Kraft Heinz Reports Preliminary Financial Results for the First Half Of 2019

PITTSBURGH & CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 8, 2019-- The Kraft Heinz Company (Nasdaq: KHC) (“Kraft Heinz” or the “Company”) today reported preliminary financial results for the first half of 2019 that reflected lower net sales despite improving consumer takeaway trends in key markets, as well as the adverse impacts of ongoing cost inflation, greater investments, and higher depreciation and amortization expenses. Results also included preliminary non-cash impairment charges related to goodwill and intangible assets that more than offset a one-time gain on the sale of the Company's India nutritional beverages business.

“The level of decline we experienced in the first half of this year is nothing we should find acceptable moving forward," said Kraft Heinz CEO Miguel Patricio. "We have significant work ahead of us to set our strategic priorities and change the trajectory of our business. But in my short time with the company, I have developed a strong appreciation for the affinity consumers around the world continue to have for our brands, the talent and determination of our employees, as well as the commitment of our customers. We have a lot to work with and build upon, and our team is motivated by the opportunity to drive the next phase of growth and profitability for Kraft Heinz and our shareholders."

H1 2019 Financial Summary

For the six months ended June 29, 2019, net sales were $12.4 billion, down 4.8 percent versus the year-ago period, including an unfavorable 2.6 percentage point impact from currency and a net 0.7 percentage point negative impact from acquisitions and divestitures. Organic Net Sales⁽¹⁾ decreased 1.5 percent versus the year-ago period. Pricing was down 1.3 percentage points versus the prior year period, primarily reflecting unfavorable promotional timing in North America, as well as price reductions to reflect lower key commodity⁽²⁾ costs in the United States. This more than offset higher pricing in certain Rest of World markets. Volume/mix decreased 0.2 percentage points as unfavorable changes in retail inventory levels in North America and lower shipments in EMEA and Rest of World markets more than offset solid consumption growth in the United States and Canada.

In connection with the preparation of the first and second quarter financial statements, which occurred concurrently due to the delayed filing of the 2018 Form 10-K, the Company concluded that the fair values of certain goodwill and intangible assets were below their carrying amounts. As a result, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges⁽³⁾ to lower the carrying amount of goodwill in certain reporting units (EMEA East, Brazil, United States Refrigerated, and Latin America Exports) by approximately $744 million, primarily based on new five-year operating forecasts for several international businesses that establish revised expectations and priorities for the coming years in response to current market factors. In addition, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges⁽³⁾ of approximately $474 million to lower the carrying amount of certain intangible assets, primarily driven by the application of a higher discount rate to reflect the markets' perceived risk in the Company's valuation.

Net income attributable to common shareholders decreased to $854 million and diluted EPS decreased to $0.70, primarily reflecting a $0.89 negative impact from non-cash impairment charges, as well as lower Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA decreased 19.3 percent versus the year-ago period to $3.0 billion, including a negative 3.3 percentage point impact from currency. Excluding the impact of currency, the reduction in Adjusted EBITDA reflected lower organic net sales, higher supply chain costs, and spending behind strategic initiatives. Adjusted EPS decreased 23.8 percent to $1.44, as a combination of lower Adjusted EBITDA and higher depreciation and amortization expenses more than offset lower taxes on adjusted earnings versus the prior year period and higher other income.

H1 2019 Business Segment Highlights

United States

United States net sales were $8.7 billion, down 1.9 percent versus the year-ago period. Pricing decreased 1.8 percentage points, driven by a 0.9 percentage point unfavorable impact from promotional timing versus the prior year period, increased in-store activity behind Lunchables and certainfrozen food categories, as well asprice reductions to reflect lower key commodity⁽²⁾ costs in nuts, dairy and coffee. These factors more than offset price increases implemented in select categories, as well as higher commodity-driven prices in bacon. Volume/mix decreased 0.1 percentage points due to unfavorable changes in retail inventory levels and lower foodservice shipments that more than offset innovation-driven gains in frozen meals and dairy snacking, as well as underlying consumption growth across several areas including nuts, refrigerated meal combinations, and cream cheese.

United States Segment Adjusted EBITDA decreased 14.6 percent versus the year-ago period to $2.4 billion, due to lower net sales, cost inflation in procurement, manufacturing and logistics, as well as strategic investments in e-commerce, marketing and people.

Canada

Canada net sales were $1.0 billion, 3.6 percent lower than the year-ago period, including a negative 4.0 percentage point impact from currency. Organic Net Sales increased 0.4 percent versus the year-ago period. Pricing declined 2.3 percentage points, reflecting the timing of promotional costs versus the year-ago period and increased in-store activity to support summer programming. Volume/mix increased 2.7 percentage points as retail consumption growth of nearly 4.0 percent, driven by cheese, condiments and sauces, more than offset retailer inventory de-stocking.

Canada Segment Adjusted EBITDA decreased 14.1 percent versus the year-ago period to $264 million, including a negative 3.5 percentage point impact from currency, driven by the combination of lower pricing and higher input costs, including tariff-related cost increases.

EMEA

EMEA net sales were $1.3 billion, down 10.2 percent versus the year-ago period, including a negative 6.1 percentage point impact from currency and a negative 1.5 percentage point impact from the divestiture of a joint venture in South Africa. Organic Net Sales were 2.6 percent lower than the year-ago period. Pricing was down 0.1 percentage points as lower pricing in Italy infant nutrition as well as Russia offset higher pricing in the UK. Volume/mix declined 2.5 percentage points, driven by the adverse impact of extended retailer negotiations in Germany and France and, to a lesser extent, lower soup sales in the UK due to an exceptionally strong prior year comparison. These factors more than offset continued foodservice growth and consumption gains in condiments and sauces, particularly in the UK and the Netherlands.

In the first six months, EMEA Segment Adjusted EBITDA decreased 19.1 percent versus the year-ago period to $314 million, including a negative 5.3 percentage point impact from currency. Excluding the impact of currency, the reduction in Segment Adjusted EBITDA reflected a combination of higher supply chain costs that included adverse transactional currency impacts, lower Organic Net Sales, unfavorable pension and postretirement costs versus the prior year period, and investments in marketing and people.

Rest of World⁽⁴⁾

Rest of World net sales of $1.4 billion decreased 16.8 percent versus the year-ago period, including a negative 12.7 percentage point impact from currency and a 4.7 percentage point negative impact from the India nutritional beverages divestiture, net of gains from the Cerebos acquisition. Organic Net Sales increased 0.6 percent versus the year-ago period. Pricing increased 1.6 percentage points, primarily driven by higher pricing in Brazil. Volume/mix decreased 1.0 percentage points, as strong growth across several categories in Brazil was more than offset by lower shipments of infant nutrition products in China and declines in New Zealand.

Rest of World Segment Adjusted EBITDA decreased 43.0 percent versus the year-ago period to $203 million, which included a negative 26.3 percentage point impact from currency and an 11.1 percentage point impact from the divestiture of the Company's India nutritional beverages business. Excluding these factors, the decline in Segment Adjusted EBITDA reflected higher supply chain costs and lower sales in Asia Pacific.

End Notes

1. Organic Net Sales, Adjusted EBITDA, Constant Currency Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures. Please see discussion of non-GAAP financial measures and the reconciliations at the end of this press release for more information.
2. The Company's key commodities in the United States and Canada are dairy, meat, coffee and nuts.
3. Impairment charges for the first half of 2019 are preliminary and subject to finalization of control procedures.
4. Rest of World comprises two operating segments: Latin America and Asia Pacific.

Webcast, Conference Call, and Filing Information

A webcast of The Kraft Heinz Company's first half 2019 earnings conference call will be available at ir.kraftheinzcompany.com. The call begins today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

The Company is also filing a Form 12b-25 with the SEC today, disclosing that while the Company is unable to file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 29, 2019 (the “Q2 Form 10-Q”) by the prescribed due date, the Company expects to file the Q2 Form 10-Q on or before the fifth calendar day following the prescribed due date.

ABOUT THE KRAFT HEINZ COMPANY

For 150 years, we have produced some of the world’s most beloved products at The Kraft Heinz Company (Nasdaq: KHC). Our Vision is To Be the Best Food Company, Growing a Better World. We are one of the largest global food and beverage companies, with 2018 net sales of approximately $26 billion. Our portfolio is a diverse mix of iconic and emerging brands. As the guardians of these brands and the creators of innovative new products, we are dedicated to the sustainable health of our people and our planet. To learn more, visit www.kraftheinzcompany.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains a number of forward-looking statements. Words such as “commit,” “plan,” "believe," "anticipate," "reflect," "invest," "make," "expect," "deliver," “develop,” "drive," "assess," "evaluate," “establish,” “focus,” “build,” “turn,” “expand,” “leverage,” "grow," "remain," "will," and variations of such words and similar future or conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's plans, costs and cost savings, legal matters, taxes, expectations, investments, innovations, opportunities, capabilities, execution, initiatives, pipeline, and growth. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond the Company's control.

Important factors that may affect the Company's business and operations and that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, operating in a highly competitive industry; the Company’s ability to correctly predict, identify, and interpret changes in consumer preferences and demand, to offer new products to meet those changes, and to respond to competitive innovation; changes in the retail landscape or the loss of key retail customers; changes in the Company's relationships with significant customers, suppliers and other business relationships; the Company’s ability to maintain, extend, and expand its reputation and brand image; the Company’s ability to leverage its brand value to compete against private label products; the Company’s ability to drive revenue growth in its key product categories, increase its market share, or add products that are in faster-growing and more profitable categories; product recalls or product liability claims; unanticipated business disruptions; the Company’s ability to identify, complete or realize the benefits from strategic acquisitions, alliances, divestitures, joint ventures or other investments; the Company’s ability to realize the anticipated benefits from prior or future streamlining actions to reduce fixed costs, simplify or improve processes, and improve its competitiveness; the Company’s ability to successfully execute its strategic initiatives; the impacts of the Company’s international operations; economic and political conditions in the United States and in various other nations where the Company does business; changes in the Company’s management team or other key personnel and the Company’s ability to hire or retain key personnel or a highly skilled and diverse global workforce; risks associated with information technology and systems, including service interruptions, misappropriation of data or breaches of security; impacts of natural events in the locations in which we or the Company’s customers, suppliers, distributors, or regulators operate; the Company’s ownership structure; the Company’s indebtedness and ability to pay such indebtedness; additional impairments of the carrying amounts of goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangible assets; exchange rate fluctuations; volatility in commodity, energy, and other input costs; volatility in the market value of all or a portion of the derivatives we use; increased pension, labor and people-related expenses; compliance with laws, regulations, and related interpretations and related legal claims or other regulatory enforcement actions, , including additional risks and uncertainties related to the Company’s restatement and any potential actions resulting from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) ongoing investigation, as well as potential additional subpoenas, litigation, and regulatory proceedings; an inability to remediate the material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting or additional material weaknesses or other deficiencies in the future or the failure to maintain an effective system of internal controls; the Company’s failure to prepare and timely file its periodic reports; the restatement of certain of the Company’s previously issued consolidated financial statements, which resulted in unanticipated costs and may affect investor confidence and raise reputational issues; the Company’s ability to protect intellectual property rights; tax law changes or interpretations; the impact of future sales of the Company's common stock in the public markets; the Company’s ability to continue to pay a regular dividend and the amounts of any such dividends; volatility of capital markets and other macroeconomic factors; and other factors. For additional information on these and other factors that could affect the Company's forward-looking statements, see the Company's risk factors, as they may be amended from time to time, set forth in its filings with the SEC. The Company disclaims and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this press release, except as required by applicable law or regulation.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The non-GAAP financial measures provided should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, results prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) that are presented in this press release.

To supplement the financial information, the Company has presented Organic Net Sales, Adjusted EBITDA, Constant Currency Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EPS, which are considered non-GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP financial measures presented may differ from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures presented by other companies, and other companies may not define these non-GAAP financial measures in the same way. These measures are not substitutes for their comparable GAAP financial measures, such as net sales, net income/(loss), diluted earnings per share, or other measures prescribed by GAAP, and there are limitations to using non-GAAP financial measures.

Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to assist in comparing the Company's performance on a consistent basis for purposes of business decision making by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect the Company's underlying operations. Management believes that presenting the Company's non-GAAP financial measures (i.e., Organic Net Sales, Adjusted EBITDA, Constant Currency Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EPS) is useful to investors because it (i) provides investors with meaningful supplemental information regarding financial performance by excluding certain items, (ii) permits investors to view performance using the same tools that management uses to budget, make operating and strategic decisions, and evaluate historical performance, and (iii) otherwise provides supplemental information that may be useful to investors in evaluating the Company's results. The Company believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered together with the corresponding GAAP financial measures and the reconciliations to those measures, provides investors with additional understanding of the factors and trends affecting the Company's business than could be obtained absent these disclosures.

Organic Net Sales is defined as net sales excluding, when they occur, the impact of currency, acquisitions and divestitures, and a 53rd week of shipments. The Company calculates the impact of currency on net sales by holding exchange rates constant at the previous year's exchange rate, with the exception of Venezuela, for which the Company calculates the previous year's results using the current year's exchange rate. Organic Net Sales is a tool that can assist management and investors in comparing the Company's performance on a consistent basis by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect the Company's underlying operations.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income/(loss) from continuing operations before interest expense, other expense/(income), net, provision for/(benefit from) income taxes, and depreciation and amortization (excluding integration and restructuring expenses); in addition to these adjustments, the Company excludes, when they occur, the impacts of integration and restructuring expenses, deal costs, unrealized losses/(gains) on commodity hedges, impairment losses, losses/(gains) on the sale of a business, other losses/(gains) related to acquisitions and divestitures (e.g., tax and hedging impacts), nonmonetary currency devaluation (e.g., remeasurement gains and losses), and equity award compensation expense (excluding integration and restructuring expenses). The Company also presents Adjusted EBITDA on a constant currency basis. The Company calculates the impact of currency on Adjusted EBITDA by holding exchange rates constant at the previous year's exchange rate, with the exception of Venezuela, for which it calculates the previous year's results using the current year's exchange rate. Adjusted EBITDA and Constant Currency Adjusted EBITDA are tools that can assist management and investors in comparing the Company's performance on a consistent basis by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect the Company's underlying operations.

Adjusted EPS is defined as diluted earnings per share excluding, when they occur, the impacts of integration and restructuring expenses, deal costs, unrealized losses/(gains) on commodity hedges, impairment losses, losses/(gains) on the sale of a business, other losses/(gains) related to acquisitions and divestitures (e.g., tax and hedging impacts), nonmonetary currency devaluation (e.g., remeasurement gains and losses), and U.S. Tax Reform discrete income tax expense/(benefit), and including when they occur, adjustments to reflect preferred stock dividend payments on an accrual basis. The Company believes Adjusted EPS provides important comparability of underlying operating results, allowing investors and management to assess operating performance on a consistent basis.

See the attached schedules for supplemental financial data, which includes the financial information, the non-GAAP financial measures and corresponding reconciliations to the comparable GAAP financial measures for the relevant periods.

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Source: The Kraft Heinz Company

Michael Mullen (media)
Michael.Mullen@kraftheinz.com

Christopher Jakubik, CFA (investors)
ir@kraftheinz.com