Coke chief criticises US tax rules

[The Northerner]

Coca-Cola now sees the US becoming a less friendly business environment than China, its chief executive has revealed, citing political gridlock and an antiquated tax structure as reasons its home market has become less competitive.

Muhtar Kent, Coke’s chief executive, said “in many respects” it was easier doing business in China, comparing the country with a well-managed company. “You have a one-stop shop in terms of the Chinese foreign investment agency and local governments are fighting for investment with each other,” he told the Financial Times.

Mr Kent also pointed to Brazil as an example of an emerging economy that is making itself attractive to investment in ways that the US once did.

“They’re learning very fast, these countries,” he said. “In the west, we’re forgetting what really worked 20 years ago. In China and other markets around the world, you see the kind of attention to detail about how business works and how business creates employment.”

Read more: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/071f902c-e636-11e0-960c-00144feabdc0.html

[Rex]

1. If they move to china and ship that shit over here I won't drink

it, I hardly drink it now.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Hold it, thirty years ago

was a time when taxes were higher... not lower, and unions were stronger.

I agree with the President of Coke... let's go back to those golden years.

(I know he meant Reagan, but hell Ronnie did raise taxes, he also broke unions)

[DrunkenBoat]

4. facts don't matter to gangsters.

[DrunkenBoat]

3. take your shitty fizzy water & leave. it opens up the field to newcomers, you s.o.b.

i saw local soda pop being manufactured in small towns in europe, if they can do it so can we.

[Cirque du So-What]

5. Well, I'm adding Coca Cola to my 'do not buy' list

if their CEO is taking cues from Chinese companies on 'attention to detail.' The employment created by Chinese companies is not much of an improvement over slave labor, and it Kent wants to emulate that model, he can go peddle sugar water elsewhere.

[Owlet]

6. He's a living example of the American Dream

Bio here

While CEO of Coca-Cola in 2008, Muhtar Kent's earnings totalled $19,628,585, which included a base salary of $1,100,000, a cash bonus of $4,500,000, stocks granted of $2,999,975, and options granted of $10,280,428.

In 2010, Muhtar Kent made over $24.8 million, this included a base salary of $1.2 million, annual cash bonus of $6.5 million and other compensation totaling $738,000.

[LeftinOH]

7. It's sad times when gov't regulations stifle a struggling small business like Coca-Cola-

:sarcasm:

[Angry Dragon]

8. Coke ............. the un-American drink

time to boycott

Feel free Kent to move your family over to China and live the good life that you dream about

[City Lights]

9. Awwwww, poor Cokey-Cola.

:nopity:

[badtoworse]

10. He is 100 percent right

Add high energy costs, an out of control EPA and high labor costs and you have the perfect recipe for driving business away