Coca-Cola to revise executive pay plan after criticism

Coca-Cola is revising its pay plan for executives after shareholders including Warren Buffett expressed disapproval and called it excessive.

The world's largest beverage maker says its long-term incentive program will now distribute the company's shares to a smaller group of executives, while the rest will be rewarded with cash instead. That will mean the total shares authorized to be awarded under the plan will last longer.

The Atlanta-based company also said it would increase transparency about its equity awards and formalize its practice of share repurchases to keep stockholders' stakes from being diluted.

Coca-Cola's pay plan had come under scrutiny after Wintergreen Advisers took issue with it earlier this year, calling it a "raw deal" for shareholders. Buffett also said he discussed his concerns with Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent.