Mondelez International Reports 2013 Results

13 Feb 2014 --- Mondelez International, Inc. reported 2013 results, in line with recent expectations. "In our first full year as a global snacking company, we delivered solid revenue growth and strong market share performance in the face of a significant slowdown in our categories as 2013 progressed," said Irene Rosenfeld, Chairman and CEO.

"At the same time, we accelerated investments in emerging markets, strengthened our balance sheet and returned $3.6 billion of cash to our shareholders. Nevertheless, we're disappointed that our results were below what we and our shareholders originally expected.

"We're committed to improving results in 2014 and beyond.  Specifically, we expect to grow organic revenue at or above our category growth rate, which we estimate at approximately 4 percent in 2014.  In addition, we remain focused on increasing efficiency and aggressively reducing costs in both our supply chain and overheads to deliver strong margin gains throughout the year.  Although we anticipate near-term economic conditions will remain challenging, the plans we are executing give us great confidence in our potential to significantly expand margins and deliver strong top-line growth in 2014 and the years ahead."

Full Year Results
Net revenues were $35.3 billion, up 0.8 percent.  Operating income increased 9.2 percent to $4.0 billion, while operating income margin was 11.2 percent.  Diluted EPS was $2.19, including $0.90 from discontinued operations reflecting the net gain from the resolution of the Starbucks arbitration3.

Organic Net Revenues increased 3.9 percent, driven by strong volume/mix of 3.4 percentage points as well as favorable pricing of 0.5 percentage points.  Lower coffee revenues, reflecting the pass-through of lower green coffee costs, tempered growth by 0.8 percentage points.  Market share performance was strong with nearly 70 percent of revenues gaining or holding share.

Revenues from emerging markets4 were up 8.8 percent, led by a nearly 10 percent gain in the BRIC markets5.  Developed markets6 increased 0.8 percent as growth in North America and Europe was partially offset by a mid-single digit decline in Asia Pacific.

Power Brands grew 6.5 percent.  Oreo, Tuc, Club Social, belVita and Barni biscuits, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Lacta chocolate and Tassimo coffee each posted double-digit increases.

Adjusted Operating Income increased 4.7 percent on a constant currency basis.  Volume/mix-driven gross profit growth was partially offset by increased investments in sales capabilities and route-to-market expansion as well as the net impact of one-time items7.  Adjusted Operating Income margin was 12.0 percent, down 0.2 percentage points, including a negative impact of 0.3 percentage points due to the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar.

Adjusted EPS was $1.51, including a negative $0.09 impact from currency.  On a constant currency basis, Adjusted EPS increased 13.5 percent, largely reflecting a positive impact of $0.07 from lower taxes and $0.04 from operating gains.

Free Cash Flow excluding items1 was $2.3 billion driven by earnings growth and working capital improvement.

Revision to Net Earnings and EPS
In the first nine months of 2013, the company incorrectly recorded certain non-cash, tax-related items.  The company has corrected the recording of these items, which reduced 2013 diluted EPS by $0.03 and Adjusted EPS by $0.02.  These corrections have been reflected as revisions to results for prior years8. 

Fourth Quarter Results
Net revenues were $9.5 billion, down 0.1 percent.  Operating income increased 5.3 percent to $1.0 billion, while operating income margin was 10.6 percent.  Diluted EPS was $1.00 including $0.91 from discontinued operations reflecting the net gain from the resolution of the Starbucks arbitration.

Organic Net Revenues increased 2.5 percent, nearly all due to volume/mix.  The pass-through of lower coffee commodity costs tempered growth by 0.7 percentage points.  Revenues from emerging markets increased 5.9 percent, led by low-teens growth in India and mid-to-high single digit growth in Russia and Brazil.  China declined double digits due to weak biscuit performance.  Developed markets were up 0.5 percent as growth in North America and Europe was mostly offset by a decline in Asia Pacific.  

Power Brands continued to grow faster than the company average, up 4.1 percent, led by Tuc, Club Social, belVita and Barni biscuits, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Lacta chocolate and Tassimo coffee.

Adjusted Operating Income increased 31.5 percent on a constant currency basis, reflecting overhead reductions, particularly in North America, Europe and corporate functions.  Other positive factors included the net impact of one-time items9 and volume/mix-driven gross profit gains.  Adjusted Operating Income margin was 13.9 percent, a sequential improvement from the previous quarter, and up 2.9 percentage points versus prior year.   

Adjusted EPS was $0.42, including a negative $0.02 impact from currency.  On a constant currency basis, Adjusted EPS increased 15.8 percent, mostly reflecting a $0.08 gain from operations.   Other positive impacts from gains on sales of property, shares outstanding and interest expense were offset by higher taxes.

Revenue Results by Region
Latin America:  Full year net revenues decreased 0.3 percent.  Organic Net Revenues grew 12.3 percent mostly driven by pricing, especially in the inflationary economies of Venezuela and Argentina.  Brazil grew double digits with a balanced contribution from volume/mix and pricing.  The region's Power Brands grew 13.1 percent, led by Club Social, Oreo and belVita biscuits, Lacta chocolate and Halls candy.

Fourth quarter net revenues decreased 4.5 percent.  Organic Net Revenues grew 10.4 percent as pricing in the inflationary economies of Venezuela and Argentina was slightly offset by lower volume/mix in those same geographies.  Brazil increased mid-single digits primarily through volume/mix gains.  The region's Power Brands grew 8.4 percent.

Asia Pacific:  Full year net revenues decreased 4.1 percent.  Organic Net Revenues increased 0.6 percent, as higher volume/mix was mostly offset by lower pricing.  India grew low-teens on strength in chocolate.  China was up slightly, reflecting weak biscuits results offset by strong performance in gum.   Increased promotional activity in Australia/New Zealand and soft gum performance in Japan also tempered revenue growth.  The region's Power Brands increased 6.5 percent driven by Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, Tang powdered beverages and Stride gum. 

Fourth quarter net revenues decreased 13.3 percent.  Organic Net Revenues were down 6.1 percent due to lower pricing across most of the region and unfavorable volume/mix in China.  China decreased mid-teens despite strong gum performance as distributors destocked excess biscuit inventory.  India was up low-teens as strong chocolate demand drove volume/mix gains.  Increased promotional activity in Australia/New Zealand was a key driver of the region's lower pricing contribution.  The region's Power Brands decreased 5.6 percent primarily due to Oreo biscuits in China. 

EEMEA:  Full year net revenues increased 4.8 percent.  Organic Net Revenues grew 9.2 percent, as strong volume/mix gains were partially offset by lower pricing, mostly from coffee in Eastern Europe.  Revenue growth was broad-based with double-digit gains in Russia, and strong growth in Egypt, West Africa, the GCC10 countries and Ukraine.  The region's Power Brands grew 13.6 percent, led by Cadbury Dairy Milk and Milka chocolate, Barni, Oreo, Tuc and belVita biscuits, Jacobs coffee and Tang powdered beverages.

Fourth quarter net revenues increased 2.9 percent.  Organic Net Revenues grew 8.2 percent, driven almost entirely by strong volume/mix gains.  Russia posted mid-to-high single digit growth driven by coffee and biscuits.  The region's Power Brands grew 11.4 percent.

Europe:  Full year net revenues increased 1.8 percent.  Organic Net Revenues increased 0.8 percent, as strong volume/mix gains, particularly in chocolate, coffee and biscuits were partially offset by lower pricing in coffee and soft performance in gum.  Lower coffee revenues tempered Europe's growth by 1.9 percentage points.  The region's Power Brands grew 3.6 percent, including double-digit growth in Oreo and chocobakery biscuits, Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate and Tassimo coffee.

Fourth quarter net revenues increased 4.8 percent.  Organic Net Revenues increased 1.0 percent, with continued volume/mix momentum in chocolate, coffee and biscuits.  These gains were partially offset by lower pricing in coffee and soft, but improved performance in gum.  Lower coffee revenues negatively affected the region's growth by 2.2 percentage points.  The region's Power Brands grew 3.0 percent.

North America:  Full year net revenues increased 1.3 percent.  Organic Net Revenues increased 2.9 percent, with strong biscuits and candy growth partially offset by lower gum revenues.  The region's Power Brands grew 3.9 percent fueled by double-digit growth in Oreo, Chips Ahoy! and belVita biscuits.

Fourth quarter net revenues increased 1.5 percent.  Organic Net Revenues increased 3.1 percent, driven by strong biscuits volume/mix gains.  As expected, gum revenues improved sequentially, but still declined mid-single digits, reflecting stabilization in market shares as most customer shelves have now been reset.  The region's Power Brands grew 4.5 percent.

Share Repurchases
During 2013, the company repurchased $2.7 billion of its common stock, including $1.5 billion from the accelerated share repurchase agreement, at an average price of $33.09 per share.

Outlook
"We expect organic revenues to grow approximately 4 percent in 2014, which is at or above the growth of our categories," said David Brearton, Executive Vice President and CFO.  "While economic conditions are likely to remain difficult, especially in emerging markets, we intend to leverage market share gains to offset potential volatility.

"Additionally, we expect to drive low double-digit growth in Adjusted Operating Income at constant currency, fueled by our focused efforts to reduce overheads, restructure our global supply chain and improve product mix, while continuing to invest in emerging markets.  We anticipate this increase will result in an Adjusted Operating Income margin in the high 12 percent range and be the primary lever in delivering Adjusted EPS of $1.73 to $1.7811, up double digits on a constant currency basis."