US: "Missteps" in Brazil, Russia hit Mondelez Q3

DEERFIELD, Ill., Nov. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDLZ) today reported third quarter 2012 results.  

On Oct. 1, 2012, Mondelez International, formerly known as Kraft Foods Inc., completed the spin-off of its North American grocery business, Kraft Foods Group, Inc.  Beginning in the fourth quarter 2012, Kraft Foods Group's historical financial results for periods prior to Oct. 1, 2012, will be reflected in the company's financial statements as a discontinued operation.

Results Under the Kraft Foods Inc. Structure

• Net revenues declined 2.4% to $12.9 billion; Organic Net Revenues¹ increased 2.1%
• Operating income declined 2.7%; Adjusted Operating Income¹ increased 6.8%
• Diluted EPS was $0.36; Operating EPS¹ was $0.64, up 10.3%

On a reported basis, including Kraft Foods Group, net revenues were $12.9 billion, down 2.4 percent, including a 4.5 percentage point headwind from currency.  Organic Net Revenues increased 2.1 percent. 

Operating income was $1.7 billion, and operating income margin was 12.8 percent.  Adjusted Operating Income, which excludes Integration Program² costs, Restructuring Program³ costs and Spin-Off Costs⁴, grew 6.8 percent to $1.9 billion.  Adjusted Operating Income margin increased 1.3 percentage points to 15.0 percent. 

Diluted EPS was $0.36, while Operating EPS was $0.64, up 10.3 percent, or 15.5 percent on a constant currency basis.

Results for Mondelez International on an 
Adjusted Pro Forma Continuing Operations Basis

• Net revenues declined 5.1% to $8.3 billion; Organic Net Revenues⁵ increased 1.5%
• Operating income increased 2.2%, up 7.5% on a constant currency basis
• Diluted EPS declined 2.6% to $0.37, up 2.6% on a constant currency basis
• Company reaffirmed 2013 guidance of Organic Net Revenue growth at the low end of 5%-7% range, and Operating EPS of $1.50 to $1.55 based on average August 2012 foreign currency rates

The following discussion highlights standalone financial results for Mondelez International on an Adjusted Pro Forma continuing operations basis.  This reflects the spin-off and removal of the divested Kraft Foods Group business from all periods presented. It also includes the impacts of the following transactions as if they occurred at the beginning of the periods presented:  the transfer of certain North American benefit plan obligations to Kraft Foods Group; and the reduction of debt related to the completion of the spin-off capitalization plans. The Adjusted Pro Forma results exclude Spin-Off Costs, 2012-2014 Restructuring Program costs and Integration Program costs.  The company introduced Adjusted Pro Forma results of operations in a Form 8-K filing on October 5, 2012 to facilitate comparisons of past and future operating performance.

"As we expected, our top-line growth this quarter was modest," said Irene Rosenfeld, Chairman and CEO.  "This reflected the lapping of our exceptional performance in the third quarter last year and a lower contribution from pricing.  We also had some short-term executional missteps in a few key countries, but these issues should be largely resolved by the end of the year.  Growth in our core categories continues to be robust.  And we remain confident in our ability to deliver our 2013 and long-term targets."

Net revenues were $8.3 billion, down 5.1 percent, including a 6.6 percentage point headwind from currency.  Organic Net Revenues increased 1.5 percent despite lapping 9.4 percent growth in the prior year third quarter.  The increase was driven by 6 percent growth from global and regional Power Brands.  Favorable pricing of 2.2 percentage points was partially offset by 0.7 percentage points from lower volume/mix.  Through the first nine months of 2012, Organic Net Revenues increased 4.6 percent.

Operating income was $1.1 billion, up 2.2 percent, or 7.5 percent on a constant currency basis, as the effective management of input costs and lower SG&A more than offset the impact of lower volume/mix.   Operating income margin rose 0.9 percentage points to 13.1 percent.  Year-to-date, operating income grew 4.8 percent, or 9.3 percent on a constant currency basis, while operating income margin increased 0.9 percentage points to 12.7 percent.

Diluted EPS was $0.37, down 2.6 percent, including a $0.02 negative impact from currency.  On a constant currency basis, diluted EPS increased 2.6 percent in the third quarter and 7.8 percent year to date.  The increase was driven primarily by operating gains, mostly offset by an increase in taxes due to significant one-time benefits in the prior year.      

Mixed Results in Developing Markets
Developing Markets delivered modest organic revenue growth reflecting a difficult comparison to the prior year quarter as well as some executional issues in a few key markets. 

Net revenues in the third quarter decreased 6.0 percent, including a negative 7.7 percentage point impact from currency.  Organic Net Revenues⁶ grew 1.7 percent, with higher pricing partially offset by lower volume/mix.  The modest rise in Organic Net Revenue reflected difficult comparisons to the 15.5 percent growth generated in the prior year quarter, when many customers increased purchases ahead of announced price increases.  The region's Power Brands grew about 7 percent, led by Cadbury Dairy Milk, Lacta and Milka chocolate, and Oreo and Barni biscuits.

Revenue growth reflected mixed performance across the region.  Key markets such as China, India and the Middle East & Africa grew strongly, but this was tempered by weak results in Brazil and Russia due to short-term executional issues.  The company has taken actions to address these issues, and expects fourth quarter 2012 Organic Net Revenue in the region to grow high single digits.    

Segment operating income decreased 6.3 percent, including a negative 5.3 percentage point impact from currency.  Excluding currency, segment operating income was essentially flat as lower volume/mix largely offset the effective management of input costs.

Solid Performance in Europe 
Europe delivered solid results in a difficult environment through volume/mix gains and continued benefits from a focus on productivity and overhead reduction.    

Net revenues in the third quarter decreased 8.1 percent, including a negative 8.8 percentage point impact from currency.  Organic Net Revenues increased 0.7 percent, driven by solid volume/mix growth, particularly in chocolate and coffee.  The volume/mix gains in the quarter were consistent with the performance in the first half of the year.  These gains were partially offset by lower pricing, primarily in coffee.  The region's Power Brands grew 2 percent, led by Milka and Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, Oreo and belVita biscuits, the chocobakery platform and Tassimo beverages. 

Segment operating income decreased 0.8 percent, including an unfavorable 8.2 percentage point impact from currency.  Excluding currency, Europe's segment operating income grew mid-to-high single digits, and includes the favorable impact of a one-time item.

Strong Biscuit Growth Drove Gains in North America
Strong U.S. biscuit performance drove solid top- and bottom-line growth in North America. 

Net revenues in the third quarter increased 1.9 percent.  Organic Net Revenues⁷ grew 2.2 percent, driven by higher pricing, partially offset by lower volume/mix due to product pruning in Canada.  Biscuits in the U.S. increased mid-single-digits, reflecting the benefits of a more focused direct store delivery sales force.  Gum and candy was flat as double-digit growth in candy and the launch of Stride IDoffset weakness in other gum brands.  The region's Power Brands grew 9 percent, led by Honey Maid, Ritz, Triscuit and Oreo biscuits and Halls candy. 

Segment operating income increased 14.5 percent reflecting strong gains from pricing and productivity that more than offset a significant increase in advertising and consumer promotions support behind Power Brands. 

Outlook
"We remain confident in the 2013 guidance that we outlined in September," said David Brearton, Executive Vice President and CFO.  "As a result, we are reaffirming our 2013 Organic Net Revenue growth outlook to be at the low end of our long-term growth target of 5 to 7 percent, and Operating EPS¹ to be $1.50 to $1.55, based on average August 2012 foreign currency rates.  Using average foreign currency rates for October 2012, the company's 2013 Operating EPS guidance would be approximately 5 cents higher." 

Conference Call
Mondelez International will host a conference call for investors with accompanying slides to review its results at 5 p.m. EST today.  Access to a live audio webcast with accompanying slides is available at www.mondelezinternational.com, and a replay of the event will also be available on the company's web site.

About Mondelez International
Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDLZ) is a world leader in chocolate, biscuits, gum, candy, coffee and powdered beverages.  The company comprises the global snacking and food brands of the former Kraft Foods Inc. following the spin-off of its North American grocery operations in October 2012.  Mondelez International's portfolio includes several billion-dollar brands such asCadbury and Milka chocolate, Jacobs coffee, LU, Nabisco and Oreo biscuits, Tang powdered beverages and Trident gum. Mondelez International has annual revenue of approximately $36 billion and operations in more than 80 countries.  Visitwww.mondelezinternational.com and www.facebook.com/mondelezinternational.