.
During the fourth quarter of 2013, the government of Mexico enacted broad based tax reform, including a one peso per liter tax on the manufacturing of certain sugar-sweetened beverages, which went into effect January 1, 2014, as a result of concerns about the public health consequences and health care costs associated with obesity. During the fourth quarter of 2014, the city of Berkeley, California enacted a one cent per ounce tax on the distribution of certain sugar-sweetened beverages, which went into effect January 1, 2015. Federal, state, and other local and foreign governments could also impose taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages as a result of these concerns. Additionally, local and regional governments and school boards have enacted, or have proposed to enact, regulations restricting the sale of certain types or sizes of soft drinks in municipalities and schools as a result of these concerns. Any changes of regulations or imposed taxes may reduce consumer demand for our products or could cause us to raise our prices, both of which could have a material adverse effect on our profitability and negatively affect our business and financial performance.
We operate in highly competitive markets.
The LRB industry is highly competitive and continues to evolve in response to changing consumer preferences. Competition is generally based upon brand recognition, taste, quality, price, availability, selection and convenience. Brand recognition can also be impacted by the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns and marketing programs, as well as our use of social media. We compete with multinational corporations with significant financial resources. Our two largest competitors in the LRB market are Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, which represent approximately 60% of the U.S. LRB market by volume, according to Beverage Digest. We also compete against other large companies, including Nestle, Kraft Foods and Campbell Soup. These competitors can use their resources and scale to rapidly respond to competitive pressures and changes in consumer preferences by introducing new products, changing their route to market, reducing prices or increasing promotional activities. As a bottler and manufacturer, we also compete with a number of smaller bottlers and distributors and a variety of smaller, regional and private label manufacturers, such as Cott. Smaller companies may be more innovative, better able to bring new products to market and better able to quickly exploit and serve niche markets. We also compete for contract manufacturing with other bottlers and manufacturers. We have lower exposure to energy drinks, some of the faster growing NCBs and the bottled water segments in the overall LRB market. In Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, we compete with many of these same international companies as well as a number of regional competitors.

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If we are unable to compete effectively, our sales could decline. As a result, we would potentially reduce our prices or increase our spending on marketing, advertising and product innovation. Any of these could negatively affect our business and financial performance.
We depend on a small number of large retailers for a significant portion of our sales.
Food and beverage retailers in the U.S. have been consolidating, resulting in large, sophisticated retailers with increased buying power. They are in a better position to resist our price increases and demand lower prices. They also have leverage to require us to provide larger, more tailored promotional and product delivery programs. If we and our bottlers and distributors do not successfully provide appropriate marketing, product, packaging, pricing and service to these retailers, our product availability, sales and margins could suffer. Certain retailers make up a significant percentage of our products' retail volume, including volume sold by our bottlers and distributors. Some retailers also offer their own private label products that compete with some of our brands. The loss of sales of any of our products by a major retailer could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial performance.
We depend on third party bottling and distribution companies for a portion of our business.
Net sales from our Beverage Concentrates segment represent sales of beverage concentrates to third party bottling companies that we do not own. The Beverage Concentrates segment's operations generate a significant portion of our overall segment operating profit ("SOP"). Some of these bottlers, such as PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, are also our competitors. The majority of these bottlers' business comes from selling either their own products or our competitors' products. In addition, some of the products we manufacture are distributed by third parties. As independent companies, these bottlers and distributors make their own business decisions. They may have the right to determine whether, and to what extent, they produce and distribute our products, our competitors' products and their own products. They may devote more resources to other products or take other actions detrimental to our brands. In most cases, they are able to terminate their bottling and distribution arrangements with us without cause. We may need to increase support for our brands in their territories and may not be able to pass on price increases to them. Their financial condition could also be adversely affected by conditions beyond our control, and our business could suffer as a result. Deteriorating economic conditions could negatively impact the financial viability of third party bottlers. Any of these factors could negatively affect our business and financial performance. 
Determinations in the future that a significant impairment of the value of our goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets has occurred could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
As of December 31, 2014, we had $8,273 million of total assets, of which approximately $5,674 million were goodwill and other intangible assets. Intangible assets include both definite and indefinite-lived intangible assets in connection with brands, distribution rights and customer relationships. We conduct impairment tests on goodwill and all indefinite-lived intangible assets annually, as of October 1, or more frequently if circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount of an intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. There was no impairment required based upon our annual impairment analysis performed as of October 1, 2014. For additional information about these intangible assets, see "Critical Accounting Estimates — Goodwill and Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," in Item 7 and our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data," in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The impairment tests require us to make an estimate of the fair value of our reporting units and other intangible assets. An impairment could be recorded as a result of changes in assumptions, estimates or circumstances, some of which are beyond our control. Factors which could result in an impairment include, but are not limited to: (i) reduced demand for our products; (ii) higher commodity prices; (iii) lower prices for our products or increased marketing as a result of increased competition; (iv) significant disruptions to our operations as a result of both internal and external events; and (v) changes in our discount rates. Since a number of factors may influence determinations of fair value of intangible assets, we are unable to predict whether impairments of goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangibles will occur in the future. Any such impairment would result in us recognizing a non-cash charge in our Consolidated Statements of Income, which could increase our effective tax rate and adversely affect our results of operations.


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Increases in our cost of benefits and multi-employer plan withdrawal liabilities in the future could reduce our profitability.
Our profitability is substantially affected by costs for employee health care, pension and other retirement programs and other benefits. In recent years, these costs have increased significantly due to factors such as increases in health care costs, declines in investment returns on pension assets and changes in discount rates used to calculate pension and related liabilities. These factors plus the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March 2010 will continue to put pressure on our business and financial performance. Although we actively seek to control increases in costs, there can be no assurance that we will succeed in limiting future cost increases, and continued upward pressure in costs could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial performance.
Additionally, we currently participate in three multi-employer pension plans in the United States. The plans we participate in have collective bargaining agreements, which will expire at various dates through 2016. In the event that it becomes probable that we intend to withdraw from participation in any of these plans, U.S. GAAP would require us to record a withdrawal liability if it is estimable, which may be material and could negatively impact our financial performance in the applicable periods. Our pension expense for U.S. multi-employer plans totaled $6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Costs for commodities, such as raw materials and energy, may change substantially.
The principal raw materials we use in our products are aluminum cans and ends, glass bottles, PET bottles and caps, paperboard packaging, sweeteners, juice, fruit, water and other ingredients. The cost of such raw materials can fluctuate substantially. Under many of our supply arrangements, the price we pay for raw materials fluctuates along with certain changes in underlying commodities costs, such as aluminum in the case of cans, natural gas in the case of glass bottles, resin in the case of PET bottles and caps, corn in the case of sweeteners and pulp in the case of paperboard packaging.
In addition, we use a significant amount of energy in our business. We are significantly impacted by changes in fuel costs due to the large truck fleet we operate in our distribution businesses and our use of third party carriers. Additionally, conversion of raw materials into our products for sale uses electricity and natural gas.
Price increases could exert pressure on our costs and we may not be able to effectively hedge or pass along any such increases to our customers or consumers. Price increases we pass along to our customers or consumers could reduce demand for our products. Such increases could negatively affect our business and financial performance. Furthermore, price decreases in commodities that we have effectively hedged could also increase our cost of goods sold for mark-to-market changes in the derivative instruments.
Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates in Mexico and Canada may adversely affect our operating results.
We are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk with respect to our sales, expenses, profits, assets and liabilities denominated in the Mexican peso or the Canadian dollar. We manage a small portion of our exposure to the Canadian dollar utilizing derivative instruments and are not protected against most foreign currency fluctuations. As a result, our financial performance may be affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Moreover, any favorable or unfavorable impacts to gross profit, gross margin, income from operations or segment operating profit from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates are likely to be unsustainable over time.
Our financial results may be negatively impacted by recession, financial and credit market disruptions and other economic conditions.
Changes in economic and financial conditions in the U.S., Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean may negatively impact consumer confidence and consumer spending, which could result in a reduction in our sales volume and/or switching to lower price offerings. Similarly, disruptions in financial and credit markets worldwide may impact our ability to manage normal commercial relationships with our customers, suppliers and creditors. These disruptions could have a negative impact on the ability of our customers to timely pay their obligations to us, thus reducing our cash flow, or the ability of our vendors to timely supply materials. Additionally, these disruptions could have a negative effect on our ability to raise capital through the issuance of unsecured commercial paper or senior notes.
We could also face increased counterparty risk for our cash investments and our hedging arrangements. Declines in the securities and credit markets could also affect our marketable securities and pension fund, which in turn could increase funding requirements.

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Our total indebtedness, excluding capital lease obligations, could affect our operations and profitability.
We maintain levels of debt we consider prudent based on our actual and expected cash flows. As of December 31, 2014, our total indebtedness was $2,591 million.
This amount of debt could have important consequences to us and our investors, including:
requiring a portion of our cash flow from operations to make interest payments on this debt; and
increasing our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions, which could impact our debt maturity profile.
While we believe we will have the ability to service our debt and will have access to additional sources of capital in the future if and when needed, that will depend upon our results of operations and financial position at the time, the then-current state of the credit and financial markets and other factors that may be beyond our control.
We depend on key information systems and third party service providers.
We depend on key information systems to accurately and efficiently transact our business, provide information to management and prepare financial reports. We rely on third party providers for a number of key information systems and business processing services, including hosting our primary data center and processing various benefit-related accounting and transactional services. These systems and services are vulnerable to interruptions or other failures resulting from, among other things, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, software, equipment or telecommunications failures, processing errors, computer viruses, other security issues or supplier defaults. Security, backup and disaster recovery measures may not be adequate or implemented properly to avoid such disruptions or failures. Any disruption or failure of these systems or services could cause substantial errors, processing inefficiencies, security breaches, inability to use the systems or process transactions, loss of customers or other business disruptions, all of which could negatively affect our business and financial performance.
As cybersecurity attacks continue to evolve and increase, our information systems could also be penetrated or compromised by internal and external parties intent on extracting confidential information, disrupting business processes or corrupting information. These risks could arise from external parties or from acts or omissions of internal or service provider personnel. Such unauthorized access could disrupt our business and could result in the loss of assets, litigation, remediation costs, damage to our reputation and failure to retain or attract customers following such an event, which could adversely affect our business.
Litigation or legal proceedings could expose us to significant liabilities and damage our reputation.
We are party to various litigation claims and legal proceedings which may include employment, tort, real estate, commercial and other litigation. From time to time we are a defendant in class action litigation, including litigation regarding employment practices, product labeling, and wage and hour laws. Plaintiffs in class action litigation may seek to recover amounts which are large and may be indeterminable for some period of time. We evaluate litigation claims and legal proceedings to assess the likelihood of unfavorable outcomes and estimate, if possible, the amount of potential losses. We will establish a reserve as appropriate based upon assessments and estimates in accordance with our accounting policies. We base our assessments, estimates and disclosures on the information available to us at the time and rely on legal and management judgment. Actual outcomes or losses may differ materially from assessments and estimates. Costs to defend litigation claims and legal proceedings and the cost of actual settlements, judgments or resolutions of these claims and legal proceedings may negatively affect our business and financial performance. Any adverse publicity resulting from allegations made in litigation claims or legal proceedings may also adversely affect our reputation, which in turn could adversely affect our results.
Certain raw materials we use are available from a limited number of suppliers and shortages could occur.
Some raw materials we use, such as aluminum cans and ends, glass bottles, PET bottles, sweeteners, fruit, juice and other ingredients, are sourced from industries characterized by a limited supply base. If our suppliers are unable or unwilling to meet our requirements, we could suffer shortages or substantial cost increases. Changing suppliers can require long lead times. The failure of our suppliers to meet our needs could occur for many reasons, including fires, natural disasters, weather, manufacturing problems, disease, crop failure, strikes, transportation interruption, government regulation, political instability, cybersecurity attacks and terrorism. A failure of supply could also occur due to suppliers' financial difficulties, including bankruptcy. Some of these risks may be more acute where the supplier or its plant is located in riskier or less-developed countries or regions. Any significant interruption to supply or cost increase could substantially harm our business and financial performance.

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Substantial disruption to production at our manufacturing and distribution facilities could occur.
A disruption in production at our beverage concentrates manufacturing facility, which manufactures almost all of our concentrates, could have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, a disruption could occur at any of our other facilities or those of our suppliers, bottlers or distributors. The disruption could occur for many reasons, including fire, natural disasters, weather, water scarcity, manufacturing problems, disease, strikes, transportation or supply interruption, government regulation, cybersecurity attacks or terrorism. Alternative facilities with sufficient capacity or capabilities may not be available, may cost substantially more or may take a significant time to start production, each of which could negatively affect our business and financial performance.
We may fail to comply with applicable government laws and regulations.
We are subject to a variety of federal, state and local laws and regulations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and other countries in which we do business. These laws and regulations apply to many aspects of our business including the manufacture, safety, labeling, transportation, advertising and sale of our products. See "Regulatory Matters" in Item 1, "Business," of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information regarding many of these laws and regulations.
Violations of these laws or regulations in the manufacture, safety, labeling, transportation and advertising of our products could damage our reputation and/or result in regulatory actions with substantial penalties. In addition, any significant change in such laws or regulations or their interpretation, or the introduction of higher standards or more stringent laws or regulations, could result in increased compliance costs or capital expenditures. For example, changes in recycling and bottle deposit laws or special taxes on soft drinks or ingredients could increase our costs. Regulatory focus on the health, safety and marketing of food products is increasing. Certain federal or state regulations or laws affecting the labeling of our products, such as California's "Prop 65," which requires warnings on any product with substances that the state lists as potentially causing cancer or birth defects, are or could become applicable to our products.
Weather, climate change legislation and the availability of water could adversely affect our business.
Unseasonable or unusual weather or long-term climate changes may negatively impact the price or availability of raw materials, energy and fuel, and demand for our products. Unusually cool weather during the summer months may result in reduced demand for our products and have a negative effect on our business and financial performance.
There is growing political and scientific sentiment that increased concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are influencing global weather patterns ("global warming"). Concern over climate change, including global warming, has led to legislative and regulatory initiatives directed at limiting greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions. For example, proposals that would impose mandatory requirements on GHG emissions continue to be considered by policy makers in the countries in which we operate. Laws enacted that directly or indirectly affect our production, distribution, packaging, cost of raw materials, fuel, ingredients and water could all negatively impact our business and financial results.
We also may be faced with water availability risks. Water is the main ingredient in substantially all of our products. Climate change may cause water scarcity and a deterioration of water quality in areas where we maintain operations. The competition for water among domestic, agricultural and manufacturing users is increasing in the countries where we operate, and as water becomes scarcer or the quality of the water deteriorates, we may incur increased production costs or face manufacturing constraints which could negatively affect our business and financial performance. Even where water is widely available, water purification and waste treatment infrastructure limitations could increase costs or constrain our operations.
Our products may not meet health and safety standards or could become contaminated.
We have adopted various quality, environmental, health and safety standards. However, our products may still not meet these standards or could otherwise become contaminated. A failure to meet these standards or contamination could occur in our operations or those of our bottlers, distributors or suppliers. This could result in expensive production interruptions, recalls, liability claims and negative publicity. Moreover, negative publicity also could be generated from false, unfounded or nominal liability claims or limited recalls. Any of these failures or occurrences could negatively affect our business and financial performance.

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Fluctuations in our effective tax rate may result in volatility in our operating results.
We are subject to income taxes in many U.S. and certain foreign jurisdictions. Income tax expense includes a provision for uncertain tax positions. At any one time, many tax years are subject to audit by various taxing jurisdictions. As these audits and negotiations progress, events may occur that change our expectation about how the audit will ultimately be resolved. As a result, there could be ongoing variability in our quarterly and/or annual tax rates as events occur that cause a change in our provision for uncertain tax positions. In addition, our effective tax rate in any given financial statement period may be significantly impacted by changes in the mix and level of earnings or by changes to existing accounting rules, tax regulations or interpretations of existing law. In addition, tax legislation may be enacted in the future, domestically or abroad, that impacts our effective tax rate.
We may not be able to renew collective bargaining agreements on satisfactory terms, or we could experience strikes.
As of December 31, 2014, approximately 6,000 of our employees, many of whom are at our key manufacturing locations, were covered by collective bargaining agreements. These agreements typically expire every three to four years at various dates. We may not be able to renew our collective bargaining agreements on satisfactory terms or at all. This could result in strikes or work stoppages, which could impair our ability to manufacture and distribute our products and result in a substantial loss of sales. The terms of existing or renewed agreements could also significantly increase our costs or negatively affect our ability to increase operational efficiency.
Our intellectual property rights could be infringed or we could infringe the intellectual property rights of others, and adverse events regarding licensed intellectual property, including termination of distribution rights, could harm our business.
We possess intellectual property that is important to our business. This intellectual property includes ingredient formulas, trademarks, copyrights, patents, business processes and other trade secrets. See "Intellectual Property and Trademarks" in Item 1, "Business," of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information. We and third parties, including competitors, could come into conflict over intellectual property rights. Litigation could disrupt our business, divert management attention and cost a substantial amount to protect our rights or defend ourselves against claims. We cannot be certain that the steps we take to protect our rights will be sufficient or that others will not infringe or misappropriate our rights. If we are unable to protect our intellectual property rights, our brands, products and business could be harmed.
We also license various trademarks from third parties and license our trademarks to third parties. In some countries, other companies own a particular trademark which we own in the U.S., Canada or Mexico. For example, the Dr Pepper trademark and formula is owned by Coca-Cola in certain other countries. Adverse events affecting those third parties or their products could affect our use of these trademarks or negatively impact our brands.
In some cases, we license products from third parties that we distribute. The licensor may be able to terminate the license arrangement upon an agreed period of notice, in some cases without payment to us of any termination fee. The termination of any material license arrangement could adversely affect our business and financial performance.
Our facilities and operations may require substantial investment and upgrading.
We have an ongoing program of investment and upgrading in our manufacturing, distribution and other facilities. We expect to incur significant costs to upgrade or keep up-to-date various facilities and equipment or restructure our operations, including closing existing facilities or opening new ones. If our investment and restructuring costs are higher than anticipated or our business does not develop as anticipated to appropriately utilize new or upgraded facilities, our costs and financial performance could be negatively affected.
Our distribution agreements with our allied brands could be terminated.
Approximately 83% of our 2014 Packaged Beverages net sales of branded products come from our owned and licensed brands, with the remaining from the distribution of third party brands such as Big Red, FIJI mineral water, AriZona tea, Vita Coco coconut water, Bai 5, Neuro drinks, Sparkling Fruit2O and Hydrive energy drinks. We are subject to a risk of our allied brands terminating their distribution agreements with us, which could negatively affect our business and financial performance.
We could lose key personnel or may be unable to recruit qualified personnel.
Our performance significantly depends upon the continued contributions of our executive officers and key employees, both individually and as a group, and our ability to retain and motivate them. Our officers and key personnel have many years of experience with us and in our industry and it may be difficult to replace them. If we lose key personnel or are unable to recruit qualified personnel, our operations and ability to manage our business may be adversely affected. We do not have "key person" life insurance for any of our executive officers or key employees.

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Changes in accounting standards could affect our reported financial results.
We are subject to changes in accounting rules and interpretations. The Financial Accounting Standards Board is currently in the process of deliberating changes to a number of existing standards governing a variety of areas. Certain of these proposed standards, particularly the proposed standard governing the accounting for leases, if and when effective, could have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Additionally, compliance with such requirements may result in increased selling, general and administrative expenses or capital expenditures and the associated depreciation expense. Refer to Note 2 of the Notes to our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of recently issued accounting standards and recently adopted provisions of U.S. GAAP.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
As of December 31, 2014, we owned or leased 154 administrative, manufacturing and principal distribution centers and warehouse facilities operating across the Americas. Our corporate headquarters are located in Plano, Texas, in a facility that we own.
The following table summarizes our significant properties by geography and by operating segment:
 
Packaged
 
Beverage
 
Latin America
 
 
 
Beverages
 
Concentrates
 
Beverages
 
 
 
Owned
 
Leased
 
Owned
 
Leased
 
Owned
 
Leased
 
Total
United States:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Office buildings(1)
1

 
9

 
1

 

 

 

 
11

Manufacturing facilities
12

 
6

 
1

 

 

 

 
19

Principal distribution centers and warehouse facilities
40

 
66

 

 

 

 

 
106

 
53

 
81

 
2

 

 

 

 
136

Mexico and Canada:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Office buildings

 
1

 

 

 

 
2

 
3

Manufacturing facilities(2)

 

 

 

 
3

 

 
3

Principal distribution centers and warehouse facilities

 

 

 

 
3

 
9

 
12

 

 
1

 

 

 
6

 
11

 
18

Total
53

 
82

 
2

 

 
6

 
11

 
154

____________________________
(1) The office building owned by our Beverage Concentrates operating segment is our corporate headquarters located in Plano, Texas.
(2) The three manufacturing facilities owned by our Latin America Beverages operating segment include the manufacturing facility leased to our joint venture with Acqua Minerale San Benedetto.
We believe our facilities in the U.S. and Mexico are well-maintained and adequate, that they are being appropriately utilized in line with past experience and that they have sufficient production capacity for their present intended purposes. The extent of utilization of such facilities varies based on seasonal demand for our products. It is not possible to measure with any degree of certainty or uniformity the productive capacity and extent of utilization of these facilities. We periodically review our space requirements, and we believe we will be able to acquire new space and facilities as and when needed on reasonable terms. We also look to consolidate and dispose or sublet facilities we no longer need, as and when appropriate.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are occasionally subject to litigation or other legal proceedings relating to our business. See Note 21 of the Notes to our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for more information related to commitments and contingencies, which is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.

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PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
In the U.S., our common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "DPS". Information as to the high and low sales prices of our stock for the two years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the frequency and amount of dividends declared on our stock during these periods, is set forth in Note 24 of the Notes to our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements.
As of February 13, 2015, there were approximately 14,000 stockholders of record of our common stock. This figure does not include a substantially greater number of holders whose shares are held of record in "street name".
The information that will be included under the principal heading "Equity Compensation Plan Information" in our definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 21, 2015, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is incorporated herein by reference.
For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2012, we did not sell any equity securities that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). During the year ended December 31, 2013, we issued 313,105 unregistered shares of our common stock (the "Issued Shares") in connection with the acquisition of the assets of Dr. Pepper/7-Up Bottling Company of the West ("DP/7UP West"), a Nevada corporation, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated February 25, 2013. In connection with this issuance, we filed a registration statement on Form S-3ASR to register the Issued Shares under the 1933 Act and to allow the selling securityholders named therein to resell, from time to time, the Issued Shares. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the resale of the Issued Shares by the selling securityholders.
DIVIDEND POLICY
Our Board of Directors (our "Board") declared aggregate dividends of $1.64, $1.52 and $1.36 per share on outstanding common stock during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
We expect to return our excess cash flow to our stockholders from time to time through our common stock repurchase program described below or the payment of dividends. However, there can be no assurance that share repurchases will occur or future dividends will be declared and paid. The share repurchase program and declaration and payment of future dividends, the amount of any such share repurchases or dividends and the establishment of record and payment dates for dividends, if any, are subject to final determination by our Board after its review of our then current strategy and financial performance and position, among other things.

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COMMON STOCK REPURCHASES
During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009 our Board authorized the repurchase of an aggregate amount of up to $3 billion of our outstanding common stock through the following actions:
$200 million of share repurchases were authorized on November 20, 2009;
$800 million of share repurchases were authorized on February 24, 2010;
$1 billion of share repurchases were authorized on July 12, 2010; and
$1 billion of share repurchases were authorized on November 17, 2011.
We repurchased approximately 6.8 million shares of our common stock, valued at approximately $400 million, in the year ended December 31, 2014. Our share repurchase activity, on a monthly basis, for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 was as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
Period
 
Number of Shares Purchased
 
Average Price Paid per Share
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (1)
 
Maximum Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (2)
October 1, 2014 – October 31, 2014
 
129

 
$
64.35

 
129

 
$
287,803

November 1, 2014 – November 30, 2014
 
574

 
70.63

 
574

 
247,246

December 1, 2014 – December 31, 2014
 
1,048

 
71.95

 
1,048

 
171,873

For the quarter ended December 31, 2014
 
1,751

 
70.96

 
1,751

 
 
____________________________
(1)
As previously disclosed, the Board has authorized us to purchase an aggregate amount of up to $3,000 million of our outstanding common stock. This column discloses the number of shares purchased pursuant to these programs during the indicated time periods. As of December 31, 2014, there was a remaining balance of $172 million authorized for repurchase that had not been utilized.
(2)
In February 2015, the Board authorized an additional $1,000 million of share repurchases, which is not reflected in the table above.

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COMPARISON OF TOTAL STOCKHOLDER RETURN
The following performance graph compares our cumulative total returns with the cumulative total returns of the Standard & Poor's 500 and a peer group index. The graph assumes that $100 was invested on December 31, 2009, with dividends reinvested quarterly.

Comparison of Total Returns
Assumes Initial Investment of $100
The Peer Group Index consists of the following companies: Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Monster Beverage Corporation, Cott and National Beverage Corporation. We believe that these companies help to convey an accurate assessment of our performance as compared to the industry.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table presents selected historical financial data for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010. All the selected historical financial data has been derived from our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and is stated in millions of dollars except for per share information.
You should read this information along with the information included in Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and the related Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
(in millions, except per share data)
Statements of Income Data:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net sales
$
6,121

 
$
5,997

 
$
5,995

 
$
5,903

 
$
5,636

Gross profit
3,630

 
3,498

 
3,495

 
3,418

 
3,393

Income from operations
1,180

 
1,046

 
1,092

 
1,024

 
1,025

Net income
703

 
624

 
629

 
606

 
528

Basic earnings per share(1)
$
3.59

 
$
3.08

 
$
2.99

 
$
2.77

 
$
2.19

Diluted earnings per share(1)
3.56

 
3.05

 
2.96

 
2.74

 
2.17

Dividends declared per share
1.64

 
1.52

 
1.36

 
1.21

 
0.90

Statements of Cash Flows Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash provided by (used in):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating activities(2)
$
1,022

 
$
866

 
$
482

 
$
783

 
$
2,535

Investing activities
(185
)
 
(195
)
 
(217
)
 
(240
)
 
(225
)
Financing activities
(747
)
 
(880
)
 
(603
)
 
(152
)
 
(2,280
)

 
As of December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
(in millions, except per share data)
Balance Sheet Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
8,273

 
$
8,201

 
$
8,928

 
$
9,283

 
$
8,776

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term obligations
3

 
66

 
250

 
452

 
404

Long-term obligations
2,588

 
2,508

 
2,554

 
2,256

 
1,687

Other non-current liabilities(2)
2,353

 
2,386

 
2,862

 
2,849

 
3,375

Total stockholders’ equity
2,294

 
2,277

 
2,280

 
2,263

 
2,459

____________________________
(1)
The weighted average number of common shares outstanding used in the calculation of earnings per share ("EPS") was impacted by the repurchase and retirement of DPS common stock. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010, we repurchased and retired 6.8 million shares, 8.7 million shares, 9.5 million shares, 13.7 million shares and 30.8 million shares, respectively.
(2)
The 2010 other non-current liabilities for the year reflects non-current deferred revenue of $1,515 million due to the receipt of separate one-time nonrefundable cash payments from PepsiCo and Coca-Cola recorded as deferred revenue, which is included within operating activities on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 
You should read the following discussion in conjunction with our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and the related Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections about our business and operations. Our actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated and expressed in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors including the factors we describe under "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements", "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
References in the following discussion to "we", "our", "us", "DPS" or "the Company" refer to Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. and all entities included in our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements. Cadbury plc and Cadbury Schweppes plc are hereafter collectively referred to as "Cadbury", unless otherwise indicated. Kraft Foods Inc. acquired Cadbury on February 2, 2010.
On October 1, 2012, Kraft Foods, Inc. spun-off its North American grocery business to its shareholders and changed its name to Mondelēz International, Inc. ("Mondelēz").
The periods presented in this section are the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, which we refer to as "2014", "2013" and "2012", respectively.
OVERVIEW
We are a leading integrated brand owner, manufacturer and distributor of non-alcoholic beverages in the U.S., Canada and Mexico with a diverse portfolio of flavored CSDs and NCBs, including ready-to-drink teas, juices, juice drinks, water and mixers. Our brand portfolio includes popular CSD brands such as Dr Pepper, Sunkist soda, 7UP, A&W, Canada Dry, Crush, Squirt, Peñafiel and Schweppes, and NCB brands such as Snapple, Mott's, Hawaiian Punch, Clamato, Rose's and Mr & Mrs T mixers. Our largest brand, Dr Pepper, is a leading flavored CSD in the U.S. according to Nielsen. We have some of the most recognized beverage brands in North America, with significant consumer awareness levels and long histories that evoke strong emotional connections with consumers. 
We operate as an integrated brand owner, manufacturer and distributor through our three segments. We believe our integrated business model strengthens our route-to-market and provides opportunities for net sales and profit growth through the alignment of the economic interests of our brand ownership and our manufacturing and distribution businesses through both our DSD system and our WD delivery system. Our integrated business model enables us to be more flexible and responsive to the changing needs of our large retail customers and allows us to more fully leverage our scale and reduce costs by creating greater geographic manufacturing and distribution coverage.
We operate primarily in the U.S., Mexico and Canada and we also distribute our products in the Caribbean. In 2014, 88% of our net sales were generated in the U.S., 4% in Canada and 8% in Mexico and the Caribbean.
UNCERTAINTIES AND TRENDS AFFECTING OUR BUSINESS
We believe the North American LRB market is influenced by certain key trends and uncertainties. Some of these items, such as increased health consciousness and changes in economic factors, have created continued category headwinds for our CSDs during the year ended December 31, 2014 and have unfavorably impacted our sales volumes, excluding the impact of recent product innovations and acquisitions, compared to the prior year. The key trends and uncertainties that could affect our business include:
Increased health consciousness. Consumers are increasingly becoming more concerned about health and wellness, focusing on caloric intake and sugar content in both regular CSDs and juices and the use of artificial sweeteners in diet CSDs. We believe the main beneficiaries of this trend include naturally sweetened, low calorie drinks, all natural and organic beverages, ready-to-drink teas and bottled waters.
Increased government regulation. Government agencies, as a result of concerns about the public health consequences and health care costs associated with obesity, have been proposing and, in some cases, enacting new taxes or regulations on sugar-sweetened beverages. Any changes of regulations or imposed taxes could reduce demand and/or cause us to raise our prices.

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Changes in consumer preferences.  We are impacted by shifting consumer demographics and needs. We believe marketing and product innovations that target fast growing population segments, such as the Hispanic community in the U.S., could drive market growth. Additionally, as more consumers are faced with a busy and on-the-go lifestyle, sales of single-serve beverages could increase, which typically have higher margins.
Increased competition in the LRB market.  A number of our competitors are large corporations with significant financial resources. These competitors can use their resources and scale to rapidly respond to competitive pressures and changes in consumer preferences by introducing new products, reducing prices or increasing promotional activities, which could reduce the demand for our products.
Product and packaging innovation.  We believe brand owners and bottling companies will continue to create new products and packages, such as beverages with new ingredients and new premium flavors and innovative convenient packaging, that address changes in consumer tastes and preferences.
Changing retailer landscape.  As retailers continue to consolidate, we believe retailers will support consumer product companies that can provide an attractive portfolio of products, a strong value proposition and efficient delivery.
Volatility in the costs of raw materials.  The costs of a substantial portion of the raw materials used in the beverage industry are dependent on commodity prices for aluminum, corn, resin, diesel, natural gas, pulp and other commodities. We are also dependent on commodity prices for apples related to our applesauce production. Commodity price volatility has, from time to time, exerted pressure on industry margins and operating results.
As a result of these uncertainties and other factors, we believe net sales for the year ending December 31, 2015 could be up approximately 1% as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. Commodity costs for the year ending December 31, 2015 could be down approximately 1% on a constant volume/mix basis as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014.
Refer to Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information about risks and uncertainties facing our Company.
SEASONALITY
The beverage market is subject to some seasonal variations. Our beverage sales are generally higher during the warmer months and also can be influenced by the timing of holidays as well as weather fluctuations.
SEGMENTS
We report our business in three operating segments:
The Beverage Concentrates segment reflects sales of our branded concentrates and syrup to third party bottlers primarily in the U.S. and Canada. Most of the brands in this segment are CSD brands.
The Packaged Beverages segment reflects sales in the U.S. and Canada from the manufacture and distribution of finished beverages and other products, including sales of our own brands and third party brands, through both DSD and WD.
The Latin America Beverages segment reflects sales in the Mexico, Caribbean and other international markets from the manufacture and distribution of concentrates, syrup and finished beverages.
Segment results are based on management reports. Net sales and SOP are the significant financial measures used to assess the operating performance of our operating segments.
VOLUME
In evaluating our performance, we consider different volume measures depending on whether we sell beverage concentrates or finished beverages.
Beverage Concentrates Sales Volume
In our Beverage Concentrates segment, we measure our sales volume in two ways: (1) "concentrate case sales" and (2) "bottler case sales." The unit of measurement for both concentrate case sales and bottler case sales equals 288 fluid ounces of finished beverage, the equivalent of 24 twelve ounce servings.

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Concentrate case sales represent units of measurement for concentrates sold by us to our bottlers and distributors. A concentrate case is the amount of concentrate needed to make one case of 288 fluid ounces of finished beverage. It does not include any other component of the finished beverage other than concentrate. Our net sales in our concentrate businesses are based on our sales of concentrate cases.
Although net sales in our concentrate businesses are based on concentrate case sales, we believe that bottler case sales are also a significant measure of our performance because they measure sales of packaged beverages into retail channels.
Packaged Beverages Sales Volume
In our Packaged Beverages segment, we measure volume as case sales to customers. A case sale represents a unit of measurement equal to 288 fluid ounces of packaged beverage sold by us. Case sales include both our owned brands and certain brands licensed to and/or distributed by us.
Volume in Bottler Case Sales
In addition to sales volume, we measure volume in bottler case sales ("volume (BCS)") as sales of packaged beverages, in equivalent 288 fluid ounce cases, sold by us and our bottling partners to retailers and independent distributors. Our contract manufacturing sales are not included or reported as part of volume (BCS).
Bottler case sales and concentrates and packaged beverage sales volumes are not equal during any given period due to changes in bottler concentrates inventory levels, which can be affected by seasonality, bottler inventory and manufacturing practices and the timing of price increases and new product introductions.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Executive Summary - 2014 Financial Overview and Recent Developments
Net sales totaled $6,121 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of $124 million, or approximately 2%, from the year ended December 31, 2013.
Net income for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $703 million, compared to $624 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, an increase of $79 million, or approximately 13%.
Diluted earnings per share was $3.56 for the year ended December 31, 2014 and $3.05 for the year ago period, an increase of $0.51, or approximately 17%.
During 2014, our Board declared aggregate dividends of $1.64 per share on outstanding common stock, as compared to $1.52 per share on outstanding common stock during 2013. Dividends declared per share for the year ended December 31, 2014 increased approximately 8%.
During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, we repurchased 6.8 million and 8.7 million shares of our common stock, respectively, valued at approximately $400 million for both years.
On October 31, 2014, we acquired certain assets of Davis Beverage Group, Inc. and Davis Bottling Co, Inc. ("Davis") in exchange for $19 million in cash and a $2 million holdback liability to satisfy any working capital adjustments and applicable indemnification claims, pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement.
During the first quarter of 2015, our Board declared a dividend of $0.48 per share, which will be paid on April 7, 2015, to shareholders of record as of March 16, 2015. The dividend declared during the first quarter of 2015 increased approximately 17% compared to the dividend declared in the previous quarter.
During the first quarter of 2015, our Board authorized the additional repurchase of an aggregate amount of $1 billion of our outstanding common stock.
References in the financial tables to percentage changes that are not meaningful are denoted by "NM."


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Year Ended December 31, 2014 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2013
Consolidated Operations
The following table sets forth our consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in millions, except per share data):
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
Percentage
 
Dollars
 
Percent
 
Dollars
 
Percent
 
Change
Net sales
$
6,121

 
100.0
 %
 
$
5,997

 
100.0
 %
 
2
%
Cost of sales
2,491

 
40.7

 
2,499

 
41.7

 
 
Gross profit
3,630

 
59.3

 
3,498

 
58.3

 
4

Selling, general and administrative expenses
2,334

 
38.1

 
2,272

 
37.9

 
 
Multi-employer pension plan withdrawal

 

 
56

 
0.9

 
 
Depreciation and amortization
115

 
1.9

 
115

 
1.9

 
 
Other operating expense, net
1

 

 
9

 
0.2

 
 
Income from operations
1,180

 
19.3

 
1,046

 
17.4

 
13

Interest expense
109

 
1.8

 
123

 
2.0

 
 
Interest income
(2
)
 

 
(2
)
 

 
 
Other expense (income), net

 

 
383

 
6.4

 
 
Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
1,073

 
17.5

 
542

 
9.0

 
98

Provision (benefit) for income taxes
371

 
6.0

 
(81
)
 
(1.4
)
 
 
Income before equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
702

 
11.5

 
623

 
10.4

 
 
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries, net of tax
1

 

 
1

 

 
 
Net income
$
703

 
11.5
 %
 
$
624

 
10.4
 %
 
13
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
3.59

 
NM

 
$
3.08

 
NM

 
17
%
Diluted
$
3.56

 
NM

 
$
3.05

 
NM

 
17
%
Volume (BCS). Volume (BCS) increased 1% for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared with the year ended December 31, 2013. In the U.S. and Canada, volume was flat, and in Mexico and the Caribbean, volume increased 5%, compared with the year ago period. Branded CSD volume increased 1% while branded NCB volume declined 1%.
In branded CSDs, Peñafiel grew 21% in our Latin America Beverages segment as a result of product and package innovation. Our Core 4 brands increased 2% compared to the year ago period, driven by an 8% increase in Canada Dry partially offset by a 1% decline in 7UP. A&W and Sunkist soda were both flat for the period. Schweppes grew 10% reflecting distribution gains in our seltzer water and growth in the ginger ale category. These gains were partially offset by a 2% decrease in Dr Pepper, driven primarily by declines in our diet products, and a 5% decrease in our other CSD brands in total. Crush, Squirt and RC Cola declined 1%, 1% and 2%, respectively.
In branded NCBs, decreases were driven by a 7% decrease in Hawaiian Punch as a result of category declines and increased competitive activity, a 1% decline in our other NCB brands in total, and a 1% decrease in Mott's as a result of declines in apple sauce. The decline was partially offset by a 7% increase in Clamato, driven by increased promotional activity, and 3% growth in our water category primarily driven by new distribution arrangements for Bai 5 and Sparkling Fruit2O and distribution gains in FIJI and Vita Coco. Snapple increased 1% for the current period as growth in our higher margin Snapple Premium products was partially offset by our de-emphasis on our value products.


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Net Sales. Net sales increased $124 million, or approximately 2%, for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared with the year ended December 31, 2013. The primary drivers of the increase were favorable product and package mix, increased branded sales volume, higher pricing driven by the Mexican sugar tax and an increase in contract manufacturing. These drivers were partially offset by $35 million in unfavorable foreign currency translation and higher discounts, driven primarily by the annual true-up of our prior year estimated customer liability.
Gross Profit. Gross profit increased $132 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared with the year ended December 31, 2013. Gross margin was 59.3% and 58.3% for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The drivers of the favorable change in gross margin were lower commodity costs, net of the change in our last-in, first-out ("LIFO") inventory provision, ongoing productivity improvements and mark-to-market activity on commodity derivative contracts, which increased gross margin 1.1%, 0.8% and 0.4%, respectively. These drivers were partially offset by unfavorable product, package and segment mix, the net impact of the Mexican sugar tax, unfavorable foreign currency effects and an increase in other manufacturing costs, which decreased gross margin by 0.5%, 0.4%, 0.2% and 0.2%, respectively.
The favorable mark-to-market activity on commodity derivative contracts for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $11 million in unrealized gains versus $15 million in unrealized losses in the prior year. The unfavorable comparison in our LIFO inventory provision was the result of a $3 million increase in the provision for the year ended December 31, 2014 versus a $39 million decrease in the provision for the year ended December 31, 2013 driven primarily by apple prices.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses increased $62 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared with the prior year. The increase was primarily driven by the following items:
increased people costs, primarily driven by performance-based incentive compensation;
a $23 million unfavorable comparison in the mark-to-market activity on commodity derivative contracts;
higher logistics costs from our third party carriers partially driven by tighter than expected overall system capacity; and
pension settlement charges of $16 million, of which $14 million related to the purchase of annuities for certain participants receiving benefits in our U.S. defined benefit pension plans.
For the year ended December 31, 2014, we recognized $24 million in unrealized losses related to the mark-to-market activity on commodity derivative contracts versus $1 million in unrealized losses in the year ago period.
These items were partially offset by a planned reduction of $13 million for our marketing investments, the favorable impact of foreign currency and the favorable comparison of the $7 million in workforce reduction costs related to certain restructuring activities in the prior year.
Multi-employer Pension Plan Withdrawal. We recognized a non-cash charge of $56 million related to our withdrawal from Local 710 during the year ended December 31, 2013. Refer to Note 14 of the Notes to our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on this charge.
Income from Operations. Income from operations increased $134 million to $1,180 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, due primarily to the increase in gross profit and the favorable comparison to the non-cash charge for the multi-employer pension plan withdrawal taken in the prior year, partially offset by an increase in our SG&A expenses.
Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased $14 million, or approximately 11%, for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared with the year ago period primarily due to the favorable impact of our fair value hedges and the repayment of our 6.12% senior unsecured notes in May 2013 (the "2013 Notes").
Other Expense (Income), Net and (Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes. Through the second quarter of 2013, we recorded indemnification income from Mondelēz under the Tax Indemnity Agreement as other expense, net in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Due to the completion of the IRS audit for our 2006-2008 federal income tax returns in August 2013, we recognized an income tax benefit of $463 million primarily related to decreasing our liability for unrecognized tax benefits and $430 million of other expense, net, as we no longer anticipate collecting amounts from Mondelēz. In June 2013, a bill was enacted by the Canadian government, which reduced amounts amortized for income tax purposes. We recognized $38 million of indemnity income due to the reduction of our long-term liability to Mondelēz and $50 million of income tax expense for the reduction of our tax assets.

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The following table excludes these amounts discussed above from our other expense (income), net, income before provision (benefit) for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries and provision (benefit) for income taxes lines within our Consolidated Statements of Income. We have presented this table as we believe the effect of those items on these lines and on our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2013 are not meaningful as reported.
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2013
 
 
(in millions)
As reported
 
Completion of the IRS audit in August 2013
 
Enactment of the Canadian bill in June 2013
 
As reported excluding tax and indemnity items
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
Other expense (income), net
$
383

 
$
(430
)
 
$
38

 
$
(9
)
 
$

Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
542

 
430

 
(38
)
 
934

 
1,073

Provision (benefit) for income taxes
(81
)
 
463

 
(50
)
 
332

 
371

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Effective tax rate
(14.9
)%
 
 
 
 
 
35.5
%
 
34.6
%
Results of Operations by Segment
The following tables set forth net sales and SOP for our segments for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, as well as the other amounts necessary to reconcile our total segment results to our consolidated results presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP (in millions):
 
For the Year Ended
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Segment Results — Net sales
 
 
 
Beverage Concentrates
$
1,228

 
$
1,229

Packaged Beverages
4,361

 
4,306

Latin America Beverages
532

 
462

Net sales
$
6,121

 
$
5,997

 
 
 
 
 
For the Year Ended
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Segment Results — SOP
 
 
 
Beverage Concentrates
$
790

 
$
778

Packaged Beverages
636

 
525

Latin America Beverages
78

 
61

Total SOP
1,504

 
1,364

Unallocated corporate costs
323

 
309

Other operating expense, net
1

 
9

Income from operations
1,180

 
1,046

Interest expense, net
107

 
121

Other expense (income), net

 
383

Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
$
1,073

 
$
542


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BEVERAGE CONCENTRATES
The following table details our Beverage Concentrates segment's net sales and SOP for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
 
For the Year Ended
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
Change
Net sales
$
1,228

 
$
1,229

 
$
(1
)
SOP
790

 
778

 
12

Net Sales. Net sales decreased $1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared with the year ended December 31, 2013. The decrease was due to higher discounts and unfavorable foreign currency translation, largely offset by an increase in concentrate prices, a slight increase in sales volumes and higher licensing revenue. The higher discounts were primarily driven by the annual true-up of our prior year estimated customer liability.
SOP. SOP increased $12 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared with the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily driven by decreases in SG&A expenses and favorability in cost of sales. The decrease in cost of sales was primarily driven by lower commodity costs, led by sweeteners, and ongoing productivity improvements, partially offset by an unfavorable LIFO comparison of $3 million and higher costs associated with increased sales volumes. The decrease in SG&A expenses was the result of $15 million in planned lower marketing investments, partially offset by increased people costs.
Volume (BCS). Volume (BCS) was flat for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared with the year ended December 31, 2013. Dr Pepper decreased 2%, driven primarily by declines in our diet products. Our other brands decreased 10%, primarily due to the discontinuation of Welch's. These decreases were partially offset by growth in Schweppes, our Core 4 brands and Crush. Schweppes had a 10% increase driven by distribution gains in our seltzer water and growth in the ginger ale category. Our Core 4 brands increased 3% compared to the prior year as a result of a 6% increase in Canada Dry and 3% increase in Sunkist soda partially offset by a 4% decrease in 7UP and a 1% decline in A&W. Crush grew 1% for the current year.
PACKAGED BEVERAGES
The following table details our Packaged Beverages segment's net sales and SOP for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
 
For the Year Ended
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
Change
Net sales
$
4,361

 
$
4,306

 
$
55

SOP
636

 
525

 
111

Volume. Branded CSD volumes increased 1% for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared with the year ended December 31, 2013. Volume for our Core 4 brands increased 2% compared to the prior year period, led by a 11% increase in Canada Dry, partially offset by a 2% decline in Sunkist soda. 7UP and A&W volumes were flat in the current year. Squirt increased 7% compared to the prior year period due to higher promotional activity and package innovation. RC Cola increased 6%. Our other CSD brands increased 1% in the current year. These increases were partially offset by a 2% decrease in Dr Pepper, driven primarily by declines in our diet products.
Branded NCB volumes decreased 1%, driven primarily by a 6% decline in Hawaiian Punch as a result of increased competitive activity and category declines. Our other NCB brands decreased 2%, while Mott's decreased 1% due to declines in apple sauce. These decreases were partially offset by a 12% increase in our water category and a 7% increase in Clamato as a result of increased promotional activity. Growth in our water category was primarily driven by new distribution arrangements for Bai 5 and Sparkling Fruit2O and distribution gains in FIJI and Vita Coco. Snapple volumes were flat for the current period as growth in our higher margin Snapple Premium products was fully offset by our de-emphasis on our value products.
Net Sales. Net sales increased $55 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared with the year ended December 31, 2013. Net sales increased due to favorable product mix, higher branded sales volumes, an increase in contract manufacturing and lower discounts, partially offset by increased promotional activity and unfavorable foreign currency translation.

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SOP. SOP increased $111 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared with the year ended December 31, 2013 as a result of the favorable comparison to the $56 million multi-employer pension plan withdrawal recorded in the prior year and increases in net sales. Increases in SG&A expenses were fully offset by a reduction in cost of sales.
Cost of sales declined as favorable commodity costs, net of the $39 million unfavorable LIFO comparison, and ongoing productivity improvements were partially offset by increased costs associated with product and package mix, increased costs associated with higher branded sales volumes and higher other manufacturing costs.
The unfavorable comparison in our LIFO inventory provision was the result of a $2 million increase in the provision for the year ended December 31, 2014 versus a $37 million decrease in the provision for the year ended December 31, 2013 driven primarily by apple prices.
The increase in SG&A expenses for the current year were the result of the following significant drivers:
higher logistics costs from our third party carriers driven by tighter than expected overall transportation system capacity;
additional operating costs associated with the acquisitions of DP/7UP West and Davis; and
the $4 million unfavorable comparison of activity related to a case against the American Bottling Company ("ABC litigation") as we recorded a $2 million decrease in our legal provision in the current year versus a $6 million reduction in our legal provision in the prior year.
LATIN AMERICA BEVERAGES
The following table details our Latin America Beverages segment's net sales and SOP for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
 
For the Year Ended
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
Change
Net sales
$
532

 
$
462

 
$
70

SOP
78

 
61

 
17

Volume. Sales volume increased 5% for the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared with the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in sales volume was primarily driven by a 21% increase in Peñafiel as a result of product innovation. 7UP grew by 17% in the Caribbean due to increased promotional activity, while Clamato grew 6%. Squirt, Crush and Aguafiel declined 5%, 21% and 7%, respectively, as a result of the Mexican sugar tax. Our other brands in total were flat.
Net Sales. Net sales increased $70 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared with the year ended December 31, 2013. Net sales increased as a result of higher pricing driven by the impact of the Mexican sugar tax, favorable mix and increased sales volume, partially offset by $19 million of unfavorable foreign currency translation.
SOP. SOP increased $17 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared with the year ended December 31, 2013, driven by increases in net sales, partially offset by increases in cost of sales and SG&A expenses. Cost of sales grew in the current year primarily as a result of the Mexican sugar tax. Other drivers of the change in cost of sales included higher costs associated with increased sales volumes and product and package mix, partially offset by lower commodity costs, led by packaging and sweeteners, and ongoing productivity improvements. SG&A expenses increased primarily due to higher logistics costs and increased people costs as a result of higher commissions, partially offset by favorable foreign currency translation. The benefit of higher pricing was offset by increased costs due to the Mexican sugar tax.

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Year Ended December 31, 2013 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2012
Consolidated Operations
The following table sets forth our consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 (dollars in millions, except per share data):
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
Percentage
 
Dollars
 
Percent
 
Dollars
 
Percent
 
Change
Net sales
$
5,997

 
100.0
 %
 
$
5,995

 
100.0
 %
 
 %
Cost of sales
2,499

 
41.7

 
2,500

 
41.7

 
 
Gross profit
3,498

 
58.3

 
3,495

 
58.3

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses
2,272

 
37.9

 
2,268

 
37.8

 
 
Multi-employer pension plan withdrawal
56

 
0.9

 

 

 
 
Depreciation and amortization
115

 
1.9

 
124

 
2.1

 
 
Other operating expense, net
9

 
0.2

 
11

 
0.2

 
 
Income from operations
1,046

 
17.4

 
1,092

 
18.2

 
(4
)
Interest expense
123

 
2.0

 
125

 
2.1

 
 
Interest income
(2
)
 

 
(2
)
 

 
 
Other expense (income), net
383

 
6.4

 
(9
)
 
(0.2
)
 
 
Income before (benefit) provision for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
542

 
9.0

 
978

 
16.3

 
NM

(Benefit) provision for income taxes
(81
)
 
(1.4
)
 
349

 
5.8

 
 
Income before equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
623

 
10.4

 
629

 
10.5

 
 
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries, net of tax
1

 

 

 

 
 
Net income
$
624

 
10.4
 %
 
$
629

 
10.5
 %
 
(1
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
3.08

 
NM

 
$
2.99

 
NM

 
3
 %
Diluted
$
3.05

 
NM

 
$
2.96

 
NM

 
3
 %
Volume (BCS). Volume (BCS) decreased 2% for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared with the year ended December 31, 2012. In the U.S. and Canada, volume declined 2%, and in Mexico and the Caribbean, volume increased 3%, compared with the year ago period. Both CSD volume and NCB volume declined 2%.
In CSDs, volumes were unfavorably impacted by continued category headwinds which included increased consumer concerns about health and wellness. Dr Pepper volume declined 2%. Our Core 4 brands, which included the impact of the launch of our Core 4 TEN products, decreased 1% compared to the year ago period. This result was driven by a a 5% decrease in 7UP, a 7% decline in Sunkist soda and a 2% decrease in A&W, partially offset by a 6% increase in Canada Dry. Crush, Squirt and RC Cola declined 7%, 4% and 4%, respectively. Sun Drop declined double-digits. Other brands in total declined 3%. These decreases were partially offset by growth of 11% in Peñafiel as a result of product and package innovation and a 6% increase in Schweppes reflecting distribution gains in our seltzer water and growth in the ginger ale category.
In NCBs, decreases were driven by a 9% decrease in Hawaiian Punch as a result of lower promotional activity and declines within the category and an 8% decline in other brands. The decline was partially offset by a 2% increase in Snapple as a result of package and product innovation and a 3% increase in Mott's due to distribution gains in our juice and sauce categories. Our water category increased 3%, led by Aguafiel. Clamato increased 6%.
Net Sales. Net sales increased $2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared with the year ended December 31, 2012. The increase was attributable to favorable mix, net pricing increases and favorable foreign currency translation, substantially offset by lower branded sales volumes and an unfavorable comparison of trade adjustments.

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Gross Profit. Gross profit increased $3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared with the year ended December 31, 2012. Gross margin was 58.3% for both years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. Significant activity within the gross margin included the $58 million favorable comparison in our LIFO inventory provision, driven by the higher prices of apples in the prior year, and increases in our net price realization. These favorable changes were offset by increases in our commodity costs, led by apples and sweeteners, the $30 million unfavorable comparison for the mark-to-market activity on commodity derivative contracts and unfavorable mix due to a higher mix of finished goods rather than concentrates, as well as package and product mix. The change in our LIFO inventory provision for the year ended December 31, 2013 was a $39 million reduction in the provision versus a $19 million increase in the provision for the year ended December 31, 2012. The mark-to-market activity on commodity derivative contracts for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $15 million in unrealized losses versus $15 million in unrealized gains in the year ago period.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. SG&A expenses increased $4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared with the prior period. The increase was primarily the result of $7 million in workforce reduction costs, incremental operating costs associated with the acquisition of certain assets of DP/7UP West, increased marketing investments and the unfavorable comparison for the mark-to-market activity on commodity derivative contracts. These increases were partially offset by lower labor and benefit costs, a $6 million favorable adjustment in 2013 to the legal provision associated with the ABC litigation and lower logistics costs.
Multi-employer Pension Plan Withdrawal. We recognized a non-cash charge of $56 million related to our intention to withdraw from Local 710. Refer to Note 14 of the Notes to our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on this charge.
Income from Operations. Income from operations decreased $46 million to $1,046 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, principally due to the non-cash charge for the multi-employer pension plan withdrawal and an increase in SG&A expenses partially offset by the decline in depreciation and amortization driven by the favorable comparison to the $8 million depreciation adjustment recorded in the prior year.
Other Expense (Income), Net and (Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes. We have historically recorded indemnification income from Mondelēz under the Tax Indemnity Agreement as other expense (income), net in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Due to the completion of the IRS audit for our 2006-2008 federal income tax returns in August 2013, we recognized an income tax benefit of $463 million primarily related to decreasing our liability for unrecognized tax benefits and $430 million of other expense, net, as we no longer anticipate collecting amounts from Mondelēz. Additionally, in June 2013, a bill was enacted by the Canadian government, which reduced amounts amortized for income tax purposes. As a result, we recognized $38 million of indemnity income due to the reduction of our long-term liability to Mondelēz and $50 million of income tax expense for the reduction of our tax assets.
The following table excludes these amounts discussed above from our other expense (income), net, (loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries and (benefit) provision for income taxes lines within our Consolidated Statements of Income. We have presented this table as we believe the effect of those items on these lines and on our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2013 are not meaningful as reported.
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2013
 
 
(in millions)
As reported
 
Completion of the IRS audit in August 2013
 
Enactment of the Canadian bill in June 2013
 
As reported excluding tax and indemnity items
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2012
Other expense (income), net
$
383

 
$
(430
)
 
$
38

 
$
(9
)
 
$
(9
)
Income before (benefit) provision for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
542

 
430

 
(38
)
 
934

 
978

(Benefit) provision for income taxes
(81
)
 
463

 
(50
)
 
332

 
349

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Effective tax rate
(14.9
)%
 
 
 
 
 
35.5
%
 
35.7
%


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Table of Contents


Results of Operations by Segment
The following tables set forth net sales and SOP for our segments for the year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, as well as the other amounts necessary to reconcile our total segment results to our consolidated results presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP (in millions):
 
For the Year Ended
 
December 31,
 
2013
 
2012
Segment Results — Net sales
 
 
 
Beverage Concentrates
$
1,229

 
$
1,221

Packaged Beverages
4,306

 
4,358

Latin America Beverages
462

 
416

Net sales
$
5,997

 
$
5,995

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Year Ended
 
December 31,
 
2013
 
2012
Segment Results — SOP
 
 
 
Beverage Concentrates
$
778

 
$
774

Packaged Beverages
525

 
539

Latin America Beverages
61

 
51

Total SOP
1,364

 
1,364

Unallocated corporate costs
309

 
261

Other operating expense, net
9

 
11

Income from operations
1,046

 
1,092

Interest expense, net
121

 
123

Other (expense) income, net
383

 
(9
)
Income before (benefit) provision for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
$
542

 
$
978

BEVERAGE CONCENTRATES
The following table details our Beverage Concentrates segment's net sales and SOP for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in millions):
 
For the Year Ended
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
Change
Net sales
$
1,229

 
$
1,221

 
$
8

SOP
778

 
774

 
4

Net Sales. Net sales increased $8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared with the year ended December 31, 2012. The increase was due to an increase in concentrate prices, favorable product mix and lower discounts, which were largely offset by a 4% decline in concentrate case sales.
SOP. SOP increased $4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared with the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to the gross margin impact of higher net sales and lower labor and benefit costs, partially offset by a higher transfer pricing allocation and $5 million of higher marketing investments.
 

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Volume (BCS). Volume (BCS) decreased 2% as a result of continued category headwinds for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared with the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily driven by a 2% decline in Dr Pepper and a 7% decrease in Crush. Other drivers of the decline include a 7% decline in RC Cola, a 6% decrease in Sun Drop and a 6% decline in Squirt. These declines were partially offset by a 6% increase in Schweppes reflecting distribution gains in our seltzer water and growth in the ginger ale category. Our Core 4 brands, which included the impact of the launch of our Core 4 TEN products, were flat compared to the prior year as a result of a 7% decline in Sunkist soda, a 4% decrease in 7UP and a 3% decline in A&W, offset by a 4% increase in Canada Dry.
PACKAGED BEVERAGES
The following table details our Packaged Beverages segment's net sales and SOP for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in millions):
 
For the Year Ended
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
Change
Net sales
$
4,306

 
$
4,358

 
$
(52
)
SOP
525

 
539

 
(14
)
Volume. Total sales volume decreased 3% for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared with the year ended December 31, 2012. Lower NCB volumes, CSD volumes and contract manufacturing each decreased our total segment sales volume by 1%.
Within CSDs, volume declined 2% for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared with the year ended December 31, 2012, as a result of continued category headwinds. Volume for our Core 4 brands, which includes the impact of the launch of our Core 4 TEN products, decreased 1% for the year ended December 31, 2013, led by a 7% decline in Sunkist soda, a 3% decrease in 7UP and an 1% decline in A&W, partially offset by a double digit increase in Canada Dry. Dr Pepper volumes decreased 3% for the year ended December 31, 2013. Sun Drop declined by double-digits, while Squirt declined 2%. Our other brands decreased 6% for the year ended December 31, 2013. These declines were partially offset by a 3% increase in RC Cola which included the launch of the RC TEN product.
Within NCBs, volume decreased 4%, driven primarily by a 10% decline in Hawaiian Punch as a result of declines within the category and lower promotional activity. Our other brands decreased 8%, led by distribution losses in AriZona. These decreases were partially offset by a 3% increase in Mott's as a result of distribution gains in our juice and sauce categories and increased promotional activity, a 2% increase in our water category and a 2% increase in Clamato. Snapple was flat for the period.
Net Sales. Net sales decreased $52 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared with the year ended December 31, 2012. Net sales decreased due to a decline in our sales volumes and an unfavorable comparison of trade adjustments, which were partially offset by favorable mix and net pricing increases led by Mott's.
SOP. SOP decreased $14 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared with the year ended December 31, 2012. The primary factors driving the decrease in SOP included a $56 million non-cash charge related to our intention to withdraw from the Local 710 multi-employer pension plan and higher commodity costs, led by apples, which were partially offset by a $56 million favorable comparison in our LIFO inventory provision. Other drivers of SOP include the gross margin impact of lower net sales, partially offset by ongoing productivity improvements, lower labor and benefit costs, the favorable comparison to the $8 million depreciation adjustment recorded in the prior year, lower logistics costs and a $6 million favorable adjustment in 2013 to the legal provision associated with the ABC litigation.


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Table of Contents


LATIN AMERICA BEVERAGES
The following table details our Latin America Beverages segment's net sales and SOP for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in millions):
 
For the Year Ended
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
Change
Net sales
$
462

 
$
416

 
$
46

SOP
61

 
51

 
10

Volume. Sales volume increased 3% for the year ended December 31, 2013 as compared with the year ended December 31, 2012. The increase in volume was led by a double-digit increase in Peñafiel as a result of product and package innovation and a 6% increase in Aguafiel due to increased promotional activity. Clamato increased 8% while Dr Pepper increased by double-digits. Our other brands in total increased 7%. These increases in sales volume were partially offset by a 4% decline in Squirt as a result of higher pricing and inventory reductions by third party bottlers, a double-digit decline in 7UP and a 5% decrease in Crush.
Net Sales. Net sales increased $46 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared with the year ended December 31, 2012. Net sales increased as a result of favorable product mix, increased sales volumes and $12 million of favorable foreign currency translation.
SOP. SOP increased $10 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared with the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to the gross margin impact of favorable product mix, increased sales volumes and ongoing productivity improvements. These favorable drivers were partially offset by increases in people costs, marketing investments, other manufacturing costs, commodity costs, which were led by sweeteners, and higher logistics costs.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Trends and Uncertainties Affecting Liquidity
Customer and consumer demand for our products may be impacted by various risk factors discussed in Item 1A, "Risk Factors", including recession or other economic downturn in the U.S., Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean, which could result in a reduction in our sales volume. Similarly, disruptions in financial and credit markets may impact our ability to manage normal commercial relationships with our customers, suppliers and creditors. These disruptions could have a negative impact on the ability of our customers to timely pay their obligations to us, thus reducing our cash flow, or the ability of our vendors to timely supply materials.
We believe that the following trends and uncertainties may also impact liquidity:
our continued repurchases of our outstanding common stock pursuant to our repurchase programs;
continued payment of dividends;
continued capital expenditures;
seasonality of our operating cash flows could impact short-term liquidity;
our ability to issue unsecured commercial paper notes ("Commercial Paper") on a private placement basis up to a maximum aggregate amount outstanding at any time of $500 million;
acquisitions of regional bottling companies, distributors and distribution rights to further extend our geographic coverage or access to new products; and
our ability to refinance $500 million of our outstanding 2.90% senior notes due January 15, 2016 (the "2016 Notes"). We intend to issue senior notes to refinance the 2016 Notes before the due date.

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Financing Arrangements
The following descriptions represent our available financing arrangements as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2014, we were in compliance with all covenant requirements for our senior unsecured notes, unsecured credit agreement and commercial paper program.
Commercial Paper Program
On December 10, 2010, we entered into a commercial paper program under which we may issue Commercial Paper on a private placement basis up to a maximum aggregate amount outstanding at any time of $500 million. The maturities of the Commercial Paper will vary, but may not exceed 364 days from the date of issuance. We issue Commercial Paper for general corporate purposes as Commercial Paper is now a more significant part of our overall cash management strategy. The program is supported by the Revolver (as defined below). Outstanding Commercial Paper reduces the amount of borrowing capacity available under the Revolver and outstanding amounts under the Revolver reduce the Commercial Paper availability. Under this program, we had weighted average outstanding commercial paper of $67 million and $62 million during 2014 and 2013, respectively, with maturities of 90 days or less and a weighted average rate of 0.23% and 0.28% for 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, we had no Commercial Paper outstanding. We had $65 million of outstanding Commercial Paper as of December 31, 2013.
Unsecured Credit Agreement 
On September 25, 2012, we entered into a five-year unsecured credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement"), which provides for a $500 million revolving line of credit (the "Revolver"). Borrowings under the Revolver bear interest at a floating rate per annum based upon the alternate base rate ("ABR") or the Eurodollar rate, in each case plus an applicable margin which varies based upon our debt ratings. Rates range from 0.000% to 0.300% for ABR loans and from 0.795% to 1.300% for Eurodollar loans. The ABR is defined as the greater of (a) JPMorgan Chase Bank's prime rate, (b) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.500% and (c) the adjusted LIBOR for a one month interest period. The adjusted LIBOR is the London interbank offered rate for dollars adjusted for a statutory reserve rate set by the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve System.
Additionally, the Revolver is available for the issuance of letters of credit and swingline advances not to exceed $75 million and $50 million, respectively. Swingline advances will accrue interest at a rate equal to the ABR plus the applicable margin. Letters of credit and swingline advances will reduce, on a dollar for dollar basis, the amount available under the Revolver.
The following table provides amounts utilized and available under the Revolver and each sublimit arrangement type as of December 31, 2014 (in millions):
 
Amount Utilized
 
Balances Available
Revolver
$

 
$
499

Letters of credit
1

 
74

Swingline advances

 
50

The Credit Agreement further provides that we may request at any time, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, that the aggregate commitments under the facility be increased by a total amount not to exceed $250 million.
The Credit Agreement's representations, warranties, covenants and events of default are generally customary for investment grade credit and include a covenant that requires us to maintain a ratio of consolidated total debt (as defined in the Credit Agreement) to annualized consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of no more than 3.00 to 1.00, tested quarterly. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, among other things, amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement may be accelerated and the commitments may be terminated. Our obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certain of our direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries on the terms set forth in the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement has a maturity date of September 25, 2017; however, with the consent of lenders holding more than 50% of the total commitments under the Credit Agreement and subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, we may extend the maturity date for up to two additional one-year terms.
An unused commitment fee is payable quarterly to the lenders on the unused portion of the commitments available under the Revolver equal to 0.08% to 0.20% per annum, depending upon our debt ratings.

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Shelf Registration Statement
On February 7, 2013, our Board authorized us to issue up to $1,500 million of securities from time to time. Subsequently, we filed a "well-known seasoned issuer" shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, effective May 23, 2013, which registers an indeterminable amount of securities for future sales. As of December 31, 2014, we had not issued any securities under this shelf registration statement.
Letters of Credit Facilities
We currently have letters of credit facilities available in addition to the portion of the Revolver reserved for issuance of letters of credit. Under these incremental letters of credit facilities, $140 million is available for the issuance of letters of credit, $63 million of which was utilized as of December 31, 2014 and $77 million of which remains available for use.
Liquidity
Based on our current and anticipated level of operations, we believe that our operating cash flows will be sufficient to meet our anticipated obligations for the next twelve months. To the extent that our operating cash flows are not sufficient to meet our liquidity needs, we may utilize cash on hand or amounts available under our financing arrangements, if necessary.
The following table summarizes our cash activity for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (in millions):
 
For the Year Ended
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
1,022

 
$
866

 
$
482

Net cash used in investing activities
(185
)
 
(195
)
 
(217
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(747
)
 
(880
)
 
(603
)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net cash provided by operating activities increased $156 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to the increase in net income and the favorable working capital comparisons to the prior year.
Net cash provided by operating activities increased $384 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to the favorable comparison of the 2012 tax payments of $531 million resulting from the licensing agreements with PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, partially offset by unfavorable working capital comparisons to the prior year.
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2014, consisted primarily of purchases of property, plant and equipment of $170 million and $19 million paid in connection with the acquisition of Davis. Purchases of property, plant and equipment have decreased over the prior period in line with our focus on reducing our purchases, net of proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment, in an amount below 3.00% of our current year net sales.
Cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2013, consisted primarily of purchases of property, plant and equipment of $179 million and cash paid to liquidate the liabilities assumed and expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition of DP/7UP West of $10 million. Purchases of property, plant and equipment have decreased over the prior period in line with our focus on reducing our purchases, net of proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment, in an amount slightly below 3.00% of our net sales in 2013.

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NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES
2014
Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2014 primarily consisted of stock repurchases of $400 million and dividend payments of $317 million.
2013
Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2013 primarily consisted of stock repurchases of $400 million and dividend payments of $302 million.
On May 1, 2013, we repaid $250 million of our 6.12% senior notes due May 1, 2013 at maturity.
2012
Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2012 primarily consisted of stock repurchases of $400 million and dividend payments of $284 million.
On November 20, 2012, we completed the issuance of $500 million aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes consisting of $250 million aggregate principal amount of our 2.00% senior notes due January 15, 2020 and $250 million aggregate principal amount of our 2.70% senior notes due November 15, 2022.
On December 21, 2012, we repaid $450 million of our 2.35% senior notes due December 21, 2012 at maturity.
Debt Ratings
As of December 31, 2014, our debt ratings were Baa1 with a stable outlook from Moody's and BBB+ with a stable outlook from S&P. Our commercial paper ratings were P-2/A-2 from Moody's and S&P, respectively.
These debt and commercial paper ratings impact the interest we pay on our financing arrangements. A downgrade of one or both of our debt and commercial paper ratings could increase our interest expense and decrease the cash available to fund anticipated obligations.
Cash Management
We fund our liquidity needs from cash flow from operations, cash on hand or amounts available under our financing arrangements, as Commercial Paper is now a more significant part of our overall cash management strategy.
Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures were $170 million, $179 million and $217 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Capital expenditures have reduced over the last three years as a result of a stronger focus on the return on our discretionary capital expenditures, the result of our RCI initiatives and reduced infrastructure investments required after our separation from Cadbury. Capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2014 primarily related to machinery and equipment including production improvements in our Mexico facilities, our distribution fleet, IT investments and expansion and replacement of existing cold drink equipment. For the year ended December 31, 2013, capital expenditures primarily related to machinery and equipment, IT investments, expansion and replacement of existing cold drink equipment and our distribution fleet. Capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2012 primarily related to machinery and equipment, expansion and replacement of existing cold drink equipment, our distribution fleet and IT investments.
In 2015, we expect to incur annual capital expenditures, net of proceeds from disposals, in an amount approximately 3.00% of our net sales, which we expect to fund through cash provided by operating activities.

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Cash and Cash Equivalents
As a result of the above items, cash and cash equivalents increased $84 million since December 31, 2013 to $237 million as of December 31, 2014 primarily driven by higher operating cash flows, lower capital expenditures and lower scheduled debt payments, partially offset by increased returns to our shareholders.
Our cash balances are used to fund working capital requirements, scheduled debt and interest payments, income tax obligations, repurchases of our common stock, dividend payments and capital expenditures. Cash generated by our foreign operations is generally repatriated to the U.S. annually except when required to fund working capital requirements in those jurisdictions. Foreign cash balances were $51 million and $65 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. We accrue tax costs for repatriation, as applicable, as cash is generated in those foreign jurisdictions.
Acquisitions
We have made acquisitions to strengthen our route to market in the U.S. and support efforts to build and enhance our leading brands. On October 31, 2014, we acquired certain assets of Davis in exchange for $19 million in cash and a $2 million holdback liability to satisfy any working capital adjustments and applicable indemnification claims, pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement. On February 25, 2013, we acquired certain assets of DP/7UP West in exchange for $23 million consisting of the issuance by us of 313,105 shares of common stock to DP/7UP West and the assumption of certain liabilities of DP/7UP West to consummate the transaction.
During the first quarter of 2013, we also reacquired the distribution rights for Snapple and several other NCB brands in parts of Asia-Pacific from Mondelēz.
We may continue to make future acquisitions, such as acquisitions of regional bottling companies, distributors and/or distribution rights to further extend our geographic coverage. Any acquisitions may require additional funding for future capital expenditures and possibly restructuring expenses.
Dividends
Our Board declared aggregate dividends aggregating of $1.64, $1.52 and $1.36 per share on outstanding common stock during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Our fourth quarter 2014 dividend was paid on January 7, 2015, to shareholders of record on December 15, 2014.
Common Stock Repurchases
As previously disclosed, our Board has authorized us to purchase an aggregate amount of up to $3,000 million of our outstanding common stock. We repurchased and retired 6.8 million shares of common stock valued at approximately $400 million, 8.7 million shares of common stock valued at approximately $400 million and 9.5 million shares of common stock valued at approximately $400 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Refer to Part II, Item 5 "Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding these repurchases.

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Contractual Commitments and Obligations
We enter into various contractual obligations that impact, or could impact, our liquidity. Based on our current and anticipated level of operations, we believe that our proceeds from operating cash flows will be sufficient to meet our anticipated obligations. To the extent that our operating cash flows are not sufficient to meet our liquidity needs, we may utilize cash on hand or amounts available under our financing arrangements, if necessary. Refer to Note 9 of the Notes to our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the senior unsecured notes payments described in this table.
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations and contingencies as of December 31, 2014 (in millions):
 
 
 
Payments Due in Year
 
Total
 
2015
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
After 2019
Senior unsecured notes(1)
$
2,474

 
$

 
$
500

 
$

 
$
724

 
$
250

 
$
1,000

Capital leases(2)
129

 
11

 
11

 
11

 
11

 
10

 
75

Operating leases(3)
239

 
47

 
40

 
32

 
24

 
21

 
75

Purchase obligations(4)
764

 
473

 
136

 
51

 
45

 
39

 
20

Interest payments(5)
758

 
95

 
94

 
92

 
69

 
42

 
366

Current tax reserve
1

 
1

 

 

 

 

 

Payable to Mondelēz
43

 
6

 
6

 
6

 
6

 
19

 

Total
$
4,408

 
$
633

 
$
787

 
$
192

 
$
879

 
$
381

 
$
1,536

____________________________
(1)
Amounts represent payment for the senior unsecured notes issued by us. Please refer to Note 9 of the Notes to our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
(2)
Amounts represent our contractual payment obligations for our lease arrangements classified as capital leases. These amounts exclude renewal options not yet executed but were included in the lease term to determine the capital lease obligation as the lease imposes a penalty on us in such amount that the renewal appeared reasonably assured at lease inception. Additionally, we changed our leasing strategy during the year ended December 31, 2014. As a result of this change, the Company converted a number of operating leases with a term less than twelve months into capital leases, which increased our contractual obligations.
(3)
Amounts represent minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating leases.
(4)
Amounts represent payments under agreements to purchase goods or services that are legally binding and that specify all significant terms, including capital obligations and long-term contractual obligations.
(5)
Amounts represent our estimated interest payments based on specified interest rates for fixed rate debt and the impact of interest rate swaps which convert fixed interest rates to variable interest rates.
Amounts excluded from our table
As of December 31, 2014, we had $12 million of non-current unrecognized tax benefits, related interest and penalties classified as a long-term liability. The table above does not reflect any payments related to these amounts as it is not possible to make a reasonable estimate of the amount or timing of the payment. Refer to Note 12 of the Notes to our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements.
The total accrued benefit liability representing the underfunded position for pension and other postretirement benefit plans recognized as of December 31, 2014 was approximately $44 million. This amount is impacted by, among other items, funding levels, plan amendments, changes in plan assumptions and the investment return on plan assets. We did not include estimated payments related to our total accrued benefit liability in the table above.
The Pension Protection Act of 2006 was enacted in August 2006 and established, among other things, new standards for funding of U.S. defined benefit pension plans. We generally expect to fund all future contributions with cash flows from operating activities. Our international pension plans are generally funded in accordance with local laws and income tax regulations. We did not include our estimated contributions to our various single employer plans in the table above.

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Additionally, we recorded an estimated $57 million withdrawal liability during 2013 for certain multi-employer pension plans we have withdrawn from. As we can not estimate the timing or actual amount of payments until the plan formally assesses us with the withdrawal liability, those payments have been excluded from the table above.
Refer to Note 14 of the Notes to our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding our single employer and multi-employer plans discussed above.
We have a deferred compensation plan where the assets are maintained in a rabbi trust and the corresponding liability related to the plan is recorded in other non-current liabilities. We did not include estimated payments related to the deferred compensation liability as the timing and payment of these amounts are determined by the participants and outside our control. Refer to Note 2 of the Notes to our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements.
In general, we are covered under conventional insurance programs with high deductibles or are self-insured for large portions of many different types of claims. Our insurance liability for our losses related to these programs are estimated through actuarial procedures of the insurance industry and by using industry assumptions, adjusted for our specific expectations based on our claim history. As of December 31, 2014, our insurance liability totaled approximately $136 million. Refer to Notes 8 and 11 of the Notes to our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements. We did not include estimated payments related to our insurance liability in the table above.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
We currently participate in three multi-employer pension plans. In the event that we withdraw from participation in one of these plans, the plan will ultimately assess us a withdrawal liability for exiting the plan, and U.S. GAAP would require us to record the withdrawal charge as an expense in our consolidated statements of income and as a liability on our consolidated balance sheets once the multi-employer pension withdrawal charge is probable and estimable. There are no other off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources other than letters of credit outstanding.
Refer to Note 9 of the Notes to our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding outstanding letters of credit.
OTHER MATTERS
Agreements with PepsiCo and Coca-Cola
On February 26, 2010, we completed the licensing of certain brands to PepsiCo following PepsiCo's acquisitions of Pepsi Bottling Group and PepsiAmericas, Inc. Under the agreements, we received a one-time nonrefundable cash payment of $900 million. The agreements have an initial period of 20 years with automatic 20-year renewal periods, and require PepsiCo to meet certain performance conditions.
On October 4, 2010, we completed the licensing of certain brands to Coca-Cola following Coca-Cola's acquisition of Coca-Cola Enterprises' North American Bottling Business and executed separate agreements pursuant to which Coca-Cola began offering Dr Pepper and Diet Dr Pepper in local fountain accounts and its Freestyle fountain program. Under the agreements, we received a one-time nonrefundable cash payment of $715 million. The agreements have an initial period of 20 years with automatic 20-year renewal periods, and require Coca-Cola to meet certain performance conditions.
Under a separate agreement, Coca-Cola has agreed to include Dr Pepper and Diet Dr Pepper brands in its Freestyle fountain program. The Freestyle fountain program agreement has a period of 20 years.
These payments were recorded as deferred revenue and recognized as net sales ratably over the estimated 25-year life of the customer relationships.

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The process of preparing our consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the use of estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. Critical accounting estimates are both fundamental to the portrayal of a company’s financial condition and results and require difficult, subjective or complex estimates and assessments. These estimates and judgments are based on historical experience, future expectations and other factors and assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. The most significant estimates and judgments are reviewed on an ongoing basis and revised when necessary. We have not made any material changes in the accounting methodology we use to assess or measure our critical accounting estimates. We have identified the items described below as our critical accounting estimates. We do not believe there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the future estimates or assumptions we use in our critical accounting estimates. However, if actual results are not consistent with our estimates or assumptions, we may be exposed to gains or losses that could be material to our consolidated financial statements. See Note 2 of the Notes to our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of these and other accounting policies.
Description
 
Judgments and Uncertainties
 
Effect if Actual Results Differ from Assumptions
Goodwill and Other Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets
 
 
For goodwill and other indefinite lived intangible assets, we conduct tests for impairment annually, as of October 1, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. We use present value and other valuation techniques to make this assessment. If the carrying amount of goodwill or an intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. For purposes of impairment testing we assign goodwill to the reporting unit that benefits from the synergies arising from each business combination and also assign indefinite lived intangible assets to our reporting units. We define reporting units as Beverage Concentrates, Latin America Beverages, and Packaged Beverages' two reporting units, DSD and WD.

The impairment test for indefinite lived intangible assets encompasses calculating a fair value of an indefinite lived intangible asset and comparing the fair value to its carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value, impairment is recorded. The impairment tests for goodwill include comparing a fair value of the respective reporting unit with its carrying value, including goodwill and considering any indefinite lived intangible asset impairment charges ("Step 1"). If the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value, impairment is indicated and a second step ("Step 2") analysis must be performed.
 
For our detailed impairment analysis, we used an income based approach to determine the fair value of our assets, as well as an overall consideration of market capitalization and our enterprise value. These types of analyses contain uncertainties because they require management to make assumptions and to apply judgment to estimate industry and economic factors and the profitability of future business strategies. These assumptions could be negatively impacted by various risks discussed in "Risk Factors" in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Critical assumptions include revenue growth and profit performance, as well as an appropriate discount rate. Discount rates are based on a weighted average cost of equity and cost of debt, adjusted with various risk premiums. For 2014, such discount rates ranged from 5.10% to 11.85%.
 
The carrying values of goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets as of December 31, 2014, were $2,990 million and $2,684 million, respectively.

We have not identified any impairments in goodwill or other indefinite lived intangible assets during the past three years. The effect of a 1% increase or decrease in the discount rate used to determine the fair value of the reporting unit or the indefinite lived intangible asset does not change our conclusion regarding the identification of any impairments in goodwill or other indefinite lived intangible assets.
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue Recognition
 
 
 
 
We recognize revenue, net of the costs of our customer incentives, at the time risk of loss has been transferred to our customer.

Accruals for customer incentives and marketing programs are established for the expected payout based on contractual terms, volume-based metrics and/or historical trends.
 
Our customer incentives and marketing accrual methodology contains uncertainties because it requires management to make assumptions and to apply judgment to estimate our customer participation and volume performance levels which impact the expense recognition. Our estimate of the amount and timing of customer participation and volume performance levels is based primarily on a combination of known or historical transaction experience and forecasted volumes. Differences between estimated expenses and actual costs are normally insignificant and are recognized to earnings in the period differences are determined.

Further judgment is required to ensure the classification of the spend is correctly recorded as either a reduction from gross sales or advertising and marketing expense.
 
A 10% change in the accrual for our customer incentives and marketing programs as of December 31, 2014, would have affected our net sales and SG&A expenses by $23 million and $2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.
 
 
 
 
 

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Description
 
Judgments and Uncertainties
 
Effect if Actual Results Differ from Assumptions
Pension and Postretirement Benefits
 
 
We have several pension and postretirement plans covering employees who satisfy age and length of service requirements. Depending on the plan, pension and postretirement benefits are based on a combination of factors, which may include salary, age and years of service.

Our largest U.S. defined benefit pension plan, which is a cash balance plan, was suspended and the accrued benefit was frozen effective December 31, 2008. Participants in this plan no longer earn additional benefits for future services or salary increases.

Employee benefit plan obligations and expenses included in our Consolidated Financial Statements are determined from actuarial analyses based on plan assumptions, employee demographic data, years of service, compensation, benefits and claims paid and employer contributions.
 
The calculation of pension and postretirement plan obligations and related expenses is dependent on several assumptions used to estimate the present value of the benefits earned while the employee is eligible to participate in the plans.

The key assumptions we use in the actuarial methods to determine the plan obligations and related expenses include: (1) the discount rate used to calculate the present value of the plan liabilities; (2) retirement age and mortality; and (3) the expected return on plan assets. Our assumptions reflect our historical experience and our best judgment regarding future performance.

Refer to Note 14 of the Notes to our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for further information about the key assumptions.
 
The effect of a 1% increase or decrease in the weighted-average discount rate used to determine the pension benefit obligations for U.S. plans would change the benefit obligation as of December 31, 2014 by approximately $27 million and $33 million, respectively. 
The effect of a 1% increase or decrease in the weighted-average discount rate used to determine the net periodic pension costs would change the costs for the year ended December 31, 2014 by approximately $1 million and $2 million, respectively. 
The effect of a 1% increase or decrease in the expected return on plan assets used to determine the net periodic pension costs would change the costs for the year ended December 31, 2014 by approximately $2 million.
 
 
 
 
 
Multi-employer Pension Plan Withdrawal Liability
 
 
We contribute to a number of multi-employer defined benefit plans under the terms of collective bargaining agreements that cover its union-represented employees. We record liabilities to exit a participating plan when an exit becomes both probable and estimable. The estimated withdrawal liability is determined from actuarial analyses based on historical and anticipated employer contributions.
 
The calculation of the multi-employer pension plan withdrawal liability and related expense is dependent on several assumptions used to estimate the present value of the estimated withdrawal liability.

The key assumptions we use in the actuarial methods to determine the estimated withdrawal liability and related expenses include: (1) the amount of the anticipated contributions, which is based upon the timing of the withdrawal liability assessment provided by the trustee; (2) the discount rate used to calculate the present value of the estimated withdrawal liability; and (3) the expected return on plan assets. Our assumptions reflect our best judgment regarding the outcome of the assessment.


 
The effect of a 10% increase or decrease in the anticipated contributions used by the trustee to assess the withdrawal liability would change the withdrawal liability as of December 31, 2014 by approximately $6 million.


 
 
 
 
 
Risk Management Programs
 
 
We retain selected levels of property, casualty, workers' compensation, health and other business risks. Many of these risks are covered under conventional insurance programs with high deductibles or self-insured retentions.
 
We believe the use of actuarial methods to estimate our future losses provides a consistent and effective way to measure our self-insured liabilities. However, the estimation of our liability is judgmental and uncertain given the nature of claims involved and length of time until their ultimate cost is known.

Accrued liabilities related to the retained casualty and health risks are calculated based on loss experience and development factors, which contemplate a number of variables including claim history and expected trends. These loss development factors are established in consultation with actuaries.
 
We do not believe there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the estimates or assumptions we use to calculate our self-insured liabilities. The final settlement amount of claims can differ materially from our estimate as a result of changes in factors such as the frequency and severity of accidents, medical cost inflation, legislative actions, uncertainty around jury verdicts and awards and other factors outside of our control.

A 10% change in our accrued liabilities related to the retained risks as of December 31, 2014 would have affected income from operations by approximately $14 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Description
 
Judgments and Uncertainties
 
Effect if Actual Results Differ from Assumptions
Income Taxes
 
 
We establish income tax liabilities to remove some or all of the income tax benefit of any of our income tax positions based upon one of the following: (1) the tax position is not “more likely than not” to be sustained, (2) the tax position is “more likely than not” to be sustained, but for a lesser amount, or (3) the tax position is “more likely than not” to be sustained , but not in the financial period in which the tax position was originally taken.

We assess the likelihood of realizing our deferred tax assets. Valuation allowances reduce deferred tax assets to the amount more likely than not to be realized.
 
Our liability for uncertain tax positions contains uncertainties because management is required to make assumptions and to apply judgment to estimate the exposures associated with our various tax positions.

We base our judgment of the recoverability of our deferred tax asset primarily on historical earnings, our estimate of current and expected future earnings and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies.
 
Our income tax returns, like those of most companies, are periodically audited by domestic and foreign tax authorities. These audits include questions regarding our tax positions, including the timing and amount of deductions and the allocation of income among various tax jurisdictions. As these audits progress, events may occur that cause us to change our liability for uncertain tax positions.

To the extent we prevail in matters for which a liability for uncertain tax positions has been established, or are required to pay amounts in excess of our established liability, our effective tax rate in a given financial statement period could be materially affected. An unfavorable tax settlement generally would require use of our cash and may result in an increase in our effective tax rate in the period of resolution. A favorable tax settlement may be recognized as a reduction in our effective tax rate in the period of resolution.

If results differ from our assumptions, a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets may be increased or decreased which would impact our effective tax rate.

EFFECT OF RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Refer to Note 2 of the Notes to our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of recently issued accounting standards and recently adopted provisions of U.S. GAAP.
ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
We are exposed to market risks arising from changes in market rates and prices, including movements in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices. From time to time, we may enter into derivatives or other financial instruments to hedge or mitigate commercial risks. We do not enter into derivative instruments for speculation, investing or trading.
Foreign Exchange Risk
The majority of our net sales, expenses and capital purchases are transacted in U.S. dollars. However, we have some exposure with respect to foreign exchange rate fluctuations. Our primary exposure to foreign exchange rates is the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso against the U.S. dollar. Exchange rate gains or losses related to foreign currency transactions are recognized as transaction gains or losses in our income statement as incurred. As of December 31, 2014, the impact to our income from operations of a 10% change (up or down) in exchange rates is estimated to be an increase or decrease of approximately $23 million on an annual basis.
We use derivative instruments such as foreign exchange forward contracts to manage a portion of our exposure to changes in foreign exchange rates. As of December 31, 2014, we had derivative contracts outstanding with a notional value of $10 million maturing at various dates through December 15, 2015.
Interest Rate Risk
We centrally manage our debt portfolio through the use of interest rate swaps and monitor our mix of fixed-rate and variable rate debt. At December 31, 2014, the carrying value of our fixed-rate debt, excluding capital leases, was $2,505 million, $720 million of which is designated as fair value hedges and exposed to variability in interest rates.

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The following table is an estimate of the impact to the fair value hedges that could result from hypothetical interest rate changes during the term of the financial instruments, based on debt levels as of December 31, 2014:
Sensitivity Analysis
Hypothetical Change in Interest Rates
 
Annual Impact to Interest Expense
 
Change in Fair Value (2)
1-percent decrease(1)
 
$

 
$62 million increase
1-percent increase
 
$7 million increase

 
$55 million decrease
____________________________
(1)
We pay an average floating rate, which fluctuates periodically, based on LIBOR and a credit spread, as a result of designated fair value hedges on certain debt instruments. See Note 9 of the Notes to our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. As LIBOR would not fall below zero, we did not calculate the hypothetical change in the interest rate.
(2) The change in fair value would impact the carrying value of our unsecured senior notes with an equal offset to our derivative instrument positions. See Notes 8 and 11 of the Notes to our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for quantification of those positions.
Commodity Risks
We are subject to market risks with respect to commodities because our ability to recover increased costs through higher pricing may be limited by the competitive environment in which we operate. Our principal commodities risks relate to our purchases of PET, diesel fuel, corn (for high fructose corn syrup), aluminum, sucrose, apple juice concentrate, apples and natural gas (for use in processing and packaging).
We utilize commodities forward and future contracts and supplier pricing agreements to hedge the risk of adverse movements in commodity prices for limited time periods for certain commodities. The fair market value of these contracts as of December 31, 2014 was a net liability of $26 million.
As of December 31, 2014, the impact of a 10% change (up or down) in market prices for these commodities where the risk of adverse movements has not been hedged is estimated to be an increase or decrease of approximately $21 million to our income from operations for the year ending December 31, 2015.


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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. and subsidiaries at December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 19, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.



Dallas, Texas
February 19, 2015



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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2014, based on Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company's principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company's board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2014 of the Company and our report dated February 19, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.



Dallas, Texas
February 19, 2015


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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012
(In millions, except per share data)
 
For the
 
Year Ended
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Net sales
$
6,121

 
$
5,997

 
$
5,995

Cost of sales
2,491

 
2,499

 
2,500

Gross profit
3,630

 
3,498

 
3,495

Selling, general and administrative expenses
2,334

 
2,272

 
2,268

Multi-employer pension plan withdrawal

 
56

 

Depreciation and amortization
115

 
115

 
124

Other operating expense, net
1

 
9

 
11

Income from operations
1,180

 
1,046

 
1,092

Interest expense
109

 
123

 
125

Interest income
(2
)
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
Other expense (income), net

 
383

 
(9
)
Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
1,073

 
542

 
978

Provision (benefit) for income taxes
371

 
(81
)
 
349

Income before equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
702

 
623

 
629

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries, net of tax
1

 
1

 

Net income
$
703

 
$
624

 
$
629

Earnings per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
3.59

 
$
3.08

 
$
2.99

Diluted
3.56

 
3.05

 
2.96

Weighted average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
195.8

 
202.9

 
210.6

Diluted
197.4

 
204.5

 
212.3

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012
(In millions)

 
For the
 
Year Ended
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Net income
$
703

 
$
624

 
$
629

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
(44
)
 
(9
)
 
19

Net change in pension liability, net of tax of ($4), $12, and ($4)
(7
)
 
23

 
(8
)
Net change in cash flow hedges, net of tax of $1, $4, and ($6)
2

 
8

 
(11
)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
(49
)
 
22

 

Comprehensive income
$
654

 
$
646

 
$
629

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013
(In millions, except share and per share data)
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Assets
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
237

 
$
153

Accounts receivable:
 
 
 
Trade, net
556

 
564

Other
61

 
58

Inventories
204

 
200

Deferred tax assets
67

 
66

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
86

 
78

Total current assets
1,211

 
1,119

Property, plant and equipment, net
1,141

 
1,173

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries
14

 
15

Goodwill
2,990

 
2,988

Other intangible assets, net
2,684

 
2,694

Other non-current assets
159

 
127

Non-current deferred tax assets
74

 
85

Total assets
$
8,273

 
$
8,201

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
289

 
$
271

Deferred revenue
64

 
65

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term obligations
3

 
66

Income taxes payable
10

 
33

Other current liabilities
672

 
595

Total current liabilities
1,038

 
1,030

Long-term obligations
2,588

 
2,508

Non-current deferred tax liabilities
801

 
755

Non-current deferred revenue
1,250

 
1,318

Other non-current liabilities
302

 
313

Total liabilities
5,979

 
5,924

Commitments and contingencies

 

Stockholders' equity:
 
 
 
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 15,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 800,000,000 shares authorized, 192,957,696 and 197,979,971 shares issued and outstanding for 2014 and 2013, respectively
2

 
2

Additional paid-in capital
658

 
970

Retained earnings
1,771

 
1,393

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(137
)
 
(88
)
Total stockholders' equity
2,294

 
2,277

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
8,273

 
$
8,201

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012
(In millions)
 
For the
 
Year Ended
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
703

 
$
624

 
$
629

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation expense
199

 
196

 
203

Amortization expense
36

 
38

 
37

Amortization of deferred revenue
(65
)
 
(65
)
 
(65
)
Employee stock-based compensation expense
48

 
37

 
35

Deferred income taxes
43

 
138

 
91

Other, net
21

 
35

 
(18
)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisition:
 
 
 
 
 
Trade accounts receivable

 
(13
)
 
36

Other accounts receivable
(5
)
 
(9
)
 
1

Inventories
(8
)
 
(3
)
 
17

Other current and non-current assets
(25
)
 
456

 
(21
)
Other current and non-current liabilities
58

 
(556
)
 
(7
)
Trade accounts payable
29

 
(6
)
 
12

Income taxes payable
(12
)
 
(6
)
 
(468
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
1,022

 
866

 
482

Investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Acquisition of business
(19
)
 
(10
)
 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment
(170
)
 
(179
)
 
(217
)
Purchase of intangible assets
(1
)
 
(5
)
 
(7
)
Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment
8

 
1

 
7

Other, net
(3
)
 
(2
)
 

Net cash used in investing activities
(185
)
 
(195
)
 
(217
)
Financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from senior unsecured notes

 

 
500

Repayment of senior unsecured notes

 
(250
)
 
(450
)
Net (repayment) issuance of commercial paper
(65
)
 
65

 

Repurchase of shares of common stock
(400
)
 
(400
)
 
(400
)
Dividends paid
(317
)
 
(302
)
 
(284
)
Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of certain stock awards
(16
)
 
(13
)
 

Proceeds from stock options exercised
41

 
15

 
22

Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation
11

 
6

 
16

Deferred financing charges paid

 

 
(4
)
Other, net
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(3
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(747
)
 
(880
)
 
(603
)
Cash and cash equivalents — net change from:
 
 
 
 
 
Operating, investing and financing activities
90

 
(209
)
 
(338
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(6
)
 
(4
)
 
3

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
153

 
366

 
701

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
237

 
$
153

 
$
366

See Note 19 for supplemental cash flow disclosures.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
For the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012
(In millions, except per share data)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
Additional
 
 
 
Other
 
 
 
Issued
 
Paid-In
 
Retained
 
Comprehensive
 
Total
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Capital
 
Earnings
 
Loss
 
Equity
Balance as of January 1, 2012
212.1

 
$
2

 
$
1,631

 
$
740

 
$
(110
)
 
$
2,263

Shares issued under employee stock-based compensation plans and other
2.7

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 
629

 

 
629

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends declared, $1.36 per share

 

 
4

 
(289
)
 

 
(285
)
Stock options exercised and stock-based compensation, net of tax of ($16)

 

 
73

 

 

 
73

Common stock repurchases
(9.5
)
 

 
(400
)
 

 

 
(400
)
Balance as of December 31, 2012
205.3

 
2

 
1,308

 
1,080

 
(110
)
 
2,280

Shares issued under employee stock-based compensation plans and other
1.1

 

 

 

 

 

Shares issued for acquisition
0.3

 

 
13

 

 

 
13

Net income

 

 

 
624

 

 
624

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 
22

 
22

Dividends declared, $1.52 per share

 

 
4

 
(311
)
 

 
(307
)
Stock options exercised and stock-based compensation, net of tax of ($6)

 

 
45

 

 

 
45

Common stock repurchases
(8.7
)
 

 
(400
)
 

 

 
(400
)
Balance as of December 31, 2013
198.0

 
2

 
970

 
1,393

 
(88
)
 
2,277

Shares issued under employee stock-based compensation plans and other
1.8

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 
703

 

 
703

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 
(49
)
 
(49
)
Dividends declared, $1.64 per share

 

 
4

 
(325
)
 

 
(321
)
Stock options exercised and stock-based compensation, net of tax of ($11)

 

 
84

 

 

 
84

Common stock repurchases
(6.8
)
 

 
(400
)
 

 

 
(400
)
Balance as of December 31, 2014
193.0

 
$
2

 
$
658

 
$
1,771

 
$
(137
)
 
$
2,294

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


1.
Business and Basis of Presentation
References in the Notes to Audited Consolidated Financial Statements to "DPS" or "the Company" refer to Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. and all entities included in the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements. Cadbury plc and Cadbury Schweppes plc are hereafter collectively referred to as "Cadbury" unless otherwise indicated. Kraft Foods Inc. acquired Cadbury on February 2, 2010 and on October 1, 2012, Kraft Foods Inc. spun-off its North American grocery business to its shareholders and changed its name to Mondelēz International, Inc. ("Mondelēz").
The Notes to Audited Consolidated Financial Statements refer to some of DPS' owned or licensed trademarks, trade names and service marks, which are referred to as the Company's brands. All of the product names included herein are either DPS' registered trademarks or those of the Company's licensors.
Nature of Operations
DPS is a leading integrated brand owner, manufacturer and distributor of non-alcoholic beverages in the United States ("U.S."), Canada, and Mexico with a diverse portfolio of flavored (non-cola) carbonated soft drinks ("CSDs") and non-carbonated beverages ("NCBs"), including ready-to-drink teas, juices, juice drinks, mixers and water. The Company's brand portfolio includes popular CSD brands such as Dr Pepper, Canada Dry, 7UP, Squirt, Peñafiel, Crush, A&W, Sunkist soda and Schweppes, and NCB brands such as Snapple, Hawaiian Punch, Mott's, Clamato, Mr & Mrs T mixers and Rose's.
We were incorporated in Delaware on October 24, 2007. In 2008, Cadbury separated its beverage business in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean (the "Americas Beverages business") from its global confectionery business by contributing the subsidiaries that operated its Americas Beverages business to us.
Principles of Consolidation
DPS consolidates all wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company uses the equity method to account for investments in companies if the investment provides the Company with the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies of the investee. Consolidated net income includes DPS' proportionate share of the net income or loss of these companies. Judgment regarding the level of influence over each equity method investment includes considering key factors such as ownership interest, representation on the board of directors, participation in policy-making decisions and material intercompany transactions.
The Company is also required to consolidate entities that are variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of which DPS is the primary beneficiary. Judgments are made in assessing whether the Company is the primary beneficiary, including determination of the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company provided 100% financing to a VIE as part of a short term leasing structure for which DPS is the primary beneficiary. As a result, DPS has consolidated that entity. The Company’s financing of the VIE, which totaled $21 million as of December 31, 2014, included a transfer of cash and assignment of the rights to deposits previously made with a manufacturer in the prior year. The Company's financing of the VIE, which eliminates in consolidation, was used by the VIE to purchase certain property, plant and equipment. The assets and liabilities of the VIE were not significant to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
The Company eliminates from its financial results all intercompany transactions between entities included in the consolidated financial statements and the intercompany transactions with its equity method investees.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting principally of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date of issuance of the Company's Audited Consolidated Financial Statements.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

2.
Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates
The process of preparing DPS' consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the use of estimates and judgments that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. These estimates and judgments are based on historical experience, future expectations and other factors and assumptions the Company believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. These estimates and judgments are reviewed on an ongoing basis and are revised when necessary. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period of change. Actual amounts may differ from these estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash and investments in short-term, highly liquid securities, with original maturities of three months or less.
The Company is exposed to potential risks associated with its cash and cash equivalents. DPS places its cash and cash equivalents with high credit quality financial institutions. Deposits with these financial institutions may exceed the amount of insurance provided; however, these deposits typically are redeemable upon demand and, therefore, the Company believes the financial risks associated with these financial instruments are minimal.
Trade Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest.
The Company is exposed to potential credit risks associated with its accounts receivable, as it generally does not require collateral on its accounts receivable. The Company determines the required allowance for doubtful collections using information such as its customer credit history and financial condition, industry and market segment information, economic trends and conditions and credit reports. Allowances can be affected by changes in the industry, customer credit issues or customer bankruptcies. Account balances are charged against the allowance when it is determined that the receivable will not be recovered. The Company has not experienced significant credit related losses.
Activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was as follows (in millions):
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Balance, beginning of the year
$
3

 
$
3

 
$
3

Net charge to costs and expenses
1

 
1

 
2

Write-offs and adjustments
(2
)
 
(1
)
 
(2
)
Balance, end of the year
$
2

 
$
3

 
$
3

As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ("WalMart") accounted for approximately $67 million and $64 million of trade receivables, respectively, which exceeded 10% of the Company's total trade accounts receivable.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value. Cost is primarily determined for inventories of the Company's U.S. subsidiaries by the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") valuation method. The cost for inventories of the Company's foreign subsidiaries is determined by the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") valuation method. The costs of finished goods inventories include raw materials, direct labor and indirect production and overhead costs. Reserves for excess and obsolete inventories are based on an assessment of slow-moving and obsolete inventories, determined by historical usage and demand. Excess and obsolete inventory reserves were $2 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. Refer to Note 4 for additional information.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost plus capitalized interest on borrowings during the actual construction period of major capital projects, net of accumulated depreciation. Significant improvements which substantially extend the useful lives of assets are capitalized. The costs of major rebuilds and replacements of plant and equipment are capitalized and expenditures for repairs and maintenance which do not improve or extend the life of the assets are expensed as incurred. When property, plant and equipment is sold or retired, the costs and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any net gain or loss is recorded in other operating expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Refer to Note 5 for additional information.
For financial reporting purposes, depreciation is computed on the straight-line method over the estimated useful asset lives as follows: 
Type of Asset
Useful Life
Buildings
 
 
40 years
Building improvements
5
to
35 years
Machinery and equipment
3
to
23 years
Vehicles
5
to
12 years
Cold drink equipment
3
to
7 years
Computer software
3
to
8 years
Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the assets or the lease term. Estimated useful lives are periodically reviewed and, when warranted, are updated.
The Company periodically reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. In order to assess recoverability, DPS compares the estimated undiscounted future pre-tax cash flows from the use of the asset or group of assets, as defined, to the carrying amount of such assets. Measurement of an impairment loss is based on the excess of the carrying amount of the asset or group of assets over the long-lived asset's fair value. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, no analysis was warranted. 
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets 
The Company classifies intangible assets into two categories: (1) intangible assets with definite lives subject to amortization and (2) intangible assets with indefinite lives not subject to amortization. The majority of the Company's intangible asset balance is made up of brands which the Company has determined to have indefinite useful lives. In arriving at the conclusion that a brand has an indefinite useful life, management reviews factors such as size, diversification and market share of each brand. Management expects to acquire, hold and support brands for an indefinite period through consumer marketing and promotional support. The Company also considers factors such as its ability to continue to protect the legal rights that arise from these brand names indefinitely or the absence of any regulatory, economic or competitive factors that could truncate the life of the brand name. If the criteria are not met to assign an indefinite life, the brand is amortized over its expected useful life. 
Identifiable intangible assets deemed by the Company to have determinable finite useful lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives as follows: 
Type of Intangible Asset
Useful Life
Brands
 
 
10 years
Customer relationships
 
 
10 years
Distribution rights
5
to
15 years
 

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)


DPS conducts tests for impairment in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For intangible assets with definite lives, tests for impairment are performed if conditions exist that indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. For goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, the Company conducts tests for impairment annually, as of October 1, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. We use present value and other valuation techniques to make this assessment.
The tests for impairment include significant judgment in estimating the fair value of reporting units and intangible assets primarily by analyzing forecasts of future revenues and profit performance. Fair value is based on what the reporting units and intangible assets would be worth to a third party market participant. Discount rates are based on a weighted average cost of equity and cost of debt, adjusted with various risk premiums. Management's estimates of fair value, which fall under Level 3, are based on historical and projected operating performance. Refer to Note 7 for additional information.
Capitalized Customer Incentive Programs
The Company provides support to certain customers to cover various programs and initiatives to increase net sales, including contributions to customers or vendors for cold drink equipment used to market and sell the Company's products. These programs and initiatives generally directly benefit the Company over a period of time. Accordingly, costs of these programs and initiatives are recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets and other non-current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The costs for these programs are amortized over the period to be directly benefited based upon a methodology consistent with the Company's contractual rights under these arrangements.
These programs and initiatives recorded in the current and non-current assets within the Consolidated Balance Sheets were $73 million and $83 million, net of accumulated amortization, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The amortization charge for the cost of contributions to customers or vendors for cold drink equipment was $4 million, $3 million and $5 million during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and was recorded in selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The amortization charge for the cost of other programs and incentives was $13 million, $15 million and $17 million during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and was recorded as a deduction from gross sales.
Derivatives
The Company formally designates and accounts for certain interest rate contracts and foreign exchange forward contracts that meet established accounting criteria under U.S. GAAP as either fair value or cash flow hedges. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instruments is recorded, net of applicable taxes, in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss ("AOCL"), a component of Stockholders' Equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. When net income is affected by the variability of the underlying transaction, the applicable offsetting amount of the gain or loss from the derivative instrument deferred in AOCL is reclassified to net income and is reported as a component of the Consolidated Statements of Income. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as fair value hedges, the effective change in the fair value of the instrument as well as the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk, are recognized immediately in current-period earnings. For derivatives that are not designated as a hedging instrument, which creates an economic hedge, or de-designated as a hedging instrument, the gain or loss on the instrument is recognized in earnings in the period of change. 
Certain interest rate swap agreements qualify for the shortcut method of accounting for hedges under U.S. GAAP. Under the shortcut method, the hedges are assumed to be perfectly effective and no ineffectiveness is recorded in earnings. For all other designated hedges, the Company assesses at the time the derivative contract is entered into, and at least quarterly thereafter, whether the derivative instrument is effective in offsetting the changes in fair value or cash flows. DPS also measures hedge ineffectiveness on a quarterly basis throughout the designated period. Changes in the fair value of the derivative instrument that do not effectively offset changes in the fair value of the underlying hedged item throughout the designated hedge period are recorded in earnings each period. 
If a fair value or cash flow hedge were to cease to qualify for hedge accounting, or were terminated, it would continue to be carried on the balance sheet at fair value until settled, but hedge accounting would be discontinued prospectively. If the underlying hedged transaction ceases to exist, any associated amounts reported in AOCL are reclassified to earnings at that time.  Refer to Note 10 for additional information.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

Fair Value
The fair value of senior unsecured notes and marketable securities as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 are based on quoted market prices for publicly traded securities.
The Company estimates fair values of financial instruments measured at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis to ensure they are calculated based on market rates to settle the instruments. These values represent the estimated amounts DPS would pay or receive to terminate agreements, taking into consideration current market rates and creditworthiness. The fair value for financial instruments categorized as Level 1 is based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The fair value of financial instruments categorized as Level 2 is determined using valuation techniques based on inputs derived from observable market data, quoted market prices for similar instruments or pricing models, such as discounted cash flow techniques. Refer to Note 15 for additional information.
Transfers between levels are recognized at the end of each reporting period.
Pension and Postretirement Benefits
The Company has U.S. and foreign pension and postretirement benefit plans which provide benefits to a defined group of employees who satisfy age and length of service requirements at the discretion of the Company. As of December 31, 2014, the Company has several stand-alone non-contributory defined benefit plans and postretirement medical plans. Depending on the plan, pension and postretirement benefits are based on a combination of factors, which may include salary, age and years of service.
Pension expense has been determined in accordance with the principles of U.S. GAAP. The Company's policy is to fund pension plans in accordance with the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. Employee benefit plan obligations and expenses included in the Consolidated Financial Statements are determined from actuarial analyses based on plan assumptions, employee demographic data, years of service, compensation, benefits and claims paid and employer contributions.
The expense related to the postretirement plans has been determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP and the Company accrues the cost of these benefits during the years that employees render service.
The Company participates in three multi-employer pension plans and makes contributions to those plans, which are recorded in either cost of sales or SG&A expenses. Withdrawal liabilities are recorded once the withdrawal is determined to be probable and estimable. Refer to Note 14 for additional information.
Risk Management Programs
The Company retains selected levels of property, casualty, workers' compensation, health and other business risks. Many of these risks are covered under conventional insurance programs with high deductibles or self-insured retentions. Accrued liabilities related to the retained casualty and health risks are calculated based on loss experience and development factors, which contemplate a number of variables including claim history and expected trends. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had accrued liabilities related to the retained risks of $136 million, including both other current and long-term liabilities. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded receivables of $35 million for insurance recoveries related to these retained risks.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability approach under U.S. GAAP. This method involves determining the temporary differences between assets and liabilities recognized for financial reporting and the corresponding amounts recognized for tax purposes and computing the tax-related carryforwards at the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The resulting amounts are deferred tax assets or liabilities. The total of taxes currently payable per the tax return, the deferred tax expense or benefit and the impact of uncertain tax positions represents the income tax expense or benefit for the year for financial reporting purposes.
The Company periodically assesses the likelihood of realizing its deferred tax assets based on the amount that the Company believes is more likely than not to be realized. The Company bases its judgment of the recoverability of its deferred tax assets primarily on historical earnings, its estimate of current and expected future earnings and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. Refer to Note 12 for additional information.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

DPS' effective income tax rate may fluctuate on a quarterly and/or annual basis due to various factors, including, but not limited to, total earnings and the mix of earnings by jurisdiction, the timing of changes in tax laws and the amount of tax provided for uncertain tax positions.
The Company establishes income tax liabilities to remove some or all of the income tax benefit of any of the Company's income tax positions at the time DPS determines that the positions become uncertain based upon one of the following: (1) the tax position is not "more likely than not" to be sustained, (2) the tax position is "more likely than not" to be sustained, but for a lesser amount, or (3) the tax position is "more likely than not" to be sustained, but not in the financial period in which the tax position was originally taken. The Company's evaluation of whether or not a tax position is uncertain is based on the following: (1) DPS presumes the tax position will be examined by the relevant taxing authority such as the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") that has full knowledge of all relevant information, (2) the technical merits of a tax position are derived from authorities such as legislation and statutes, legislative intent, regulations, rulings and case law and their applicability to the facts and circumstances of the tax position, and (3) each tax position is evaluated without considerations of the possibility of offset or aggregation with other tax positions taken. The Company adjusts these income tax liabilities when the Company's judgment changes as a result of new information. Any change will impact income tax expense in the period in which such determination is made.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes sales revenue when all of the following have occurred: (1) delivery; (2) persuasive evidence of an agreement exists; (3) pricing is fixed or determinable; and (4) collection is reasonably assured. Delivery is not considered to have occurred until the title and the risk of loss passes to the customer. Net sales are reported net of costs associated with customer marketing programs and incentives, as described below, as well as sales taxes and other similar taxes.
Multiple deliverables were included in the arrangements entered into with PepsiCo, Inc. ("PepsiCo") and The Coca-Cola Company ("Coca-Cola") during 2010. In these cases, the Company first determined whether each deliverable met the separation criteria under U.S. GAAP. The primary requirement for a deliverable to meet the separation criteria is if the deliverable has stand-alone value to the customer. Each deliverable that meets the separation criteria is considered a separate "unit of accounting". As the sale of the manufacturing and distribution rights and the ongoing sales of concentrate would not have stand-alone value to the customer, both deliverables were determined to represent a single element of accounting for purposes of revenue recognition. The one-time nonrefundable cash receipts from PepsiCo and Coca-Cola were therefore recorded as deferred revenue and are recognized as net sales ratably over the estimated 25-year life of the customer relationship.
Customer Marketing Programs and Incentives
The Company offers a variety of incentives and discounts to bottlers, customers and consumers through various programs to support the distribution of its products. These incentives and discounts include cash discounts, price allowances, volume based rebates, product placement fees and other financial support for items such as trade promotions, displays, new products, consumer incentives and advertising assistance. These incentives and discounts are reflected as a reduction of gross sales to arrive at net sales. The aggregate deductions from gross sales recorded in relation to these programs were approximately $3,682 million, $3,618 million and $3,751 million during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The amounts of trade spend are larger in the Packaged Beverages segment than those related to other parts of our business. Accruals are established for the expected payout based on contractual terms, volume-based metrics and/or historical trends and require management judgment with respect to estimating customer participation and performance levels.
Transportation and Warehousing Costs
The Company incurred $802 million, $776 million and $775 million of transportation and warehousing costs during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. These amounts, which primarily relate to shipping and handling costs, are recorded in SG&A expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Advertising and Marketing Expense 
Advertising and marketing production costs related to television, print, radio and other marketing investments are expensed as of the first date the advertisement takes place. All other advertising and marketing costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising and marketing expense was approximately $473 million, $486 million and $481 million during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. These expenses are recorded in SG&A expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, prepaid advertising and marketing costs of approximately $17 million and $12 million, respectively, were recorded as other current and non-current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

Research and Development  Costs
Research and development costs are expensed when incurred and amounted to $18 million, $21 million and $21 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. These expenses are recorded when incurred in SG&A expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation plans in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires the recognition of compensation expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income related to the fair value of employee stock-based awards. Compensation cost is based on the grant-date fair value, which is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model for stock options. The fair value of restricted stock units ("RSUs") and performance-based restricted stock units ("PSUs") is determined based on the number of units granted and the grant date price of common stock. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized ratably, less estimated forfeitures, over the vesting period in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Stock-based compensation expense for PSUs is adjusted quarterly based on the current estimate of performance compared to the target metric. Refer to Note 16 for additional information .
Deferred Compensation Plan

Employee and employer matching contributions under the supplemental savings plan ("SPP") are maintained in a rabbi trust and are not readily available to us. Participants can direct the investment of their deferred compensation plan accounts in the same investments funds offered by the DPS' Savings Incentive Plan (the "SIP"). Although participants direct the investment of these funds, they are classified as trading securities and are included in other non-current assets. The corresponding liability related to the deferred compensation plan is recorded in other non-current liabilities. Gains and losses in connection with these trading securities are recorded in other expense (income), net, with an offset for the same amount recorded in SG&A expenses. We had deferred compensation plan assets of $25 million and $21 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Gains associated with these trading securities were $1 million and $2 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Foreign Currency Translation
The functional currency of the Company's operations outside the U.S. is generally the local currency of the country where the operations are located. The balance sheets of operations outside the U.S. are translated into U.S. Dollars at the end of year rates. The results of operations are translated into U.S. dollars at a monthly average rate, calculated using daily exchange rates.
The following table sets forth exchange rate information for the periods and currencies indicated:
Mexican Peso to U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate
End of Year Rates
 
Annual Average Rates
2014
14.74

 
13.31

2013
13.08

 
12.77

2012
12.97

 
13.15

Canadian Dollar to U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate
End of Year Rates
 
Annual Average Rates
2014
1.16

 
1.10

2013
1.06

 
1.03

2012
0.99

 
1.00

Differences arising from the translation of opening balance sheets of these entities to the rate ruling at the end of the financial year are recognized in AOCL. The differences arising from the translation of foreign results at the average rate are also recognized in AOCL. Such translation differences are recognized as income or expense in the period in which the Company disposes of the operations.
Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the approximate rate of exchange at the transaction date. Assets and liabilities resulting from these transactions are translated at the rate of exchange in effect at the balance sheet date. All such differences are recorded in results of operations.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360) ("ASU 2014-08"). The amendments in ASU 2014-08 provide guidance for the recognition and disclosure of discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2014. The Company does not anticipate a material impact to the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows as a result of this change.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) ("ASU 2014-09"). The new guidance sets forth a new five-step revenue recognition model which replaces the prior revenue recognition guidance in its entirety and is intended to eliminate numerous industry-specific pieces of revenue recognition guidance that have historically existed in U.S. GAAP. The underlying principle of the new standard is that a business or other organization will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects what it expects in exchange for the goods or services. The standard also requires more detailed disclosures and provides additional guidance for transactions that were not addressed completely in the prior accounting guidance. ASU 2014-09 provides alternative methods of initial adoption and is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this standard will have on the consolidated financial statements.
In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (“ASU 2014-15”), to provide guidance on management's responsibility to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related disclosure requirements. ASU 2014-15 applies to all entities and is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and interim periods thereafter, with early adoption permitted. Management does not expect adoption of the standard to have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements.
Recently Adopted Provisions of U.S. GAAP
In accordance with U.S. GAAP, the following provisions, which had no material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows, were effective as of January 1, 2014:
the requirement to provide disclosures related to obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements from which the total amount of the obligation is fixed at the reporting date; and
the requirement related to the financial statement presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward exists.
3.
Acquisitions
2014 Acquisition
On October 31, 2014, the Company acquired certain assets and liabilities of Davis Beverages Group, Inc. and Davis Bottling Co., Inc. (“Davis”) to strengthen the Company’s route to market in the U.S. and support efforts to build and enhance the Company's leading brands. The fair value of the consideration paid for this acquisition was $21 million and was settled by $19 million in cash and a $2 million holdback liability to satisfy any working capital adjustments and applicable indemnification claims, pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement.
The following table summarizes the preliminary allocation of fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed by major class for the acquisition (in millions):
 
 
Fair Value
 
Useful Life
Property, plant & equipment
 
$
10

 
1 - 10 years
Distribution rights: indefinite-lived
 
3

 
Goodwill
 
5

 
Current assets, net of current liabilities assumed
 
3

 
Total
 
$
21

 
 

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination, and the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values was recorded as goodwill.
In connection with this acquisition, the Company recorded goodwill of $5 million, which is deductible for tax purposes. The Company also recorded $3 million in intangible assets related to distribution rights.
The Company has not presented pro forma results of operations for the acquisition because it is not material to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
2013 Acquisition
On February 25, 2013, the Company acquired certain assets of Dr. Pepper/7-Up Bottling Company of the West ("DP/7UP West") to strengthen the Company's route-to-market in the U.S. and support efforts to build and enhance the Company's leading brands. The fair value of the consideration paid for this acquisition was $23 million, consisting of the issuance by the Company of 313,105 shares of common stock to DP/7UP West and $10 million in cash. The fair value of the common stock issued was determined using the closing stock price on the acquisition date.
The following table summarizes the allocation of fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed by major class for the acquisition (in millions):
 
 
Fair Value
 
Useful Life
Property, plant & equipment
 
$
7

 
3 - 40 years
Distribution rights: definite-lived
 
2

 
5 - 15 years
Distribution rights: indefinite-lived
 
10

 
Goodwill
 
5

 
Current liabilities, net of current assets assumed
 
(1
)
 
Total
 
$
23

 
 
The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination, and the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values was recorded as goodwill.
In connection with this acquisition, the Company recorded goodwill of $5 million, which is not deductible for tax purposes. The Company also recorded $12 million in intangible assets related to distribution rights. DP/7UP West has 20,780 shares of the Company's common stock remaining in an escrow account to satisfy certain working capital adjustments and applicable indemnification claims, pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement.
The Company has not presented pro forma results of operations for the acquisition because it is not material to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

4.
Inventories
Inventories as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 consisted of the following (in millions):
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Raw materials
$
92

 
$
86

Spare parts
18

 
22

Work in process
5

 
4

Finished goods
126

 
122

Inventories at FIFO cost
241

 
234

Reduction to LIFO cost
(37
)
 
(34
)
Inventories
$
204

 
$
200

Approximately $151 million and $154 million of the Company's inventory was accounted for under the LIFO method of accounting as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The reduction to LIFO cost reflects the excess of the current cost of LIFO inventories as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, over the amount at which these inventories were valued on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For the year ended December 31, 2014, there was no LIFO inventory liquidation. For the year ended December 31, 2013, a LIFO inventory liquidation increased the Company's gross profit by $38 million.
5.
Property, Plant and Equipment 
Net property, plant and equipment consisted of the following as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Land
$
73

 
$
73

Buildings and improvements
488

 
483

Machinery and equipment
1,389

 
1,302

Cold drink equipment
299

 
310

Software
244

 
221

Construction in progress
49

 
63

Gross property, plant and equipment
2,542

 
2,452

Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
(1,401
)
 
(1,279
)
Net property, plant and equipment
$
1,141

 
$
1,173

Buildings and improvements included $49 million of assets at cost under capital lease as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. Machinery and equipment included $37 million and $7 million of assets at cost under capital lease as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The net book value of assets under capital lease was $77 million and $50 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Depreciation expense amounted to $199 million, $196 million and $203 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Depreciation expense was comprised of $89 million, $86 million and $84 million in cost of sales on the Consolidated Statements of Income in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Depreciation expense of $110 million in 2014 and 2013 and $119 million in 2012 was included in depreciation and amortization on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The depreciation expense above also includes the charge to income resulting from amortization of assets recorded under capital leases.
Capitalized interest was $2 million during 2014 and 2012 and $1 million during 2013.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

6.
Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries
The Company has an investment in a 50% owned Mexican joint venture with Acqua Minerale San Benedetto which gives it the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies of the investee. The joint venture is not a variable interest entity and the investment represents a noncontrolling ownership interest and is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The carrying value of the investment was $13 million and $14 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
The Company also has a 40.4% investment in Hydrive Energy, LLC ("Hydrive"). On November 16, 2012, Hydrive sold its intellectual property rights to Big Red Holdings, Inc. in exchange for earn-out payments to Hydrive based on the earnings associated with Hydrive functional beverages over the next fifteen years. The carrying value of the investment was $1 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.
The Company's equity investments do not have a readily determinable fair value as the entities are not publicly traded. The Company's proportionate share of the net income (loss) resulting from these investments are reported under the line item captioned equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries, net of tax, in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Additionally, the Company maintains an investment accounted for under the cost method of accounting. This investment has a zero cost basis and is not within the Company's control nor does the Company have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies. This cost method investment does not have a readily determinable fair value as the entity is not publicly traded.
7.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, by reporting unit, are as follows (in millions):
 
Beverage Concentrates
 
WD Reporting Unit(1)
 
DSD Reporting Unit(1)
 
Latin America Beverages
 
Total
Balance as of January 1, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill
$
1,732

 
$
1,220

 
$
180

 
$
31

 
$
3,163

Accumulated impairment losses

 

 
(180
)
 

 
(180
)
 
1,732

 
1,220

 

 
31

 
2,983

Acquisition activity (2)

 

 
5

 

 
5

Balance as of December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill
1,732

 
1,220

 
185

 
31

 
3,168

Accumulated impairment losses

 

 
(180
)
 

 
(180
)
 
1,732

 
1,220

 
5

 
31

 
2,988

Foreign currency impact

 

 

 
(3
)
 
(3
)
Acquisition activity (3)

 
2

 
3

 

 
5

Balance as of December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill
1,732

 
1,222

 
188

 
28

 
3,170

Accumulated impairment losses

 

 
(180
)
 

 
(180
)
 
$
1,732

 
$
1,222

 
$
8

 
$
28

 
$
2,990

____________________________
(1)
The Packaged Beverages segment is comprised of two reporting units, the Direct Store Delivery ("DSD") system and the Warehouse Direct ("WD") system.
(2)
The acquisition activity represents the goodwill associated with the purchase of DP/7UP West. See Note 3 for further information related to the acquisition.
(3)
The acquisition activity represents the goodwill associated with the purchase of Davis. See Note 3 for further information related to the acquisition.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

The net carrying amounts of intangible assets other than goodwill as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows (in millions):
 
December 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Gross
 
Accumulated
 
Net
 
Gross
 
Accumulated
 
Net
 
Amount
 
Amortization
 
Amount
 
Amount
 
Amortization
 
Amount
Intangible assets with indefinite lives:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brands(1)
$
2,643

 
$

 
$
2,643

 
$
2,652

 
$

 
$
2,652

Distribution rights(2)
27

 

 
27

 
24

 

 
24

Intangible assets with finite lives:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brands
29

 
(28
)
 
1

 
29

 
(27
)
 
2

Distribution rights
13

 
(4
)
 
9

 
12

 
(3
)
 
9

Customer relationships
76

 
(72
)
 
4

 
76

 
(69
)
 
7

Bottler agreements
19

 
(19
)
 

 
19

 
(19
)
 

Total
$
2,807

 
$
(123
)
 
$
2,684

 
$
2,812

 
$
(118
)
 
$
2,694

____________________________
(1)
In 2014, brands with indefinite lives decreased due to $9 million impact of foreign currency translation.
(2)
In 2014, distribution rights included $3 million indefinite-lived distribution rights associated with the purchase of Davis. See Note 3 for further information related to the acquisition.
As of December 31, 2014, the weighted average useful life of intangible assets with finite lives was 10 years for distribution rights, brands, customer relationships and in total. Amortization expense for intangible assets was $5 million, $7 million and $5 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Amortization expense of these intangible assets over the next five years is expected to be the following (in millions):
Year
Aggregate Amortization Expense
2015
$
6

2016
3

2017
1

2018
1

2019

In accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company conducts impairment tests of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets annually, as of October 1, or more frequently if circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. For purposes of impairment testing, DPS assigns goodwill to the reporting unit that benefits from the synergies arising from each business combination and also assigns indefinite-lived intangible assets to its reporting units. The Company defines reporting units as Beverage Concentrates, Latin America Beverages and Packaged Beverages' two reporting units, DSD and WD.
The impairment test for indefinite lived intangible assets encompasses calculating a fair value of an indefinite lived intangible asset and comparing the fair value to its carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value, impairment is recorded. The impairment tests for goodwill include comparing a fair value of the respective reporting unit with its carrying value, including goodwill and considering any indefinite lived intangible asset impairment charges ("Step 1"). If the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value, impairment is indicated and a second step analysis must be performed.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

2014 Impairment Analysis
Fair value is measured based on what each intangible asset or reporting unit would be worth to a third party market participant. For the annual impairment analysis performed as of October 1, 2014, methodologies used to determine the fair values of the assets included an income based approach, as well as an overall consideration of market capitalization and the Company's enterprise value. Management's estimates of fair value, which fall under Level 3, are based on historical and projected operating performance. Discount rates were based on a weighted average cost of equity and cost of debt and were adjusted with various risk premiums. For 2014, discount rates ranged from 5.10% to 11.85%.
As of October 1, 2014, the results of the annual impairment tests indicated no impairment was required. The estimated fair value of each reporting unit exceeded the carrying value for all of the Company's goodwill by at least 50%. The results of the impairment test for brands are as follows (in millions):
Headroom Percentage
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
0 - 10%
 
$

 
$

11 - 20%
 

 

21 - 50%
 
259

 
191

> 50%
 
14,050

 
2,458


 
$
14,309

 
$
2,649

2013 Impairment Analysis
For the annual impairment analysis performed as of October 1, 2013, methodologies used to determine the fair values of the assets included an income based approach, as well as an overall consideration of market capitalization and the Company's enterprise value. Management's estimates of fair value, which fall under Level 3, are based on historical and projected operating performance. Discount rates were based on a weighted average cost of equity and cost of debt and were adjusted with various risk premiums. For 2013, discount rates ranged from 8.00% to 13.25%.
As of October 1, 2013, the results of the annual impairment tests indicated no impairment was required. The estimated fair value of each reporting unit exceeded the carrying value for all of the Company's goodwill by at least 50% except for DSD, which was 7%. The results of the impairment test for brands are as follows (in millions):
Headroom Percentage
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
0 - 10%
 
$

 
$

11 - 20%
 

 

21 - 50%
 
918

 
655

> 50%
 
11,034

 
1,997


 
$
11,952

 
$
2,652


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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

8.
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets and Other Current Liabilities
The table below details the components of prepaid expenses and other current assets and other current liabilities as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Prepaid expenses and other current assets:
 
 
 
Customer incentive programs
$
18

 
$
24

Derivative instruments
11

 
21

Current assets held for sale
12

 

Other
45

 
33

Total prepaid expenses and other current assets
$
86

 
$
78

Other current liabilities:
 
 
 
Customer rebates and incentives
$
248

 
$
214

Accrued compensation
127

 
107

Insurance liability
46

 
47

Interest accrual
26

 
26

Dividends payable
79

 
75

Derivative instruments
18

 
13

Other
128

 
113

Total other current liabilities
$
672

 
$
595

9.
Long-term Obligations and Borrowing Arrangements
LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS 
The following table summarizes the Company's long-term obligations as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Senior unsecured notes(1)
$
2,505

 
$
2,453

Capital lease obligations
86

 
56

Subtotal
2,591

 
2,509

Less — current portion
(3
)
 
(1
)
Long-term obligations
$
2,588

 
$
2,508

____________________________
(1)
The carrying amount includes the unamortized net discount on debt issuances and adjustments of $34 million and $18 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, related to the change in the fair value of interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges. See Note 10 for further information regarding derivatives.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS AND CURRENT PORTION OF LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS 

The following table summarizes the Company's short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term obligations as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Commercial paper
$

 
$
65

Current portion of long-term obligations
3

 
1

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term obligations
$
3

 
$
66

As of December 31, 2014, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenant requirements relating to its unsecured credit agreement.
Senior Unsecured Notes 
The Company's senior unsecured notes consisted of the following (in millions):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Principal Amount
 
Carrying Amount
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
Issuance
 
Maturity Date
 
Rate
 
2014
 
2014
 
2013
2016 Notes
 
January 15, 2016
 
2.90%
 
$
500

 
$
500

 
$
500

2018 Notes
 
May 1, 2018
 
6.82%
 
724

 
724

 
724

2019 Notes
 
January 15, 2019
 
2.60%
 
250

 
250

 
248

2020 Notes
 
January 15, 2020
 
2.00%
 
250

 
245

 
241

2021 Notes
 
November 15, 2021
 
3.20%
 
250

 
249

 
241

2022 Notes
 
November 15, 2022
 
2.70%
 
250

 
265

 
247

2038 Notes
 
May 1, 2038
 
7.45%
 
250

 
272

 
252

 
 
 
 
 
 
$
2,474

 
$
2,505

 
$
2,453

The indentures governing the senior unsecured notes, among other things, limit the Company's ability to incur indebtedness secured by principal properties, to enter into certain sale and leaseback transactions and to enter into certain mergers or transfers of substantially all of DPS' assets. The senior unsecured notes are guaranteed by substantially all of the Company's existing and future direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2014, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenant requirements.
The 2020 and 2022 Notes
On November 20, 2012, the Company completed the issuance of $500 million aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes consisting of $250 million aggregate principal amount of the 2020 Notes and $250 million aggregate principal amount of the 2022 Notes. The discount associated with these notes was approximately $3 million. The net proceeds from the issuance were used to repay the aggregate principal amount of the 2.35% senior notes due December 21, 2012 (the "2012 Notes") at maturity and for general corporate purposes.
The 2019 and 2021 Notes 
On November 15, 2011, the Company completed the issuance of two tranches of senior unsecured notes consisting of $250 million aggregate principal amount of the 2019 Notes and $250 million aggregate principal amount of the 2021 Notes. The discount associated with these notes was approximately $1 million. The net proceeds from the issuance were used to repay the aggregate principal amount of the 1.70% senior notes due December 21, 2011 at maturity and for general corporate purposes.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

The 2016 Notes
On January 11, 2011, the Company completed the issuance of $500 million aggregate principal amount of the 2016 Notes at a discount of $1 million. The net proceeds from the issuance were used to replace a portion of the cash used to purchase the 2018 Notes tendered pursuant to the tender offer described below.
The 2018 and 2038 Notes 
On April 30, 2008, the Company completed the issuance of two tranches of senior unsecured notes consisting of $1,200 million aggregate principal amount of the 2018 Notes and $250 million aggregate principal amount of the 2038 Notes.
In December 2010, the Company completed a tender offer for a portion of the 2018 Notes and retired, at a premium, an aggregate principal amount of approximately $476 million. The aggregate principal amount of the outstanding 2018 Notes was $724 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.
BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS
Commercial Paper Program
On December 10, 2010, the Company entered into a commercial paper program under which the Company may issue unsecured commercial paper notes (the "Commercial Paper") on a private placement basis up to a maximum aggregate amount outstanding at any time of $500 million. The program is supported by the Revolver, which is discussed below. Outstanding Commercial Paper reduces the amount of borrowing capacity available under the Revolver and outstanding amounts under the Revolver reduce the Commercial Paper availability. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had no outstanding Commercial Paper. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had outstanding Commercial Paper of $65 million with maturities of 90 days or less with a weighted average interest rate of 0.26%.
Unsecured Credit Agreement
On September 25, 2012, the Company entered into a five-year unsecured credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement"), which provides for a $500 million revolving line of credit (the "Revolver"). Borrowings under the Revolver bear interest at a floating rate per annum based upon the alternate base rate ("ABR") or the Eurodollar rate, in each case plus an applicable margin which varies based upon the Company's debt ratings. Rates range from 0.000% to 0.300% for ABR loans and from 0.795% to 1.300% for Eurodollar loans. The ABR is defined as the greater of (a) JPMorgan Chase Bank's prime rate, (b) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.500% and (c) the adjusted LIBOR for a one month interest period. The adjusted LIBOR is the London interbank offered rate for dollars adjusted for a statutory reserve rate set by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.
Additionally, the Revolver is available for the issuance of letters of credit and swingline advances not to exceed $75 million and $50 million, respectively. Swingline advances will accrue interest at a rate equal to the ABR plus the applicable margin. Letters of credit and swingline advances will reduce, on a dollar for dollar basis, the amount available under the Revolver.
The Credit Agreement further provides that the Company may request at any time, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, that the aggregate commitments under the facility be increased by a total amount not to exceed $250 million
The Credit Agreement's representations, warranties, covenants and events of default are generally customary for investment grade credit and include a covenant that requires the Company to maintain a ratio of consolidated total debt (as defined in the Credit Agreement) to annualized consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of no more than 3.00 to 1.00, tested quarterly. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, among other things, amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement may be accelerated and the commitments may be terminated. The Company's obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certain of the Company's direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries on the terms set forth in the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement has a maturity date of September 25, 2017; however, with the consent of lenders holding more than 50% of the total commitments under the Credit Agreement and subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, the Company may extend the maturity date for up to two additional one-year terms.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

The following table provides amounts utilized and available under the Revolver and each sublimit arrangement type as of December 31, 2014 (in millions):
 
Amount Utilized
 
Balances Available
Revolver
$

 
$
499

Letters of credit
1

 
74

Swingline advances

 
50

An unused commitment fee is payable quarterly to the lenders on the unused portion of the commitments of the Revolver equal to 0.08% to 0.20% per annum, depending upon the Company's debt ratings. The Company incurred $1 million in unused commitment fees during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013
Shelf Registration Statement
On February 7, 2013, the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") authorized the Company to issue up to $1,500 million of securities from time to time. Subsequently, the Company filed a "well-known seasoned issuer" shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, effective May 23, 2013, which registered an indeterminable amount of securities for future sales. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had not issued any securities under this shelf registration statement.
Letters of Credit Facilities
In addition to the portion of the Revolver reserved for issuance of letters of credit, the Company has incremental letters of credit facilities. Under these facilities, $140 million is available for the issuance of letters of credit, $63 million of which was utilized as of December 31, 2014 and $77 million of which remains available for use.
10. Derivatives
DPS is exposed to market risks arising from adverse changes in:
interest rates;
foreign exchange rates; and
commodity prices affecting the cost of raw materials and fuels.
The Company manages these risks through a variety of strategies, including the use of interest rate contracts, foreign exchange forward contracts, commodity forward and future contracts and supplier pricing agreements. DPS does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.
INTEREST RATES 
Cash Flow Hedges
During the fourth quarter of 2014, in order to hedge the variability in cash flows from interest rate changes associated with the Company's planned issuances of long-term debt, the Company entered into a forward starting swap agreement with an aggregate notional value of $125 million in order to fix the rate for a portion of a future 30 year unsecured debt issuance before the due date of the 2016 Notes. The forward starting swap is expected to be unwound at the issuance of the debt.
The effective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative that is designated as a cash flow hedge is being recorded in AOCL and will be subsequently reclassified into earnings during the period in which the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. Ineffectiveness, if any, related to the Company's changes in estimates about the debt issuance related to the forward starting swap would be recognized directly in earnings as a component of interest expense during the period incurred. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company realized no ineffectiveness as a result of this hedging relationship.
Fair Value Hedges
The Company is exposed to the risk of changes in the fair value of certain fixed-rate debt attributable to changes in interest rates and manages these risks through the use of receive-fixed, pay-variable interest rate swaps.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

In December 2010, the Company entered into an interest rate swap having a notional amount of $100 million and maturing in May 2038 in order to effectively convert a portion of the 2038 Notes from fixed-rate debt to floating-rate debt and designated it as a fair value hedge. The assessment of hedge effectiveness is made by comparing the cumulative change in the fair value of the hedged item attributable to changes in the benchmark interest rate with the cumulative changes in the fair value of the interest rate swap, with any ineffectiveness recorded in earnings as interest expense during the period incurred. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the impact of the fair value hedge on the 2038 Notes increased the carrying value by $23 million and $2 million, respectively.
In November 2011, the Company entered into four interest rate swaps having an aggregate notional amount of $250 million and durations ranging from seven to ten years in order to convert fixed-rate, long-term debt to floating rate debt. These swaps were entered into upon the issuance of the 2019 and 2021 Notes, and were accounted for as fair value hedges and qualified for the shortcut method of accounting under U.S. GAAP. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the impact of the fair value hedge on the 2019 and 2021 Notes decreased the carrying value by $1 million and $11 million, respectively.
In November 2012, the Company entered into five interest rate swaps having an aggregate notional amount of $120 million and maturing in January 2020 in order to effectively convert fixed-rate, long-term debt to floating rate debt. These swaps were entered into upon the issuance of the 2020 Notes, and were accounted for as fair value hedges and qualified for the shortcut method of accounting under U.S. GAAP. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the impact of the fair value hedge on the 2020 Notes decreased the carrying value by $4 million and $7 million, respectively.
In December 2013, the Company entered into four interest rate swaps having an aggregate notional amount of $250 million and maturing in November 2022 in order to effectively convert all of the 2022 Notes from fixed-rate debt to floating-rate debt and designated it as a fair value hedge. The assessment of hedge effectiveness is made by comparing the cumulative change in the fair value of the hedged item attributable to changes in the benchmark interest rate with the cumulative changes in the fair value of the interest rate swap, with any ineffectiveness recorded in earnings as interest expense during the period incurred. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the impact of the fair value hedge on the 2022 Notes increased the carrying value by $16 million and decreased the carrying value by $2 million, respectively.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Cash Flow Hedges
The Company's Canadian business purchases its inventory through transactions denominated and settled in U.S. dollars, a currency different from the functional currency of the Canadian business. These inventory purchases are subject to exposure from movements in exchange rates. During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company utilized foreign exchange forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges to manage the exposures resulting from changes in these foreign currency exchange rates. The intent of these foreign exchange contracts is to provide predictability in the Company's overall cost structure. These foreign exchange contracts, carried at fair value, have maturities between one and 12 months as of December 31, 2014. The Company had outstanding foreign exchange forward contracts with notional amounts of $10 million and $45 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
COMMODITIES
Economic Hedges
DPS centrally manages the exposure to volatility in the prices of certain commodities used in its production process and transportation through forward and future contracts. The intent of these contracts is to provide a certain level of predictability in the Company's overall cost structure. During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company held forward and future contracts that economically hedged certain of its risks. In these cases, a natural hedging relationship exists in which changes in the fair value of the instruments act as an economic offset to changes in the fair value of the underlying items. Changes in the fair value of these instruments are recorded in net income throughout the term of the derivative instrument and are reported in the same line item of the Consolidated Statements of Income as the hedged transaction. Unrealized gains and losses are recognized as a component of unallocated corporate costs until the Company's operating segments are affected by the completion of the underlying transaction, at which time the gain or loss is reflected as a component of the respective segment's operating profit ("SOP"). The total notional values of derivatives related to economic hedges of this type were $160 million and $179 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

FAIR VALUE OF DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The following table summarizes the location of the fair value of the Company's derivative instruments within the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
December 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative instruments designated as hedging instruments under U.S. GAAP:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts(1)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
$
11

 
$
17

Foreign exchange forward contracts
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 

 
3

Interest rate contracts
Other non-current assets
 
29

 

Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments under U.S. GAAP:
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 

 
1

Total assets
 
 
$
40

 
$
21

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative instruments designated as hedging instruments under U.S. GAAP:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
Other non-current liabilities
 
9

 
34

Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments under U.S. GAAP:
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts
Other current liabilities
 
18

 
13

Commodity contracts
Other non-current liabilities
 
8

 

Total liabilities
 
 
$
35

 
$
47

____________________________
(1)
Interest rate contracts as of December 31, 2014 did not include any offsetting amounts. Interest rate contracts as of December 31, 2013 include gross and offsetting amounts of $19 million and $2 million, respectively. These contracts are subject to a netting provision included within the counterparty agreements whereby the Company pays interest either quarterly or semi-annually and receives interest payments semi-annually. These payables and receivables are netted as appropriate.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

IMPACT OF CASH FLOW HEDGES
The following table presents the impact of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedging instruments under U.S. GAAP to the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (in millions):
 
Amount of (Loss) Gain Recognized in Comprehensive Income
 
Amount of (Loss) Gain Reclassified from AOCL into Income
 
Location of (Loss) Gain Reclassified from AOCL into Income
For the year ended December 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts (1)
$
(2
)
 
$
(8
)
 
Interest expense
Foreign exchange forward contracts
(2
)
 
1

 
Cost of sales
Total
$
(4
)
 
$
(7
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended December 31, 2013:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts (1)
$

 
$
(7
)
 
Interest expense
Foreign exchange forward contracts
4

 
(1
)
 
Cost of sales
Total
$
4

 
$
(8
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended December 31, 2012:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts (1)
$
(19
)
 
$
(3
)
 
Interest expense
Foreign exchange forward contracts
(3
)
 
(2
)
 
Cost of sales
Total
$
(22
)
 
$
(5
)
 
 
__________________________
(1)
During the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company unwound forward starting swaps associated with the 2019 and 2021 Notes with an aggregate notional amount of $250 million. Upon termination, the Company paid $25 million to the counterparties, which will be amortized to interest expense over the term of the issued debt. During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company unwound forward starting swaps associated with the 2020 and 2022 Notes with an aggregate notional amount of $300 million. Upon termination, the Company paid $49 million to the counterparties, which will be amortized to interest expense over the term of the issued debt.
There was no hedge ineffectiveness recognized in earnings for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 with respect to derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges. During the next 12 months, the Company expects to reclassify net losses of $8 million from AOCL into net income.

75

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

IMPACT OF FAIR VALUE HEDGES
The following table presents the impact of derivative instruments designated as fair value hedging instruments under U.S. GAAP to the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (in millions):
 
 
Amount of Gain
 
Location of Gain
 
 
Recognized in Income
 
Recognized in Income
For the year ended December 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
 
$
16

 
Interest expense
Total
 
$
16

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended December 31, 2013:
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
 
$
9

 
Interest expense
Total
 
$
9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended December 31, 2012:
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts(1)
 
$
10

 
Interest expense
Total
 
$
10

 
 
____________________________
(1)
The gain recognized in interest expense included amortization of the adjustment to the carrying value of the 2012 Notes as a result of the de-designation of a $450 million notional interest rate swap related to those Notes in 2010. For the year ended December 31, 2012, the amortization of this adjustment was $2 million.
There was no hedge ineffectiveness recognized in earnings with respect to derivative instruments designated as fair value hedges for the year ended December 31, 2014. $2 million of hedge ineffectiveness was recognized in earnings with respect to derivative instruments designated as fair value hedges for the years ended December 31, 2013. For the year ended December 31, 2012, a $3 million benefit due to hedge ineffectiveness was recognized in earnings with respect to derivative instruments designated as fair value hedges.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

IMPACT OF ECONOMIC HEDGES
The following table presents the impact of derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments under U.S. GAAP to the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (in millions):
 
 
Amount of (Loss) Gain
 
Location of (Loss) Gain
 
 
Recognized in Income
 
Recognized in Income
For the year ended December 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts(1)
 
$
1

 
Cost of sales
Commodity contracts(1)
 
(26
)
 
SG&A expenses
Total
 
$
(25
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended December 31, 2013:
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts(1)
 
$
(24
)
 
Cost of sales
Commodity contracts(1)
 
1

 
SG&A expenses
Total
 
$
(23
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended December 31, 2012:
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts(1)
 
3

 
SG&A expenses
Total
 
$
3

 
 
____________________________
(1)
Commodity contracts include both realized and unrealized gains and losses.
Refer to Note 15 for additional information on the valuation of derivative instruments. The Company has exposure to credit losses from derivative instruments in an asset position in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties to the agreements. Historically, DPS has not experienced credit losses as a result of counterparty nonperformance. The Company selects and periodically reviews counterparties based on credit ratings, limits its exposure to a single counterparty under defined guidelines and monitors the market position of the programs at least on a quarterly basis.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

11. Other Non-Current Assets and Other Non-Current Liabilities
The table below details the components of other non-current assets and other non-current liabilities as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Other non-current assets:
 
 
 
Deferred financing costs, net
$
9

 
$
11

Customer incentive programs
55

 
59

Marketable securities - trading
25

 
21

Derivative instruments
29

 

Assets held for sale

 
1

Other
41

 
35

Total other non-current assets
$
159

 
$
127

Other non-current liabilities:
 
 
 
Long-term payables due to Mondelēz
$
37

 
$
47

Long-term pension and post-retirement liability
44

 
26

Multi-employer pension plan withdrawal liability
57

 
56

Insurance liability
90

 
89

Derivative instruments
17

 
34

Deferred compensation liability
25

 
21

Other
32

 
40

Total other non-current liabilities
$
302

 
$
313

12. Income Taxes
Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries was as follows (in millions):
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
U.S. 
$
958

 
$
436

 
$
880

Non-U.S. 
115

 
106

 
98

Total
$
1,073

 
$
542

 
$
978


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Table of Contents
DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

The provision (benefit) for income taxes has the following components (in millions):
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Current:
 

 
 

 
 

Federal
$
259

 
$
(211
)
 
$
215

State
49

 
(58
)
 
32

Non-U.S. 
20

 
50

 
11

Total current provision (benefit)
328

 
(219
)
 
258

Deferred:
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
36

 
95

 
72

State
1

 
10

 
10

Non-U.S. 
6

 
33

 
9

Total deferred provision
43

 
138

 
91

Total provision (benefit) for income taxes
$
371

 
$
(81
)
 
$
349

The following is a reconciliation of the provision for income taxes computed at the U.S. federal statutory tax rate to the provision (benefit) for income taxes reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income (in millions): 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Statutory federal income tax of 35%
$
375

 
$
190

 
$
342

Completion of 2006-2008 IRS audit

 
(463
)
 

Canada amortization law change

 
50

 

Impact of non-taxable indemnity income/non-tax deductible indemnity expense(1)

 
137

 

State income taxes, net
32

 
34

 
35

U.S. federal domestic manufacturing benefit
(26
)
 
(23
)
 
(21
)
Impact of non-U.S. operations
(14
)
 
(7
)
 
(9
)
Indemnified taxes(2)

 
5

 
8

Other
4

 
(4
)
 
(6
)
Total provision (benefit) provision for income taxes
$
371

 
$
(81
)
 
$
349

Effective tax rate
34.6
%
 
(14.9
)%
 
35.7
%
____________________________
(1)
Due to the resolution of the 2006-2008 IRS audit and the Canada amortization law change in 2013, the Company recognized indemnity expense, net of $392 million as a result of the Tax Sharing and Indemnification Agreement ("Tax Indemnity Agreement"). Since the indemnity expense is not deductible for income tax purposes, the benefit for income taxes also included a permanent difference of $137 million.
(2)
Amounts represent tax expense recorded by the Company for which Mondelēz was obligated to indemnify DPS under the Tax Indemnity Agreement but excludes the amounts with respect to the completion of the 2006-2008 IRS audit and the Canada amortization law change as they are separately shown on the rate reconciliation.
The effective tax rates for the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were 34.6% and (14.9)%, respectively. The primary reason for the change in the tax rates was the conclusion of an IRS audit and a Canadian law change as described below.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

Due to the completion of the IRS audit for the Company's 2006-2008 federal income tax returns in August 2013, DPS recognized a federal and state income tax benefit of $463 million primarily related to decreasing its liability for unrecognized tax benefits. Additionally, in June 2013, a bill was enacted by the Canadian government, which reduced amounts amortized for income tax purposes. As a result, DPS recognized $50 million of income tax expense for the reduction of tax assets. Refer to Note 13 for additional information on the indemnity impact related to the conclusion of the IRS audit and the Canada amortization law change. When combined with the associated impact to other expense, net as referred to in footnote 1 in the table above, these two events decreased the Company's effective tax rate by 50.4% for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Deferred tax assets (liabilities) were comprised of the following as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in millions): 
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Deferred income tax assets:
 

 
 

Deferred revenue
$
501

 
$
530

Accrued liabilities
72

 
70

Pension and postretirement benefits
36

 
29

Net operating loss and credit carryforwards
22

 
24

Compensation
34

 
22

Inventory
4

 
10

Other
37

 
35

 
706

 
720

Deferred income tax liabilities:
 
 
 
Intangible assets and goodwill
(1,116
)
 
(1,075
)
Fixed assets
(198
)
 
(204
)
Other
(21
)
 
(12
)
 
(1,335
)
 
(1,291
)
Valuation allowance
(31
)
 
(33
)
Net deferred income tax liability
$
(660
)
 
$
(604
)
As of December 31, 2014, the Company had $22 million in tax effected credit carryforwards and net operating loss carryforwards. Net operating loss and credit carryforwards will expire in periods beyond the next five years. 
The Company had a deferred tax valuation allowance of $31 million and $33 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. A valuation allowance of $12 million relates to a foreign operation and was established as part of the separation transaction. The remaining $19 million valuation allowance relates to foreign tax credits primarily generated in 2011. The Company provided a full valuation allowance on the deferred tax asset related to the foreign tax credits as the Company does not believe that the benefits will be realized in future years.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, undistributed earnings in non-U.S. subsidiaries for which no deferred taxes have been provided totaled approximately $354 million and $291 million, respectively. Deferred income taxes have not been provided on these earnings because the Company has either asserted indefinite reinvestment or outside tax basis exceeds book basis. It is not practicable to estimate the amount of additional tax that might be payable on these undistributed foreign earnings.
The Company files income tax returns for U.S. federal purposes and in various state jurisdictions. The Company also files income tax returns in various foreign jurisdictions, principally Canada and Mexico. The U.S. and most state income tax returns for years prior to 2011 are closed to examination by applicable tax authorities. Canadian income tax returns are open for audit for tax years 2008 and forward and Mexican income tax returns are generally open for tax years 2000 and forward. Canadian income tax returns are under audit for the 2009-2013 tax years and Mexican income tax returns are under audit for the 2008 and 2009 tax years.
The following is a reconciliation of the changes in the gross balance of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (in millions): 
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Beginning balance
$
14

 
$
469

 
$
480

Increases related to tax positions taken during the current year

 
1

 

Increases related to tax positions taken during the prior year
3

 
6

 
3

Decreases related to tax positions taken during the prior year
(2
)
 
(432
)
 
(4
)
Decreases related to settlements with taxing authorities
(1
)
 
(27
)
 
(4
)
Decreases related to lapse of applicable statute of limitations
(1
)
 
(3
)
 
(6
)
Ending balance
$
13

 
$
14

 
$
469

 
The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would reduce the effective tax rate is $9 million after considering the federal impact of state income taxes. During the next twelve months, the Company does not expect a significant change to its unrecognized tax benefits.
The Company accrues interest and penalties on its uncertain tax positions as a component of its provision for income taxes. The Company did not recognize any interest and penalties for uncertain tax positions in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended December 31, 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recognized a benefit of $93 million for interest and penalties previously recorded, primarily a result of the resolution of the 2006-2008 IRS audit. The amount of interest and penalties recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income was $16 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. The Company had a total of $5 million and $6 million accrued for interest and penalties for its uncertain tax positions primarily reported as part of other non-current liabilities as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



13. Other Expense (Income), Net
The table below details the components of other expense (income), net for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (in millions):
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Indemnity expense (income) from Mondelēz
$

 
$
387

 
$
(9
)
Other

 
(4
)
 

Other expense (income), net
$

 
$
383

 
$
(9
)
The Company has historically recorded indemnification income from Mondelēz under the Tax Indemnity Agreement as other expense (income), net in the Consolidated Statements of Income. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the IRS concluded an audit which included separation-related items and, as a result, the Company recognized $430 million of other expense, net, as DPS no longer anticipates collecting amounts from Mondelēz. For the year ended December 31, 2013, this amount was partially offset by a $38 million non-cash reduction of the Company's long-term liability to Mondelēz as a result of a bill enacted by the Canadian government which reduced amounts amortized for income tax purposes. Refer to Note 12 for additional information on the conclusion of the IRS audit.
14. Employee Benefit Plans
PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT PLANS
Overview
The Company has U.S. and foreign pension and postretirement medical plans which provide benefits to a defined group of employees. The Company has several non-contributory defined benefit plans and postretirement medical plans, each having a measurement date of December 31. To participate in the defined benefit plans, eligible employees must have been employed by the Company for at least one year. The postretirement benefits are limited to qualified expenses and are subject to deductibles, co-payment provisions and other provisions. Employee benefit plan obligations and expenses included in the Company's Audited Consolidated Financial Statements are determined using actuarial analyses based on plan assumptions including employee demographic data such as years of service and compensation, benefits and claims paid and employer contributions, among others. The Company also participates in various multi-employer defined benefit plans.
The Company's largest U.S. defined benefit pension plan, which is a cash balance plan, was suspended and the accrued benefit was frozen effective December 31, 2008. Participants in this plan no longer earn additional benefits for future services or salary increases. The cash balance plans maintain individual recordkeeping accounts for each participant which are annually credited with interest credits equal to the 12-month average of one-year U.S. Treasury Bill rates, plus 1%, with a required minimum rate of 5%.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

Financial Statement Impact 
The following tables set forth amounts recognized in the Company's financial statements and the plans' funded status for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
 
 
 
 
Postretirement
 
Pension Plans
 
Medical Plans
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Projected Benefit Obligations
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

As of beginning of year
$
259

 
$
308

 
$
7

 
$
9

Service cost
2

 
3

 

 

Interest cost
13

 
13

 

 

Actuarial losses (gains), net
46

 
(35
)
 
1

 
(1
)
Benefits paid
(8
)
 
(10
)
 

 
(1
)
Currency exchange adjustments
(3
)
 
(2
)
 

 

Settlements
(82
)
 
(18
)
 

 

As of end of year
$
227

 
$
259

 
$
8

 
$
7

Fair Value of Plan Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of beginning of year
$
237

 
$
257

 
$
5

 
$
5

Actual return on plan assets
30

 
7

 
1

 

Employer contributions
12

 
2

 

 
1

Benefits paid
(8
)
 
(10
)
 

 
(1
)
Currency exchange adjustments
(2
)
 
(1
)
 

 

Settlements
(82
)
 
(18
)
 

 

As of end of year
$
187

 
$
237

 
$
6

 
$
5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Funded status of plan / net amount recognized
$
(40
)
 
$
(22
)
 
$
(2
)
 
$
(2
)
Funded status — overfunded
$

 
$
1

 
$
2

 
$
2

Funded status — underfunded
(40
)
 
(23
)
 
(4
)
 
(4
)
Net amount recognized consists of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-current assets
$

 
$
1

 
$
2

 
$
2

Current liabilities

 
(1
)
 

 

Non-current liabilities
(40
)
 
(22
)
 
(4
)
 
(4
)
Net amount recognized
$
(40
)
 
$
(22
)
 
$
(2
)
 
$
(2
)
During the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company purchased annuity contracts from an insurance company to transfer certain of its projected benefit obligation and assets related to participants currently receiving benefits as part of the U.S. defined benefit pension plans. These actions relieve the company of primary responsibility for the pension obligations associated with these participants and eliminate significant risks related to the obligation and assets used to effect the settlement. As a result, the projected benefit obligation and plan assets were reduced by $82 million, of which $71 million related to the purchase of the annuity with the remainder related to lump sum benefit payments to various participants. The decrease to the projected benefit obligation was partially offset by an increase in the obligation resulting from a change in the discount rate and mortality table used in the annual measurement.
Expected mortality is a key assumption in the measurement for pension and other postretirement benefit obligations. For the Company’s U.S. plans, this assumption was updated as of December 31, 2014 in order to reflect the Society of Actuaries’ Retirement Plan Experience Committee’s updated mortality tables and mortality improvement scale published in October 2014.This resulted in an increase of 4% to the Company's benefit obligation.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

The accumulated benefit obligations for the defined benefit pension plans were $223 million and $256 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The pension plan assets and the projected benefit obligations of DPS' U.S. plans represent approximately 90% of both the total plan assets and the total projected benefit obligation, respectively, of all plans combined as of December 31, 2014. The following table summarizes key pension plan information regarding plans whose accumulated benefit obligations exceed the fair value of their respective plan assets (in millions): 
 
2014
 
2013
Aggregate projected benefit obligation
$
226

 
$
256

Aggregate accumulated benefit obligation
223

 
256

Aggregate fair value of plan assets
186

 
234

 
The following table summarizes the components of the net periodic benefit cost and changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) ("OCI") for the stand alone U.S. and foreign plans for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (in millions): 
 
 
 
Postretirement
 
Pension Plans
 
Medical Plans
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Net Periodic Benefit Costs
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Service cost
$
2

 
$
3

 
$
2

 
$

 
$

 
$

Interest cost
13

 
13

 
14

 

 

 

Expected return on assets
(14
)
 
(14
)
 
(15
)
 

 

 

Amortization of actuarial loss
3

 
4

 
4

 

 

 

Amortization of prior service credit

 

 

 

 
(1
)
 
(2
)
Curtailments

 

 

 

 

 
(1
)
Settlements
16

 
3

 

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit costs
$
20

 
$
9

 
$
5

 
$

 
$
(1
)
 
$
(3
)
Changes Recognized in OCI
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Curtailment effects
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
1

Settlement effects
(16
)
 
(3
)
 

 

 

 

Current year actuarial loss (gain)
30

 
(29
)
 
12

 

 

 
1

Recognition of actuarial loss
(3
)
 
(4
)
 
(4
)
 

 

 

Recognition of prior service credit

 

 

 

 
1

 
2

Total recognized in OCI
$
11

 
$
(36
)
 
$
8

 
$

 
$
1

 
$
4

The estimated net actuarial loss for the defined benefit plans that will be amortized from AOCL into periodic benefit cost in 2015 is approximately $4 million.  The estimated prior service cost for the defined benefit plans that will be amortized from AOCL into periodic benefit costs in 2015 is not significant.
The Company recognized a non-cash settlement loss of $16 million during the year ended December 31, 2014 which included $14 million as a result of the purchased annuity contracts. The settlement loss is primarily due to the recognition of previously unrecognized actuarial losses that were included in accumulated other comprehensive loss. During the prior year, the total amount of lump sum payments made to participants of various U.S. defined pension plans exceeded the estimated annual interest and service costs. As a result, non-cash settlement charges of $3 million were recognized for the year ended December 31, 2013. There was no settlement charge recognized for the year ended December 31, 2012.


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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

The following table summarizes amounts included in AOCL for the plans as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in millions): 
 
 
 
Postretirement
 
Pension Plans
 
Medical Plans
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Prior service cost (credits)
$
2

 
$
2

 
$
(1
)
 
$
(2
)
Net losses
56

 
45

 
3

 
4

Amounts in AOCL
$
58

 
$
47

 
$
2

 
$
2

 
Contributions and Expected Benefit Payments 
The following table summarizes the contributions made to the Company's pension and other postretirement benefit plans for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 , as well as the projected contributions for the year ending December 31, 2015 (in millions): 
 
Projected
 
Actual
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Pension plans
$
1

 
$
12

 
$
2

Postretirement medical plans

 

 
1

Total
$
1

 
$
12

 
$
3

 
The contributions for the year ended December 31, 2014 included $10 million which were made to facilitate the purchase of the annuity contracts.
The following table summarizes the expected future benefit payments cash activity for the Company's pension and postretirement medical plans in the future (in millions): 
 
2015
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020-2024
Pension plans
$
11

 
$
11

 
$
12

 
$
12

 
$
13

 
$
72

Postretirement medical plans
1

 
1

 
1

 
1

 
1

 
3

 
Actuarial Assumptions 
The Company's pension expense was calculated based upon a number of actuarial assumptions including discount rate, retirement age, compensation rate increases and expected long-term rate of return on plan assets for pension benefits and the healthcare cost trend rate related to its postretirement medical plans.
The discount rate utilized to determine the Company's projected benefit obligations as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, as well as projected 2015 net periodic benefit cost for U.S. plans, reflects the current rate at which the associated liabilities could be effectively settled as of the end of the year. The Company set its rate to reflect the yield of a portfolio of high quality, fixed-income debt instruments that would produce cash flows sufficient in timing and amount to settle projected future benefits.
For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the expected long-term rate of return on U.S. pension fund assets held by the Company's pension trusts was determined based on several factors, including the impact of active portfolio management and projected long-term returns of broad equity and bond indices. The plans' historical returns were also considered. The expected long-term rate of return on the assets in the plans was based on an asset allocation assumption of approximately 25% with equity managers, with expected long-term rates of return of approximately 9.20%, 8.20% and 8.51% for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively and approximately 75% with fixed income managers, with an expected long-term rate of return of approximately 3.90%, 6.00% and 5.10% for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

The following table summarizes the weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at the plan measurement dates for U.S. plans: 
 
 
 
Postretirement
 
Pension Plans
 
Medical Plans
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Weighted-average discount rate
4.15
%
 
5.00
%
 
4.15
%
 
5.00
%
Rate of increase in compensation levels
3.00
%
 
3.00
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

 
The following table summarizes the weighted average actuarial assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit costs for U.S. plans for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012: 
 
 
 
Postretirement
 
Pension Plans
 
Medical Plans
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Weighted-average discount rate
5.00
%
 
4.30
%
 
5.00
%
 
4.05
%
 
4.05
%
 
5.00
%
Expected long-term rate of return on assets
6.00
%
 
6.00
%
 
6.50
%
 
6.00
%
 
6.00
%
 
6.50
%
Rate of increase in compensation levels
3.00
%
 
3.00
%
 
3.00
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
The following table summarizes the weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at the plan measurement dates for foreign plans: 
 
Pension Plans
 
Postretirement Medical Plans
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Weighted-average discount rate
4.92
%
 
5.70
%
 
3.75
%
 
4.50
%
Rate of increase in compensation levels
3.89
%
 
3.87
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

 
The following table summarizes the weighted average actuarial assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit costs for foreign plans for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012: 
 
 
 
Postretirement
 
Pension Plans
 
Medical Plans
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Weighted-average discount rate
7.11
%
 
6.90
%
 
6.12
%
 
4.50
%
 
3.75
%
 
4.00
%
Expected long-term rate of return on assets
7.41
%
 
7.68
%
 
7.65
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

Rate of increase in compensation levels
4.30
%
 
4.24
%
 
4.03
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
The asset allocation for the U.S. defined benefit pension plans for December 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows: 
 
Target
 
Actual
Asset Category
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Equity securities
25
%
 
25
%
 
25
%
Fixed income
75
%
 
75
%
 
75
%
Total
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
 

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

Investment Policy and Strategy 
DPS has established formal investment policies for the assets associated with defined benefit plans. The Company's investment policy and strategy are mandated by the Company's Investment Committee. The overriding investment objective is to provide for the availability of funds for pension obligations as they become due, to maintain an overall level of financial asset adequacy and to maximize long-term investment return consistent with a reasonable level of risk. DPS' pension plan investment strategy includes the use of actively-managed securities. Investment performance both by investment manager and asset class is periodically reviewed, as well as overall market conditions with consideration of the long-term investment objectives. None of the plan assets are invested directly in equity or debt instruments issued by DPS. It is possible that insignificant indirect investments exist through its equity holdings. The equity and fixed income investments under DPS' sponsored pension plan assets are currently well diversified.
The plans' asset allocation policy is reviewed at least annually. Factors considered when determining the appropriate asset allocation include changes in plan liabilities, an evaluation of market conditions, tolerance for risk and cash requirements for benefit payments. The investment policy contains allowable ranges in asset mix as outlined in the table below: 
Asset Category
Target Range
U.S. equity securities
15% - 25%
International equity securities
 5% - 10%
U.S. fixed income
65% - 85%
 
Assets of the Pension and Postretirement Medical Plans
The following tables present the major categories of plan assets for the pension and postretirement medical plan assets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in millions): 
 
Pension Plans
 
Postretirement Medical Plans
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Cash and cash equivalents
10

 
$
5

 
$

 
$

Equity securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Large-Cap equities
30

 
39

 
1

 
1

International equities
19

 
23

 

 

Fixed income securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments
31

 
18

 
1

 

U.S. Treasuries
22

 

 
1

 

U.S. Municipal bonds
5

 
6

 

 

U.S. Corporate bonds
82

 
138

 
4

 
4

International bonds
19

 
26

 

 

Total assets
218

 
255

 
7

 
5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed income securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments
31

 
18

 
1

 

Total liabilities
31

 
18

 
1

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total net assets
187

 
$
237

 
$
6

 
$
5


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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

MULTI-EMPLOYER PLANS  
The Company participates in three trustee-managed multi-employer defined benefit pension plans for union-represented employees under certain collective bargaining agreements. The risks of participating in these multi-employer plans are different from single-employer plans due to the following:
Assets contributed to the multi-employer plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.
If a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the remaining participating employers.
If the Company chooses to stop participating in some of its multi-employer plans, the Company may be required to pay those plans an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability.
Contributions paid into the multi-employer plans are expensed as incurred. Multi-employer plan expense was as follows for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (in millions):
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Multi-employer Plan Expense
 

 
 

 
 

Contributions to individually significant multi-employer plans(1)
$
3

 
$
3

 
$
3

Contributions to all other multi-employer plans
3

 
3

 
2

Withdrawal charge for individually significant multi-employer plans(2)

 
56

 

Withdrawal charge for all other multi-employer plans(3)

 
1

 

Total
$
6

 
$
63

 
$
5

____________________________
(1)
Contributions to individually significant multi-employer plans for the year ended December 31, 2014 include amounts contributed to the Soft Drink Industry Local Union 710 Pension Fund ("Local 710") which the Company fully withdrew and ceased participation in the plan as of December 31, 2014. Local 710 was considered an individually significant multi-employer when the contributions were made to the plan prior to the withdrawal and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.
(2)
During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company recognized a $56 million withdrawal charge for the withdrawal from the Local 710. This item was presented as a multi-employer pension plan withdrawal in the Consolidated Statements of Income. As the withdrawal charge represents the Company's best estimate of the potential amount of the quarterly assessment by Local 710 and the anticipated timing of those assessed payments, actual costs may differ from amounts recorded.
(3)
During the second quarter of 2013, the Company recognized a $1 million withdrawal charge for one of the collective bargaining units under a multi-employer pension plan based on the trustees' assessment. These charges were recorded as a component of SG&A expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
  

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

Individually Significant Multi-employer Plan
The Company participates in the following individually significant multi-employer plan as of December 31, 2014:
Legal name of the plan
 
Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Fund ("Central States")
Plan's Employer Identification Number
 
36-6044243
Plan Number
 
001
Expiration dates of the collective bargain agreements
 
January 20, 2015 - September 9, 2018(2)
FIP/RP Status Pending/Implemented(1)
 
Yes
PPA zone status as of December 31, 2014
 
Red
PPA zone status as of December 31, 2013
 
Red
Surcharge imposed
 
Yes
____________________________
(1)
FIP/RP Status Pending/Implemented indicates the plan for which a financial improvement plan ("FIP") or a rehabilitation plan ("RP") is either pending or implemented.

(2)
Central States includes eight collective bargaining agreements. The largest agreement, which is set to expire June 21, 2015, covers approximately 48% of the employees included in Central States. Approximately 72% of the employees included in Central States are covered by three collective bargaining agreements set to expire during 2015.
The most recent Pension Protection Act ("PPA") zone status available as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 is for the plan's year-end as of December 31, 2013 and 2012. Neither plan has utilized any extended amortization provisions that affect the calculation of the zone status.
The Company's contributions to the Central States did not exceed 5% of the total contributions made to the Central States for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.
Future estimated contributions for the Central States based on the number of covered employees and the terms of the collective bargaining agreements are as follows (in millions): 
Year
Estimated Contributions
2015
$
1

2016

2017

2018


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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS 
The Company sponsors the SIP, which is a qualified 401(k) Retirement Plan that covers substantially all U.S.-based employees who meet certain eligibility requirements. This plan permits both pre-tax and after-tax contributions, which are subject to limitations imposed by Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") regulations. The Company matches employees' contributions up to specified levels.
 The Company also sponsors the SSP, which is a non-qualified defined contribution plan for employees who are actively enrolled in the SIP and whose after-tax contributions under the SIP are limited by the Code compensation limitations. 
The Company's employer matching contributions to the SIP and SSP plans were approximately $16 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 and $15 million for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.
Additionally, current participants in the SIP and SSP are eligible for an enhanced defined contribution (the "EDC"). Contributions began accruing for plan participants after a one-year waiting period for participant entry into the plan, which vest after three years of service with the Company. The Company made contributions of $16 million to the EDC for the plan years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.
15. Fair Value
Under U.S. GAAP, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. U.S. GAAP provides a framework for measuring fair value and establishes a three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability. The three-level hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements is as follows:
Level 1 - Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 - Observable inputs such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.
Level 3 - Valuations with one or more unobservable significant inputs that reflect the reporting entity's own assumptions.
RECURRING FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The following tables present the fair value hierarchy for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
 
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2014
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Interest rate contracts
$

 
$
40

 
$

Marketable securities - trading
25

 

 

Total assets
$
25

 
$
40

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts
$

 
$
26

 
$

Interest rate contracts

 
9

 

Total liabilities
$

 
$
35

 
$


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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Commodity contracts
$

 
$
1

 
$

Interest rate contracts

 
17

 

Foreign exchange forward contracts

 
3

 

Marketable securities - trading
21

 

 

Total assets
$
21

 
$
21

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts
$

 
$
13

 
$

Interest rate contracts

 
34

 

Total liabilities
$

 
$
47

 
$

The fair values of marketable securities are determined using quoted market prices from daily exchange traded markets based on the closing price as of the balance sheet date and were classified as Level 1. The fair values of commodity forward and future contracts, interest rate swap contracts and foreign currency forward contracts are determined based on inputs that are readily available in public markets or can be derived from information available in publicly quoted markets. The fair value of commodity forward and future contracts are valued using the market approach based on observable market transactions, primarily underlying commodities futures or physical index prices, at the reporting date. Interest rate swap contracts are valued using models based primarily on readily observable market parameters, such as LIBOR forward rates, for all substantial terms of the Company's contracts and credit risk of the counterparties. The fair value of foreign currency forward contracts are valued using quoted forward foreign exchange prices at the reporting date. Therefore, the Company has categorized these contracts as Level 2.
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company did not have any assets or liabilities measured on a recurring basis without observable market values that would require a high level of judgment to determine fair value (Level 3).
There were no transfers of financial instruments between the three levels of fair value hierarchy during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.
FAIR VALUE OF PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT PLAN ASSETS
The fair value hierarchy discussed above is not only applicable to assets and liabilities that are included in our consolidated balance sheets, but is also applied to certain other assets that indirectly impact our consolidated financial statements. For example, our Company sponsors and/or contributes to a number of pension and postretirement medical plans. Assets contributed by the Company become the property of the individual plans. Even though the Company no longer has control over these assets, DPS is indirectly impacted by subsequent fair value adjustments to these assets. The actual return on these assets impacts the Company's future net periodic benefit cost, as well as amounts recognized in our consolidated balance sheets. Refer to Note 14 for additional information regarding the Company's pension and postretirement medical plans. The Company uses the fair value hierarchy to measure the fair value of assets held by our various pension and postretirement medical plans.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

The following tables present the major categories of plan assets and the respective fair value hierarchy for the pension plan assets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in millions): 
 
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2014
 
 
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Cash and cash equivalents
$
10

 
$
10

 
$

 
$

Equity securities(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Large-Cap equities(2)
30

 

 
30

 

International equities(2)
19

 

 
19

 

Fixed income securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments(3)
31

 

 
31

 

U.S. Treasuries
22

 
22

 

 

U.S. Municipal bonds(4)
5

 

 
5

 

U.S. Corporate bonds(4)
82

 

 
82

 

International bonds(2)
19

 

 
19

 

Total assets
218

 
32

 
186

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed income securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments(3)
31

 

 
31

 

Total liabilities
31

 

 
31

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total net assets
$
187

 
$
32

 
$
155

 
$


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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013
 
 
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Cash and cash equivalents
$
5

 
$
5

 
$

 
$

Equity securities(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Large-Cap equities(2)
39

 

 
39

 

International equities(2)
23

 

 
23

 

Fixed income securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments(3)
18

 

 
18

 

U.S. Municipal bonds(4)
6

 

 
6

 

U.S. Corporate bonds(4)
138

 

 
138

 

International bonds(2)
26

 

 
26

 

Total assets
255

 
5

 
250

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed income securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments(3)
18

 

 
18

 

Total liabilities
18

 

 
18

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total net assets
$
237

 
$
5

 
$
232

 
$

____________________________
(1)
Equity securities are comprised of actively managed U.S. index funds and Europe, Australia, Far East ("EAFE") index funds.
(2)
The NAV is based on the fair value of the underlying assets owned by the equity index fund or fixed income investment vehicle per share multiplied by the number of units held as of the measurement date and are classified as Level 2 assets.
(3)
Derivative financial instruments consist of U.S Treasury futures. The fair value of these futures is determined by using quoted market prices of the same or similar instruments.
(4)
U.S. Municipal and Corporate bonds are based on quoted bid prices for comparable securities in the marketplace.


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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

The following tables present the major categories of plan assets and the respective fair value hierarchy for the postretirement medical plan assets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
 
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2014
 
 
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Equity securities(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Large-Cap equities(2)
$
1

 
$

 
$
1

 
$

Fixed income securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments(4)
1

 

 
1

 

U.S. Treasuries
1

 
1

 

 

U.S. Corporate bonds(3)
4

 

 
4

 

Total
7

 
1

 
6

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed income securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments(4)
1

 

 
1

 

Total liabilities
1

 

 
1

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total net assets
$
6

 
$
1

 
$
5

 
$

 
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013
 
 
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Equity securities(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Large-Cap equities(2)
$
1

 
$

 
$
1

 
$

Fixed income securities
 
 
 
 
 
 

U.S. Corporate bonds(3)
4

 

 
4

 

Total
$
5

 
$

 
$
5

 
$

  ____________________________
(1)
Equity securities are comprised of actively managed U.S. index funds and EAFE index funds.
(2)
The NAV is based on the fair value of the underlying assets owned by the equity index fund or fixed income investment vehicle per share multiplied by the number of units held as of the measurement date and are classified as Level 2 assets.
(3)
U.S. Corporate bonds are based on quoted bid prices for comparable securities in the marketplace.
(4)
Derivative financial instruments consist of U.S Treasury futures. The fair value of these futures is determined by using quoted market prices of the same or similar instruments.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

ESTIMATED FAIR VALUE OF LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS
The estimated fair values of long-term obligations as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, are as follows (in millions):
 
December 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
Long-term debt – 2016 Notes
$
500

 
$
510

 
$
500

 
$
519

Long-term debt – 2018 Notes
724

 
835

 
724

 
856

Long-term debt – 2019 Notes(1)
250

 
253

 
248

 
252

Long-term debt – 2020 Notes(1)
245

 
244

 
241

 
236

Long-term debt – 2021 Notes(1)
249

 
255

 
241

 
241

Long-term debt – 2022 Notes(1)
265

 
244

 
247

 
226

Long-term debt – 2038 Notes(1)
272

 
363

 
252

 
317

____________________________
(1)
The carrying amount includes the unamortized discounts on the issuance of debt and adjustments related to the change in the fair value of interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges on the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2038 Notes. Refer to Note 10 for additional information regarding derivatives. 

Capital leases have been excluded from the calculation of fair value for both 2014 and 2013.
The fair value amounts of long term debt as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, were based on current market rates available to the Company (Level 2 inputs). The difference between the fair value and the carrying value represents the theoretical net premium or discount that would be paid or received to retire all debt at such date.
FAIR VALUE OF OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The fair value amounts for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, net, commercial paper, accounts payable and other current liabilities approximate carrying amounts due to the short maturities of these instruments.
16. Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-based compensation expense is recorded in SG&A expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The components of stock-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 are presented below (in millions):
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Total stock-based compensation expense
$
48

 
$
37

 
$
35

Income tax benefit recognized in the income statement
(17
)
 
(12
)
 
(12
)
Stock-based compensation expense, net of tax
$
31

 
$
25

 
$
23

DPS is required to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and revise those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company uses historical data to estimate pre-vesting option, RSU and PSU forfeitures and record stock-based compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

DESCRIPTION OF STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS
Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan of 2009 
During 2009, the Company adopted the Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan of 2009 (the "2009 Stock Plan") under which employees, consultants and non-employee directors may be granted stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, RSUs or PSUs. This plan provides for the issuance of up to 20,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock. Subsequent to adoption, the Company's Compensation Committee granted RSUs and PSUs, which vest after three years, and stock options, which vest ratably over three years. Each RSU and PSU is to be settled for one share of the Company's common stock on the respective vesting date of the RSU and PSU. No other types of stock-based awards have been granted under the 2009 Stock Plan. Approximately 12,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock were available for future grant as of December 31, 2014. The stock options issued under the 2009 Stock Plan have a maximum option term of 10 years.
Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan of 2008
In connection with the separation from Cadbury, on May 5, 2008, Cadbury Schweppes Limited, the Company's sole stockholder, approved the Company's Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan of 2008 (the "2008 Stock Plan") and authorized up to 9,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock to be issued under the Stock Plan. Subsequent to May 7, 2008, the Compensation Committee granted under the 2008 Stock Plan (a) options to purchase shares of the Company's common stock, which vested ratably over three years commencing with the first anniversary date of the option grant, and (b) RSUs, which vested over a three year period for a substantial portion of RSUs. Each RSU was settled for one share of the Company's common stock on the respective vesting date of the RSU. The stock options issued under the 2008 Stock Plan had a maximum option term of 10 years. There were no shares outstanding under the 2008 Stock Plan as of December 31, 2014.
STOCK OPTIONS
The tables below summarize information about the Company's stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.
The fair value of each stock option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The risk-free interest rate used in the option valuation model is based on zero-coupon yields implied by U.S. Treasury issues with remaining terms similar to the expected term on the options. The expected term of the option represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding and is derived by analyzing historic exercise behavior. Expected volatility is based on implied volatilities from traded options on the Company's stock, historical volatility of the Company's stock and other factors. The Company's expected dividend yield is based on historical dividends declared.
The weighted average assumptions used to value grant options are detailed below:
 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Fair value of options at grant date
 
$
5.80

 
$
6.92

 
$
7.05

Risk free interest rate
 
1.25
%
 
0.68
%
 
0.87
%
Expected term of options (in years)
 
4.4

 
4.5

 
5.1

Dividend yield
 
3.35
%
 
3.39
%
 
3.52
%
Expected volatility
 
20.03
%
 
27.42
%
 
30.64
%

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

The table below summarizes stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2014:
 
Stock Options
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price
 
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in millions)
Outstanding as of January 1, 2014
2,031,833

 
$
37.59

 
7.65
 
$
23

Granted
667,139

 
51.68

 
 
 
 
Exercised
(1,151,479
)
 
35.40

 
 
 
24

Forfeited or expired
(18,258
)
 
46.99

 
 
 
 
Outstanding as of December 31, 2014
1,529,235

 
45.27

 
8.20
 
40

Exercisable as of December 31, 2014
284,595

 
38.58

 
7.01
 
9


As of December 31, 2014, there were 1,517,946 stock options vested or expected to vest. The weighted average exercise price of stock options granted for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $43.82 and $37.80, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of the stock options exercised for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $8 million and $18 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, there was $4 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options granted under the DPS stock plans that is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 0.84 years.
RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS    
The table below summarizes RSU activity for the year ended December 31, 2014. The fair value of restricted stock units is determined based on the number of units granted and the grant date price of common stock.
 
RSUs
 
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
 
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in millions)
Outstanding as of January 1, 2014
2,139,143

 
$
39.15

 
1.12
 
$
104

Granted
590,347

 
51.81

 
 
 
 
Vested and released
(730,285
)
 
36.53

 
 
 
38

Forfeited
(73,271
)
 
43.76

 
 
 
 
Outstanding as of December 31, 2014
1,925,934

 
43.85

 
1.08
 
138

The total fair value of RSUs vested was $27 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.The total fair value of RSUs vested was for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $24 million. The aggregate intrinsic value of the RSUs vested and released for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $37 million and $59 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, there was $34 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested RSUs granted under the DPS stock plans that is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.06 years.
During the year ended December 31, 2014, 730,285 shares subject to previously granted RSUs vested. A majority of these vested stock awards were net share settled. The Company withheld 239,254 shares based upon the Company's closing stock price on the vesting date to settle the employees' minimum statutory obligation for the applicable income and other employment taxes. Subsequently, the Company remitted the required funds to the appropriate taxing authorities.
Total payments for the employees' tax obligations to the relevant taxing authorities were $14 million and $13 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. There were no payments made to the relevant taxing authorities for the year ended December 31, 2012 as the Company did not net share settle any vested stock awards. These payments are reflected as a financing activity within the consolidated statements of cash flows. These payments were used for tax withholdings related to the net share settlements of RSUs and dividend equivalent units. These payments had the effect of share repurchases by the Company as they reduced the number of shares that would have otherwise been issued on the vesting date and were recorded as a reduction of additional paid-in capital.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

PERFORMANCE SHARE UNITS
In 2011, the Compensation Committee of the Board approved a PSU plan. Each PSU is equivalent in value to one share of the Company's common stock. PSUs will vest three years from the beginning date of a pre-determined performance period to the extent the Company has met two performance criteria during the performance period: (i) the percentage growth of net income and (ii) the percentage yield from operating free cash flow.
The table below summarizes PSU activity for the year ended December 31, 2014. The fair value of performance share units is determined based on the number of units granted and the grant date price of common stock.
 
PSUs
 
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
 
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in millions)
Outstanding as of January 1, 2014
422,866

 
$
39.88

 
1.26
 
$
21

Granted
154,157

 
51.88

 
 
 
 
Vested and released
(104,165
)
 
36.42

 
 
 
5

Forfeited
(28,577
)
 
38.16

 
 
 
 
Outstanding as of December 31, 2014
444,281

 
44.97

 
1.07
 
32

As of December 31, 2014, there was $14 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested PSUs granted under the DPS Stock Plans that is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.46 years.
During the year ended December 31, 2014, 104,165 shares subject to previously granted PSUs vested. A majority of these vested PSUs were net share settled. The Company withheld 30,944 shares based upon the Company's closing stock price on the vesting date to settle the employees' minimum statutory obligation for the applicable income and other employment taxes. Subsequently, the Company remitted the required funds to the appropriate taxing authorities.
Total payments for the employees' tax obligations to the relevant taxing authorities were $2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. There were no payments made to the relevant taxing authorities for the years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 for the employees' tax obligations as the Company did not have any PSUs that were vested and released. These payments are reflected as a financing activity within the consolidated statements of cash flows. These payments were used for tax withholdings related to the net share settlements of PSUs and dividend equivalent units. These payments had the effect of share repurchases by the Company as they reduced the number of shares that would have otherwise been issued on the vesting date and were recorded as a reduction of additional paid-in capital.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

17. Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share ("EPS") is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the assumed conversion of all dilutive securities. The following table presents the basic and diluted EPS and the Company's basic and diluted shares outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (in millions, except per share data):
 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Basic EPS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
703

 
$
624

 
$
629

Weighted average common shares outstanding
 
195.8

 
202.9

 
210.6

Earnings per common share — basic
 
$
3.59

 
$
3.08

 
$
2.99

Diluted EPS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
703

 
$
624

 
$
629

Weighted average common shares outstanding
 
195.8

 
202.9

 
210.6

Effect of dilutive securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock options, RSUs, PSUs and dividend equivalent units
 
1.6

 
1.6

 
1.7

Weighted average common shares outstanding and common stock equivalents
 
197.4

 
204.5

 
212.3

Earnings per common share — diluted
 
$
3.56

 
$
3.05

 
$
2.96

Stock options, RSUs, PSUs and dividend equivalent units totaling 0.3 million shares were excluded from the diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2014, as they were not dilutive. Stock options, RSUs, PSUs and dividend equivalent units totaling 0.5 million shares were excluded from the diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, as they were not dilutive.
Under the terms of our RSU and PSU agreements, unvested RSU and PSU awards contain forfeitable rights to dividends and dividend equivalent units. Because the dividend equivalent units are forfeitable, they are defined as non-participating securities. As of December 31, 2014, there were 136,157 dividend equivalent units, which will vest at the time that the underlying RSU and PSU vests.
During 2009, 2010 and 2011, the Board authorized a total aggregate share repurchase plan of $3 billion. The Company repurchased and retired 6.8 million shares of common stock valued at approximately $400 million, 8.7 million shares of common stock valued at approximately $400 million and 9.5 million shares of common stock valued at approximately $400 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. These amounts were recorded as a reduction of equity, primarily additional paid-in capital. As of December 31, 2014, $172 million remains available for share repurchase under the Board authorization.

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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

18. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The following table provides a summary of changes in the balances of each component of AOCL, net of taxes, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (in millions):
 
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
 
Net Change in Pension Liability
 
Net Change in Cash Flow Hedges
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance as of January 1, 2012
$
(27
)
 
$
(48
)
 
$
(35
)
 
$
(110
)
Current year OCI
19

 
(8
)
 
(11
)
 

Balance as of December 31, 2012
(8
)
 
(56
)
 
(46
)
 
(110
)
OCI before reclassifications
(9
)
 
19

 
3

 
13

Amounts reclassified from AOCL

 
4

 
5

 
9

Net current year OCI
(9
)
 
23

 
8

 
22

Balance as of December 31, 2013
(17
)
 
(33
)
 
(38
)
 
(88
)
OCI before reclassifications
(44
)
 
(19
)
 
(2
)
 
(65
)
Amounts reclassified from AOCL

 
12

 
4

 
16

Net current year OCI
(44
)
 
(7
)
 
2

 
(49
)
Balance as of December 31, 2014
$
(61
)
 
$
(40
)
 
$
(36
)
 
$
(137
)
The following table presents the amount of loss reclassified from AOCL into the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):
 
 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
Location of (Loss) Gain Reclassified from AOCL into Net Income
 
2014
 
2013
(Loss) Gain on cash flow hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
Interest expense
 
$
(8
)
 
$
(7
)
Foreign exchange forward contracts
Cost of sales
 
1

 
(1
)
Total
 
 
(7
)
 
(8
)
Income tax expense
 
 
(3
)
 
(3
)
Total
 
 
$
(4
)
 
$
(5
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Defined benefit pension and postretirement plan items:
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of prior service costs
Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
$

 
$
1

Amortization of actuarial gains/(losses), net
Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
(3
)
 
(4
)
Settlement loss
Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
(16
)
 
(3
)
Total
 
 
(19
)
 
(6
)
Income tax expense
 
 
(7
)
 
(2
)
Total
 
 
$
(12
)
 
$
(4
)
Total reclassifications
 
 
$
(16
)
 
$
(9
)

100

Table of Contents
DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

19. Supplemental Cash Flow Information
The following table details supplemental cash flow disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (in millions): 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Supplemental cash flow disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Dividends declared but not yet paid
$
79

 
$
75

 
$
70

Capital expenditures included in accounts payable and other current liabilities
11

 
21

 
27

Holdback liability for acquisition of business
2

 

 

Stock issued for acquisition of business

 
13

 

Capital lease additions(1)
31

 
1

 
49

Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest paid
$
94

 
$
107

 
$
115

Income taxes paid
345

 
310

 
724

__________________________
(1)
The Company converted a number of month-to-month operating leases into capital leases which is presented as a non-cash financing activity.
20. Leases
The Company has leases for certain facilities, fleet and equipment which expire at various dates through 2029. Some lease agreements contain standard renewal provisions that allow us to renew the lease at rates equivalent to fair market value at the end of the lease term. Under lease agreements that contain escalating rent provisions, operating lease expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Under lease agreements that contain rent holidays, rent expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the entire lease term, including the period covered by the rent holiday. Operating lease expense was $69 million, $76 million and $80 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.
Future minimum lease payments under operating leases with initial or remaining noncancellable lease terms in excess of one year and capital leases as of December 31, 2014 are as follows (in millions): 
 
 
Operating Leases
 
Capital Leases
2015
 
$
47

 
$
11

2016
 
40

 
11

2017
 
32

 
11

2018
 
24

 
11

2019
 
21

 
10

Thereafter
 
75

 
167

Total minimum lease payments
 
$
239

 
221

Less imputed interest
 
 
 
(135
)
Present value of minimum lease payments
 
 
 
$
86

 


101

Table of Contents
DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

21. Commitments and Contingencies
LEGAL MATTERS
The Company is occasionally subject to litigation or other legal proceedings. The Company does not believe that the outcome of these, or any other, pending legal matters, individually or collectively, will have a material adverse effect on the results of operations, financial condition or liquidity of the Company.
ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY MATTERS
The Company operates many manufacturing, bottling and distribution facilities. In these and other aspects of the Company's business, it is subject to a variety of federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. The Company maintains environmental, health and safety policies and a quality, environmental, health and safety program designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. However, the nature of the Company's business exposes it to the risk of claims with respect to environmental, health and safety matters, and there can be no assurance that material costs or liabilities will not be incurred in connection with such claims.
The federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, also known as the Superfund law, as well as similar state laws, generally impose joint and several liability for cleanup and enforcement costs on current and former owners and operators of a site without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct. In October 2008, DPS was notified by the Environmental Protection Agency that it is a potentially responsible party for study and cleanup costs at a Superfund site in New Jersey. Investigation and remediation costs are yet to be determined, therefore no reasonable estimate exists on which to base a loss accrual. Through December 31, 2014, the Company has paid approximately $675,000 since the notification for DPS' allocation of costs related to the study for this site.
22. Segments
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company's operating structure consisted of the following three operating segments:
The Beverage Concentrates segment reflects sales of the Company's branded concentrates and syrup to third party bottlers primarily in the U.S. and Canada. Most of the brands in this segment are carbonated soft drink brands.
The Packaged Beverages segment reflects sales in the U.S. and Canada from the manufacture and distribution of finished beverages and other products, including sales of the Company's own brands and third party brands, through both DSD and WD.
The Latin America Beverages segment reflects sales in the Mexico, Caribbean, and other international markets from the manufacture and distribution of concentrates, syrup and finished beverages.
Segment results are based on management reports. Net sales and SOP are the significant financial measures used to assess the operating performance of the Company's operating segments.

102

Table of Contents
DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

Information about the Company's operations by operating segment as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 is as follows (in millions):
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Segment Results – Net sales
 
 
 
 
 
Beverage Concentrates
$
1,228

 
$
1,229

 
$
1,221

Packaged Beverages
4,361

 
4,306

 
4,358

Latin America Beverages
532

 
462

 
416

Net sales
$
6,121

 
$
5,997

 
$
5,995

 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Segment Results – SOP
 
 
 
 
 
Beverage Concentrates
$
790

 
$
778

 
$
774

Packaged Beverages
636

 
525

 
539

Latin America Beverages
78

 
61

 
51

Total SOP
1,504

 
1,364

 
1,364

Unallocated corporate costs
323

 
309

 
261

Other operating expense, net
1

 
9

 
11

Income from operations
1,180

 
1,046

 
1,092

Interest expense, net
107

 
121

 
123

Other expense (income), net

 
383

 
(9
)
Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
$
1,073

 
$
542

 
$
978

 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Amortization expense
 
 
 
 
 
Beverage Concentrates
$
16

 
$
17

 
$
20

Packaged Beverages
7

 
7

 
7

Latin America Beverages

 

 

Segment total
23

 
24

 
27

Corporate and other
13

 
14

 
10

Total amortization expense
$
36

 
$
38

 
$
37

 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Depreciation expense
 
 
 
 
 
Beverage Concentrates
$
7

 
$
5

 
$
10

Packaged Beverages
165

 
164

 
173

Latin America Beverages
15

 
14

 
11

Segment total
187

 
183

 
194

Corporate and other
12

 
13

 
9

Total depreciation expense
$
199

 
$
196

 
$
203



103

Table of Contents
DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 
 
 
As of December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Total assets
 

 
 

Property, plant and equipment, net
 
 
 
Beverage Concentrates
$
71

 
$
73

Packaged Beverages
899

 
932

Latin America Beverages
102

 
92

Segment total
1,072

 
1,097

Corporate and other
69

 
76

Total property, plant and equipment, net
1,141

 
1,173

Current assets
1,211

 
1,119

All other non-current assets
5,921

 
5,909

Total assets
$
8,273

 
$
8,201

Refer to Note 7 for additional information regarding the assignment of goodwill to the Company's operating segments. The majority of the Company's other intangible assets are assigned to the Beverage Concentrates operating segment.
GEOGRAPHIC DATA 
The Company utilizes separate legal entities for transactions with customers outside of the United States. Information about the Company's operations by geographic region as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 is below (in millions):
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Net sales
 

 
 

 
 

U.S.
$
5,361

 
$
5,292

 
$
5,341

International
760

 
705

 
654

Total net sales
$
6,121

 
$
5,997

 
$
5,995

 
As of December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Property, plant and equipment, net
 

 
 

U.S.
$
1,039

 
$
1,081

International
102

 
92

Total property, plant and equipment, net
$
1,141

 
$
1,173

MAJOR CUSTOMER
WalMart represents one of the Company's major customers and accounted for more than 10% of total net sales. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, DPS recorded net sales to WalMart of $740 million, $734 million and $763 million, respectively. These represent direct sales from the Company to WalMart and were reported in DPS' Packaged Beverages and Latin America Beverages segments. 
Additionally, customers in the Company's Beverage Concentrates segment buy concentrate from DPS which is used in finished goods sold by the Company's third party bottlers to WalMart. These indirect sales further increase the concentration of risk associated with DPS' consolidated net sales as it relates to WalMart.

104

Table of Contents
DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

23. Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Financial Information
The Company's 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2038 Notes (collectively, the "Notes") are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by substantially all of the Company's existing and future direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries (except two immaterial subsidiaries associated with charitable purposes) (the "Guarantors"), as defined in the indentures governing the Notes. The Guarantors are 100% owned either directly or indirectly by the Company and jointly and severally guarantee, subject to the release provisions described below, the Company's obligations under the Notes. None of the Company's subsidiaries organized outside of the U.S. or immaterial subsidiaries used for charitable purposes (collectively, the "Non-Guarantors") guarantee the Notes. The subsidiary guarantees with respect to the Notes are subject to release upon the occurrence of certain events, including the sale of all or substantially all of a subsidiary's assets, the release of the subsidiary's guarantee of other indebtedness of the Company, the Company's exercise of its legal defeasance option with respect to the Notes and the discharge of the Company's obligations under the applicable indenture.
The following schedules present the financial information for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, and as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, for Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (the "Parent"), Guarantors and Non-Guarantors. The consolidating schedules are provided in accordance with the reporting requirements for guarantor subsidiaries (in millions).
 
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
 
Parent
 
Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Net sales
$

 
$
5,474

 
$
681

 
$
(34
)
 
$
6,121

Cost of sales

 
2,191

 
334

 
(34
)
 
2,491

Gross profit

 
3,283

 
347

 

 
3,630

Selling, general and administrative expenses
1

 
2,106

 
227

 

 
2,334

Multi-employer pension plan withdrawal

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 
107

 
8

 

 
115

Other operating expense, net

 
1

 

 

 
1

Income from operations
(1
)
 
1,069

 
112

 

 
1,180

Interest expense
104

 
51

 

 
(46
)
 
109

Interest income
(40
)
 

 
(8
)
 
46

 
(2
)
Other expense (income), net
(2
)
 
(3
)
 
5

 

 

Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes and equity in earnings of subsidiaries
(63
)
 
1,021

 
115

 

 
1,073

Provision (benefit) for income taxes
(38
)
 
383

 
26

 

 
371

Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries
(25
)
 
638

 
89

 

 
702

Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries
728

 
90

 

 
(818
)
 

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries, net of tax

 

 
1

 

 
1

Net income
$
703

 
$
728

 
$
90

 
$
(818
)
 
$
703


105

Table of Contents
DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2013
 
Parent
 
Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Net sales
$

 
$
5,406

 
$
623

 
$
(32
)
 
$
5,997

Cost of sales

 
2,240

 
291

 
(32
)
 
2,499

Gross profit

 
3,166

 
332

 

 
3,498

Selling, general and administrative expenses
4

 
2,048

 
220

 

 
2,272

Multi-employer pension plan withdrawal

 
56

 

 

 
56

Depreciation and amortization

 
107

 
8

 

 
115

Other operating expense, net

 
9

 

 

 
9

Income from operations
(4
)
 
946

 
104

 

 
1,046

Interest expense
118

 
89

 

 
(84
)
 
123

Interest income
(77
)
 

 
(9
)
 
84

 
(2
)
Other expense (income), net
383

 
(6
)
 
6

 

 
383

Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes and equity in earnings of subsidiaries
(428
)
 
863

 
107

 

 
542

Provision (benefit) for income taxes
(16
)
 
(147
)
 
82

 

 
(81
)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries
(412
)
 
1,010

 
25

 

 
623

Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries
1,036

 
26

 

 
(1,062
)
 

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries, net of tax

 

 
1

 

 
1

Net income
$
624

 
$
1,036

 
$
26

 
$
(1,062
)
 
$
624


106

Table of Contents
DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2012
 
Parent
 
Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Net sales
$

 
$
5,451

 
$
575

 
$
(31
)
 
$
5,995

Cost of sales

 
2,265

 
266

 
(31
)
 
2,500

Gross profit

 
3,186

 
309

 

 
3,495

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 
2,062

 
206

 

 
2,268

Multi-employer pension plan withdrawal

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 
117

 
7

 

 
124

Other operating expense (income), net

 
11

 

 

 
11

Income from operations

 
996

 
96

 

 
1,092

Interest expense
122

 
90

 

 
(87
)
 
125

Interest income
(81
)
 
(1
)
 
(7
)
 
87

 
(2
)
Other (income) expense, net
(11
)
 
(4
)
 
6

 

 
(9
)
Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes and equity in earnings of subsidiaries
(30
)
 
911

 
97

 

 
978

Provision (benefit) for income taxes
(13
)
 
342

 
20

 

 
349

Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries
(17
)
 
569

 
77

 

 
629

Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries
647

 
78

 

 
(725
)
 

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries, net of tax
(1
)
 

 
1

 

 

Net income
$
629

 
$
647

 
$
78

 
$
(725
)
 
$
629



107

Table of Contents
DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
 
Parent
 
Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Net income
$
703

 
$
728

 
$
90

 
$
(818
)
 
$
703

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income impact from consolidated subsidiaries
(57
)
 
(66
)
 

 
123

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments
4

 
15

 
(63
)
 

 
(44
)
Net change in pension liability, net of tax

 
(6
)
 
(1
)
 

 
(7
)
Net change in cash flow hedges, net of tax
4

 

 
(2
)
 

 
2

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
(49
)
 
(57
)
 
(66
)
 
123

 
(49
)
Comprehensive income (loss)
$
654

 
$
671

 
$
24

 
$
(695
)
 
$
654


 
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2013
 
Parent
 
Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Net income
$
624

 
$
1,036

 
$
26

 
$
(1,062
)
 
$
624

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income impact from consolidated subsidiaries
11

 
(19
)
 

 
8

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments
6

 
11

 
(26
)
 

 
(9
)
Net change in pension liability, net of tax

 
19

 
4

 

 
23

Net change in cash flow hedges, net of tax
5

 

 
3

 

 
8

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
22

 
11

 
(19
)
 
8

 
22

Comprehensive income (loss)
$
646

 
$
1,047

 
$
7

 
$
(1,054
)
 
$
646


 
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2012
 
Parent
 
Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Net income
$
629

 
$
647

 
$
78

 
$
(725
)
 
$
629

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income impact from consolidated subsidiaries
13

 
24

 

 
(37
)
 

Foreign currency translation adjustments
(3
)
 
(4
)
 
26

 

 
19

Net change in pension liability, net of tax

 
(7
)
 
(1
)
 

 
(8
)
Net change in cash flow hedges, net of tax
(10
)
 

 
(1
)
 

 
(11
)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 
13

 
24

 
(37
)
 

Comprehensive income (loss)
$
629

 
$
660

 
$
102

 
$
(762
)
 
$
629



108

Table of Contents
DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
 
As of December 31, 2014
 
Parent
 
Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$

 
$
186

 
$
51

 
$

 
$
237

Accounts receivable:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trade, net

 
494

 
62

 

 
556

Other
3

 
42

 
16

 

 
61

Related party receivable
10

 
10

 

 
(20
)
 

Inventories

 
168

 
36

 

 
204

Deferred tax assets

 
65

 
3

 
(1
)
 
67

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
218

 
67

 
9

 
(208
)
 
86

Total current assets
231

 
1,032

 
177

 
(229
)
 
1,211

Property, plant and equipment, net

 
1,039

 
102

 

 
1,141

Investments in consolidated subsidiaries
6,194

 
612

 

 
(6,806
)
 

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries
1

 

 
13

 

 
14

Goodwill

 
2,971

 
19

 

 
2,990

Other intangible assets, net

 
2,615

 
69

 

 
2,684

Long-term receivable, related parties
3,118

 
4,647

 
295

 
(8,060
)
 

Other non-current assets
63

 
90

 
6

 

 
159

Non-current deferred tax assets
23

 

 
74

 
(23
)
 
74

Total assets
$
9,630

 
$
13,006

 
$
755

 
$
(15,118
)
 
$
8,273

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$

 
$
258

 
$
31

 
$

 
$
289

Related party payable

 
10

 
10

 
(20
)
 

Deferred revenue

 
62

 
2

 

 
64

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term obligations

 
3

 

 

 
3

Income taxes payable

 
212

 
6

 
(208
)
 
10

Other current liabilities
112

 
512

 
49

 
(1
)
 
672

Total current liabilities
112

 
1,057

 
98

 
(229
)
 
1,038

Long-term obligations to third parties
2,505

 
83

 

 

 
2,588

Long-term obligations to related parties
4,647

 
3,413

 

 
(8,060
)
 

Non-current deferred tax liabilities

 
824

 

 
(23
)
 
801

Non-current deferred revenue

 
1,216

 
34

 

 
1,250

Other non-current liabilities
72

 
219

 
11

 

 
302

Total liabilities
7,336

 
6,812

 
143

 
(8,312
)
 
5,979

Total stockholders' equity
2,294

 
6,194

 
612

 
(6,806
)
 
2,294

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
9,630

 
$
13,006

 
$
755

 
$
(15,118
)
 
$
8,273



109

Table of Contents
DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
 
As of December 31, 2013
 
Parent
 
Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$

 
$
88

 
$
65

 
$

 
$
153

Accounts receivable:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trade, net

 
502

 
62

 

 
564

Other
2

 
43

 
13

 

 
58

Related party receivable
12

 
7

 

 
(19
)
 

Inventories

 
172

 
28

 

 
200

Deferred tax assets

 
63

 
6

 
(3
)
 
66

Prepaid and other current assets
184

 
58

 
4

 
(168
)
 
78

Total current assets
198

 
933

 
178

 
(190
)
 
1,119

Property, plant and equipment, net

 
1,081

 
92

 

 
1,173

Investments in consolidated subsidiaries
5,438

 
590

 

 
(6,028
)
 

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries
1

 

 
14

 

 
15

Goodwill

 
2,966

 
22

 

 
2,988

Other intangible assets, net

 
2,616

 
78

 

 
2,694

Long-term receivable, related parties
3,077

 
3,766

 
259

 
(7,102
)
 

Other non-current assets
32

 
95

 

 

 
127

Non-current deferred tax assets
27

 

 
85

 
(27
)
 
85

Total assets
$
8,773

 
$
12,047

 
$
728

 
$
(13,347
)
 
$
8,201

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$

 
$
247

 
$
24

 
$

 
$
271

Related party payable

 
12

 
7

 
(19
)
 

Deferred revenue

 
63

 
2

 

 
65

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term obligations
65

 
1

 

 

 
66

Income taxes payable

 
194

 
7

 
(168
)
 
33

Other current liabilities
110

 
448

 
40

 
(3
)
 
595

Total current liabilities
175

 
965

 
80

 
(190
)
 
1,030

Long-term obligations to third parties
2,453

 
55

 

 

 
2,508

Long-term obligations to related parties
3,766

 
3,336

 

 
(7,102
)
 

Non-current deferred tax liabilities

 
781

 
1

 
(27
)
 
755

Non-current deferred revenue

 
1,278

 
40

 

 
1,318

Other non-current liabilities
102

 
194

 
17

 

 
313

Total liabilities
6,496

 
6,609

 
138

 
(7,319
)
 
5,924

Total stockholders' equity
2,277

 
5,438

 
590

 
(6,028
)
 
2,277

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
8,773

 
$
12,047

 
$
728

 
$
(13,347
)
 
$
8,201



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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
 
Parent
 
Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
$
(122
)
 
$
1,055

 
$
89

 
$

 
$
1,022

Investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquisition of business

 
(19
)
 

 

 
(19
)
Purchase of property, plant and equipment

 
(130
)
 
(40
)
 

 
(170
)
Purchase of intangible assets

 
(1
)
 

 

 
(1
)
Return of capital

 
2

 
(2
)
 

 

Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment

 
8

 

 

 
8

Issuance of related party notes receivable

 
(882
)
 
(55
)
 
937

 

Other, net
(3
)
 

 

 

 
(3
)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
(3
)
 
(1,022
)
 
(97
)
 
937

 
(185
)
Financing activities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Proceeds from issuance of related party debt
882

 
55

 

 
(937
)
 

Net (repayment) issuance of commercial paper
(65
)
 

 

 

 
(65
)
Repurchase of shares of common stock
(400
)
 

 

 

 
(400
)
Dividends paid
(317
)
 

 

 

 
(317
)
Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of certain stock awards
(16
)
 

 

 

 
(16
)
Proceeds from stock options exercised
41

 

 

 

 
41

Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation

 
11

 

 

 
11

Other, net

 
(1
)
 

 

 
(1
)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
125

 
65

 

 
(937
)
 
(747
)
Cash and cash equivalents — net change from:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Operating, investing and financing activities

 
98

 
(8
)
 

 
90

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

 
(6
)
 

 
(6
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 
88

 
65

 

 
153

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$

 
$
186

 
$
51

 
$

 
$
237



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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2013
 
Parent
 
Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
$
(99
)
 
$
889

 
$
84

 
$
(8
)
 
$
866

Investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquisition of business

 
(10
)
 

 

 
(10
)
Purchase of property, plant and equipment

 
(154
)
 
(25
)
 

 
(179
)
Purchase of intangible assets

 
(5
)
 

 

 
(5
)
Return of capital

 
19

 
(19
)
 

 

Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment

 
1

 

 

 
1

Issuance of related party notes receivable

 
(810
)
 
(80
)
 
890

 

Repayment of related party notes receivable
250

 
65

 

 
(315
)
 

Other, net
(3
)
 
1

 

 

 
(2
)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
247

 
(893
)
 
(124
)
 
575

 
(195
)
Financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance of related party debt
802

 
80

 
8

 
(890
)
 

Repayment of related party debt
(65
)
 
(250
)
 

 
315

 

Repayment of senior unsecured notes
(250
)
 

 

 

 
(250
)
Repurchase of shares of common stock
(400
)
 

 

 

 
(400
)
Dividends paid
(302
)
 

 
(8
)
 
8

 
(302
)
Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of certain stock awards
(13
)
 

 

 

 
(13
)
Net issuance of commercial paper
65

 

 

 

 
65

Proceeds from stock options exercised
15

 

 

 

 
15

Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation

 
6

 

 

 
6

Other, net

 
(1
)
 

 

 
(1
)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
(148
)
 
(165
)
 

 
(567
)
 
(880
)
Cash and cash equivalents — net change from:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating, investing and financing activities

 
(169
)
 
(40
)
 

 
(209
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

 
(4
)
 

 
(4
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 
257

 
109

 

 
366

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$

 
$
88

 
$
65

 
$

 
$
153




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DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

 
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2012
 
Parent
 
Guarantors
 
Non-Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
$
(193
)
 
$
559

 
$
116

 
$

 
$
482

Investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

 
(193
)
 
(24
)
 

 
(217
)
Purchase of intangible assets

 
(7
)
 

 

 
(7
)
Return of capital

 
21

 
(21
)
 

 

Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment

 
7

 

 

 
7

Issuance of related party notes receivable

 
(859
)
 
(25
)
 
884

 

Repayment of related party notes receivable
450

 
500

 

 
(950
)
 

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
450

 
(531
)
 
(70
)
 
(66
)
 
(217
)
Financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance of related party debt
859

 
25

 

 
(884
)
 

Repayment of related party debt
(500
)
 
(450
)
 

 
950

 

Proceeds from issuance of senior unsecured notes
500

 

 

 

 
500

Repayment of senior unsecured notes
(450
)
 

 

 

 
(450
)
Repurchase of shares of common stock
(400
)
 

 

 

 
(400
)
Dividends paid
(284
)
 

 

 

 
(284
)
Proceeds from stock options exercised
22

 

 

 

 
22

Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation

 
16

 

 

 
16

Deferred financing charges paid
(4
)
 

 

 

 
(4
)
Other, net

 
(3
)
 

 

 
(3
)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
(257
)
 
(412
)
 

 
66

 
(603
)
Cash and cash equivalents — net change from:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating, investing and financing activities

 
(384
)
 
46

 

 
(338
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

 
3

 

 
3

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 
641

 
60

 

 
701

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
$

 
$
257

 
$
109

 
$

 
$
366



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Table of Contents
DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)

24. Selected Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)
The following table summarizes the Company's information on net sales, gross profit, net income, earnings per share and other quarterly financial data by quarter for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. This data, with the exception of the common stock prices, was derived from the Company's unaudited consolidated financial statements (in millions, except per share data).
 
First
 
Second
 
Third
 
Fourth
For the Year Ended December 31,
Quarter
 
Quarter
 
Quarter
 
Quarter
2014
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net sales
$
1,398

 
$
1,631

 
$
1,583

 
$
1,509

Gross profit
844

 
966

 
925

 
895

Net income
155

 
210

 
188

 
150

Earnings per common share — basic
$
0.78

 
$
1.07

 
$
0.97

 
$
0.77

Earnings per common share — diluted
0.78

 
1.06

 
0.96

 
0.77

Dividend declared per share
0.41

 
0.41

 
0.41

 
0.41

Common stock price
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
High
$
54.46

 
$
60.22

 
$
65.32

 
$
74.00

Low
47.22

 
51.19

 
58.41

 
61.85

2013
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net sales
$
1,380

 
$
1,611

 
$
1,543

 
$
1,463

Gross profit
790

 
935

 
893

 
880

Net income
106

 
155

 
207

 
156

Earnings per common share — basic
$
0.52

 
$
0.76

 
$
1.02

 
$
0.78

Earnings per common share — diluted
0.51

 
0.76

 
1.01

 
0.78

Dividend declared per share
0.38

 
0.38

 
0.38

 
0.38

Common stock price
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
High
$
46.95

 
$
50.36

 
$
48.29

 
$
49.17

Low
42.47

 
44.98

 
44.31

 
43.38

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES 
Based on evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has concluded that, as of December 31, 2014, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to (i) provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the Exchange Act filings is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms, and (ii) ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act are accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

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MANAGEMENT'S ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING 
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Under the supervision of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. In making its assessment of internal control over financial reporting, management used criteria issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO") in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013). Based on that evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as of December 31, 2014. 
ATTESTATION REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM 
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014 has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their attestation report, which is included in Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data," of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 
CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING 
As of December 31, 2014, management has concluded that there have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during our fourth quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
Item 10. Directors. Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Information not disclosed below that is required with respect to directors, executive officers, filings under Section 16(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and corporate governance is incorporated herein by reference, when filed, from our proxy statement (the "Proxy Statement") for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on or about May 21, 2015, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
Information required to be set forth hereunder has been omitted and will be incorporated by reference, when filed, from our Proxy Statement.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Information required to be set forth hereunder has been omitted and will be incorporated by reference, when filed, from our Proxy Statement 
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Information required to be set forth hereunder has been omitted and will be incorporated by reference, when filed, from our Proxy Statement.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Information required to be set forth hereunder has been omitted and will be incorporated by reference, when filed, from our Proxy Statement.


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PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following financial statements are included in Part II, Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data," in this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012
SCHEDULES
Schedules are omitted because they are not required or applicable, or the required information is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or related notes.
EXHIBITS
See Index to Exhibits.


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EXHIBIT INDEX
2.1
Separation and Distribution Agreement between Cadbury Schweppes plc and Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. and, solely for certain provisions set forth therein, Cadbury plc, dated as of May 1, 2008 (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on May 5, 2008) and incorporated herein by reference).
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on May 12, 2008) and incorporated herein by reference).
3.2
Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. effective as of May 17, 2012 (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (filed July 26, 2012) and incorporated herein by reference).
3.3
Amended and Restated By-Laws of Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. effective as of September 17, 2014 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed September 17, 2014) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.1
Indenture, dated April 30, 2008, between Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on May 1, 2008) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.2
Form of 6.12% Senior Notes due 2013 (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on May 1, 2008) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.3
Form of 6.82% Senior Notes due 2018 (filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on May 1, 2008) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.4
Form of 7.45% Senior Notes due 2038 (filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on May 1, 2008) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.5
Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 30, 2008, between Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, UBS Securities LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Mitsubishi UFJ Securities International plc, Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC and TD Securities (USA) LLC (filed as Exhibit 4.5 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on May 1, 2008) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.6
Registration Rights Agreement Joinder, dated May 7, 2008, by the subsidiary guarantors named therein (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on May 12, 2008) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.7
Supplemental Indenture, dated May 7, 2008, among Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on May 12, 2008) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.8
Second Supplemental Indenture dated March 17, 2009, to be effective as of December 31, 2008, among Splash Transport, Inc., as a subsidiary guarantor, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.8 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K (filed on March 26, 2009) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.9
Third Supplemental Indenture, dated October 19, 2009, among 234DP Aviation, LLC, as a subsidiary guarantor; Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.9 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (filed November 5, 2009) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.10
Indenture, dated as of December 15, 2009, between Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on December 23, 2009) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.11
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 21, 2009, among Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on December 23, 2009) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.12
2.35% Senior Notes due 2012 (in global form), dated December 21, 2009, in the principal amount of $450 million (filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on December 23, 2009) and incorporated herein by reference.
4.13
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 11, 2011, among Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on January 11, 2011) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.14
2.90% Senior Note due 2016 (in global form), dated January 11, 2011, in the principal amount of $500 million (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on January 11, 2011) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.15
Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 15, 2011, among Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on November 15, 2011) and incorporated herein by reference).

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4.16
2.60% Senior Note due 2019 (in global form), dated November 15, 2011, in the principal amount of $250 million (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on November 15, 2011) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.17
3.20% Senior Note due 2021 (in global form), dated November 15, 2011, in the principal amount of $250 million (filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on November 15, 2011) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.18
Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 20, 2012, among Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on November 20, 2012) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.19
2.00% Senior Note due 2020 (in global form), dated November 20, 2012, in the principal amount of $250 million (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on November 20, 2012) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.20
2.70% Senior Note due 2022 (in global form), dated November 20, 2012, in the principal amount of $250 million (filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on November 20, 2012) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.1
Transition Services Agreement between Cadbury Schweppes plc and Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., dated as of May 1, 2008 (initially filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on May 5, 2008), refiled as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (filed on May 6, 2010) solely for the purpose of including previously omitted exhibits and incorporated herein by reference).
10.2
Tax Sharing and Indemnification Agreement between Cadbury Schweppes plc and Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. and, solely for the certain provision set forth therein, Cadbury plc, dated as of May 1, 2008 (initially filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (initially filed on May 5, 2008), refiled as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (filed on May 6, 2010) solely for the purpose of including previously omitted exhibits and incorporated herein by reference).
10.3
Employee Matters Agreement between Cadbury Schweppes plc and Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. and, solely for certain provisions set forth therein, Cadbury plc, dated as of May 1, 2008 (initially filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on May 5, 2008), refiled as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (filed on May 6, 2010) solely for the purpose of including previously omitted exhibits and incorporated herein by reference).
10.4
Agreement dated April 8, 2009, between The American Bottling Company and CROWN Cork & Seal USA, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (filed on May 13, 2009).
10.5
Form of Dr Pepper License Agreement for Bottles, Cans and Pre-mix (filed as Exhibit 10.9 to Amendment No. 2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 10 (filed on February 12, 2008) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.6
Form of Dr Pepper Fountain Concentrate Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.10 to Amendment No. 3 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 10 (filed on March 20, 2008) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.7
Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2007, between CBI Holdings Inc. (now known as DPS Holdings Inc.) and Larry D. Young (filed as Exhibit 10.11 to Amendment No. 2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 10 (filed on February 12, 2008) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.8
First Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement, effective as of February 11, 2009, between DPS Holdings, Inc. and Larry D. Young (filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on February 18, 2009) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.9
Second Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement, effective as of August 11, 2009, between DPS Holdings, Inc. and Larry D. Young (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (filed on August 13, 2009) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.10
Letter Agreement, effective as of November 23, 2008, between Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. and James J. Johnston (filed as Exhibit 10.20 to the Company's Form 10-K (filed on February 26, 2010) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.11
Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2007, between CBI Holdings Inc. (now known as DPS Holdings Inc.) and Lawrence Solomon (filed as Exhibit 10.23 to the Company's Form 10-K (filed on February 26, 2010) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.12
Letter Agreement, effective as of November 23, 2008, between Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. and Rodger L. Collins (filed as Exhibit 10.24 to the Company's Form 10-K (filed on February 26, 2010) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.13
Letter Agreement, effective as of April 1, 2010, between Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. and Martin M. Ellen (filed as Exhibit 10.25 to the Company's Form 10-K (filed on February 26, 2010) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.14
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan of 2008 (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on May 12, 2008) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.15
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on May 12, 2008) and incorporated herein by reference).

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10.16
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan of 2009 approved by the Stockholders on May 19, 2009 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed May 21, 2009) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.17
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. Management Incentive Plan of 2009 approved by the Stockholders on May 19, 2009, and re-approved by the Stockholders on May 16, 2013 (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed May 21, 2009) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.18
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement among Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., various lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, dated April 11, 2008 (filed as Exhibit 10.22 to Amendment No. 4 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 10 (filed on April 16, 2008) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.19
Guaranty Agreement, dated May 7, 2008, among the subsidiary guarantors named therein and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on May 12, 2008) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.20
Amendment No. 1 to Guaranty Agreement dated as of November 12, 2008, among Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., the subsidiary guarantors named therein and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (which amends the Guaranty Agreement, dated May 7, 2008, referred hereto as Exhibit 10.24) (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (filed on November 13, 2008) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.21
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. Change in Control Severance Plan adopted on February 11, 2009 (filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed February 18, 2009) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.22
First Amendment to the Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. Change in Control Severance Plan, effective as of February 24, 2010 (filed as Exhibit 10.40 to the Company's Form 10-K (filed on February 26, 2010) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.23
Letter Agreement, dated December 7, 2009, between Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. and PepsiCo, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on December 8, 2009) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.24
Letter Agreement, dated June 7, 2010, between Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on June 7, 2010) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.25
Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 4, 2010, by and among the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent for itself and on behalf of the Lenders (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on November 8, 2010) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.26
Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement between Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, dated as of December 10, 2010 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on December 13, 2010) and incorporated herein by reference). In accordance with Instruction 2 to Item 601 of Regulation S-K, the Company has filed only one Dealer Agreement, as the other Dealer Agreements are substantially identical in all material respects except as to the parties thereto and the notice provisions.
10.27
Credit Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2012, among the Company, the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto; JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent; Bank of America, N.A. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as Syndication Agents, and Branch Banking and Trust Company, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., Morgan Senior Funding, Inc., UBS Securities LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as Co-Documentation Agents (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on September 26, 2012) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.28
Underwriting Agreement dated November 13, 2012, among J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as joint book-running managers and on behalf of the other underwriters named therein, and Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (filed on November 14, 2012) and incorporated herein by reference.
10.29†
Agreement dated July 22, 2013, among The American Bottling Company, Mott's LLP and CROWN Cork & Seal USA, Inc., filed as Exhibit 10.29 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K (filed February 20, 2014) and incorporated herein by this reference.
10.30
First Amendment to Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan of 2009 approved by the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. on September 18, 2013 filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (filed on October 24, 2013) and incorporated herein by reference.
10.31
Non-Employee Director Deferral Plan approved by the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. on September 18, 2013 filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (filed on October 24, 2013) and incorporated herein by this reference.
10.32
Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2007, between CBI Holdings Inc. (now known as DPS Holdings Inc.) and Derry Hobson, filed as Exhibit 10.32 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K (filed February 20, 2014) and incorporated herein by this reference.
10.33
Amendment to Employment Agreement, effective as of February 11, 2009, between DPS Holdings, Inc. and Derry Hobson (filed as Exhibit 10.33 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K (filed February 20, 2014) and incorporated herein by this reference).

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10.34*
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan of 2009, as amended and approved by the Stockholders on May 15, 2014.
12.1*
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
14.1*
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. Code of Conduct approved by the Board of Directors on November 15, 2013.
21.1*
List of Subsidiaries (as of December 31, 2012)
23.1*
Consent of Deloitte and Touche LLP
31.1*
Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
31.2*
Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
32.1**
Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or 15d-14(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act, and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.
32.2**
Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or 15d-14(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act, and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.
101*
The following financial information from Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, (iii) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, (v) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, and (vi) the Notes to Audited Consolidated Financial Statements.
* Filed herewith.
† Portions of this Exhibit have been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of an application for confidential treatment pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 as amended.
** Furnished herewith.

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
 
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/  Martin M. Ellen
Date: February 19, 2015
 
Name:
Martin M. Ellen
 
 
Title:
Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
By:
 
/s/  Larry D. Young
Date: February 19, 2015
 
Name:
Larry D. Young
 
 
Title:
President, Chief Executive Officer and
Director
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/  Martin M. Ellen
Date: February 19, 2015
 
Name:
Martin M. Ellen
 
 
Title:
Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/  Angela A. Stephens
Date: February 19, 2015
 
Name:
Angela A. Stephens
 
 
Title:
Senior Vice President and Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/  Wayne R. Sanders
Date: February 19, 2015
 
Name:
Wayne R. Sanders
 
 
Title:
Chairman
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/  John L. Adams
Date: February 19, 2015
 
Name:
John L. Adams
 
 
Title:
Director
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/  David E. Alexander
Date: February 19, 2015
 
Name:
David E. Alexander
 
 
Title:
Director
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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By:
 
/s/  Antonio Carillo
Date: February 19, 2015
 
Name:
Antonio Carillo
 
 
Title:
Director
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/  Pamela H. Patsley
Date: February 19, 2015
 
Name:
Pamela H. Patsley
 
 
Title:
Director
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/  Joyce M. Roché
Date: February 19, 2015
 
Name:
Joyce M. Roché
 
 
Title:
Director
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/  Ronald G. Rogers
Date: February 19, 2015
 
Name:
Ronald G. Rogers
 
 
Title:
Director
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/  Dunia A. Shive
Date: February 19, 2015
 
Name:
Dunia A. Shive
 
 
Title:
Director
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/  M. Anne Szostak
Date: February 19, 2015
 
Name:
M. Anne Szostak
 
 
Title:
Director


122