MillerCoors Reports Challenging Third Quarter

For the quarter, MillerCoors domestic sales-to-retailers (STRs) were down 2.0 percent, a slight improvement from the second quarter. Domestic sales-to-wholesalers (STWs) were down 4.7 percent. The STW decline was higher than the STR decline due to the timing of shipments year over year.

Nov 3 2011 --- SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company have reported that MillerCoors third quarter underlying net income, excluding special items, decreased 14.1 percent to $286.9 million versus the third quarter 2010, driven by a weak economy, low consumer spending and commodity inflation.

"Despite the toughest headwinds we've seen as a company, we slightly improved our sales to retailer trend this quarter versus last quarter and continued to deliver our cost savings commitments," said MillerCoors Chief Executive Officer Tom Long. "We remain focused on driving profitable top-line and share growth with a strong and steady commitment to our brands."

Key operating results for the third quarter are compared to the prior year comparable quarter and include MillerCoors operations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

For the quarter, MillerCoors domestic sales-to-retailers (STRs) were down 2.0 percent, a slight improvement from the second quarter. Domestic sales-to-wholesalers (STWs) were down 4.7 percent. The STW decline was higher than the STR decline due to the timing of shipments year over year.

Premium Light STRs were down low-single digits, as Coors Light grew low-single digits, Miller Lite declined mid-single digits and MGD 64 declined double digits.

Tenth and Blake Beer Company grew the MillerCoors Craft and Import portfolio by 17.2 percent in the quarter driven by double digit increases in Blue Moon and Leinenkugel's. The company continues to drive success with its innovative seasonal craft brand extensions, such as Blue Moon Summer Honey Wheat and Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy.  Peroni Nastro Azzurro also delivered good growth in the mid-single digits.

The Below Premium portfolio declined mid-single digits, as the company reduced price gaps between Premium and Below Premium beers.

The Premium Regular portfolio was down mid-single digits, with a double-digit decline by Miller Genuine Draft, partially offset by a mid-single-digit increase by Coors Banquet.

MillerCoors total net sales declined by 2.5 percent to $1.965 billion.

Domestic net producer revenue per barrel grew 1.8 percent primarily due to front line pricing and favorable brand mix.

Total company net producer revenue per barrel, including contract brewing and company-owned distributor sales, increased by 1.7 percent. Third-party contract brewing volumes were up by 1.0 percent.

Total COGS per barrel increased 3.2 percent driven by higher freight, fuel and packaging costs, an out-of-period depreciation charge of $5.2 million, as well as lower absorption of fixed-costs, partly offset by cost savings. 

Marketing, general and administrative costs increased 3.2 percent driven primarily by higher information system spending, an out-of-period depreciation charge of $7.3 million and higher marketing costs.

Depreciation and amortization expenses for MillerCoors in the third quarter were $87.0 million and additions to tangible and intangible assets totaled $62.2 million.

Special charges for the quarter were $110.9 million, which included a $60.0 million write-down in the value of the Sparks brand and a charge of $50.9 million related to the planned assumption of a multi-employer pension plan for brewery workers.

In the third quarter, $27 million of cost savings were realized driven by a variety of initiatives primarily within the integrated supply chain. Annualized cost savings realized since the inception of the joint venture total $192 million. Synergies remain at $546 million as the program completed at the end of the second quarter.

MillerCoors has delivered $738 million in total annualized synergies and cost savings since July 1, 2008, and now expects to deliver on its target of $750 million of total synergies and other cost savings by the end of 2011, a year earlier than originally planned.