UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark one)
☒ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018
OR
☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |
For the transition period from ___________ to ______________
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-16483
Mondelēz International, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Virginia | 52-2284372 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
Three Parkway North, Deerfield, Illinois | 60015 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 847-943-4000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Name of each exchange on which registered | |
Class A Common Stock, no par value | The Nasdaq Global Select Market | |
2.375% Notes due 2021 | New York Stock Exchange LLC | |
1.000% Notes due 2022 | New York Stock Exchange LLC | |
1.625% Notes due 2023 | New York Stock Exchange LLC | |
1.625% Notes due 2027 | New York Stock Exchange LLC | |
2.375% Notes due 2035 | New York Stock Exchange LLC | |
4.500% Notes due 2035 | New York Stock Exchange LLC | |
3.875% Notes due 2045 | New York Stock Exchange LLC | |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Note: Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from their obligations under those Sections.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☒ | Accelerated filer ☐ | |||||
Non-accelerated filer ☐ | Smaller reporting company ☐ | |||||
Emerging growth company ☐ | ||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of the shares of Class A Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, computed by reference to the closing price of such stock on June 30, 2018, was $59 billion. At February 1, 2019, there were 1,444,169,449 shares of the registrant’s Class A Common Stock outstanding.
Documents Incorporated by Reference
Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with its annual meeting of shareholders expected to be held on May 15, 2019 are incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.
Mondelēz International, Inc.
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In this report, for all periods presented, “we,” “us,” “our,” “the Company” and “Mondelēz International” refer to Mondelēz International, Inc. and subsidiaries. References to “Common Stock” refer to our Class A Common Stock.
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Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains a number of forward-looking statements. Words, and variations of words, such as “will,” “may,” “expect,” “would,” “could,” “might,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “likely,” “drive,” “seek,” “aim,” “potential,” “objective,” “project,” “outlook” and similar expressions are intended to identify our forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements about: our future performance, including our future revenue growth, profitability and earnings; our new strategic plan and our plan to accelerate consumer-centric growth, drive operational excellence and create a winning growth culture; our leadership position in snacking; our ability to meet consumer needs and demand and identify innovation and renovation opportunities; the results of driving operational excellence; price volatility and pricing actions; the cost environment and measures to address increased costs; our tax rate, tax positions, transition tax liability and the impact of U.S. tax reform on our future results; market share; the United Kingdom’s planned exit from the European Union and its impact on our results, including if the United Kingdom exits the European Union without an agreement; the costs of, timing of expenditures under and completion of our restructuring program; category growth; our effect on demand and our market position; consumer snacking behaviors; commodity prices and supply; investments; research, development and innovation; political and economic conditions and volatility; the effect of the imposition of increased or new tariffs, quotas, trade barriers or similar restrictions on our sales or key commodities and potential changes in U.S. trade programs, trade relations, regulations, taxes or fiscal policies; currency exchange rates, controls and restrictions and volatility in foreign currencies; the application of highly inflationary accounting for our Argentinian subsidiaries and the potential for and impacts from currency devaluation in other countries; our e-commerce channel strategies; manufacturing and distribution capacity; changes in laws and regulations, regulatory compliance and related costs; our ownership interest in Keurig Dr Pepper; matters related to the acquisition of a U.S. premium biscuit company and the acquisition of a biscuit operation in Vietnam; the outcome and effects on us of legal proceedings and government investigations; the estimated value of goodwill and intangible assets; amortization expense for intangible assets; impairment of goodwill and intangible assets and our projections of operating results and other factors that may affect our impairment testing; our accounting estimates and judgments and the impact of new accounting pronouncements; pension obligations, expenses, contributions and assumptions; employee benefit plan expenses, obligations and assumptions; compensation expense; sustainability initiatives; the Brazilian indirect tax matter; our liability related to our withdrawal from the Bakery and Confectionery Union and Industry International Pension Fund and timing of receipt of the assessment from the Fund; the impacts of the malware incident; our ability to prevent and respond to cybersecurity breaches and disruptions; our liquidity, funding sources and uses of funding, including our use of commercial paper; the planned phase out of London Interbank Offered Rates; interest expense; our risk management program, including the use of financial instruments and the impacts and effectiveness of our hedging activities; working capital; capital expenditures and funding; share repurchases; dividends; long-term value for our shareholders; compliance with financial and long-term debt covenants; guarantees; and our contractual obligations.
These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks from operating globally including in emerging markets; changes in currency exchange rates, controls and restrictions; continued volatility of commodity and other input costs; weakness in economic conditions; weakness in consumer spending; pricing actions; tax matters including changes in tax rates and laws, disagreements with taxing authorities and imposition of new taxes; use of information technology and third party service providers; unanticipated disruptions to our business, such as the malware incident, cyberattacks or other security breaches; competition; protection of our reputation and brand image; our ability to innovate and differentiate our products; the restructuring program and our other transformation initiatives not yielding the anticipated benefits; changes in the assumptions on which the restructuring program is based; management of our workforce; consolidation of retail customers and competition with retailer and other economy brands; changes in our relationships with suppliers or customers; legal, regulatory, tax or benefit law changes, claims or actions; strategic transactions; significant changes in valuation factors that may adversely affect our impairment testing of goodwill and intangible assets; perceived or actual product quality issues or product recalls; failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; volatility of and access to capital or other markets; pension costs; and our ability to protect our intellectual property and intangible assets. We disclaim and do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this report except as required by applicable law or regulation.
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PART I
Item 1. Business.
General
We are one of the world’s largest snack companies with global net revenues of $25.9 billion and net earnings of $3.4 billion in 2018. We make and sell primarily snacks, including biscuits (cookies, crackers and salted snacks), chocolate, gum & candy as well as various cheese & grocery and powdered beverage products. We have operations in more than 80 countries and sell our products in over 150 countries around the world. Our portfolio includes iconic snack brands such as Cadbury, Milka and Toblerone chocolate; Oreo, belVita and LU biscuits; Halls candy; Trident gum and Tang powdered beverages.
We are proud members of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, Standard and Poor’s 500 and Nasdaq 100. Our Common Stock trades on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “MDLZ.” Mondelēz International has been incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia since 2000.
Strategy
We aim to be the global leader in snacking by focusing on growth, execution and culture and leveraging our strong foundation of iconic global and local brands, an attractive global footprint, and deep innovation, marketing and distribution capabilities.
In September 2018, we announced our new strategic plan that builds on our strong foundations, including our unique portfolio of iconic global and local brands, our attractive global footprint, our market leadership in developed and emerging markets and our margin expansion in recent years that will allow us to make ongoing investments in our product portfolio.
Our plan to drive long-term growth includes three strategic priorities: accelerating consumer-centric growth, driving operational excellence and creating a winning growth culture.
• | Accelerate consumer-centric growth. As demands on consumers’ time increase and consumer eating habits evolve, we aim to meet consumers' needs for what they eat, why they buy and how and where they buy. We have developed a new approach, which we call demand spaces, to identify and address how consumers snack across different emotional or functional needs and occasions that we believe will allow us to meet consumer needs and identify innovation and renovation opportunities. We are also evolving our innovation approach to meet diverse, local consumer needs and we plan to test, learn and scale new product offerings quickly to meet evolving local and global snacking demand. We believe our greater understanding of consumers’ snacking needs will lead to meeting more of their needs and demand for snacks. |
• | Drive operational excellence. Over the last five years, we have driven productivity gains and cost improvements across our business and increased our operating margins as a result. We plan to continue to improve efficiency by leveraging our global shared services platform, driving greater efficiencies in our supply chain and continuing to utilize Zero-Based Budgeting (“ZBB”) across our operations. We plan to focus on continuous improvement with a special focus on the consumer-facing areas of our business such as sales, marketing and customer service. We expect the improvements and efficiencies we drive will provide funds for growth and continue to expand profit dollars. |
• | Build a winning growth culture. To support the acceleration of our growth, we are shifting toward a more agile, digital and local-first commercial focus. We are giving our local teams more autonomy to drive commercial and innovation plans as they are closer to the needs and desires of consumers. We will continue to leverage the efficiency and scale of our regional operating units while empowering our local commercial operations to respond faster to changing consumer preferences and capitalize on growth opportunities. Our digital transformation program will also help to enable consumer demand and sales opportunities. We believe these shifts will help drive profitable top-line growth. |
We run our business with a long-term perspective, and we believe the successful implementation of our strategic plan will drive top- and bottom-line growth and enable us to create long-term value for our shareholders.
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Operating Segments
Our operations and management structure are organized into four operating segments:
• | Latin America |
• | Asia, Middle East, and Africa (“AMEA”) |
• | Europe |
• | North America |
On October 1, 2016, we integrated our Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (“EEMEA”) operating segment into our Europe and Asia Pacific operating segments to further leverage and optimize the operating scale built within the Europe and Asia Pacific regions. Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Belarus, Georgia and Kazakhstan were combined within our Europe region, while the remaining Middle East and African countries were combined within our Asia Pacific region to form the AMEA operating segment. We have reflected the segment change as if it had occurred in all periods presented.
We manage our operations by region to leverage regional operating scale, manage different and changing business environments more effectively and pursue growth opportunities as they arise in our key markets. Our regional management teams have responsibility for the business, product categories and financial results in the regions.
We use segment operating income to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources. We believe it is appropriate to disclose this measure to help investors analyze segment performance and trends. For a definition and reconciliation of segment operating income to consolidated pre-tax earnings as well as other information on our segments, see Note 17, Segment Reporting.
Our segment net revenues for each of the last three years were:
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Net revenues: | |||||||||||
Latin America | $ | 3,202 | $ | 3,566 | $ | 3,392 | |||||
AMEA | 5,729 | 5,739 | 5,816 | ||||||||
Europe | 10,122 | 9,794 | 9,755 | ||||||||
North America | 6,885 | 6,797 | 6,960 | ||||||||
$ | 25,938 | $ | 25,896 | $ | 25,923 | ||||||
Our segment operating income for each of the last three years was:
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Segment operating income: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Latin America | $ | 410 | 11.1 | % | $ | 564 | 14.7 | % | $ | 272 | 8.8 | % | ||||||||
AMEA | 702 | 19.0 | % | 514 | 13.4 | % | 505 | 16.3 | % | |||||||||||
Europe | 1,734 | 46.9 | % | 1,610 | 42.0 | % | 1,198 | 38.5 | % | |||||||||||
North America | 849 | 23.0 | % | 1,144 | 29.9 | % | 1,128 | 36.4 | % | |||||||||||
$ | 3,695 | 100.0 | % | $ | 3,832 | 100.0 | % | $ | 3,103 | 100.0 | % | |||||||||
Please see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for items affecting the comparability of results and a review of our operating results.
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Our brands span five product categories:
• | Biscuits (including cookies, crackers and salted snacks) |
• | Chocolate |
• | Gum & candy |
• | Beverages |
• | Cheese & grocery |
During 2018, our segments contributed to our net revenues in the following product categories:
Percentage of 2018 Net Revenues by Product Category | ||||||||||||||||||
Segment | Biscuits | Chocolate | Gum & Candy | Beverages | Cheese & Grocery | Total | ||||||||||||
Latin America | 2.8 | % | 2.9 | % | 3.3 | % | 2.1 | % | 1.3 | % | 12.4 | % | ||||||
AMEA | 6.6 | % | 8.0 | % | 3.4 | % | 2.1 | % | 1.9 | % | 22.0 | % | ||||||
Europe | 12.1 | % | 19.6 | % | 2.8 | % | 0.4 | % | 4.2 | % | 39.1 | % | ||||||
North America | 21.6 | % | 1.0 | % | 3.9 | % | — | % | — | % | 26.5 | % | ||||||
43.1 | % | 31.5 | % | 13.4 | % | 4.6 | % | 7.4 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||||
Within our product categories, classes of products that contributed 10% or more to consolidated net revenues were:
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||
Biscuits - Cookies and crackers | 36 | % | 36 | % | 36 | % | ||
Chocolate - Tablets, bars and other | 32 | % | 31 | % | 30 | % | ||
Significant Divestitures and Acquisitions
For information on our significant divestitures and acquisitions, please refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions.
Customers
No single customer accounted for 10% or more of our net revenues from continuing operations in 2018. Our five largest customers accounted for 16.8% and our ten largest customers accounted for 23.0% of net revenues from continuing operations in 2018.
Seasonality
Demand for our products is generally balanced over the first three quarters of the year and increases in the fourth quarter primarily because of holidays and other seasonal events. Depending on when Easter falls, Easter holiday sales may shift between the first and second quarter. We build inventory based on expected demand and typically fill customer orders within a few days of receipt so the backlog of unfilled orders is not material. Funding for working capital items, including inventory and receivables, is normally sourced from operating cash flows and short-term commercial paper borrowings. For additional information on our liquidity, working capital management, cash flow and financing activities, see Liquidity and Capital Resources, Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, and Note 8, Debt and Borrowing Arrangements, appearing later in this 10-K filing.
Competition
We face competition in all aspects of our business. Competitors include large multinational as well as numerous local and regional companies. Some competitors have different profit objectives and investment time horizons than we do and therefore approach pricing and promotional decisions differently. We compete based on product quality, brand recognition and loyalty, service, product innovation, taste, convenience, nutritional value, the ability to identify and satisfy consumer preferences, effectiveness of digital and other sales and marketing, routes to market and distribution networks, promotional activity and price. Improving our market position or introducing a new product
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requires substantial research, development, advertising and promotional expenditures. We believe these investments lead to better products for the consumer and support our growth and market position.
Distribution and Marketing
We generally sell our products to supermarket chains, wholesalers, supercenters, club stores, mass merchandisers, distributors, convenience stores, gasoline stations, drug stores, value stores and other retail food outlets. We distribute our products through direct store delivery, company-owned and satellite warehouses, distribution centers and other facilities. We use the services of independent sales offices and agents in some of our international locations.
Through our global e-commerce organization and capabilities, we pursue online growth with partners in key markets around the world, including both pure e-tailers and brick-and-mortar retailers. We continue to invest in both talent and digital capabilities. Our e-commerce channel strategies will play a critical role in our ambition to be the best snacking company in the world.
We conduct marketing efforts through three principal sets of activities: (i) consumer marketing and advertising including on-air, print, outdoor, digital and social media and other product promotions; (ii) consumer sales incentives such as coupons and rebates; and (iii) trade promotions to support price features, displays and other merchandising of our products by our customers.
Raw Materials and Packaging
We purchase and use large quantities of commodities, including cocoa, dairy, wheat, palm and other vegetable oils, sugar and other sweeteners, flavoring agents and nuts. In addition, we purchase and use significant quantities of packaging materials to package our products and natural gas, fuels and electricity for our factories and warehouses. We monitor worldwide supply, commodity cost and currency trends so we can cost-effectively secure ingredients, packaging and fuel required for production.
A number of external factors such as weather conditions, commodity market conditions, currency fluctuations and the effects of governmental agricultural or other programs affect the cost and availability of raw materials and agricultural materials used in our products. We address higher commodity costs and currency impacts primarily through hedging, higher pricing and manufacturing and overhead cost control. We use hedging techniques to limit the impact of fluctuations in the cost of our principal raw materials; however, we may not be able to fully hedge against commodity cost changes, and our hedging strategies may not protect us from increases in specific raw material costs.
While the costs of our principal raw materials fluctuate, we believe there will continue to be an adequate supply of the raw materials we use and that they will generally remain available from numerous sources. For additional information on our commodity costs, refer to the Commodity Trends section within Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Intellectual Property
Our intellectual property rights (including trademarks, patents, copyrights, registered designs, proprietary trade secrets, technology and know-how) are material to our business.
We own numerous trademarks and patents in many countries around the world. Depending on the country, trademarks remain valid for as long as they are in use or their registration status is maintained. Trademark registrations generally are for renewable, fixed terms. We also have patents for a number of current and potential products. Our patents cover inventions ranging from packaging techniques to processes relating to specific products and to the products themselves. Our issued patents extend for varying periods according to the date of patent application filing or grant and the legal term of patents in the various countries where patent protection is obtained. The actual protection afforded by a patent, which can vary from country to country, depends upon the type of patent, the scope of its coverage as determined by the patent office or courts in the country, and the availability of legal remedies in the country. While our patent portfolio is material to our business, the loss of one patent or a group of related patents would not have a material adverse effect on our business.
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From time to time, we grant third parties licenses to use one or more of our trademarks, patents and/or proprietary trade secrets in connection with the manufacture, sale or distribution of third party products. Similarly, we sell some products under brands, patents and/or proprietary trade secrets we license from third parties. In our agreement with Kraft Foods Group, Inc. (“Kraft Foods Group,” which is now part of The Kraft Heinz Company), we each granted the other party various licenses to use certain of our and their respective intellectual property rights in named jurisdictions following the spin-off of our North American grocery business.
Research and Development
We pursue four objectives in research and development: product safety and quality, growth through new products, superior consumer satisfaction and reduced costs. Our innovation efforts focus on anticipating consumer demands and adapting quickly to changing market trends. Well-being and healthy snacking are a significant focus of our current research and development initiatives. These initiatives aim to accelerate our growth and margins by addressing consumer needs and market trends and leveraging scalable innovation platforms and breakthrough technologies. We are in the process of completing a $65 million plan to build out and modernize our network of global research and development facilities. We celebrated the official opening of our Wroclaw, Poland technical center in 2017, and during 2018 we completed the modernization at the technical centers located at Suzhou, China; Jurong, Singapore and Thane, India. We are focusing our technical resources at eleven large locations to drive growth and innovation. Our network of technical centers enable greater effectiveness, improved efficiency and accelerated project delivery. These locations are in Curitiba, Brazil; Suzhou, China; Thane, India; Mexico City, Mexico; East Hanover, New Jersey; Wroclaw, Poland; Jurong, Singapore; Bournville, United Kingdom; Reading, United Kingdom; Saclay, France and Munich, Germany.
At December 31, 2018, we had approximately 2,400 scientists and engineers, of which 1,800 are primarily focused on research and development and the remainder are primarily focused on quality assurance and regulatory affairs. Our research and development expense was $362 million in 2018, $366 million in 2017 and $376 million in 2016.
Regulation
Our food products and ingredients are subject to local, national and multinational regulations related to labeling, health and nutrition claims, packaging, pricing, marketing and advertising, privacy and related areas. In addition, various jurisdictions regulate our operations by licensing and inspecting our manufacturing plants and facilities, enforcing standards for select food products, grading food products, and regulating trade practices related to the sale and pricing of our food products. Many of the food commodities we use in our operations are subject to government agricultural policy and intervention, and the scrutiny of human rights issues in industry supply chains has led to developing regulation in many countries. These policies have substantial effects on prices and supplies and are subject to periodic governmental and administrative review.
Examples of laws and regulations that affect our business include selective food taxes, labeling requirements such as front-of-pack labeling and nutrient profiling, marketing restrictions, potential withdrawal of trade concessions as dispute settlement retaliation and sanctions on sales or sourcing of raw materials. We will continue to monitor developments in laws and regulations. At this time, we do not expect the cost of complying with new laws and regulations will be material. Also refer to Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Currency Translation and Highly Inflationary Accounting, for additional information on government regulations and currency-related impacts on our operations in the United Kingdom, Argentina and other countries.
Environmental Regulation
Throughout the countries in which we do business, we are subject to local, national and multinational environmental laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. We have programs across our business units designed to meet applicable environmental compliance requirements. In the United States, the laws and regulations include the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. We track regulatory developments in various jurisdictions relating to the use of plastic in packaging materials and taxes linked to the costs of waste so that we can comply with evolving requirements. Based on information currently available, we believe that our compliance with environmental laws and regulations will not have a material effect on our financial results.
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Sustainability and Well-Being
A key strategic priority for us is to create a positive impact for people and our planet. Many of the challenges facing people and the planet are interrelated, so we design our core programs and initiatives holistically by working to reduce our environmental footprint, supporting farmers who grow our key ingredients, helping people to snack mindfully and investing in healthy lifestyle community programs through the Mondelēz International Foundation. We continue to leverage our global operating scale to secure sustainable raw materials and work with suppliers to drive meaningful social and environmental changes, focusing where we can make the greatest impact. For example, we launched our Cocoa Life program in 2012 and continue to invest up to $400 million through 2022 to build a sustainable cocoa supply. We are also improving sustainability in our wheat supply by working with farmers in North America and through our Harmony program in Europe.
Our 2020 sustainability goals aim to place us at the forefront in the fight against climate change with ambitious targets for an end-to-end approach to reduce our carbon footprint, including reducing our absolute CO2 emissions from manufacturing and addressing deforestation in key raw material supply chains. We are working to cut our absolute water footprint in manufacturing, focusing on priority sites where water is most scarce. We also continue to work on reducing waste in manufacturing and packaging.
Within well-being we are focused on mindful snacking to empower people to choose the right snack for the right moment. Expanding our portion control options - snacks that are 200 calories or less and are individually wrapped - enables people to enjoy the treats they love, become more mindful about what they eat and help manage their daily calories intake. At the end of 2017, our portion control options represented approximately 13% of revenue, becoming a meaningful segment of our portfolio. Mindful snacking is an important area of focus for us and aligns with our purpose to empower people to snack right.
The Governance, Membership and Public Affairs Committee of our Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing our Impact strategy. Our Impact goals are part of our strategic planning process, and therefore, progress and key activities are regularly reported to the Board of Directors and the business leadership teams. Climate change, CO2, energy, well-being and other sustainability matters are key focus areas in our strategy.
We have a robust Enterprise Risk Management ("ERM") process for identifying, measuring, monitoring and managing risks, with oversight by the Risk and Compliance Committee ("MRCC"), which reports annually to the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. The purpose of the MRCC is to oversee how we identify and assess the most significant inherent risks to our business so we may adequately mitigate them or monitor them across the Company. All identified risks are vetted by the MRCC and remain under the MRCC’s governance. Ownership of specific risks is assigned at the Mondelēz Leadership Team ("MLT") level (MLT members report directly to the CEO). As owners of each specific risk, MLT members are responsible for verifying that appropriate mitigation controls and monitoring systems are in place. The risk universe considered during this process is wide and varied. Climate change is included in this risk universe as well as other sustainability and well-being issues.
Our ERM methodology is governed by the MRCC and includes annual reviews with our four operating regions, considering Company-level risks by using information gathered at the asset level (regions, countries, individual facilities and separate business units). The resulting climate change, sustainability and well-being risks are captured as follows within the ERM framework: commodities, reputation and brand image, unanticipated business disruptions, changes in regulations and changes in consumer preferences.
In addition, we work with internal and external experts to review the impact of major societal issues on our business and to shape our strategic responses to them. Materials and processes that guide our assessment include our ERM process; analysis of stakeholder and regulatory issues; our total greenhouse gas, land and water footprint; proprietary consumer insight data; and publicly available data on societal issues, including statistics and reports from authorities, non-governmental organizations and peer companies.
We have been recognized for our ongoing economic, environmental and social contributions. Each year since we created Mondelēz International in 2012 we have been listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (“DJSI”) – World and North American Indices. The DJSI selects the top 10% of global companies and top 20% of North American companies based on an extensive review of financial and sustainability programs within each industry. We are at the 92nd percentile of our industry and achieved perfect scores in the areas of health & nutrition and addressing water-related risks.
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We also participate in CDP Climate and Water disclosures and continue to work to reduce our carbon and water footprints. From 2013 to 2017, we reported CO2 emission reductions from manufacturing of 10% and reduced incoming water usage by 25% in priority factories where water is most scarce. We are committed to continue this and other related work in the areas of sustainable resources and agriculture, well-being snacks, community partnerships and safety of our products and people.
Employees
We employed through our consolidated subsidiaries approximately 80,000 people worldwide at December 31, 2018 and approximately 83,000 at December 31, 2017. Employees represented by labor unions or workers’ councils represent approximately 60% of our 68,000 employees outside the United States and approximately 28% of our 12,000 U.S. employees. Our business units are subject to various local, national and multinational laws and regulations relating to their relationships with their employees. In accordance with European Union requirements, we also have established a European Workers Council composed of management and elected members of our workforce. We or our subsidiaries are a party to numerous collective bargaining agreements and we work to renegotiate these collective bargaining agreements on satisfactory terms when they expire.
International Operations
Based on where we sell our products, we generated 75.3% of our 2018 net revenues, 75.8% of our 2017 net revenues and 75.6% of our 2016 net revenues from continuing operations outside the United States. We sell our products to consumers in over 150 countries. At December 31, 2018, we had operations in more than 80 countries and made our products at approximately 132 manufacturing and processing facilities in 52 countries. Refer to Note 17, Segment Reporting, for additional information on our U.S. and non-U.S. operations. Refer to Item 2, Properties, for more information on our manufacturing and other facilities. Also, for a discussion of risks related to our operations outside the United States, see Item 1A, Risk Factors.
Executive Officers of the Registrant
The following are our executive officers as of February 8, 2019:
Name | Age | Title | ||
Dirk Van de Put | 58 | Chief Executive Officer | ||
Luca Zaramella | 49 | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||
Paulette Alviti | 48 | Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer | ||
Maurizio Brusadelli | 50 | Executive Vice President and President, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa | ||
Timothy P. Cofer | 50 | Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer | ||
Vinzenz P. Gruber | 53 | Executive Vice President and President, Europe | ||
Robin S. Hargrove | 53 | Executive Vice President, Research, Development, Quality & Innovation | ||
Alejandro R. Lorenzo | 47 | Executive Vice President and President, Latin America | ||
Daniel P. Myers | 63 | Executive Vice President, Integrated Supply Chain | ||
Gerhard W. Pleuhs | 62 | Executive Vice President and General Counsel | ||
Henry Glendon (Glen) Walter IV | 50 | Executive Vice President and President, North America | ||
Mr. Van de Put became Chief Executive Officer and a director in November 2017 and became Chairman of the Board of Directors in April 2018. He formerly served as President and Chief Executive Officer of McCain Foods Limited, a multinational frozen food provider, from July 2011 to November 2017 and as its Chief Operating Officer from May 2010 to July 2011. Mr. Van de Put served as President and Chief Executive Officer, Global Over-the-Counter, Consumer Health Division of Novartis AG, a global healthcare company, from 2009 to 2010. Prior to that, he worked for 24 years in a variety of leadership positions for several global food and beverage providers, including Danone SA, The Coca-Cola Company and Mars, Incorporated.
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Mr. Zaramella became Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in August 2018. He previously served as Senior Vice President Corporate Finance, CFO Commercial and Treasurer from June 2016 to July 2018. He also served as Interim Lead Finance North America from April to November 2017. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller from December 2014 to August 2016 and Senior Vice President, Finance of Mondelēz Europe from October 2011 to November 2014. Mr. Zaramella joined Mondelēz International in 1996.
Ms. Alviti became Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer in June 2018. Before joining Mondelēz International, Ms. Alviti served as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Foot Locker, Inc., a leading global retailer of athletically inspired shoes and apparel, from June 2013 to May 2018. Prior to that, Ms. Alviti spent 17 years at PepsiCo, Inc., a global snack and beverage company, in various leadership roles, including Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Asia, Middle East, Africa from March 2010 to May 2013.
Mr. Brusadelli became Executive Vice President and President, Asia Pacific in January 2016 and Executive Vice President and President, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa in October 2016. He previously served as President Biscuits Business, South East Asia, Japan and Sales Asia Pacific from September 2015 to December 2015, President Markets and Sales Asia Pacific from September 2014 to September 2015 and President United Kingdom, Ireland and Nordics from September 2012 to August 2014. Prior to that, Mr. Brusadelli held various positions of increasing responsibility. Mr. Brusadelli joined Mondelēz International in 1993.
Mr. Cofer became Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer in January 2016 and served as Interim President, North America from April to November 2017. Mr. Cofer served as Executive Vice President and President, Asia Pacific and EEMEA from September 2013 to December 2015 and Executive Vice President and President, Europe from August 2011 to September 2013. Prior to that, Mr. Cofer held various positions of increasing responsibility. Mr. Cofer joined Mondelēz International in 1992.
Mr. Gruber became Executive Vice President and President, Europe on January 1, 2019. He previously served as President, Western Europe from October 2016 to December 2018 and President, Chocolate, Europe from August 2011 to September 2016. Mr. Gruber was formerly employed by Mondelēz International, in various capacities, from 1989 until 2000 and resumed his employment in September 2007.
Mr. Hargrove became Executive Vice President, Research, Development, Quality and Innovation in April 2015. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President, Research, Development & Quality for Mondelēz Europe from January 2013 to March 2015. Before joining Mondelēz International, Mr. Hargrove worked at PepsiCo, Inc., a global snack and beverage company, for 19 years in a variety of leadership positions, most recently as Senior Vice President, Research and Development, Europe from December 2006 to December 2012.
Mr. Lorenzo became Executive Vice President and President, Latin America in January 2017. Mr. Lorenzo served as President, Global Biscuits Category from January 2015 to December 2016 and President, Brazil from September 2012 to December 2014. Prior to that, Mr. Lorenzo held various positions of increasing responsibility. Mr. Lorenzo joined Mondelēz International in 2003.
Mr. Myers became Executive Vice President, Integrated Supply Chain in September 2011. Prior to that, he worked for Procter & Gamble ("P&G"), a consumer products company, for 33 years in a variety of leadership positions, most recently serving as Vice President, Product Supply for P&G’s Global Hair Care business from September 2007 to August 2011.
Mr. Pleuhs became Executive Vice President and General Counsel in April 2012. In this role, Mr. Pleuhs oversees the legal, compliance, security, corporate and governance affairs functions within Mondelēz International. He has served in various positions of increasing responsibility since joining Mondelēz International in 1990. Mr. Pleuhs has a law degree from the University of Kiel, Germany and is licensed to practice law in Germany and admitted as house counsel in Illinois.
Mr. Walter became Executive Vice President and President, North America in November 2017. Before joining Mondelēz International, Mr. Walter worked at The Coca-Cola Company, a global beverage company, in a variety of leadership positions, most recently as Chief Executive Officer of Coca-Cola Industries China from February 2014 to October 2017 and President and Chief Operating Officer of Cola-Cola Refreshments in North America from January 2013 to February 2014.
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Ethics and Governance
We adopted the Mondelēz International Code of Conduct, which qualifies as a code of ethics under Item 406 of Regulation S-K. The code applies to all of our employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, and persons performing similar functions. Our code of ethics is available free of charge on our web site at www.mondelezinternational.com/investors/corporate-governance and will be provided free of charge to any shareholder submitting a written request to: Corporate Secretary, Mondelēz International, Inc., Three Parkway North, Deerfield, IL 60015. We will disclose any waiver we grant to an executive officer or director under our code of ethics, or certain amendments to the code of ethics, on our web site at www.mondelezinternational.com/investors/corporate-governance.
In addition, we adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, charters for each of the Board’s four standing committees and the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Non-Employee Directors. All of these materials are available on our web site at www.mondelezinternational.com/investors/corporate-governance and will be provided free of charge to any shareholder requesting a copy by writing to: Corporate Secretary, Mondelēz International, Inc., Three Parkway North, Deerfield, IL 60015.
Available Information
Our Internet address is www.mondelezinternational.com. Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are available free of charge as soon as possible after we electronically file them with, or furnish them to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). You can access our filings with the SEC by visiting ir.mondelezinternational.com/sec-filings. The information on our web site is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or incorporated into any other filings we make with the SEC.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
You should read the following risk factors carefully when evaluating our business and the forward-looking information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any of the following risks could materially and adversely affect our business, operating results, financial condition and the actual outcome of matters described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. While we believe we have identified and discussed below the key risk factors affecting our business, there may be additional risks and uncertainties that we do not presently know or that we do not currently believe to be significant that may adversely affect our business, performance or financial condition in the future.
We operate in a highly competitive industry and could be adversely affected if we do not effectively execute our strategy and timely respond to pricing and other competitive pressures.
The food and snacking industry is highly competitive. Our principal competitors include food, snack and beverage companies that operate in multiple geographic areas and numerous local and regional companies. If we do not effectively respond to challenges from our competitors, our business could be adversely affected.
Competitor and customer pressures require that we timely and effectively respond to new distribution channels and technological developments and may require that we reduce our prices. These pressures may also restrict our ability to increase prices in response to commodity and other cost increases. Failure to effectively and timely assess new or developing trends, technological advancements or changes in distribution methods and set proper pricing or effective trade incentives may negatively impact our operating results, achievement of our strategic and financial goals and our ability to capitalize on new revenue or value-producing opportunities. The rapid emergence of new distribution channels, such as e-commerce, may disrupt our current operations or strategies more quickly than we planned for, create consumer price deflation, alter the buying behavior of consumers or disrupt our retail customer relationships. We may need to increase or reallocate spending on existing and new distribution channels and technologies, marketing, advertising and new product innovation to protect or increase revenues, market share and brand significance. These expenditures may not be successful, including those related to our e-commerce and other technology-focused efforts, and might not result in trade and consumer acceptance of our efforts, which could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, if we reduce prices or our costs increase but we cannot increase sales volumes to offset those changes, then our financial condition and results of operations will suffer.
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In September 2018, we announced our new strategy, which focuses on accelerating consumer-centric and volume-driven growth, operational excellence driven by cost discipline and continuous operational improvement including in areas like sales execution, and building a winning growth culture with a “local first” commercial approach. If we do not achieve these objectives, effectively implement our strategy in a way that minimizes disruptions to our business or effectively adjust our culture to this change in strategy, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Maintaining and enhancing our reputation and brand image and health is essential to our business success.
Our success depends on our ability to maintain and enhance the health of our brands’ equity, launch our brands in new geographies, expand into new distribution platforms, including e-commerce, and evolve our brands with new product offerings that meet consumer expectations.
We seek to strengthen our brands through product renovation, innovation and marketing investments, including consumer-relevant advertising and consumer promotions. Failure to effectively address the continuing global focus on well-being, changing consumer acceptance of certain ingredients, nutritional expectations of our products, and the sustainability of our ingredients and our packaging could adversely affect our brands’ health. Increased attention from the media, shareholders, activists and other stakeholders in these areas as well as on the role of food marketing could adversely affect our brand image. Undue caution or inaction on our part in addressing these challenges and trends could weaken our competitive position. Such pressures could also lead to stricter regulations and increased focus on food and snacking marketing practices. Increased legal or regulatory restrictions on our labeling, advertising and consumer promotions, or our response to those restrictions, could limit our efforts to maintain, extend and expand our brands. Moreover, adverse publicity or regulatory or legal action against us on product quality and safety, where we manufacture our products, antitrust, bribery and corruption, or environmental risks or human and workplace rights across our supply chain could damage our reputation and brand health. Such actions could undermine our customers’ and shareholders’ confidence and reduce demand for our products, even if the regulatory or legal action is unfounded or these matters are immaterial to our operations. Our product sponsorship relationships, including those with celebrity spokespersons or group affiliations, could also subject us to negative publicity.
In addition, our success in maintaining and enhancing our brand image depends on our ability to anticipate change and adapt to a rapidly changing marketing and media environment, including our increasing reliance on social media and online, digital and mobile dissemination of marketing and advertising campaigns and the increasing accessibility and speed of dissemination of information. A variety of legal and regulatory restrictions limit how and to whom we market our products. These restrictions may limit our brand renovation, innovation and promotion plans, particularly as social media and the communications environment continue to evolve. Negative posts or comments about us or our brands on social media or web sites (whether factual or not) or security breaches related to use of our social media and failure to respond effectively to these posts, comments or activities could damage our reputation and brand image across the various regions in which we operate. In addition, we might fail to invest sufficiently in maintaining, extending and expanding our brands, our marketing efforts might not achieve desired results and we might be required to recognize impairment charges on our brands or related intangible assets or goodwill. Furthermore, third parties may sell counterfeit or imitation versions of our products that are inferior or pose safety risks. If consumers confuse these counterfeit products for our products or have a bad experience with the counterfeit brand, they might refrain from purchasing our brands in the future, which could harm our brand image and sales. If we do not successfully maintain and enhance our reputation and brand health, then our brands, product sales, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
We must correctly predict, identify and interpret changes in consumer preferences and demand and offer new and improved products that meet those changes.
Consumer preferences for food and snacking products change continually. Our success depends on our ability to predict, identify and interpret the tastes, dietary habits, packaging, sales channel and other preferences of consumers around the world and to offer products that appeal to these preferences in the places and ways consumers want to shop. There may be shifts in the relative size of shopping channels in addition to the increasing role of e-commerce for consumers. Our success relies upon managing this complexity to bring our products to consumers effectively. Moreover, weak economic conditions, recession, equity market volatility or other factors, such as severe weather events, could affect consumer preferences and demand. If we do not offer products that
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appeal to consumers or if we misjudge consumer demand for our products, we will not be able to meet our growth targets, our sales and market share will decrease and our profitability could suffer.
We must distinguish between short-term fads and trends and long-term changes in consumer preferences. If we do not accurately predict which shifts in consumer preferences or category trends will be long-term, or if we fail to introduce new and improved products to satisfy those changing preferences, our sales could decline. In addition, because of our varied and geographically diverse consumer base, we must be responsive to local consumer needs, including with respect to when and how consumers snack and their desire for premium or value offerings, provide an array of products that satisfy the broad spectrum of consumer preferences and use data-driven marketing and advertising to reach consumers at the right time with the right message. If we fail to expand our product offerings successfully across product categories, rapidly develop products in faster growing and more profitable categories or reach consumers in efficient and effective ways leveraging data and analytics, demand for our products could decrease and our profitability could suffer.
Prolonged negative perceptions concerning the health, environmental and social implications of certain food products and ingredients could influence consumer preferences and acceptance of some of our products and marketing programs. For example, consumers have increasingly focused on well-being, including reducing sodium and added sugar consumption, as well as the source and authenticity of the foods they consume. Contemporizing our brand portfolio by developing more well-being products and refining their ingredient and nutrition profiles of existing products is critical to our growth. In addition, consumer preferences differ by region, and we must monitor and adjust our use of ingredients to respond to these regional preferences. We might be unsuccessful in our efforts to effectively respond to changing consumer preferences and social expectations. Continued negative perceptions and failure to satisfy consumer preferences could materially and adversely affect our reputation, product sales, financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to risks from operating globally.
We are a global company and generated 75.3% of our 2018 net revenues, 75.8% of our 2017 net revenues and 75.6% of our 2016 net revenues outside the United States. We manufacture and market our products in over 150 countries and have operations in more than 80 countries. Therefore, we are subject to risks inherent in global operations. Those risks include:
• | compliance with U.S. laws affecting operations outside of the United States, including anti-bribery laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”); |
• | the imposition of increased or new tariffs, quotas, trade barriers or similar restrictions on our sales or key commodities like cocoa, potential changes in U.S. trade programs and trade relations with other countries, or regulations, taxes or policies that might negatively affect our sales or profitability; |
• | compliance with antitrust and competition laws, trade laws, data privacy laws, anti-bribery laws, and a variety of other local, national and multinational regulations and laws in multiple regimes; |
• | currency devaluations or fluctuations in currency values, including in developing markets such as Argentina, Brazil, China, Mexico, Russia, Turkey, Egypt, Nigeria, Ukraine and South Africa as well as in developed markets such as the United Kingdom and other countries within the European Union. This includes events like applying highly inflationary accounting as we did for our Argentinean subsidiaries beginning in July 2018; |
• | changes in capital controls, including currency exchange controls, government currency policies such as demonetization in India or other limits on our ability to import raw materials or finished product into various countries or repatriate cash from outside the United States; |
• | increased sovereign risk, such as default by or deterioration in the economies and credit ratings of governments, particularly in our Latin America and AMEA regions; |
• | changes in local regulations and laws, the uncertainty of enforcement of remedies in non-U.S. jurisdictions, and foreign ownership restrictions and the potential for nationalization or expropriation of property or other resources; |
• | varying abilities to enforce intellectual property and contractual rights; |
• | discriminatory or conflicting fiscal policies; |
• | greater risk of uncollectible accounts and longer collection cycles; and |
• | design, implementation and use of effective control environment processes across our diverse operations and employee base. |
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In addition, political and economic changes or volatility, geopolitical regional conflicts, terrorist activity, political unrest, civil strife, acts of war, travel or immigration restrictions, public corruption, expropriation and other economic or political uncertainties, including inaccuracies in our assumptions about these factors, could interrupt and negatively affect our business operations or customer demand. High unemployment or the slowdown in economic growth in some markets could constrain consumer spending. Declining consumer purchasing power could result in loss of market share and adversely impact our profitability. Continued instability in the banking and governmental sectors of certain countries or the dynamics and uncertainties associated with the United Kingdom’s planned exit from the European Union (“Brexit”) could have a negative effect on our business. (See below and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Financial Outlook for more information on Brexit.)
All of these factors could result in increased costs or decreased revenues, and could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition, results of operations, and our relationships with customers, suppliers and employees in the short or long term.
Tax matters, including changes in tax laws and rates, disagreements with taxing authorities and imposition of new taxes, could adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.
In December 2017, the United States enacted tax reform legislation (“U.S. tax reform”). The legislation implements many new U.S. domestic and international tax provisions. Many aspects of U.S. tax reform remain unclear, and although additional clarifying guidance is expected to be issued (by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), the U.S. Treasury Department or via a technical correction law change), it may not be clarified for some time. In addition, a number of U.S. states have not yet updated their laws to take into account the new federal legislation. As a result, there may be further impacts of the new law on our results of operations and financial condition. It is possible that U.S. tax reform, or interpretations under it, could change and could have an adverse effect on us, and such effect could be material.
In addition, foreign jurisdictions may enact tax legislation that could significantly affect our ongoing operations. For example, foreign tax authorities could impose rate changes along with additional corporate tax provisions that would disallow or tax perceived base erosion or profit shifting payments or subject us to new types of taxes such as digital taxes. Aspects of U.S. tax reform may lead foreign jurisdictions to respond by enacting additional tax legislation that is unfavorable to us.
Adverse changes in the underlying profitability or financial outlook of our operations in several jurisdictions could lead to changes in the realizability of our deferred tax assets and result in a charge to our income tax provision. Additionally, changes in tax laws in the U.S. or in other countries where we have significant operations could materially affect deferred tax assets and liabilities and our income tax provision.
We are also subject to tax audits by governmental authorities. Although we believe our tax estimates are reasonable, if a taxing authority disagrees with the positions we have taken, we could face additional tax liabilities, including interest and penalties. Unexpected results from one or more such tax audits could significantly adversely affect our income tax provision and our results of operations.
Our operations in certain emerging markets expose us to political, economic and regulatory risks.
Our growth strategy depends in part on our ability to expand our operations in emerging markets, including among others Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Russia, Argentina, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and Ukraine. However, some emerging markets have greater political, economic and currency volatility and greater vulnerability to infrastructure and labor disruptions than more established markets. In many countries, particularly those with emerging economies, engaging in business practices prohibited by laws and regulations with extraterritorial reach, such as the FCPA and the U.K. Bribery Act, or local anti-bribery laws may be more common. These laws generally prohibit companies and their employees, contractors or agents from making improper payments to government officials, including in connection with obtaining permits or engaging in other actions necessary to do business. Failure to comply with these laws could subject us to civil and criminal penalties that could materially and adversely affect our reputation, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, competition in emerging markets is increasing as our competitors grow their global operations and low cost local manufacturers improve and expand their production capacities. Our success in emerging markets is critical to achieving our growth strategy. If we cannot successfully increase our business in emerging markets and
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manage associated political, economic and regulatory risks, our product sales, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Our use of information technology and third-party service providers exposes us to cybersecurity breaches and other business disruptions that could adversely affect us.
We use information technology and third party service providers to support our global business processes and activities, including supporting critical business operations such as manufacturing and distribution; communicating with our suppliers, customers and employees; maintaining effective accounting processes and financial and disclosure controls; executing mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions; conducting research and development activities; meeting regulatory, legal and tax requirements; and executing various digital marketing and consumer promotion activities. Global shared service centers managed by third parties provide an increasing amount of services important to conducting our business, including a number of accounting, internal control, human resources and computing functions.
Continuity of business applications and services has been, and may in the future be, disrupted by events such as infection by viruses or malware, including a malware incident in June 2017 that affected a significant portion of our global sales, distribution and financial networks (the “malware incident”) (see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Significant Items Affecting Comparability - Malware Incident); other cybersecurity attacks; issues with or errors in systems’ maintenance or security; power outages; hardware or software failures; denial of service attacks; telecommunication failures; natural disasters; terrorist attacks; and other catastrophic occurrences. Our use of new and emerging technologies such as cloud-based services and mobile applications continues to evolve, presenting new and additional risks in managing access to our data, relying on third-parties to manage and safeguard data, ensuring access to our systems and availability of third-party systems.
Cybersecurity breaches of our or third party systems, whether from circumvention of security systems, denial-of-service attacks or other cyberattacks such as hacking, phishing attacks, computer viruses, ransomware or malware, employee or insider error, malfeasance, social engineering, physical breaches or other actions may cause confidential information belonging to us or our employees, customers, consumers, partners, suppliers, or governmental or regulatory authorities to be misused or breached. When risks such as these materialize, the need for us to coordinate with various third-party service providers and for third party service providers to coordinate amongst themselves might increase challenges and costs to resolve related issues. Additionally, if new initiatives, such as those related to e-commerce and direct sales, increase the amount of confidential information that we process and maintain, it could increase our potential exposure from a cybersecurity breach. If our controls, disaster recovery and business continuity plans or those of our third-party providers do not effectively respond to or resolve the issues related to any such disruptions in a timely manner, our product sales, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected, and we might experience delays in reporting our financial results, loss of intellectual property and damage to our reputation or brands.
We continue to devote focused resources to network security, backup and disaster recovery, enhanced training and other security measures to protect our systems and data, such as advanced email protection to reduce the likelihood of credential thefts and electronic fraud attempts. We also focus on enhancing the monitoring and detection of threats in our environment, including but not limited to the manufacturing environment and operational technologies, as well as adjusting information security controls based on the updated threat. However, security measures cannot provide absolute security or guarantee that we will be successful in preventing or responding to every breach or disruption on a timely basis. Due to the constantly evolving and complex nature of security threats, we cannot predict the form and impact of any future incident, and the cost and operational expense of implementing, maintaining and enhancing protective measures to guard against increasingly complex and sophisticated cyber threats could increase significantly.
We regularly move data across national borders to conduct our operations, and we are subject to a variety of continuously evolving and developing laws and regulations in numerous jurisdictions regarding privacy, data protection and data security, including those related to the collection, storage, handling, use, disclosure, transfer and security of personal data. Privacy and data protection laws may be interpreted and applied differently from country to country and may create inconsistent or conflicting requirements. The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), which greatly increases the jurisdictional reach of European Union law and became effective in May 2018, adds a broad array of requirements for handling personal data including the public disclosure of significant data breaches, and imposes substantial penalties for non-compliance of up to the greater of
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€20 million or 4% of global annual revenue for the preceding financial year. Our efforts to comply with GDPR and other privacy and data protection laws may impose significant costs and challenges that are likely to increase over time, and we could incur substantial penalties or litigation related to violation of existing or future data privacy laws and regulations.
Unanticipated business disruptions could adversely affect our ability to provide our products to our customers.
We manufacture and source products and materials on a global scale. We utilize an integrated supply chain - a complex network of suppliers and material needs, owned manufacturing locations, co-manufacturing locations, distribution networks, shared service delivery centers and information systems that support our ability to provide our products to our customers consistently. Factors that are hard to predict or beyond our control, like weather (including any potential effects of climate change), natural disasters, supply and commodity shortages, fire, explosions, terrorism, political unrest, cybersecurity breaches, generalized labor unrest or health pandemics could damage or disrupt our operations or those of our suppliers, their suppliers or our co-manufacturers. If we do not effectively plan for and respond to disruptions in our operations, for example, by finding alternative suppliers or replacing capacity at key or sole manufacturing or distribution locations, or cannot quickly repair damage to our information, production or supply systems, we may be late in delivering or unable to deliver products to our customers such as occurred in connection with the malware incident (see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Significant Items Affecting Comparability - Malware Incident), and the quality and safety of our products might be negatively affected. If a material or extended disruption occurs, we may lose our customers’ or business partners’ confidence or suffer damage to our reputation, and long-term consumer demand for our products could decline. In addition, we might not have the functions, processes or organizational capability necessary to achieve on our anticipated timeframes our strategic ambition to reconfigure our supply chain and continue to drive efficiencies to fuel growth. Further, our ability to supply multiple markets with a streamlined manufacturing footprint may be negatively impacted by portfolio complexity, significant changes in trade policies, changes in volume produced and changes to regulatory restrictions or labor-related constraints on our ability to adjust production capacity in the markets in which we operate. These events could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to currency exchange rate fluctuations.
At December 31, 2018, we sold our products in over 150 countries and had operations in more than 80 countries. Consequently, a significant portion of our business is exposed to currency exchange rate fluctuations. Our financial results and capital ratios are sensitive to movements in currency exchange rates because a large portion of our assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses must be translated into U.S. dollars for reporting purposes or converted into U.S. dollars to service obligations such as our U.S. dollar-denominated indebtedness and to pay dividends to our shareholders. In addition, movements in currency exchange rates can affect transaction costs because we source product ingredients from various countries. We seek to mitigate our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations, primarily on cross-currency transactions, but our efforts may not be successful. We hedge a number of risks including exposures to foreign exchange rate movements and volatility of interest rates that could impact our future borrowing costs. Hedging of these risks could potentially subject us to counter-party credit risk. In addition, local economies, monetary policies and currency hedging availability can affect our ability to hedge against currency-related economic losses. We might not be able to successfully mitigate our exposure to currency risks due to factors such as continued global and local market volatility, actions by foreign governments, political uncertainty, inflation and limited hedging opportunities. Accordingly, changes in the currency exchange rates that we use to translate our results into U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes or for transactions involving multiple currencies could materially and adversely affect future demand for our products, our financial condition and results of operations, and our relationships with customers, suppliers and employees in the short or long-term.
Commodity and other input prices are volatile and may increase or decrease significantly or availability of commodities may become constrained.
We purchase and use large quantities of commodities, including cocoa, dairy, wheat, palm and other vegetable oils, sugar and other sweeteners, flavoring agents and nuts. In addition, we purchase and use significant quantities of product packaging materials, natural gas, fuel and electricity for our factories and warehouses, and we also incur expenses in connection with the transportation and delivery of our products. Prices for raw materials, other supplies and services and energy are volatile and can fluctuate due to conditions that are difficult to predict. These conditions include global competition for resources, currency fluctuations, geopolitical conditions or conflicts, tariffs
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or other trade barriers, severe weather, the potential longer-term consequences of climate change on agricultural productivity, crop disease or pests, water risk, health pandemics, consumer or industrial demand, and changes in governmental trade, alternative energy and agricultural programs. Increasing focus on climate change, deforestation, water, plastic waste, animal welfare and human rights concerns and other risks associated with the global food system may lead to increased government intervention and consumer or activist responses, and could adversely affect our or our suppliers’ reputation and business and our ability to procure the materials we need to operate our business. Some of the commodities we purchase are grown by smallholder farmers, and they might lack the capacity to invest to increase productivity or adapt to changing conditions. Although we monitor our exposure to commodity prices and hedge against input price increases, we cannot fully hedge against changes in commodity costs, and our hedging strategies may not protect us from increases in specific raw material costs. Continued volatility in the prices of commodities and other supplies we purchase or changes in the types of commodities we purchase as we continue to evolve our product and packaging portfolio could increase or decrease the costs of our products, and our profitability could suffer as a result. Moreover, increases in the price of our products, including increases to cover higher input, packaging and transportation costs, may result in lower sales volumes, while decreases in input costs could require us to lower our prices and thereby affect our revenues, profits or margins. Likewise, constraints in the supply or availability of key commodities, including necessary services such as transportation, may limit our ability to grow our net revenues and earnings. If our mitigation activities are not effective, if we are unable to price to cover increased costs or must reduce our prices, or if we are limited by supply or distribution constraints, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Complying with changes in and inconsistencies among laws and regulations in many countries in which we operate could increase our costs.
Our activities throughout the world are highly regulated and subject to government oversight. Various laws and regulations govern food production, packaging, storage, distribution, sales, advertising, labeling and marketing, as well as licensing, trade, labor, tax and environmental matters, privacy, and health and safety practices. Government authorities regularly change laws and regulations as well as their interpretations. Our compliance with new or revised laws and regulations or the interpretation and application of existing laws and regulations could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition and results of operations. For instance, our financial condition and results of operations could be negatively affected by the regulatory and economic impact of changes in taxation and trade relations among the United States and other countries, including a new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, China or changes in the European Union such as Brexit.
We continue to monitor Brexit and its potential impacts on our results of operations and financial condition. Volatility in foreign currencies is expected to continue as the United Kingdom executes its exit from the European Union. If the United Kingdom's membership in the European Union terminates in March 2019 without an agreement, there could be increased costs from re-imposition of tariffs on trade between the United Kingdom and European Union, shipping delays because of the need for customs inspections and procedures and shortages of certain goods. The United Kingdom will also need to negotiate its own tax and trade treaties with countries all over the world, which could take years to complete. This potential scenario is usually referred to as a “hard Brexit.” In the case of a hard Brexit, our exposure to disruptions to our supply chain, the imposition of tariffs and currency devaluation in the U.K. could result in a material impact to our consolidated revenue, earnings and cash flow. In 2018, we generated 8.6% of our net revenues in the United Kingdom and our supply chain in this market relies on imports of raw and packaging materials as well as finished goods. (See Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Financial Outlook for more information on Brexit.)
We may be unable to hire or retain and develop key personnel or a highly skilled and diverse global workforce or manage changes in our workforce.
We must hire, retain and develop effective leaders and a highly skilled and diverse global workforce. We compete to hire new personnel with a variety of capabilities in the many countries in which we manufacture and market our products and then to develop and retain their skills and competencies. Unplanned turnover, failure to attract and develop personnel with key emerging capabilities such as e-commerce and digital marketing skills, or failure to develop adequate succession plans for leadership positions or to hire and retain a workforce with the skills and in the locations we need to operate and grow our business could deplete our institutional knowledge base and erode our competitiveness. Changes in our operating model and business processes, including building a winning growth culture, implementing our “local first” commercial approach, utilizing our global shared services capability and reconfiguring our supply chain, could lead to operational challenges, increased competition for employees with the skills we require to achieve our business goals and higher employee turnover, including of employees with key
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capabilities. Failure to achieve a more diverse workforce and leadership team, compensate our employees competitively and fairly or maintain a safe and inclusive environment could affect our reputation and also result in lower performance and an inability to retain valuable employees.
We might be unable to manage appropriately changes in, or that affect, our workforce or satisfy the legal requirements associated with how we manage and compensate our employees. This includes our management of employees represented by labor unions or workers’ councils, who represent approximately 60% of our 68,000 employees outside the United States and approximately 28% of our 12,000 U.S. employees. Strikes, work stoppages or other forms of labor unrest by our employees or those of our suppliers or distributors, or situations like the renegotiation of collective bargaining agreements that expired in February 2016 and that cover eight U.S. facilities, could cause disruptions to our supply chain, manufacturing or distribution processes. Changes in immigration laws and policies, including in connection with Brexit, could also make it more difficult for us to recruit or relocate skilled employees.
These risks could materially and adversely affect our reputation, ability to meet the needs of our customers, product sales, financial condition and results of operations.
Our retail customers are consolidating and we must leverage our value proposition in order to compete against retailer and other economy brands.
Retail customers, such as supermarkets, discounters, e-commerce merchants, warehouse clubs and food distributors in the European Union, the United States and other major markets, continue to consolidate, form buying alliances or be acquired by new entrants in the food retail market, resulting in fewer, larger customers. Large retail customers and customer alliances can delist our products or reduce the shelf space allotted to our products and demand lower pricing, increased promotional programs or longer payment terms. Retail customers might also adopt these tactics in their dealings with us in response to the significant growth in online retailing for consumer products, which is outpacing the growth of traditional retail channels. The continued growth of e-commerce and the increasing prevalence of business-to-business e-commerce could lead to further consolidation as these new suppliers enhance their regional and local distribution networks in order to achieve national distribution capability. In addition, larger retail customers have the scale to develop supply chains that permit them to operate with reduced inventories or to develop and market their own retailer and other economy brands that compete with some of our products. Our products must provide higher quality or value to our consumers than the less expensive alternatives, particularly during periods of economic uncertainty. Consumers may not buy our products if consumers perceive little difference between the quality or value of our products and those of retailer or other economy brands. If consumers switch to purchasing or otherwise prefer the retailer or other economy brands, then we could lose market share or sales volumes, or we may need to shift our product mix to lower margin offerings.
Retail consolidation also increases the risk that adverse changes in our customers’ business operations or financial performance will have a corresponding material adverse effect on us. For example, if our customers cannot access sufficient funds or financing, then they may delay, decrease or cancel purchases of our products, or delay or fail to pay us for previous purchases.
If we do not effectively respond to retail consolidation, increasing retail power and competition from retailer and other economy brands, our reputation, brands, product sales, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
We are subject to changes in our relationships with significant customers, suppliers or distributors.
During 2018, our five largest customers accounted for 16.8% of our net revenues. There can be no assurance that our customers will continue to purchase our products in the same mix or quantities or on the same terms as in the past, particularly as increasingly powerful retailers continue to demand lower pricing and develop their own brands. The loss of or disruptions related to significant customers could result in a material reduction in sales or change in the mix of products we sell to a significant customer. This could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition and results of operations.
Additionally, disputes with significant suppliers or distributors, including disputes related to pricing or performance, could adversely affect our ability to supply or deliver products to our customers or operate our business and could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition and results of operations.
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We may decide or be required to recall products or be subjected to product liability claims.
We could decide, or laws or regulations could require us, to recall products due to suspected or confirmed deliberate or unintentional product contamination, including contamination of ingredients we use in our products that third parties supply, spoilage or other adulteration, product mislabeling or product tampering. In addition, if another company recalls or experiences negative publicity related to a product in a category in which we compete, consumers might reduce their overall consumption of products in this category. Any of these events could materially and adversely affect our reputation, brands, product sales, financial condition and results of operations.
We may also suffer losses if our products or operations or those of our suppliers violate applicable laws or regulations, or if our or our suppliers’ products cause injury, illness or death. In addition, our marketing could face claims of false or deceptive advertising or other criticism. A significant product liability or other legal judgment against us, a related regulatory enforcement action, a widespread product recall or attempts to manipulate us based on threats related to the safety of our products could materially and adversely affect our reputation and profitability. Moreover, even if a product liability, consumer fraud or other claim is unsuccessful, has no merit or is not pursued, the negative publicity surrounding assertions against our products or processes could materially and adversely affect our reputation, brands, product sales, product inventory, financial condition and results of operations.
We could be subject to legal or tax claims or other regulatory enforcement actions.
We are a large snack food company operating in highly regulated environments and constantly evolving legal, tax and regulatory frameworks around the world. Consequently, we are subject to greater risk of litigation, legal or tax claims, or other regulatory enforcement actions. There can be no assurance that our employees, contractors or agents will not violate policies and procedures we have implemented to promote compliance with existing laws and regulations. Moreover, a failure to maintain effective control environment processes, including in connection with our global shared services capability, could lead to violations, unintentional or otherwise, of laws and regulations. Litigation, legal or tax claims, or regulatory enforcement actions arising out of our failure or alleged failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations or controls, could subject us to civil and criminal penalties that could materially and adversely affect our reputation, product sales, financial condition and results of operations.
We may not successfully identify, complete or manage strategic transactions.
We regularly evaluate a variety of potential strategic transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, equity method investments and other strategic alliances that could further our strategic business objectives. We may not successfully identify, complete or manage the risks presented by these strategic transactions. Our success depends, in part, upon our ability to identify suitable transactions; negotiate favorable contractual terms; comply with applicable regulations and receive necessary consents, clearances and approvals (including regulatory and antitrust clearances and approvals); integrate or separate businesses; realize the full extent of the benefits, cost savings or synergies presented by strategic transactions; effectively implement control environment processes with employees joining us as a result of a transaction; minimize adverse effects on existing business relationships with suppliers and customers; achieve accurate estimates of fair value; minimize potential loss of customers or key employees; and minimize indemnities and potential disputes with buyers, sellers and strategic partners. In addition, execution or oversight of strategic transactions may result in the diversion of management attention from our existing business and may present financial, managerial and operational risks.
With respect to acquisitions and joint ventures in particular, we are also exposed to potential risks based on our ability to conform standards, controls, policies and procedures, and business cultures; consolidate and streamline operations and infrastructures; identify and eliminate, as appropriate, redundant and underperforming operations and assets; manage inefficiencies associated with the integration of operations; and coordinate timely and ongoing compliance with antitrust and competition laws in the United States, the European Union and other jurisdictions. Joint ventures and similar strategic alliances pose additional risks, as we share ownership in both public and private companies and in some cases management responsibilities with one or more other parties whose objectives for the alliance may diverge from ours over time, who may not have the same priorities, strategies or resources as we do, or whose interpretation of applicable policies may differ from our own. Transactions or ventures into which we enter might not meet our financial and non-financial control and compliance expectations or yield the anticipated benefits. Depending on the nature of the business ventures, including whether they operate globally, these ventures could also be subject to many of the same risks we are, including political, economic, regulatory and compliance risks, currency exchange rate fluctuations, and volatility of commodity and other input prices. Either partner might fail to
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recognize an alliance relationship that could expose the business to higher risk or make the venture not as productive as expected.
Furthermore, we may not be able to complete, on terms favorable to us, desired or proposed divestitures of businesses that do not meet our strategic objectives or our growth or profitability targets. Our divestiture activities, or related activities such as reorganizations, restructuring programs and transformation initiatives, may require us to recognize impairment charges or to take action to reduce costs that remain after we complete a divestiture. Gains or losses on the sales of, or lost operating income from, those businesses may also affect our profitability.
Any of these risks could materially and adversely affect our business, product sales, financial condition and results of operations.
We could fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting.
The accuracy of our financial reporting depends on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements and may not prevent or detect misstatements because of its inherent limitations. These limitations include, among others, the possibility of human error, inadequacy or circumvention of controls and fraud. If we do not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting or design and implement controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance with respect to the preparation and fair presentation of our financial statements, including in connection with controls executed for us by third parties, we might fail to timely detect any misappropriation of corporate assets or inappropriate allocation or use of funds and could be unable to file accurate financial reports on a timely basis. As a result, our reputation, results of operations and stock price could be materially adversely affected.
Weak financial performance, downgrades in our credit ratings, illiquid global capital markets and volatile global economic conditions could limit our access to the global capital markets, reduce our liquidity and increase our borrowing costs.
We access the long-term and short-term global capital markets to obtain financing. Our financial performance, our short-and long-term debt credit ratings, interest rates, the stability of financial institutions with which we partner, the liquidity of the overall global capital markets and the state of the global economy, including the food industry, could affect our access to, and the availability or cost of, financing on acceptable terms and conditions and our ability to pay dividends in the future. There can be no assurance that we will have access to the global capital markets on terms we find acceptable.
We regularly access the commercial paper markets in the United States and Europe for ongoing funding requirements. A downgrade in our credit ratings by a credit rating agency could increase our borrowing costs and adversely affect our ability to issue commercial paper. Disruptions in the global commercial paper market or other effects of volatile economic conditions on the global credit markets also could reduce the amount of commercial paper that we could issue and raise our borrowing costs for both short- and long-term debt offerings.
Limitations on our ability to access the global capital markets, a reduction in our liquidity or an increase in our borrowing costs could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Volatility in the equity markets, interest rates, our participation in multiemployer pension plans and other factors could increase our costs relating to our employees’ pensions.
We sponsor a number of defined benefit pension plans for our employees throughout the world and also contribute toward our employees’ pensions under defined benefit plans that we do not sponsor. At the end of 2018, the projected benefit obligation of the defined benefit pension plans we sponsor was $11.1 billion and plan assets were $10.0 billion.
For defined benefit pension plans that we maintain, the difference between plan obligations and assets, or the funded status of the plans, significantly affects the net periodic benefit costs of our pension plans and the ongoing funding requirements of those plans. Our largest funded defined benefit pension plans are funded with trust assets invested in a globally diversified portfolio of investments, including equities and corporate and government debt. Among other factors, changes in interest rates, mortality rates, early retirement rates, investment returns, funding requirements in the jurisdictions in which the plans operate and the market value of plan assets can affect the level
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of plan funding, cause volatility in the net periodic pension cost and increase our future funding requirements. Legislative and other governmental regulatory actions may also increase funding requirements for our pension plans’ benefits obligation. Volatility in the global capital markets may increase the risk that we will be required to make additional cash contributions to the pension plans and recognize further increases in our net periodic pension cost.
We also participate in multiemployer pension plans for certain U.S. represented employees. As a participating employer under multiemployer pension plans, we may owe more than the contributions we are required to make under the applicable collective bargaining agreements. For example, if we partially or completely withdraw from a multiemployer pension plan, we may be required to pay a partial or complete withdrawal liability. This withdrawal liability will generally increase if there is also a mass withdrawal of other participating employers or if the plan terminates. In the fourth quarter of 2018, we executed a complete withdrawal from the Bakery and Confectionery Union and Industry International Pension Fund (the “Fund”). We estimated a withdrawal liability of $573 million, which represents our best estimate of the withdrawal liability absent an assessment from the Fund. We anticipate receiving an assessment in 2019, and the ultimate withdrawal liability may change from the currently estimated amount. We expect to pay the liability over a period of 20 years from the date of the assessment. In 2018, we recorded a $423 million discounted liability and $6 million of accrued interest to date and related charges in earnings. See Note 10, Benefit Plans, to the consolidated financial statements for more information on our multiemployer pension plans.
A significant increase in our pension benefit obligations or funding requirements could curtail our ability to invest in the business and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our failure to protect our valuable intellectual property rights could reduce the value of our products and brands.
We consider our intellectual property rights, particularly and most notably our trademarks, but also our patents, trade secrets, copyrights and licensing agreements, to be a significant and valuable part of our business. We attempt to protect our intellectual property rights by taking advantage of a combination of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws in various countries, as well as licensing agreements, third party nondisclosure and assignment agreements and policing of third party misuses of our intellectual property. Our failure to obtain or adequately protect our intellectual property rights, or any change in law or other changes that serve to lessen or remove the current legal protections of our intellectual property, may diminish our competitiveness and could materially harm our business.
We may be unaware of third party claims of intellectual property infringement relating to our technology, brands or products. Any litigation regarding patents or other intellectual property could be costly and time-consuming and could divert management’s and other key personnel’s attention from our business operations. Third party claims of intellectual property infringement might require us to pay monetary damages or enter into costly license agreements. We also may be subject to injunctions against development and sale of certain of our products. Any of these occurrences could materially and adversely affect our reputation, ability to introduce new products or improve the quality of existing products, product sales, financial condition and results of operations.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
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Item 2. Properties.
On December 31, 2018, we had approximately 132 manufacturing and processing facilities in 52 countries and 123 distribution centers and depots worldwide. During 2018, we disposed of 6 manufacturing facilities mainly in business divestitures and we increased the number of distribution facilities by 15 primarily due to the addition of several small storage locations included within the distribution centers we own or lease. In addition to our owned or leased properties listed below, we also utilize a highly distributed network of warehouses and distribution centers that are owned or leased by third party logistics partners, contract manufacturers, co-packers or other strategic partners. We believe we have or will add sufficient capacity to meet our planned operating needs. It is our practice to maintain all of our plants and other facilities in good condition.
As of December 31, 2018 | |||||
Number of Manufacturing Facilities | Number of Distribution Facilities | ||||
Latin America (1) | 16 | 5 | |||
AMEA | 44 | 25 | |||
Europe | 57 | 36 | |||
North America | 15 | 57 | |||
Total | 132 | 123 | |||
Owned | 120 | 14 | |||
Leased | 12 | 109 | |||
Total | 132 | 123 | |||
(1) | Excludes our deconsolidated Venezuela operations. Refer to Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, for more information. |
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
Information regarding legal proceedings is available in Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies, to the consolidated financial statements in this report.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
We have listed our Common Stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “MDLZ.” At January 31, 2019, there were 47,950 holders of record of our Common Stock.
Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total Return
The following graph compares the cumulative total return on our Common Stock with the cumulative total return of the S&P 500 Index and the Mondelēz International performance peer group index. The graph assumes, in each case, that an initial investment of $100 is made at the beginning of the five-year period. The cumulative total return reflects market prices at the end of each year and the reinvestment of dividends each year.
As of December 31, | Mondelēz International | S&P 500 | Performance Peer Group | |||||||||
2013 | $ | 100.00 | $ | 100.00 | $ | 100.00 | ||||||
2014 | 104.58 | 113.69 | 107.71 | |||||||||
2015 | 131.14 | 115.26 | 110.52 | |||||||||
2016 | 131.88 | 129.05 | 113.80 | |||||||||
2017 | 129.80 | 157.22 | 132.10 | |||||||||
2018 | 124.26 | 150.33 | 124.28 | |||||||||
The Mondelēz International performance peer group consists of the following companies considered our market competitors or that have been selected on the basis of industry, global focus or industry leadership: Campbell Soup Company, The Coca-Cola Company, Colgate-Palmolive Company, Danone S.A., General Mills, Inc., The Hershey Company, Kellogg Company, The Kraft Heinz Company, Nestlé S.A., PepsiCo, Inc., The Procter & Gamble Company and Unilever PLC. The Kraft Heinz Company performance history is included for 2016 through 2018 only as the company was formed in 2015.
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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Our stock repurchase activity for each of the three months in the quarter ended December 31, 2018 was:
Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased (1) | Average Price Paid per Share (1) | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (2) | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (2) | ||||||||||
October 1-31, 2018 | 3,397,244 | $ | 41.72 | 3,346,525 | $ | 4,869 | ||||||||
November 1-30, 2018 | 3,416,398 | 43.97 | 3,369,178 | 4,721 | ||||||||||
December 1-31, 2018 | 1,587,127 | 44.24 | 1,585,745 | 4,650 | ||||||||||
For the Quarter Ended December 31, 2018 | 8,400,769 | 43.11 | 8,301,448 | |||||||||||
(1) | The total number of shares purchased (and the average price paid per share) reflects: (i) shares purchased pursuant to the repurchase program described in (2) below; and (ii) shares tendered to us by employees who used shares to exercise options and to pay the related taxes for grants of restricted stock and deferred stock units that vested, totaling 50,719 shares, 47,220 shares and 1,382 shares for the fiscal months of October, November and December 2018, respectively. |
(2) | Dollar values stated in millions. Our Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of $19.7 billion of our Common Stock through December 31, 2020. Specifically, on March 12, 2013, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to the lesser of 40 million shares or $1.2 billion of our Common Stock through March 12, 2016. On August 6, 2013, our Audit Committee, with authorization delegated from our Board of Directors, increased the repurchase program capacity to $6.0 billion of Common Stock repurchases and extended the expiration date to December 31, 2016. On December 3, 2013, our Board of Directors approved an increase of $1.7 billion to the program related to a new accelerated share repurchase program, which concluded in May 2014. On July 29, 2015, our Finance Committee, with authorization delegated from our Board of Directors, approved a $6.0 billion increase that raised the repurchase program capacity to $13.7 billion and extended the program through December 31, 2018. On January 31, 2018 our Finance Committee, with authorization delegated from our Board of Directors, approved an increase of $6.0 billion in the share repurchase program, raising the authorization to $19.7 billion of Common Stock repurchases, and extended the program through December 31, 2020. See related information in Note 12, Capital Stock. |
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Item 6. Selected Financial Data
Mondelēz International, Inc.
Selected Financial Data – Five Year Review (1)
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||
(in millions, except per share and employee data) | |||||||||||||||||||
Continuing Operations (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 25,938 | $ | 25,896 | $ | 25,923 | $ | 29,636 | $ | 34,244 | |||||||||
Earnings from continuing operations, net of taxes | 3,395 | 2,842 | 1,645 | 7,291 | 2,201 | ||||||||||||||
Net earnings attributable to Mondelēz International | 3,381 | 2,828 | 1,635 | 7,267 | 2,184 | ||||||||||||||
Per share, basic | 2.30 | 1.87 | 1.05 | 4.49 | 1.29 | ||||||||||||||
Per share, diluted | 2.28 | 1.85 | 1.04 | 4.44 | 1.28 | ||||||||||||||
Cash Flow and Financial Position (3) | |||||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 3,948 | 2,593 | 2,838 | 3,728 | 3,562 | ||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures | 1,095 | 1,014 | 1,224 | 1,514 | 1,642 | ||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 8,482 | 8,677 | 8,229 | 8,362 | 9,827 | ||||||||||||||
Total assets | 62,729 | 62,957 | 61,506 | 62,843 | 66,771 | ||||||||||||||
Long-term debt | 12,532 | 12,972 | 13,217 | 14,557 | 13,821 | ||||||||||||||
Total Mondelēz International shareholders’ equity | 25,637 | 25,994 | 25,141 | 28,012 | 27,750 | ||||||||||||||
Shares outstanding at year end (4) | 1,451 | 1,488 | 1,528 | 1,580 | 1,664 | ||||||||||||||
Per Share and Other Data | |||||||||||||||||||
Book value per shares outstanding | 17.67 | 17.47 | 16.45 | 17.73 | 16.68 | ||||||||||||||
Dividends declared per share (5) | 0.96 | 0.82 | 0.72 | 0.64 | 0.58 | ||||||||||||||
Common Stock closing price at year end | 40.03 | 42.80 | 44.33 | 44.84 | 36.33 | ||||||||||||||
Number of employees | 80,000 | 83,000 | 90,000 | 99,000 | 104,000 | ||||||||||||||
(1) | The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and Annual Reports on Form 10-K for earlier periods. During 2018, we moved to a quarter lag for recording Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. ("Keurig") and Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. ("KDP") results and we recast all prior periods since the inception of our investment in Keurig in 2016 on the same quarter lag basis - please see Note 6, Equity Method Investments, for more information. During 2018, we adopted the new Revenue Recognition accounting standard update and it did not have a material impact on any reported periods - see Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for more information. A significant portion of our business is exposed to currency exchange rate fluctuation as a large portion of our assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses must be translated into U.S. dollars for reporting purposes. Refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for a discussion of operating results on a constant currency basis where noted. |
(2) | Significant items impacting the comparability of our results from continuing operations include: Spin-Off Costs in 2014; the Simplify to Grow Program; the contribution of our global coffee businesses and investment in Jacobs Douwe Egberts ("JDE") and related gain in 2015; gain on equity method investment transactions in 2016-2018; other divestitures and sales of property in 2015-2018; acquisitions in 2015-2016 and 2018; the Cadbury acquisition-related Integration Program in 2014; losses on debt extinguishment in 2014-2018; unrealized gains on the coffee business transaction currency hedges in 2014-2015; debt tender offers completed in 2014-2016 and 2018; loss on deconsolidation of Venezuela in 2015; the remeasurement of net monetary assets in Venezuela in 2014-2015 and Argentina in 2018; accounting calendar changes in 2015; impairment charges related to intangible assets in 2014-2018; losses or gains related to interest rate swaps in 2015-2016 and 2018; impacts from the resolution of tax matters in 2017-2018; impacts from pension participation changes in 2018; CEO transition remuneration in 2017-2018; malware incident incremental expenses in 2017; and our provision for income taxes in all years, including the U.S. tax reform discrete net tax benefits or expenses in 2017-2018. Please refer to Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies; Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions; Note 5, Goodwill and Intangible Assets; Note 6, Equity Method Investments; Note 7, Restructuring Program; Note 8, Debt and Borrowing Arrangements; Note 9, Financial Instruments; Note 10, Benefit Plans; Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies; Note 15, Income Taxes; and Note 17, Segment Reporting and our Annual Reports on Form 10-K for earlier periods for additional information regarding items affecting comparability of our results from continuing operations. |
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(3) | Items impacting comparability primarily relate to the Keurig and JDE coffee business transactions in 2014-2016 and the loss on deconsolidation of Venezuela in 2015. Beginning in 2015, debt issuance costs related to recognized debt liabilities were recorded as a deduction from the related debt obligations instead of as long-term other assets on the consolidated balance sheet and we made this reclassification in the prior period presented for consistency. Please also refer to our previously filed Annual Reports on Form 10-K for additional information. |
(4) | Refer to Note 12, Capital Stock, for additional information on our share repurchase program activity. |
(5) | Refer to the Equity and Dividends section within Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for information on our dividends. |
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements. It should be read in conjunction with the other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in Forward-Looking Statements and Item 1A, Risk Factors.
Description of the Company
We make and sell primarily snacks, including biscuits (cookies, crackers and salted snacks), chocolate, gum & candy as well as various cheese & grocery and powdered beverage products. We have operations in more than 80 countries and sell our products in over 150 countries.
We aim to be the global leader in snacking. Our strategy is to drive long-term growth by focusing on three strategic priorities: accelerating consumer-centric growth, driving operational excellence and creating a winning growth culture. We believe the successful implementation of our strategic priorities and our leveraging our strong foundation of iconic global and local brands, an attractive global footprint, and deep innovation, marketing and distribution capabilities will drive top- and bottom-line growth, enabling us to continue to create long-term value for our shareholders.
Significant Items Affecting Comparability
Keurig Dr Pepper Transaction
On July 9, 2018, Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. ("Keurig") closed on its definitive merger agreement with Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., and formed Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (NYSE: "KDP"), a publicly traded company. Following the close of the transaction, our 24.2% investment in Keurig together with our shareholder loan receivable became a 13.8% investment in KDP. During the third quarter of 2018, we recorded a preliminary pre-tax gain of $757 million reported as a gain on equity method transaction and $184 million of deferred tax expense reported in the provision for income taxes (or $573 million after-tax gain) related to the change in our ownership interest while KDP finalized the valuation for the transaction. During our fourth quarter of 2018, KDP finalized its opening balance sheet and we increased our pre-tax gain by $21 million (or $13 million after tax) to $778 million (or $586 million after tax) for 2018. We hold two director positions on the KDP board as well as additional governance rights. As we continue to have significant influence, we continue to account for our investment in KDP under the equity method, resulting in recognizing our share of their earnings within our earnings and our share of their dividends within our cash flows. In connection with this transaction, we changed our accounting principle to reflect our share of Keurig's historical and KDP's ongoing earnings on a one-quarter lag basis while we continue to record dividends when cash is received. We determined a lag was preferable as it enables us to continue to report our quarterly and annual results on a timely basis and to record our share of KDP’s ongoing results once KDP has publicly reported its results. This change in accounting principle was applied retrospectively to all periods. While our operating income did not change, equity method investment net earnings, net earnings and earnings per share have been adjusted to reflect the lag across all reported periods. Refer to Note 6, Equity Method Investments, for additional information.
U.S. Tax Reform
On December 22, 2017, the United States enacted tax reform legislation ("U.S. tax reform") that included a broad range of business tax provisions, including but not limited to a reduction in the U.S. federal tax rate from 35% to 21% as well as provisions that limit or eliminate various deductions or credits. The legislation also causes U.S. allocated expenses (e.g. interest and general administrative expenses) to be taxed and imposes a new tax on U.S. cross-border payments. Furthermore, the legislation includes a one-time transition tax on accumulated foreign earnings and profits. While clarifying guidance was issued by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) during 2018, further tax guidance is expected during 2019.
Certain impacts of the new legislation would have generally required accounting to be completed and incorporated into our 2017 year-end financial statements, however in response to the complexities of this new legislation, the SEC issued guidance to provide companies with relief. The SEC provided up to a one-year window for companies to finalize the accounting for the impacts of this new legislation. We finalized our accounting for the new provisions during the fourth quarter of 2018.
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The 2018 impact from finalizing the accounting for the new provisions was a discrete net tax expense of $19 million. The $19 million expense in 2018 is primarily comprised of a $60 million expense related to finalizing the changes in our indefinite reinvestment assertion, partially offset by a $38 million decrease to the transition tax estimated as of December 31, 2017. Refer to Note 15, Income Taxes, for more information on the impact of U.S. tax reform.
Multiemployer Pension Plan Withdrawal
In the United States, we contribute to multiemployer pension plans based on obligations arising from our collective bargaining agreements. In 2017 and 2016, the only individually significant multiemployer plan we contributed to was the Bakery and Confectionery Union and Industry International Pension Fund (the “Fund”). Our obligation to contribute to the Fund arose with respect to 8 collective bargaining agreements covering most of our employees represented by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco and Grain Millers Union ("BCTGM"). All of those collective bargaining agreements expired in 2016.
In the fourth quarter of 2018, we executed a complete withdrawal from the Fund. We estimated a withdrawal liability of $573 million, which represents our best estimate of the withdrawal liability absent an assessment from the Fund. We anticipate receiving an assessment in 2019, and the ultimate withdrawal liability may change from the currently estimated amount. We will record any future adjustments in the period during which the liability is confirmed or as new information becomes available. We expect to pay the liability over a period of 20 years from the date of the assessment. During 2018, within our North America segment, we recorded a discounted liability and related charge of $423 million or $316 million net of tax. We determined the net present value of the liability using a risk-free interest rate. We recorded the pre-tax non-cash charges in selling, general and administrative expense (and in other non-cash items, net in the consolidated statement of cash flows) and the liability in long-term other liabilities. During 2018, we also recorded $6 million of accreted interest related to the long-term liability within interest and other expense, net.
Malware Incident
On June 27, 2017, a global malware incident impacted our business. The malware affected a significant portion of our global sales, distribution and financial networks. In the last four days of the second quarter and during the third quarter of 2017, we executed business continuity and contingency plans to contain the impact, minimize damages and restore our systems environment. To date, we have not found, nor do we expect to find, any instances of Company or personal data released externally. We have also restored our main operating systems and processes and enhanced our system security.
For the second quarter of 2017, we estimated that the malware incident had a negative impact of 2.3% on our net revenue growth and 2.4% on our Organic Net Revenue growth and we also incurred incremental expenses of $7 million as a result of the incident. We recognized the majority of delayed second quarter shipments in our third quarter 2017 results, although we permanently lost some revenue. On a 2017 full-year basis, we estimated the loss of revenue had a negative impact of 0.4% on our net revenue and Organic Net Revenue growth. We also incurred total incremental expenses of $84 million predominantly during the second half of 2017 as part of the recovery effort. The recovery from the incident was largely resolved by December 31, 2017 and we continued efforts to strengthen our security measures and enhance general information technology, business process and disclosure controls.
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Summary of Results
• | Net revenues were approximately $25.9 billion in both 2018 and 2017, an increase of 0.2% in 2018 and a decrease of 0.1% in 2017. In 2018, net revenues grew due to higher net pricing and favorable volume/mix. Net revenues were also positively affected by the acquisition of a U.S. premium biscuit company, Tate's Bake Shop, in 2018. Net revenue growth was negatively affected by the impact of unfavorable currency translation and the impact of several business divestitures that occurred in 2017 which reduced net revenues in 2018 as compared to the prior year. In 2017, net revenues declined driven by several business divestitures that occurred during the year, partially offset by favorable currency translation and the impact of a biscuit acquisition in 2016. |
• | Organic Net Revenue increased 2.4% to $26.2 billion in 2018 and increased 0.9% to $25.5 billion in 2017. In 2018, Organic Net Revenue increased as a result of higher net pricing and favorable volume/mix. In 2017, Organic Net Revenue increased as a result of higher net pricing partially offset by unfavorable volume/mix. Organic Net Revenue is on a constant currency basis and excludes revenue from divestitures and acquisitions. We use Organic Net Revenue as it provides improved year-over-year comparability of our underlying operating results (see the definition of Organic Net Revenue and our reconciliation with net revenues within Non-GAAP Financial Measures appearing later in this section). |
• | Diluted EPS attributable to Mondelēz International increased 23.2% to $2.28 in 2018 and increased 77.9% to $1.85 in 2017. Diluted EPS increased in 2018 primarily driven by the after-tax gain on the KDP transaction, favorable year-over-year change in mark-to-market impacts from currency and commodity derivatives, operating gains, lower costs incurred for the Simplify to Grow Program, lower shares outstanding, increased equity method investment earnings and lower taxes, partially offset by the impact from pension participation changes, lapping the benefit from the resolution of tax matters and lapping a prior-year net gain on divestitures. Diluted EPS increased in 2017 as prior-year refinancing and higher restructuring activities drove lower interest and overhead costs in 2017. We also recorded benefits from resolving two local indirect tax matters and gains from divesting non-core businesses during 2017. See our Discussion and Analysis of Historical Results appearing later in this section for further details. |
• | Adjusted EPS increased 13.6% to $2.43 in 2018 and increased 16.3% to $2.14 in 2017. On a constant currency basis, Adjusted EPS increased 15.0% to $2.46 in 2018 and increased 15.8% to $2.13 in 2017. For 2018, operating gains, lower shares outstanding, increased equity method investment earnings, lower taxes and lower interest drove the Adjusted EPS growth. For 2017, operating gains, lower interest expense, increased equity method investment earnings and lower shares outstanding were the significant drivers of Adjusted EPS growth. Adjusted EPS and Adjusted EPS on a constant currency basis are non-GAAP financial measures. We use these measures as they provide improved year-over-year comparability of our underlying results (see the definition of Adjusted EPS and our reconciliation with diluted EPS within Non-GAAP Financial Measures appearing later in this section). |
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Financial Outlook
We seek to achieve profitable, long-term growth and manage our business to attain this goal using our key operating metrics: Organic Net Revenue, Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted EPS. We use these non-GAAP financial metrics and related computations, particularly growth in profit dollars, to evaluate and manage our business and to plan and make near-and long-term operating and strategic decisions. As such, we believe these metrics are useful to investors as they provide supplemental information in addition to our U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”) financial results. We believe it is useful to provide investors with the same financial information that we use internally to make comparisons of our historical operating results, identify trends in our underlying operating results and evaluate our business. We believe our non-GAAP financial measures should always be considered in relation to our GAAP results. We have provided reconciliations between our GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures in Non-GAAP Financial Measures, which appears later in this section.
In addition to monitoring our key operating metrics, we monitor a number of developments and trends that could impact our revenue and profitability objectives.
Long-Term Demographics and Consumer Trends – Snack food consumption is highly correlated to GDP growth, urbanization of populations and rising discretionary income levels associated with a growing middle class, particularly in emerging markets. Over the long term, we expect these trends to continue leading to growth in consumer behaviors such as more frequent, smaller meals, snacking and greater use of convenience foods. We also recognize changing consumer trends such as the increased emphasis on well-being, time compression and wide participation across an evolving retail and digital landscape. To position ourselves for long-term growth, we are investing in our well-being and other snack offerings, product and marketing innovation and new routes to market including e-commerce.
Demand – We monitor consumer spending and our market share within the food and beverage categories in which we sell our products. In recent years, low GDP growth, economic recessionary pressures, weak consumer confidence, a historically strong U.S. dollar and changing consumer trends have slowed category growth. We have begun to see improvements in global economic growth and consumer confidence, however, there are still geopolitical and economic uncertainties that may affect category growth, Growth in our global snacking categories improved this year to approximately 2.7% in 2018, from 2.1% in 2017 and 2.3% in 2016. As part of our new strategic plan, we seek to drive category growth through leveraging our local-first commercial approach, making additional investments in our brand and snacks portfolio, building strong routes to market in both emerging and developed markets and improving our position across multiple channels. We believe these actions will help drive demand in our categories and strengthen our positions across markets.
Volatility of Global Markets – Our growth strategy depends in part on our ability to expand our operations, particularly in emerging markets. Some emerging markets have greater political, economic and currency volatility and greater vulnerability to infrastructure and labor disruptions. Volatility in these markets affects demand for and the costs of our products and requires frequent changes in how we operate our business. See below for a discussion of Brexit and Argentina, which was designated a highly inflationary economy in 2018. In addition, the imposition of increased or new tariffs, quotas, trade barriers or similar restrictions on our sales or key commodities and potential changes in U.S. trade programs, trade relations, regulations, taxes or fiscal policies might negatively affect our sales or profitability. To help mitigate adverse effects of ongoing volatility across markets, we aim to protect profitability through the management of costs (including hedging) and pricing as well as invest in our brands and new routes to market.
Competition – We operate in highly competitive markets that include global, regional and local competitors. Our advantaged geographic footprint, operating scale and portfolio of brands have all significantly contributed to building our market-leading positions across most of the product categories in which we sell. To grow and maintain our market positions, we focus on meeting consumer needs and preferences through a local-first commercial focus, new digital and other sales and marketing initiatives, agile product innovation and high standards of product quality. We also continue to optimize our manufacturing and other operations and invest in our brands through ongoing research and development, advertising, marketing and consumer promotions.
Pricing – Our net revenue growth and profitability may be affected as we adjust prices to address new conditions. We adjust our product prices based on a number of variables including demand, the competitive environment and changes in our product input costs. We generally have increased prices in response to higher commodity costs, currency and other market factors. In 2019, we anticipate changing market conditions to continue to impact pricing.
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Price changes may affect net revenues or market share in the near term as the market adjusts to changes in input costs and other market conditions.
Operating Costs – Our operating costs include raw materials, labor, selling, general and administrative expenses, taxes, currency impacts and financing costs. We manage these costs through cost saving and productivity initiatives, sourcing and hedging programs, pricing actions, refinancing and tax planning. To remain competitive on our operating structure, we continue to work on programs to expand our profitability, such as our Simplify to Grow Program, which is designed to bring about significant reductions in our operating cost structure in both our supply chain and overhead costs.
Multiemployer pension plan – In 2018, we executed a complete withdrawal from the Fund. We estimated a withdrawal liability of $573 million, which represents our best estimate of the withdrawal liability absent an assessment from the Fund. We anticipate receiving an assessment in 2019, and the ultimate withdrawal liability may change from the currently estimated amount. We will record any future adjustments in the period during which the liability is confirmed or as new information becomes available. We expect to pay the liability over a period of 20 years from the date of the assessment. During 2018, within our North America segment, we recorded a discounted liability and related charge of $423 million or $316 million net of tax.
Taxes – In December 2017, the United States enacted U.S. tax reform. The legislation implements many new U.S. domestic and international tax provisions. A year after enactment, some aspects of U.S. tax reform still remain unclear, and although additional clarifying guidance has been issued (by the IRS, and the U.S. Treasury Department), there are still some areas that may not be clarified for some time. Also, a number of U.S. states have not yet updated their laws to take into account the new federal legislation. As a result, there may be further impact of the new laws on our future results of operations and financial condition. It is possible that U.S. tax reform, or interpretations under it, could change and could have an adverse effect on us, and such effect could be material.
Currency – As a global company with 75.3% of our net revenues generated outside the United States, we are continually exposed to changes in global economic conditions and currency movements. While we hedge significant forecasted currency exchange transactions as well as currency translation impacts from certain net assets of our non-U.S. operations, including the United Kingdom, we cannot fully predict or eliminate all adverse impacts arising from changes in currency exchange rates on our consolidated financial results. To partially offset currency translation impacts arising from our overseas operations, we enter into net investment hedges primarily in the form of local currency-denominated debt and cross-currency swaps and other financial instruments. While we work to mitigate our exposure to currency risks, factors such as continued global and local market volatility, actions by foreign governments, political uncertainty, limited hedging opportunities and other factors could lead to unfavorable currency impacts in the future and could adversely affect our results of operations or financial position. See additional discussion of Brexit and Argentina below and refer also to Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Currency Translation and Highly Inflationary Accounting, and Note 9, Financial Instruments, for additional information on how we manage currency and related risks. As currency movements can make comparison of year-over-year operating performance challenging, we isolate the impact of currency and also report growth on a constant currency basis, holding prior-year currency exchange rates constant, so that prior-year and current-year results can be compared on a consistent basis.
Brexit – We continue to monitor Brexit and take protective measures in response to the potential impacts on our results of operations and financial condition. Our exposure to disruptions to our supply chain, the imposition of tariffs and currency devaluation in the United Kingdom could result in a material impact to our consolidated revenue, earnings and cash flow. In 2018, we generated 8.6% of our net revenues in the United Kingdom and our supply chain in this market relies on imports of raw and packaging materials as well as finished goods. Following the Brexit vote in June 2016, there was significant volatility in the global stock markets and currency exchange rates. The value of the British pound sterling relative to the U.S. dollar declined significantly and negatively affected our translated results reported in U.S. dollars. The volatility in foreign currencies is expected to continue as the United Kingdom executes its exit from the European Union. If the U.K.'s membership in the European Union terminates in March 2019 without an agreement (“hard Brexit”), there could be increased costs from re-imposition of tariffs on trade between the United Kingdom and European Union, shipping delays because of the need for customs inspections and procedures and shortages of certain goods. The United Kingdom will also need to negotiate its own tax and trade treaties with countries all over the world, which could take years to complete. If the ultimate terms of the U.K.’s separation from the European Union negatively impact the U.K. economy or result in disruptions to sales or our supply chain, the impact to our results of operations and financial condition could be material. We are taking measures to increase our resources in customer service & logistics together with increasing our inventory levels of
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imported raw materials, packaging and finished goods in the United Kingdom to help us manage through the Brexit transition and the inherent risks. Resulting impacts and market volatility can vary significantly depending on the final terms of the U.K.’s exit agreement from the European Union.
Argentina – as further discussed in Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Currency Translation and Highly Inflationary Accounting, on July 1, 2018, we began to apply highly inflationary accounting for our Argentinean subsidiaries. During 2018, we recorded an $11 million remeasurement loss in net earnings related to the devaluation of our Argentinean peso denominated net monetary assets from July 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018. The mix of monetary assets and liabilities and the exchange rate to convert Argentinean pesos to U.S. dollars could change over time, so it is difficult to predict the overall impact of the Argentina highly inflationary accounting on future net earnings.
Accounting Standards – We adopted a new lease accounting standard on January 1, 2019. The most significant impact is the initial recognition of operating lease Right of Use assets and lease liabilities on our balance sheet, while our accounting for finance leases (i.e. capital leases) remains substantially unchanged. Refer to Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, for more information on the estimated impact of the new lease accounting standard.
Financing Costs – We regularly evaluate our variable and fixed-rate debt. We continue to use low-cost, short- and long-term debt to finance our ongoing working capital, capital expenditures and other investments, dividends and share repurchases. Our weighted-average interest rate on our total debt as of December 31, 2018 was 2.3%, up from 2.1% as of December 31, 2017 and up from 2.2% as of December 31, 2016, primarily due to higher interest rates on commercial paper borrowings in 2018. We expect to use cash and proceeds from debt issuances to finance the $1.2 billion of remaining U.S. tax reform transition tax installments, payable through 2026, and the estimated $573 million multiemployer pension plan withdrawal liability payable over 20 years from the date of the final assessment from the Fund. We continue to use interest rate swaps and other financial instruments to manage our exposure to interest rate and cash flow variability, protect the value of our existing currency assets and liabilities and protect the value of our debt. We also enter into cross-currency interest rate swaps and forwards to hedge our non-U.S. net investments against adverse movements in exchange rates. In connection with the net investment hedge derivative contracts, we expect a favorable impact on our prospective financing costs as we reduce some of the financing costs and related currency impacts within our interest costs. Refer to Note 8, Debt and Borrowing Arrangements, and Note 9, Financial Instruments, for additional information on our debt and derivative activity.
Cybersecurity Risks – In 2017, the malware incident impacted our operating systems and results. We continue to devote focused resources to network security, backup and disaster recovery, enhanced training and other security measures to protect our systems and data. We also focus on enhancing the monitoring and detection of threats in our environment, including but not limited to the manufacturing environment and operational technologies, as well as adjusting information security controls based on updated threats. While we have taken a number of security measures to protect our systems and data, security measures cannot provide absolute certainty or guarantee that we will be successful in preventing or responding to every breach or disruption on a timely basis.
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Discussion and Analysis of Historical Results
Items Affecting Comparability of Financial Results
The following table includes significant income or (expense) items that affected the comparability of our results of operations and our effective tax rates. Please refer to the notes to the consolidated financial statements indicated below for more information. Refer also to the Consolidated Results of Operations – Net Earnings and Earnings per Share Attributable to Mondelēz International table for the after-tax per share impacts of these items.
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||
See Note | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||
(in millions, except percentages) | |||||||||||||
Gain on equity method investment transactions (1) | Note 6 | $ | 778 | $ | 40 | $ | 43 | ||||||
Simplify to Grow Program | Note 7 | ||||||||||||
Restructuring Charges | (316 | ) | (535 | ) | (714 | ) | |||||||
Implementation Charges | (315 | ) | (257 | ) | (372 | ) | |||||||
Gain/(loss) related to interest rate swaps | Note 8 & 9 | 10 | — | (97 | ) | ||||||||
Loss on debt extinguishment | Note 8 | (140 | ) | (11 | ) | (427 | ) | ||||||
Intangible asset impairment charges (2) | (68 | ) | (109 | ) | (137 | ) | |||||||
Remeasurement of net monetary position | (11 | ) | — | — | |||||||||
CEO transition remuneration (3) | (22 | ) | (14 | ) | — | ||||||||
Acquisition and divestiture-related costs | Note 2 | ||||||||||||
Gain on sale of intangible assets | — | — | 15 | ||||||||||
Acquisition-related costs | (13 | ) | — | (1 | ) | ||||||||
Other acquisition integration costs | (3 | ) | (3 | ) | (7 | ) | |||||||
Net gain on divestitures | — | 186 | 9 | ||||||||||
Divestiture-related costs | 1 | (34 | ) | (86 | ) | ||||||||
Gains on sales of property | — | — | 46 | ||||||||||
Mark-to-market gains/(losses) from derivatives | Note 9 | 142 | (96 | ) | (94 | ) | |||||||
Impact from resolution of tax matters | Note 13 | 11 | 281 | — | |||||||||
Impact from pension participation changes | Note 10 | (429 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Malware incident incremental expenses | — | (84 | ) | — | |||||||||
U.S. tax reform discrete net tax (expense)/benefit | Note 15 | (19 | ) | 44 | — | ||||||||
Effective tax rate | Note 15 | 27.2 | % | 21.3 | % | 7.8 | % | ||||||
(1) | The gain on equity method investment transactions is recorded outside pre-tax operating results on the consolidated statement of earnings. |
(2) | Refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 for more information on prior-year intangible asset impairment charges. |
(3) | Please see the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item for additional information. |
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Consolidated Results of Operations
The following discussion compares our consolidated results of operations for 2018 with 2017 and 2017 with 2016.
2018 compared with 2017
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | $ change | % change | |||||||||||
(in millions, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 25,938 | $ | 25,896 | $ | 42 | 0.2 | % | ||||||
Operating income | 3,312 | 3,462 | (150 | ) | (4.3 | )% | ||||||||
Earnings from continuing operations | 3,395 | 2,842 | 553 | 19.5 | % | |||||||||
Net earnings attributable to Mondelēz International | 3,381 | 2,828 | 553 | 19.6 | % | |||||||||
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Mondelēz International | 2.28 | 1.85 | 0.43 | 23.2 | % | |||||||||
Net Revenues – Net revenues increased $42 million (0.2%) to $25,938 million in 2018, and Organic Net Revenue (1) increased $603 million (2.4%) to $26,229 million. Power Brands net revenues increased 2.0%, including an unfavorable currency impact, and Power Brands Organic Net Revenue increased 3.2%. Emerging markets net revenues decreased 0.5%, including an unfavorable currency impact, and emerging markets Organic Net Revenue increased 5.7%. The underlying changes in net revenues and Organic Net Revenue are detailed below:
2018 | ||
Change in net revenues (by percentage point) | ||
Total change in net revenues | 0.2 | % |
Add back the following items affecting comparability: | ||
Unfavorable currency | 1.4 | pp |
Impact of acquisition | (0.2 | )pp |
Impact of divestitures | 1.0 | pp |
Total change in Organic Net Revenue (1) | 2.4 | % |
Higher net pricing | 1.3 | pp |
Favorable volume/mix | 1.1 | pp |
(1) | Please see the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item. |
Net revenue increase of 0.2% was driven by our underlying Organic Net Revenue growth of 2.4% and the impact of an acquisition, mostly offset by unfavorable currency and the impact of divestitures. Our underlying Organic Net Revenue growth was driven by higher net pricing and favorable volume/mix. Net pricing was up, which includes the benefit of carryover pricing from 2017 as well as the effects of input cost-driven pricing actions taken during 2018. Higher net pricing was reflected in Latin America, AMEA and North America, partially offset by lower net pricing in Europe. Favorable volume/mix was reflected in Europe and AMEA, partially offset by unfavorable volume/mix in Latin America and North America. The June 7, 2018 acquisition of a U.S. premium biscuit company, Tate’s Bake Shop, added net revenues of $52 million in 2018. Unfavorable currency impacts decreased net revenues by $343 million, due primarily to the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to several other currencies, including the Argentinean peso, Brazilian real, Russian ruble, Indian rupee and Turkish lira, partially offset by the strength of several currencies relative to the U.S. dollar, including the euro, British pound sterling and Chinese yuan. The impact of divestitures that occurred in 2017 resulted in a year-over-year decline in net revenues of $270 million. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for more information.
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Operating Income – Operating income decreased $150 million (4.3%) to $3,312 million in 2018, Adjusted Operating Income (1) increased $202 million (4.9%) to $4,321 million and Adjusted Operating Income on a constant currency basis (1) increased $257 million (6.2%) to $4,376 million due to the following:
Operating Income | Change | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Operating Income for the Year Ended December 31, 2017 | $ | 3,462 | |||||
Simplify to Grow Program (2) | 777 | ||||||
Intangible asset impairment charges (3) | 109 | ||||||
Mark-to-market losses from derivatives (4) | 96 | ||||||
Malware incident incremental expenses | 84 | ||||||
Acquisition integration costs (5) | 3 | ||||||
Divestiture-related costs (5) | 31 | ||||||
Operating income from divestitures (5) | (61 | ) | |||||
Net gain on divestitures (5) | (186 | ) | |||||
Impact from resolution of tax matters (6) | (209 | ) | |||||
CEO transition remuneration (1) | 14 | ||||||
Other/rounding | (1 | ) | |||||
Adjusted Operating Income (1) for the Year Ended December 31, 2017 | $ | 4,119 | |||||
Higher net pricing | 332 | ||||||
Higher input costs | (42 | ) | |||||
Favorable volume/mix | 43 | ||||||
Higher selling, general and administrative expenses | (83 | ) | |||||
VAT-related settlement in 2018 | 21 | ||||||
Property insurance recovery in 2017 | (27 | ) | |||||
Impact from acquisition (7) | 7 | ||||||
Other | 6 | ||||||
Total change in Adjusted Operating Income (constant currency) (1) | 257 | 6.2 | % | ||||
Unfavorable currency translation | (55 | ) | |||||
Total change in Adjusted Operating Income (1) | 202 | 4.9 | % | ||||
Adjusted Operating Income (1) for the Year Ended December 31, 2018 | $ | 4,321 | |||||
Simplify to Grow Program (2) | (626 | ) | |||||
Intangible asset impairment charges (3) | (68 | ) | |||||
Mark-to-market gains from derivatives (4) | 141 | ||||||
Acquisition integration costs (5) | (3 | ) | |||||
Acquisition-related costs (5) | (13 | ) | |||||
Divestiture-related costs (5) | 1 | ||||||
Remeasurement of net monetary position (8) | (11 | ) | |||||
Impact from pension participation changes (9) | (423 | ) | |||||
Impact from resolution of tax matters (6) | 15 | ||||||
CEO transition remuneration (1) | (22 | ) | |||||
Operating Income for the Year Ended December 31, 2018 | $ | 3,312 | (4.3 | )% | |||
(1) | Refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item. |
(2) | Refer to Note 7, Restructuring Program, for more information. |
(3) | Refer to Note 5, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, for more information on trademark impairments. |
(4) | Refer to Note 9, Financial Instruments, Note 17, Segment Reporting, and Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item for more information on the unrealized gains/losses on commodity and forecasted currency transaction derivatives. |
(5) | Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for more information on prior-year divestitures and the June 7, 2018 acquisition of Tate's Bake Shop and the 2016 acquisition of a biscuit business in Vietnam. |
(6) | Refer to Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies – Tax Matters, for more information. |
(7) | Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions - includes the impact from the June 7, 2018 acquisition of Tate's Bake Shop. |
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(8) | Refer to Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Currency Translation and Highly Inflationary Accounting, for information on our application of highly inflationary accounting for Argentina. |
(9) | Refer to Note 10, Benefit Plans, for more information. |
During 2018, we realized higher net pricing, which was partially offset by increased input costs. Higher net pricing, which included the carryover impact of pricing actions taken in 2017 as well as the effects of input cost-driven pricing actions taken during 2018, was reflected across all regions except Europe. The increase in input costs was driven by higher raw material costs, mostly offset by lower manufacturing costs due to productivity efforts. Higher raw material costs were primarily due to higher currency exchange transaction costs on imported materials, as well as higher packaging, dairy and energy, partially offset primarily by lower cocoa costs. Favorable volume/mix was driven by Europe and AMEA, which was partially offset by unfavorable volume/mix in North America and Latin America.
Total selling, general and administrative expenses increased $537 million from 2017, due to a number of factors noted in the table above, including in part, the impact from pension participation changes, lapping of prior-year benefits from the resolution of tax matters, lapping of a prior-year property insurance recovery, acquisition-related costs, remeasurement of net monetary position in Argentina, the impact of an acquisition and higher CEO transition remuneration. The increases were partially offset by favorable currency impact, lower implementation costs incurred for the Simplify to Grow Program, lower divestiture-related costs, the lapping of prior-year malware incident incremental costs, a value-added tax (“VAT”) related settlement in 2018, the impact of divestitures and the net benefit from the resolution of tax matters in 2018. Excluding these factors, selling, general and administrative expenses increased $83 million from 2017. The increase was driven by the year-over year net unfavorable change in miscellaneous other income and expense items within selling, general and administrative expenses and higher overhead costs, which more than offset lower advertising and consumer promotion costs.
We recorded a benefit of $21 million from a VAT-related settlement in Latin America in 2018. We recorded a benefit of $27 million from an insurance recovery in AMEA in 2017. Unfavorable currency changes decreased operating income by $55 million due primarily to the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to several currencies, including the Brazilian real, Argentinean peso, Russian ruble and Turkish lira, partially offset by the strength of several currencies relative to the U.S. dollar, including the euro and British pound sterling.
Operating income margin decreased from 13.4% in 2017 to 12.8% in 2018. The decrease in operating income margin was driven by the impact from pension participation changes, the lapping of prior-year benefits from the resolution of tax matters, the lapping of a prior-year gain on divestiture and higher CEO transition remuneration. These unfavorable items were partially offset by the year-over-year favorable change in mark-to-market gains/(losses) from currency and commodity hedging activities, lower Simplify to Grow Program costs, an increase in our Adjusted Operating Income margin, the lapping of prior-year malware incident incremental costs, lower divestiture-related costs and lower intangible asset impairment charges. Adjusted Operating Income margin increased from 16.1% in 2017 to 16.7% in 2018. The increase in Adjusted Operating Income margin was driven primarily by higher net pricing, lower manufacturing costs due to continued cost reduction efforts and lower advertising and consumer promotion costs, partially offset by higher raw material costs.
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Net Earnings and Earnings per Share Attributable to Mondelēz International – Net earnings attributable to Mondelēz International of $3,381 million increased by $553 million (19.6%) in 2018. Diluted EPS attributable to Mondelēz International was $2.28 in 2018, up $0.43 (23.2%) from 2017. Adjusted EPS (1) was $2.43 in 2018, up $0.29 (13.6%) from 2017. Adjusted EPS on a constant currency basis (1) was $2.46 in 2018, up $0.32 (15.0%) from 2017.
Diluted EPS | |||
Diluted EPS Attributable to Mondelēz International for the Year Ended December 31, 2017 | $ | 1.85 | |
Simplify to Grow Program (2) | 0.39 | ||
Intangible asset impairment charges (2) | 0.05 | ||
Mark-to-market losses from derivatives (2) | 0.06 | ||
Malware incident incremental expenses | 0.04 | ||
Acquisition integration costs (2) | — | ||
Divestiture-related costs (2) | 0.02 | ||
Net earnings from divestitures (2) | (0.03 | ) | |
Net gain on divestitures (2) | (0.11 | ) | |
Impact from resolution of tax matters (2) | (0.13 | ) | |
CEO transition remuneration (2) | 0.01 | ||
U.S. tax reform discrete net tax benefit (3) | (0.03 | ) | |
Gain on equity method investment transaction (4) | (0.02 | ) | |
Equity method investee acquisition-related and other adjustments (5) | 0.04 | ||
Adjusted EPS (1) for the Year Ended December 31, 2017 | $ | 2.14 | |
Increase in operations | 0.13 | ||
Increase in equity method investment net earnings | 0.05 | ||
VAT-related settlement in 2018 | 0.01 | ||
Property insurance recovery in 2017 | (0.01 | ) | |
Impact from acquisition (2) | — | ||
Changes in interest and other expense, net (6) | 0.02 | ||
Changes in income taxes (7) | 0.05 | ||
Changes in shares outstanding (8) | 0.07 | ||
Adjusted EPS (constant currency) (1) for the Year Ended December 31, 2018 | $ | 2.46 | |
Unfavorable currency translation | (0.03 | ) | |
Adjusted EPS (1) for the Year Ended December 31, 2018 | $ | 2.43 | |
Simplify to Grow Program (2) | (0.32 | ) | |
Intangible asset impairment charges (2) | (0.03 | ) | |
Mark-to-market gains from derivatives (2) | 0.09 | ||
Acquisition integration costs (2) | — | ||
Acquisition-related costs (2) | (0.01 | ) | |
Divestiture-related costs (2) | — | ||
Remeasurement of net monetary position (2) | (0.01 | ) | |
Impact from pension participation changes (2) | (0.22 | ) | |
Impact from resolution of tax matters (2) | 0.01 | ||
CEO transition remuneration (2) | (0.01 | ) | |
Net gain related to interest rate swaps (9) | 0.01 | ||
Loss on debt extinguishment (10) | (0.07 | ) | |
U.S. tax reform discrete net tax expense (3) | (0.01 | ) | |
Gain on equity method investment transaction (4) | 0.39 | ||
Equity method investee acquisition-related and other adjustments (5) | 0.03 | ||
Diluted EPS Attributable to Mondelēz International for the Year Ended December 31, 2018 | $ | 2.28 | |
(1) | Refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section appearing later in this section. |
(2) | See the Operating Income table above and the related footnotes for more information. |
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(3) | Refer to Note 15, Income Taxes, for more information on the impact of the U.S. tax reform. |
(4) | Refer to Note 6, Equity Method Investments, for more information on the KDP transaction in 2018 and the 2017 sale of an interest in one of our equity method investments. |
(5) | Includes our proportionate share of unusual or infrequent items, such as acquisition and divestiture-related costs, restructuring program costs and discrete U.S. tax reform impacts recorded by our JDE and Keurig equity method investees. |
(6) | Excludes the currency impact on interest expense related to our non-U.S. dollar-denominated debt which is included in currency translation. |
(7) | Refer to Note 15, Income Taxes, for more information on the items affecting income taxes. |
(8) | Refer to Note 11, Stock Plans, for more information on our equity compensation programs and share repurchase program and Note 16, Earnings per Share, for earnings per share weighted-average share information. |
(9) | Refer to Note 9, Financial Instruments, for information on our interest rate swaps that we no longer designate as cash flow hedges. |
(10) Refer to Note 8, Debt and Borrowing Arrangements, for more information on losses on debt extinguishment.
37
2017 compared with 2016
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | $ change | % change | |||||||||||
(in millions, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 25,896 | $ | 25,923 | $ | (27 | ) | (0.1 | )% | |||||
Operating income | 3,462 | 2,554 | 908 | 35.6 | % | |||||||||
Earnings from continuing operations | 2,842 | 1,645 | 1,197 | 72.8 | % | |||||||||
Net earnings attributable to Mondelēz International | 2,828 | 1,635 | 1,193 | 73.0 | % | |||||||||
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Mondelēz International | 1.85 | 1.04 | 0.81 | 77.9 | % | |||||||||
Net Revenues – Net revenues decreased $27 million (0.1%) to $25,896 million in 2017, and Organic Net Revenue (1) increased $220 million (0.9%) to $25,490 million. Power Brands net revenues increased 2.9%, including a favorable currency impact, and Power Brands Organic Net Revenue increased 2.1%. Emerging markets net revenues increased 3.7%, including a favorable currency impact, and emerging markets Organic Net Revenue increased 3.6%. The underlying changes in net revenues and Organic Net Revenue are detailed below:
2017 | ||
Change in net revenues (by percentage point) | ||
Total change in net revenues | (0.1 | )% |
Add back the following items affecting comparability: | ||
Favorable currency | (0.3 | )pp |
Impact of acquisitions | (0.2 | )pp |
Impact of divestitures | 1.5 | pp |
Total change in Organic Net Revenue (1) | 0.9 | % |
Higher net pricing | 1.5 | pp |
Unfavorable volume/mix | (0.6 | )pp |
(1) | Please see the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item. |
Net revenue decline of 0.1% was driven by the impact of divestitures, partially offset by our underlying Organic Net Revenue growth of 0.9%, favorable currency and the impact of an acquisition. The impact of divestitures resulted in a year-over-year decline in net revenues of $383 million for 2017. Our underlying Organic Net Revenue increase was driven by higher net pricing, partially offset by unfavorable volume/mix. Net pricing was up, which includes the benefit of carryover pricing from 2016 as well as the effects of input cost-driven pricing actions taken during 2017. Higher net pricing was reflected in Latin America and AMEA, partially offset by lower net pricing in North America and Europe. Unfavorable volume/mix was reflected in all segments except Europe, in part due to expected shipments that we did not realize following the second quarter malware incident. Favorable year-over-year currency impacts increased net revenues by $77 million, due primarily to the strength of several currencies relative to the U.S. dollar, including the Brazilian real, euro, Russian ruble, Australian dollar, Indian rupee and South African rand, partially offset by the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to several currencies, including the Egyptian pound, British pound sterling, Argentinean peso, Nigerian naira, Turkish lira, Philippine peso and Chinese yuan. The November 2, 2016 acquisition of a business and license to manufacture, market and sell Cadbury-branded biscuits in additional key markets added $59 million (constant currency basis) of incremental net revenues for 2017.
38
Operating Income – Operating income increased $908 million (35.6%) to $3,462 million in 2017, Adjusted Operating Income (1) increased $346 million (9.2%) to $4,119 million and Adjusted Operating Income on a constant currency basis (1) increased $343 million (9.1%) to $4,116 million due to the following:
Operating Income | Change | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Operating Income for the Year Ended December 31, 2016 | $ | 2,554 | |||||
Simplify to Grow Program (2) | 1,072 | ||||||
Intangible asset impairment charges (3) | 137 | ||||||
Mark-to-market losses from derivatives (4) | 94 | ||||||
Acquisition integration costs (5) | 7 | ||||||
Acquisition-related costs (5) | 1 | ||||||
Divestiture-related costs (6) | 86 | ||||||
Operating income from divestitures (6) | (153 | ) | |||||
Gain on divestiture (6) | (9 | ) | |||||
Gain on sale of intangible assets (7) | (15 | ) | |||||
Other/rounding | (1 | ) | |||||
Adjusted Operating Income (1) for the Year Ended December 31, 2016 | $ | 3,773 | |||||
Higher net pricing | 370 | ||||||
Higher input costs | (181 | ) | |||||
Unfavorable volume/mix | (160 | ) | |||||
Lower selling, general and administrative expenses | 380 | ||||||
Gains on sales of property in 2016 (8) | (46 | ) | |||||
VAT-related settlement in 2016 | (54 | ) | |||||
Property insurance recovery | 27 | ||||||
Impact from acquisition (8) | 8 | ||||||
Other | (1 | ) | |||||
Total change in Adjusted Operating Income (constant currency) (1) | 343 | 9.1 | % | ||||
Favorable currency translation | 3 | ||||||
Total change in Adjusted Operating Income (1) | 346 | 9.2 | % | ||||
Adjusted Operating Income (1) for the Year Ended December 31, 2017 | $ | 4,119 | |||||
Simplify to Grow Program (2) | (777 | ) | |||||
Intangible asset impairment charges (3) | (109 | ) | |||||
Mark-to-market losses from derivatives (4) | (96 | ) | |||||
Malware incident incremental expenses | (84 | ) | |||||
Acquisition integration costs (5) | (3 | ) | |||||
Divestiture-related costs (6) | (31 | ) | |||||
Operating income from divestitures (6) | 61 | ||||||
Net gain on divestitures (6) | 186 | ||||||
Impact from resolution of tax matters (9) | 209 | ||||||
CEO transition remuneration (1) | (14 | ) | |||||
Other/rounding | 1 | ||||||
Operating Income for the Year Ended December 31, 2017 | $ | 3,462 | 35.6 | % | |||
(1) | Refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item. |
(2) | Refer to Note 7, Restructuring Program, for more information. |
(3) | Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, and Note 5, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, for more information on trademark impairments. |
(4) | Refer to Note 9, Financial Instruments, Note 17, Segment Reporting, and Non-GAAP Financial Measures appearing later in this section for more information on the unrealized gains/losses on commodity and forecasted currency transaction derivatives. |
(5) | Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for more information on the acquisition of a biscuit business in Vietnam. |
39
(6) | Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for more information on the 2017 sales of a confectionery business in France, a grocery business in Australia and New Zealand, certain licenses of KHC-owned brands used in our grocery business within our Europe region, sale of one of our equity method investments and sale of a confectionary business in Japan. Additionally, the 2016 amount includes a sale of a confectionery business in Costa Rica. |
(7) | Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for more information on the 2016 intangible asset sale in Finland. |
(8) | Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for more information on the 2016 purchase of a license to manufacture, market and sell Cadbury-branded biscuits in additional key markets and other property sales in 2016. |
(9) | Refer to Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies – Tax Matters, for more information. Primarily includes the reversal of tax liabilities in connection with the resolution of a Brazilian indirect tax matter and settlement of pre-acquisition Cadbury tax matters. |
During 2017, we realized higher net pricing while input costs increased modestly. Higher net pricing, which included the carryover impact of pricing actions taken in 2016 as well as the effects of input cost-driven pricing actions taken during 2017, was driven by Latin America and AMEA, partially offset by lower net pricing in North America and Europe. The increase in input costs was driven by higher raw material costs which were partially offset by lower manufacturing costs due to productivity. Unfavorable volume/mix was driven by North America, Latin America and AMEA, which was partially offset by favorable volume/mix in Europe.
Total selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $608 million from 2016, due to a number of factors noted in the table above, including in part, the benefits from the resolution of tax matters, lower implementation costs incurred for the Simplify to Grow Program, lower divestiture-related costs, a property insurance recovery in AMEA and lower intangible asset impairment charges. The decreases were partially offset by gains on sales of property in 2016, unfavorable currency impact, value-added tax (“VAT”) related settlements in 2016 and incremental expenses incurred due to the malware incident.
Excluding the factors noted above, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $380 million from 2016. The decrease was driven primarily by lower overhead costs and lower advertising and consumer promotion costs due to continued cost reduction efforts in both areas.
Currency changes during the year did not impact operating income as the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to several currencies, including the Egyptian pound, British pound sterling and Argentinean peso, was offset by the strength of several currencies relative to the U.S. dollar, including the euro, Brazilian real, Russian ruble, Australian dollar, Indian rupee and South African rand.
Operating income margin increased from 9.9% in 2016 to 13.4% in 2017. The increase in operating income margin was driven primarily by an increase in our Adjusted Operating Income margin, lower Simplify to Grow Program costs, the benefits from the resolution of tax matters, the net gain on divestitures and lower divestiture-related costs, partially offset by incremental costs related to the malware incident and CEO transition remuneration costs. Adjusted Operating Income margin increased from 14.9% in 2016 to 16.1% in 2017. The increase in Adjusted Operating Income margin was driven primarily by lower overheads and lower advertising and consumer promotion costs due to continued cost reduction efforts in both areas.
40
Net Earnings and Earnings per Share Attributable to Mondelēz International – Net earnings attributable to Mondelēz International of $2,828 million increased by $1,193 million (73.0%) in 2017. Diluted EPS attributable to Mondelēz International was $1.85 in 2017, up $0.81 (77.9%) from 2016. Adjusted EPS (1) was $2.14 in 2017, up $0.30 (16.3%) from 2016. Adjusted EPS on a constant currency basis (1) was $2.13 in 2017, up $0.29 (15.8%) from 2016.
Diluted EPS | |||
Diluted EPS Attributable to Mondelēz International for the Year Ended December 31, 2016 | $ | 1.04 | |
Simplify to Grow Program (2) | 0.51 | ||
Intangible asset impairment charges (2) | 0.06 | ||
Mark-to-market losses from derivatives (2) | 0.05 | ||
Acquisition integration costs (2) | 0.01 | ||
Divestiture-related costs (2) | 0.05 | ||
Net earnings from divestitures (2) | (0.08 | ) | |
Gain on sale of intangible assets (2) | (0.01 | ) | |
Loss related to interest rate swaps (3) | 0.04 | ||
Loss on debt extinguishment (4) | 0.17 | ||
Gain on equity method investment transaction (5) | (0.03 | ) | |
Equity method investee acquisition-related and other adjustments (6) | 0.03 | ||
Adjusted EPS (1) for the Year Ended December 31, 2016 | $ | 1.84 | |
Increase in operations | 0.22 | ||
Increase in equity method investment net earnings | 0.06 | ||
Gains on sales of property in 2016 (2) | (0.02 | ) | |
VAT-related settlements in 2016 | (0.04 | ) | |
Property insurance recovery | 0.01 | ||
Impact from acquisition (2) | — | ||
Changes in interest and other expense, net (7) | 0.08 | ||
Changes in income taxes (8) | (0.07 | ) | |
Changes in shares outstanding (9) | 0.05 | ||
Adjusted EPS (constant currency) (1) for the Year Ended December 31, 2017 | $ | 2.13 | |
Favorable currency translation | 0.01 | ||
Adjusted EPS (1) for the Year Ended December 31, 2017 | $ | 2.14 | |
Simplify to Grow Program (2) | (0.39 | ) | |
Intangible asset impairment charges (2) | (0.05 | ) | |
Mark-to-market losses from derivatives (2) | (0.06 | ) | |
Malware incident incremental expenses | (0.04 | ) | |
Acquisition integration costs (2) | — | ||
Divestiture-related costs (2) | (0.02 | ) | |
Net earnings from divestitures (2) | 0.03 | ||
Net gain on divestitures (2) | 0.11 | ||
Impact from resolution of tax matters (2) | 0.13 | ||
CEO transition remuneration | (0.01 | ) | |
U.S. tax reform discrete net tax benefit (10) | 0.03 | ||
Gain on equity method investment transaction (11) | 0.02 | ||
Equity method investee acquisition-related and other adjustments (6) | (0.04 | ) | |
Diluted EPS Attributable to Mondelēz International for the Year Ended December 31, 2017 | $ | 1.85 | |
(1) | Refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section appearing later in this section. |
(2) | See the Operating Income table above and the related footnotes for more information. |
(3) | Refer to Note 9, Financial Instruments, for more information on our interest rate swaps, which we no longer designate as cash flow hedges effective the first quarter of 2016 due to changes in financing and hedging plans. |
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(4) | Refer to Note 8, Debt and Borrowing Arrangements, for more information on our loss on debt extinguishment and related expenses in connection with our debt tender offers. |
(5) | Refer to Note 6, Equity Method Investments – Keurig, for more information on the 2016 acquisition of an interest in Keurig. |
(6) | Includes our proportionate share of unusual or infrequent items, such as acquisition and divestiture-related costs, restructuring program costs and discrete U.S. tax reform impacts recorded by our JDE and Keurig equity method investees. |
(7) | Excludes the currency impact on interest expense related to our non-U.S. dollar-denominated debt which is included in currency translation. |
(8) | Refer to Note 15, Income Taxes, for more information on the items affecting income taxes. |
(9) | Refer to Note 11, Stock Plans, for more information on our equity compensation programs, Note 12, Capital Stock, for more information on our share repurchase program and Note 16, Earnings per Share, for earnings per share weighted-average share information. |
(10) | Refer to Note 15, Income Taxes, for more information on the impact of the U.S. tax reform. |
(11) | Refer to Note 6, Equity Method Investments, for more information on the 2017 sale of an interest in one of our equity method investments. |
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Results of Operations by Operating Segment
Our operations and management structure are organized into four operating segments:
• | Latin America |
• | AMEA |
• | Europe |
• | North America |
We manage our operations by region to leverage regional operating scale, manage different and changing business environments more effectively and pursue growth opportunities as they arise in our key markets. Our regional management teams have responsibility for the business, product categories and financial results in the regions.
We use segment operating income to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources. We believe it is appropriate to disclose this measure to help investors analyze segment performance and trends. See Note 17, Segment Reporting, for additional information on our segments and Items Affecting Comparability of Financial Results earlier in this section for items affecting our segment operating results.
Our segment net revenues and earnings were:
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Net revenues: | |||||||||||
Latin America | $ | 3,202 | $ | 3,566 | $ | 3,392 | |||||
AMEA | 5,729 | 5,739 | 5,816 | ||||||||
Europe | 10,122 | 9,794 | 9,755 | ||||||||
North America | 6,885 | 6,797 | 6,960 | ||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 25,938 | $ | 25,896 | $ | 25,923 | |||||
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Earnings before income taxes: | |||||||||||
Operating income: | |||||||||||
Latin America | $ | 410 | $ | 564 | $ | 272 | |||||
AMEA | 702 | 514 | 505 | ||||||||
Europe | 1,734 | 1,610 | 1,198 | ||||||||
North America | 849 | 1,144 | 1,128 | ||||||||
Unrealized gains/(losses) on hedging activities (mark-to-market impacts) | 141 | (96 | ) | (94 | ) | ||||||
General corporate expenses | (335 | ) | (282 | ) | (287 | ) | |||||
Amortization of intangibles | (176 | ) | (178 | ) | (176 | ) | |||||
Net gain on divestitures | — | 186 | 9 | ||||||||
Acquisition-related costs | (13 | ) | — | (1 | ) | ||||||
Operating income | 3,312 | 3,462 | 2,554 | ||||||||
Benefit plan non-service income (1) | 50 | 44 | 15 | ||||||||
Interest and other expense, net | (520 | ) | (382 | ) | (1,115 | ) | |||||
Earnings before income taxes | $ | 2,842 | $ | 3,124 | $ | 1,454 | |||||
(1) | During the first quarter of 2018, in connection with adopting a new pension cost classification accounting standard, we reclassified certain of our benefit plan component costs other than service costs out of operating income into a new line item, benefit plan non-service income, on our consolidated statements of earnings. As such, we have recast our historical operating income and segment operating income to reflect this reclassification, which had no impact to earnings before income taxes or net earnings. |
43
Latin America
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | $ change | % change | |||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 3,202 | $ | 3,566 | $ | (364 | ) | (10.2 | )% | |||||
Segment operating income | 410 | 564 | (154 | ) | (27.3 | )% | ||||||||
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | $ change | % change | |||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 3,566 | $ | 3,392 | $ | 174 | 5.1 | % | ||||||
Segment operating income | 564 | 272 | 292 | 107.4 | % | |||||||||
2018 compared with 2017:
Net revenues decreased $364 million (10.2%), due to unfavorable currency (13.8 pp) and unfavorable volume/mix (2.6 pp), partially offset by higher net pricing (6.2 pp). Unfavorable currency impacts were due primarily to the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to most currencies in the region including the Argentinean peso, Brazilian real and Mexican peso. Unfavorable volume/mix was due primarily to the impact of pricing-related elasticity, as well as in part due to the negative impact of the Brazil trucking strike that occurred in the second quarter. Unfavorable volume/mix was driven by declines in all categories except biscuits. Higher net pricing was reflected across all categories, driven primarily by Argentina, Mexico and Brazil.
Segment operating income decreased $154 million (27.3%), primarily due to lapping last year's benefit from the resolution of a Brazilian indirect tax matter of $153 million, higher raw material costs, unfavorable currency, higher other selling, general and administrative expenses (net of the benefit from a VAT-related settlement in 2018), unfavorable volume/mix and a loss from the remeasurement of the net monetary position in Argentina. These unfavorable items were partially offset by higher net pricing, lower manufacturing costs, the 2018 benefit from the resolution of a Brazilian tax matter of $26 million, lower advertising and consumer promotion costs, lower costs incurred for the Simplify to Grow Program and the lapping of the 2017 intangible asset impairment charges.
2017 compared with 2016:
Net revenues increased $174 million (5.1%), due to higher net pricing (7.7 pp) and favorable currency (1.9 pp), partially offset by unfavorable volume/mix (4.2 pp) and the impact of a divestiture (0.3 pp). Higher net pricing was reflected across all categories driven primarily by Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. Favorable currency impacts were due primarily to the strength of several currencies in the region relative to the U.S. dollar, primarily the Brazilian real, partially offset by the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to the Argentinean peso and Mexican peso. Unfavorable volume/mix, which occurred across most of the region, was largely due to the impact of pricing-related elasticity. In addition, only a portion of the shipments delayed at the end of the second quarter due to the malware incident was recovered. Unfavorable volume/mix was driven by declines in all categories except chocolate and candy. On December 1, 2016, we sold a small confectionery business in Costa Rica.
Segment operating income increased $292 million (107.4%), primarily due to higher net pricing, the benefit from the resolution of a Brazilian indirect tax matter of $153 million, lower manufacturing costs, lower costs incurred for the Simplify to Grow Program, favorable currency and lower advertising and consumer promotion costs. These favorable items were partially offset by higher raw material costs, unfavorable volume/mix and higher other selling, general and administrative expenses (net of prior-year VAT-related settlements).
44
AMEA
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | $ change | % change | |||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 5,729 | $ | 5,739 | $ | (10 | ) | (0.2 | )% | |||||
Segment operating income | 702 | 514 | 188 | 36.6 | % | |||||||||
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | $ change | % change | |||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 5,739 | $ | 5,816 | $ | (77 | ) | (1.3 | )% | |||||
Segment operating income | 514 | 505 | 9 | 1.8 | % | |||||||||
2018 compared with 2017:
Net revenues decreased $10 million (0.2%), due to the impact of divestitures (2.4 pp) and unfavorable currency (1.3 pp), partially offset by favorable volume/mix (1.9 pp) and higher net pricing (1.6 pp). The impact of divestitures related to the grocery & cheese business in Australia and New Zealand that was divested on July 4, 2017 and the confectionery business in Japan that was divested on December 28, 2017, resulted in a year-over-year decline in net revenues of $133 million for 2018. Unfavorable currency impacts were due primarily to the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to several currencies in the region, including the Indian rupee, Australian dollar and Philippine peso, partially offset by the strength of several currencies in the region relative to the U.S. dollar, including the Chinese yuan and Japanese yen. Favorable volume/mix, including the shift of Chinese New Year into the first quarter of 2018, was driven by gains in chocolate and biscuits, partially offset by declines in refreshment beverages, cheese & grocery, gum and candy. Higher net pricing was reflected across all categories except gum and candy.
Segment operating income increased $188 million (36.6%), primarily due to higher net pricing, lower costs incurred for the Simplify to Grow Program, lower manufacturing costs, lower intangible asset impairment charges, lower advertising and consumer promotion costs and favorable volume/mix. These favorable items were partially offset by higher raw material costs, the impact of divestitures, unfavorable currency and higher other selling, general and administrative expenses (net of prior-year property insurance recovery).
2017 compared with 2016:
Net revenues decreased $77 million (1.3%), due to the impact of divestitures (2.2 pp), unfavorable currency (1.8 pp) and unfavorable volume/mix (0.2 pp), partially offset by higher net pricing (2.9 pp). The impact of divestitures, primarily related to the grocery & cheese business in Australia and New Zealand that was divested on July 4, 2017, resulted in a year-over-year decline in net revenues of $128 million for 2017. Unfavorable currency impacts were due primarily to the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to several currencies in the region, including the Egyptian pound, Nigerian naira, Philippine peso, Chinese yuan and Japanese yen, partially offset by the strength of several other currencies in the region relative to the U.S. dollar, including the Australian dollar, Indian rupee and South African rand. Unfavorable volume/mix was driven by declines in refreshment beverages, cheese & grocery, gum and candy, partially offset by gains in chocolate and biscuits. In addition, only a portion of the shipments delayed at the end of the second quarter due to the malware incident was recovered. Higher net pricing was reflected across all categories except cheese & grocery.
Segment operating income increased $9 million (1.8%), primarily due to higher net pricing, lower other selling, general and administrative expenses (including a property insurance recovery), lower manufacturing costs and lower advertising and consumer promotion costs. These favorable items were mostly offset by higher raw material costs, unfavorable currency, unfavorable volume/mix, higher costs incurred for the Simplify to Grow Program, the impact of divestitures and higher intangible asset impairment charges.
45
Europe
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | $ change | % change | |||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 10,122 | $ | 9,794 | $ | 328 | 3.3 | % | ||||||
Segment operating income | 1,734 | 1,610 | 124 | 7.7 | % | |||||||||
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | $ change | % change | |||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 9,794 | $ | 9,755 | $ | 39 | 0.4 | % | ||||||
Segment operating income | 1,610 | 1,198 | 412 | 34.4 | % | |||||||||
2018 compared with 2017:
Net revenues increased $328 million (3.3%), due to favorable volume/mix (3.1 pp) and favorable currency (2.3 pp), partially offset by the impact of divestitures (1.5 pp) and lower net pricing (0.6 pp). Favorable volume/mix was driven by chocolate, biscuits and candy, partially offset by declines in cheese & grocery, gum and refreshment beverages. Favorable currency impacts reflected the strength of several currencies relative to the U.S. dollar, primarily the euro, British pound sterling, Polish zloty and Czech koruna, partially offset by the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to several currencies, primarily the Russian ruble and Turkish lira. The impact of divestitures, due to the sale of a confectionery business in France and the termination of certain Kraft Heinz Company-owned grocery brand licenses, resulted in a year-over-year decline in net revenues of $137 million for 2018. Lower net pricing was driven by chocolate and biscuits, partially offset by higher net pricing in cheese & grocery, candy and gum.
Segment operating income increased $124 million (7.7%), primarily due to favorable volume/mix, lower manufacturing costs, lower costs incurred for the Simplify to Grow Program, favorable currency, lower raw material costs, lower divestiture-related costs and the lapping of prior-year malware incident incremental costs. These favorable items were partially offset by higher advertising and consumer promotion costs, higher other selling, general and administrative expenses, lower net pricing, lapping the prior-year benefit from the settlement of a Cadbury tax matter, higher intangible asset impairment charges and the impact from divestitures.
2017 compared with 2016:
Net revenues increased $39 million (0.4%), due to favorable volume/mix (1.4 pp), favorable currency (1.0 pp), and the impact of an acquisition (0.6 pp), partially offset by the impact of divestitures (2.5 pp) and lower net pricing (0.1 pp). Favorable volume/mix was driven by chocolate and biscuits, partially offset by declines in gum, cheese & grocery, candy and refreshment beverages. In addition, a portion of the shipments delayed at the end of the second quarter due to the malware incident was not recovered. Favorable currency impacts reflected the strength of several other currencies relative to the U.S. dollar, primarily the euro and Russian ruble, partially offset by the strength of the U.S. dollar against several currencies in the region, including the British pound sterling and Turkish lira. The November 2016 acquisition of a business and license to manufacture, market and sell Cadbury-branded biscuits added net revenues of $59 million (constant currency basis). The impact of divestitures, primarily due to the sale of a confectionery business in France, resulted in a year-over-year decline in net revenues of $234 million for 2017. Lower net pricing was driven by biscuits, mostly offset by higher net pricing in all other categories.
Segment operating income increased $412 million (34.4%), primarily due to lower manufacturing costs, lower costs incurred for the Simplify to Grow Program, lower other selling, general and administrative expenses, lower divestiture-related costs, lower advertising and consumer promotion costs, the benefit from the settlement of a Cadbury tax matter, favorable volume/mix, lower intangible asset impairment charges, favorable currency and the impact of an acquisition. These favorable items were partially offset by higher raw material costs, the impact of divestitures, incremental costs incurred due to the malware incident, lower net pricing and a prior-year gain on the sale of an intangible asset.
46
North America
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | $ change | % change | |||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 6,885 | $ | 6,797 | $ | 88 | 1.3 | % | ||||||
Segment operating income | 849 | 1,144 | (295 | ) | (25.8 | )% | ||||||||
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | $ change | % change | |||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | 6,797 | $ | 6,960 | $ | (163 | ) | (2.3 | )% | |||||
Segment operating income | 1,144 | 1,128 | 16 | 1.4 | % | |||||||||
2018 compared with 2017:
Net revenues increased $88 million (1.3%), due to higher net pricing (1.1 pp) and the impact of an acquisition (0.8 pp), partially offset by unfavorable volume/mix (0.5 pp) and unfavorable currency (0.1 pp). Higher net pricing was reflected in biscuits and gum, partially offset by lower net pricing in chocolate and candy. The June 7, 2018 acquisition of a U.S. premium biscuit company, Tate’s Bake Shop, added net revenues of $52 million in 2018. Unfavorable volume/mix, which was net of the benefit from lapping last year's negative impact from the 2017 malware incident, reflected declines in gum and chocolate, partially offset by gains in biscuits and candy. Unfavorable currency impact was due to the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar.
Segment operating income decreased $295 million (25.8%), primarily due to the impact from pension participation changes, higher manufacturing costs, unfavorable volume/mix, higher raw material costs and higher other selling, general and administrative expenses. These unfavorable items were partially offset by lower advertising and consumer promotion costs, higher net pricing, the lapping of prior-year malware incident incremental costs, lower costs incurred for the Simplify to Grow Program, lower intangible asset impairment charges and the impact from the acquisition of Tate's Bake Shop.
2017 compared with 2016:
Net revenues decreased $163 million (2.3%), due to unfavorable volume/mix (1.8 pp), lower net pricing (0.6 pp) and the impact of divestitures (0.1 pp), partially offset by favorable currency (0.2 pp). Unfavorable volume/mix, primarily caused by shipments delayed at the end of the second quarter due to the malware incident that were not recovered, was driven by declines in gum, biscuits and candy, partially offset by a gain in chocolate. Lower net pricing was reflected in biscuits and chocolate, partially offset by higher net pricing in candy and gum. Favorable currency impact was due to the strength of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar.
Segment operating income increased $16 million (1.4%), primarily due to lower costs incurred for the Simplify to Grow Program, lower advertising and consumer promotion costs, lower other selling, general and administrative expenses (net of the prior-year’s gain on sale of property), lower manufacturing costs and lower raw material costs. These favorable items were partially offset by unfavorable volume/mix, incremental costs incurred due to the malware incident, lower net pricing, the impact of divestitures and prior-year gain on the sale of an intangible asset.
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Critical Accounting Estimates
We prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires the use of estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions. Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to the consolidated financial statements includes a summary of the significant accounting policies we used to prepare our consolidated financial statements. We have discussed the selection and disclosure of our critical accounting policies and estimates with our Audit Committee. The following is a review of our most significant assumptions and estimates.
Goodwill and Non-Amortizable Intangible Assets:
We test goodwill and non-amortizable intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis on July 1. We assess goodwill impairment risk throughout the year by performing a qualitative review of entity-specific, industry, market and general economic factors affecting our goodwill reporting units. We review our operating segment and reporting unit structure for goodwill testing annually or as significant changes in the organization occur. Annually, we may perform qualitative testing, or depending on factors such as prior-year test results, current year developments, current risk evaluations and other practical considerations, we may elect to do quantitative testing instead. In our quantitative testing, we compare a reporting unit’s estimated fair value with its carrying value. We estimate a reporting unit’s fair value using a discounted cash flow method which incorporates planned growth rates, market-based discount rates and estimates of residual value. This year, for our Europe and North America reporting units, we used a market-based, weighted-average cost of capital of 7.3% to discount the projected cash flows of those operations. For our Latin America and AMEA reporting units, we used a risk-rated discount rate of 10.3%. Estimating the fair value of individual reporting units requires us to make assumptions and estimates regarding our future plans and industry and economic conditions, and our actual results and conditions may differ over time. If the carrying value of a reporting unit’s net assets exceeds its fair value, we would recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the reporting unit fair value.
In 2018, 2017 and 2016, there were no impairments of goodwill. In connection with our 2018 annual impairment testing, each of our reporting units had sufficient fair value in excess of carrying value. While all reporting units passed our annual impairment testing, if planned business performance expectations are not met or specific valuation factors outside of our control, such as discount rates, change significantly, then the estimated fair values of a reporting unit or reporting units might decline and lead to a goodwill impairment in the future.
Annually, we assess non-amortizable intangible assets for impairment by performing a qualitative review and assessing events and circumstances that could affect the fair value or carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets. If significant potential impairment risk exists for a specific asset, we quantitatively test it for impairment by comparing its estimated fair value with its carrying value. We determine estimated fair value using planned growth rates, market-based discount rates and estimates of royalty rates. If the carrying value of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value, the asset is impaired and its carrying value is reduced to the estimated fair value.
During our 2018 annual testing of non-amortizable intangible assets, we recorded $68 million of impairment charges in the third quarter of 2018 related to five trademarks. The impairments arose due to lower than expected product growth. We recorded charges related to gum, chocolate, biscuits and candy trademarks of $45 million in Europe, $14 million in North America and $9 million in AMEA. The impairment charges were calculated as the excess of the carrying value over the estimated fair value of the intangible assets on a global basis and were recorded within asset impairment and exit costs. We primarily use a relief of royalty valuation method, which utilizes estimates of future sales, growth rates, royalty rates and discount rates in determining a brand's global fair value. We also identified seven brands, including the five impaired trademarks, with $538 million of aggregate book value as of December 31, 2018 that each had a fair value in excess of book value of 10% or less. We believe our current plans for each of these brands will allow them to continue to not be impaired, but if the product line expectations are not met or specific valuation factors outside of our control, such as discount rates, change significantly, then a brand or brands could become impaired in the future. In 2017, we recorded charges related to candy and gum trademarks of $52 million in AMEA, $11 million in Europe, $5 million in Latin America and $2 million in North America. In 2016, we recorded charges related to biscuits, candy and gum trademarks of $41 million in AMEA, $32 million in North America, $22 million in Europe, and $3 million in Latin America.
Refer to Note 5, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, for additional information.
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Trade and marketing programs:
We promote our products with trade and sales incentives as well as marketing and advertising programs. These programs include, but are not limited to, new product introduction fees, discounts, coupons, rebates and volume-based incentives as well as cooperative advertising, in-store displays and consumer marketing promotions. Trade and sales incentives are recorded as a reduction to revenues based on amounts estimated due to customers and consumers at the end of a period. We base these estimates principally on historical utilization and redemption rates. For interim reporting purposes, advertising and consumer promotion expenses are charged to operations as a percentage of volume, based on estimated sales volume and estimated program spending. We do not defer costs on our year-end consolidated balance sheet and all marketing and advertising costs are recorded as an expense in the year incurred.
Employee Benefit Plans:
We sponsor various employee benefit plans throughout the world. These include primarily pension plans and postretirement healthcare benefits. For accounting purposes, we estimate the pension and postretirement healthcare benefit obligations utilizing assumptions and estimates for discount rates; expected returns on plan assets; expected compensation increases; employee-related factors such as turnover, retirement age and mortality; and health care cost trends. We review our actuarial assumptions on an annual basis and make modifications to the assumptions based on current rates and trends when appropriate. Our assumptions also reflect our historical experiences and management’s best judgment regarding future expectations. These and other assumptions affect the annual expense and obligations recognized for the underlying plans.
As permitted by U.S. GAAP, we generally amortize the effect of changes in the assumptions over future periods. The cost or benefit of plan changes, such as increasing or decreasing benefits for prior employee service (prior service cost), is deferred and included in expense on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of the employees expected to receive benefits.
Since pension and postretirement liabilities are measured on a discounted basis, the discount rate significantly affects our plan obligations and expenses. For plans that have assets held in trust, the expected return on plan assets assumption affects our pension plan expenses. The assumptions for discount rates and expected rates of return and our process for setting these assumptions are described in Note 10, Benefit Plans, to the consolidated financial statements.
While we do not anticipate further changes in the 2019 assumptions for our U.S. and non-U.S. pension and postretirement health care plans, as a sensitivity measure, a fifty-basis point change in our discount rates or the expected rate of return on plan assets would have the following effects, increase/(decrease), on our annual benefit plan costs:
As of December 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||||
U.S. Plans | Non-U.S. Plans | ||||||||||||||
Fifty-Basis-Point | Fifty-Basis-Point | ||||||||||||||
Increase | Decrease | Increase | Decrease | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||
Effect of change in discount rate on pension costs | $ | (14 | ) | $ | 15 | $ | (57 | ) | $ | 60 | |||||
Effect of change in expected rate of return on plan assets on pension costs | (8 | ) | 8 | (39 | ) | 39 | |||||||||
Effect of change in discount rate on postretirement health care costs | (3 | ) | 3 | — | — | ||||||||||
In accordance with obligations we have under collective bargaining agreements, we participate in multiemployer pension plans. In 2017 and 2016, the only individually significant multiemployer plan we contributed to was the Bakery and Confectionery Union and Industry International Pension Fund. Our obligation to contribute to the Fund arose with respect to 8 collective bargaining agreements covering most of our employees represented by the BCTGM. All of those collective bargaining agreements expired in 2016.
In the fourth quarter of 2018, we executed a complete withdrawal from the Fund. We estimated a withdrawal liability of $573 million, which represents our best estimate of the withdrawal liability absent an assessment from the Fund. We anticipate receiving an assessment in 2019, and the ultimate withdrawal liability may change from the currently
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estimated amount. We will record any future adjustments in the period during which the liability is confirmed or as new information becomes available. We expect to pay the liability over a period of 20 years from the date of the assessment. During 2018, within our North America segment, we recorded a discounted liability and related charge of $423 million or $316 million net of tax. We determined the net present value of the liability using a risk-free interest rate. We recorded the pre-tax non-cash charges in selling, general and administrative expense (and in other non-cash items, net in the consolidated statement of cash flows) and the liability in long-term other liabilities. During 2018, we also recorded $6 million of accreted interest related to the long-term liability within interest and other expense, net.
See additional information on our employee benefit plans in Note 10, Benefit Plans.
Income Taxes:
As a global company, we calculate and provide for income taxes in each tax jurisdiction in which we operate. The provision for income taxes includes the amounts payable or refundable for the current year, the effect of deferred taxes and impacts from uncertain tax positions. Our provision for income taxes is significantly affected by shifts in the geographic mix of our pre-tax earnings across tax jurisdictions, changes in tax laws and regulations, tax planning opportunities available in each tax jurisdiction and the ultimate outcome of various tax audits.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of our assets and liabilities and for operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates that will apply to taxable income in the years in which those differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Valuation allowances are established for deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized.
We believe our tax positions comply with applicable tax laws and that we have properly accounted for uncertain tax positions. We recognize tax benefits in our financial statements from uncertain tax positions only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. The amount we recognize is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon resolution. We evaluate uncertain tax positions on an ongoing basis and adjust the amount recognized in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as the progress of a tax audit or expiration of a statute of limitations. We believe the estimates and assumptions used to support our evaluation of uncertain tax positions are reasonable. However, final determination of historical tax liabilities, whether by settlement with tax authorities, judicial or administrative ruling or due to expiration of statutes of limitations, could be materially different from estimates reflected on our consolidated balance sheet and historical income tax provisions. The outcome of these final determinations could have a material effect on our provision for income taxes, net earnings or cash flows in the period in which the determination is made.
As a result of U.S. tax reform and the related SEC guidance, we finalized our accounting for the legislation based on guidance that was issued prior to 2018 year end and included updates to the prior provisional estimates in our 2018 consolidated financial statements. See Note 15, Income Taxes, for further discussion of the amounts recorded related to U.S. tax reform in our financial statements, as well as additional information on our effective tax rate, current and deferred taxes, valuation allowances and unrecognized tax benefits.
Contingencies:
See Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies, to the consolidated financial statements.
New Accounting Guidance:
See Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of new accounting standards.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
We believe that cash from operations, our revolving credit facilities, short-term borrowings and our authorized long-term financing will provide sufficient liquidity for our working capital needs, planned capital expenditures and future payments of our U.S. tax reform transition tax liability, contractual and benefit plan obligations, share repurchases and quarterly dividends. We continue to utilize our commercial paper program, international credit lines and long-term debt issuances for our funding requirements. We also use intercompany loans with our international subsidiaries to improve financial flexibility. Overall, we do not expect any negative effects to our funding sources that would have a material effect on our liquidity.
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:
Operating activities provided net cash of $3,948 million in 2018, $2,593 million in 2017 and $2,838 million in 2016. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities in 2018 relative to 2017 was due primarily to higher cash flow from working capital, higher net earnings as well as lower pension contributions. Cash flows from operating activities were lower in 2017 than 2016 primarily due to increases in working capital including higher tax and VAT-related payments in 2017 and lower operating cash flows from divested businesses, partially offset by higher net earnings and lower pension contributions in 2017.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities:
Net cash used in investing activities was $1,224 million in 2018, $301 million in 2017 and $1,029 million in 2016. The increase in net cash used in investing activities in 2018 relative to 2017 was primarily due to cash received in 2017 from proceeds from divestitures, cash expenditures in 2018 for an acquisition and higher capital expenditures in 2018, partially offset by cash received as a result of the settlement and replacement of several net investment hedge derivative contracts. The decrease in net cash used in investing activities in 2017 relative to 2016 was due to higher net proceeds received from divestitures in 2017, no acquisition-related payments in 2017 as in 2016 and lower capital expenditures in 2017.
Capital expenditures were $1,095 million in 2018, $1,014 million in 2017 and $1,224 million in 2016. We continue to make capital expenditures primarily to modernize manufacturing facilities and support new product and productivity initiatives. We expect 2019 capital expenditures to be up to $1.0 billion, including capital expenditures in connection with our Simplify to Grow Program. We expect to continue to fund these expenditures from operations.
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities:
Net cash used in financing activities was $2,329 million in 2018, $3,361 million in 2017 and $1,862 million in 2016. The decrease in net cash used in financing activities in 2018 relative to 2017 was primarily due to higher net debt issuances and lower share repurchases partially offset by higher dividends paid. The increase in net cash used in financing activities in 2017 relative to 2016 was primarily due to lower net issuances of short-term and long-term debt as well as an increase in dividends paid, partly offset by lower share repurchases compared to 2016.
Debt:
From time to time we refinance long-term and short-term debt. Refer to Note 8, Debt and Borrowing Arrangements, for details of our recent tender offers, debt issuances and maturities. The nature and amount of our long-term and short-term debt and the proportionate amount of each varies as a result of current and expected business requirements, market conditions and other factors. Due to seasonality, in the first and second quarters of the year, our working capital requirements grow, increasing the need for short-term financing. The second half of the year typically generates higher cash flows. As such, we may issue commercial paper or secure other forms of financing throughout the year to meet short-term working capital or other financing needs.
During 2016, one of our subsidiaries, Mondelez International Holdings Netherlands B.V. (“MIHN”), issued debt totaling $4.5 billion. The operations held by MIHN generated approximately 74.1% (or $19.2 billion) of the $25.9 billion of consolidated net revenue during fiscal year 2018 and represented approximately 80.5% (or $20.7 billion) of the $25.7 billion of net assets as of December 31, 2018.
On February 7, 2019, our Board of Directors approved a new $5.0 billion long-term financing authority to replace the prior $5.0 billion authority. As of December 31, 2018, we had $1.7 billion of long-term financing authority remaining.
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In the next 12 months, we expect approximately $2.7 billion of long-term debt will mature as follows: $400 million in February 2019 and $2.3 billion in October 2019. We expect to fund these repayments with a combination of cash from operations and the issuance of commercial paper or long-term debt.
Our total debt was $18.4 billion at December 31, 2018 and $17.7 billion at December 31, 2017. Our debt-to-capitalization ratio was 0.42 at December 31, 2018 and 0.40 at December 31, 2017. At December 31, 2018, the weighted-average term of our outstanding long-term debt was 5.8 years. Our average daily commercial borrowings were $4.5 billion in 2018, $4.4 billion in 2017 and $2.2 billion in 2016. We had $3.1 billion of commercial paper borrowings outstanding at December 31, 2018 and $3.4 billion outstanding as of December 31, 2017. We expect to continue to use commercial paper to finance various short and long-term financing needs and to continue to comply with our long-term debt covenants. Refer to Note 8, Debt and Borrowing Arrangements, for more information on our debt and debt covenants.
Commodity Trends
We regularly monitor worldwide supply, commodity cost and currency trends so we can cost-effectively secure ingredients, packaging and fuel required for production. During 2018, the primary drivers of the increase in our aggregate commodity costs were higher currency-related costs on our commodity purchases and increased costs for packaging, dairy, energy, grains, oils and other raw materials, partially offset by lower costs for cocoa, sugar and nuts.
A number of external factors such as weather conditions, commodity market conditions, currency fluctuations and the effects of governmental agricultural or other programs affect the cost and availability of raw materials and agricultural materials used in our products. We address higher commodity costs and currency impacts primarily through hedging, higher pricing and manufacturing and overhead cost control. We use hedging techniques to limit the impact of fluctuations in the cost of our principal raw materials; however, we may not be able to fully hedge against commodity cost changes, such as dairy, where there is a limited ability to hedge, and our hedging strategies may not protect us from increases in specific raw material costs. Due to competitive or market conditions, planned trade or promotional incentives, fluctuations in currency exchange rates or other factors, our pricing actions may also lag commodity cost changes temporarily.
We expect price volatility and a slightly higher aggregate cost environment to continue in 2019. While the costs of our principal raw materials fluctuate, we believe there will continue to be an adequate supply of the raw materials we use and that they will generally remain available from numerous sources.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations
We have no significant off-balance sheet arrangements other than the contractual obligations discussed below.
Guarantees:
As discussed in Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies, we enter into third-party guarantees primarily to cover the long-term obligations of our vendors. As part of these transactions, we guarantee that third parties will make contractual payments or achieve performance measures. At December 31, 2018, we had no material third-party guarantees recorded on our consolidated balance sheet.
Guarantees do not have, and we do not expect them to have, a material effect on our liquidity.
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Aggregate Contractual Obligations:
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations at December 31, 2018.
Payments Due | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | 2019 | 2020-21 | 2022-23 | 2024 and Thereafter | |||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||
Debt (1) | $ | 15,248 | $ | 2,647 | $ | 4,877 | $ | 2,548 | $ | 5,176 | |||||||||
Interest expense (2) | 3,410 | 413 | 662 | 470 | 1,865 | ||||||||||||||
Capital leases | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Operating leases (3) | 780 | 208 | 279 | 136 | 157 | ||||||||||||||
Purchase obligations: (4) | |||||||||||||||||||
Inventory and production costs | 5,198 | 3,433 | 1,191 | 235 | 339 | ||||||||||||||
Other | 608 | 574 | 34 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
25,246 | 7,276 | 7,044 | 3,389 | 7,537 | |||||||||||||||
U.S. tax reform transition liability (5) | 1,160 | 112 | 193 | 248 | 607 | ||||||||||||||
Other long-term liabilities (6) | 241 | 16 | 47 | 42 | 136 | ||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 26,647 | $ | 7,404 | $ | 7,284 | $ | 3,679 | $ | 8,280 | |||||||||
(1) | Amounts include the expected cash payments of our debt excluding capital leases, which are presented separately in the table above. The amounts also exclude $70 million of net unamortized non-cash bond premiums, discounts, bank fees and mark-to-market adjustments related to our interest rate swaps recorded in total debt. |
(2) | Amounts represent the expected cash payments of our interest expense on our long-term debt. Interest calculated on our euro, British pound sterling and Swiss franc notes was forecasted using currency exchange rates as of December 31, 2018. An insignificant amount of interest expense was excluded from the table for a portion of our other non-U.S. debt obligations due to the complexities involved in forecasting expected interest payments. |
(3) | Operating lease payments represent the minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating leases. |
(4) | Purchase obligations for inventory and production costs (such as raw materials, indirect materials and supplies, packaging, co-manufacturing arrangements, storage and distribution) are commitments for projected needs to be utilized in the normal course of business. Other purchase obligations include commitments for marketing, advertising, capital expenditures, information technology and professional services. Arrangements are considered purchase obligations if a contract specifies all significant terms, including fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased, a pricing structure and approximate timing of the transaction. Most arrangements are cancelable without a significant penalty and with short notice (usually 30 days). Any amounts reflected on the consolidated balance sheet as accounts payable and accrued liabilities are excluded from the table above. |
(5) | In connection with U.S. tax reform, we currently estimate paying a total $1.3 billion transition tax liability through 2026. As of December 31, 2018, the amount outstanding was $1.2 billion. The amounts and timing of our tax payments are likely to change as a result of additional guidance issued. See Note 15, Income Taxes, for additional information on U.S. tax reform and its impact on our financial statements. |
(6) | Other long-term liabilities in the table above include both the current and long-term related liabilities. We have included the estimated future benefit payments for our postretirement health care plans through December 31, 2028 of $198 million. We are unable to reliably estimate the timing of the payments beyond 2028; as such, they are excluded from the above table. There are also another $15 million of various other long-term liabilities that are expected to be paid over the next 5 years. In addition, the following long-term liabilities included on the consolidated balance sheet are excluded from the table above: accrued pension costs, estimated multiemployer pension plan withdrawal liabilities, unrecognized tax benefits, insurance accruals and other accruals. As of December 31, 2018, our unrecognized tax benefit, including associated interest and penalties, classified as a long-term payable is $550 million. We currently expect to make approximately $237 million in contributions to our pension plans in 2019. In 2018, we estimated a multiemployer pension plan withdrawal liability of $573 million. We anticipate receiving an assessment in 2019, and the ultimate withdrawal liability may change from the currently estimated amount. We will record any future adjustments in the period during which the liability is confirmed or as new information becomes available. We expect to pay the liability over a period of 20 years from the date of the assessment. |
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Equity and Dividends
Stock Plans:
See Note 11, Stock Plans, to the consolidated financial statements for more information on our stock plans and grant activity during 2016-2018.
Share Repurchases:
See Note 12, Capital Stock, to the consolidated financial statements for more information on our share repurchase program.
Between 2013 and 2017, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of a total of $13.7 billion of our Common Stock through December 31, 2018. On January 31, 2018, our Finance Committee, with authorization delegated from our Board of Directors, approved an increase of $6.0 billion in the share repurchase program, raising the authorization to $19.7 billion of Common Stock repurchases, and extended the program through December 31, 2020. We repurchased approximately $15.0 billion of shares ($2.0 billion in 2018, $2.2 billion in 2017, $2.6 billion in 2016, $3.6 billion in 2015, $1.9 billion in 2014 and $2.7 billion in 2013), at a weighted-average cost of $39.30 per share, through December 31, 2018. The number of shares that we ultimately repurchase under our share repurchase program may vary depending on numerous factors, including share price and other market conditions, our ongoing capital allocation planning, levels of cash and debt balances, other demands for cash, such as acquisition activity, general economic or business conditions and board and management discretion. Additionally, our share repurchase activity during any particular period may fluctuate. We may accelerate, suspend, delay or discontinue our share repurchase program at any time, without notice.
Dividends:
We paid dividends of $1,359 million in 2018, $1,198 million in 2017 and $1,094 million in 2016. On July 25, 2018, the Finance Committee, with authorization delegated from our Board of Directors, declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.26 per share of Class A Common Stock, an increase of 18 percent, which would be $1.04 per common share on an annualized basis. On August 2, 2017, the Finance Committee, with authorization delegated from our Board of Directors, approved a 16% increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.22 per common share or $0.88 per common share on an annualized basis. On July 19, 2016, our Board of Directors approved a 12% increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.19 per common share or $0.76 per common share on an annual basis. The declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors and depends on various factors, including our net earnings, financial condition, cash requirements, future prospects and other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant to its analysis and decision making.
For U.S. income tax purposes only, the Company has determined that 100% of the distributions paid to its shareholders in 2018 are characterized as a qualified dividend paid from U.S. earnings and profits. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors for a full understanding of the tax consequences of the receipt of dividends.
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Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We use non-GAAP financial information and believe it is useful to investors as it provides additional information to facilitate comparisons of historical operating results, identify trends in our underlying operating results and provide additional insight and transparency on how we evaluate our business. We use non-GAAP financial measures to budget, make operating and strategic decisions and evaluate our performance. We have detailed the non-GAAP adjustments that we make in our non-GAAP definitions below. The adjustments generally fall within the following categories: acquisition & divestiture activities, gains and losses on intangible asset sales and non-cash impairments, major program restructuring activities, constant currency and related adjustments, major program financing and hedging activities and other major items affecting comparability of operating results. We believe the non-GAAP measures should always be considered along with the related U.S. GAAP financial measures. We have provided the reconciliations between the GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures below, and we also discuss our underlying GAAP results throughout our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in this Form 10-K.
Our primary non-GAAP financial measures are listed below and reflect how we evaluate our current and prior-year operating results. As new events or circumstances arise, these definitions could change. When our definitions change, we provide the updated definitions and present the related non-GAAP historical results on a comparable basis (1).
• | “Organic Net Revenue” is defined as net revenues excluding the impacts of acquisitions, divestitures (2) and currency rate fluctuations (3). We also evaluate Organic Net Revenue growth from emerging markets and our Power Brands. |
• | Our emerging markets include our Latin America region in its entirety; the AMEA region, excluding Australia, New Zealand and Japan; and the following countries from the Europe region: Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Georgia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, the Baltics and the East Adriatic countries. (Our developed markets include the entire North America region, the Europe region excluding the countries included in the emerging markets definition, and Australia, New Zealand and Japan from the AMEA region.) |
• | Our Power Brands include some of our largest global and regional brands such as Oreo, Chips Ahoy!, Ritz, TUC/Club Social and belVita biscuits; Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Lacta chocolate; Trident gum; Halls candy and Tang powdered beverages. As we shift our focus to invest in a wider group of global and local brands, after 2018, we will discontinue tracking Power Brands and have included it here for a final full-year comparison of results on this basis. |
• | “Adjusted Operating Income” is defined as operating income excluding the impacts of the Simplify to Grow Program (4); gains or losses (including non-cash impairment charges) on goodwill and intangible assets; divestiture (2) or acquisition gains or losses and related divestiture (2), acquisition and integration costs (2); the operating results of divestitures (2); remeasurement of net monetary position (5); mark-to-market impacts from commodity and forecasted currency transaction derivative contracts (6); impact from resolution of tax matters (7); CEO transition remuneration (8); impact from pension participation changes (9); and incremental expenses related to the 2017 malware incident. We also present “Adjusted Operating Income margin,” which is subject to the same adjustments as Adjusted Operating Income. We also evaluate growth in our Adjusted Operating Income on a constant currency basis (3). |
• | “Adjusted EPS” is defined as diluted EPS attributable to Mondelēz International from continuing operations excluding the impacts of the items listed in the Adjusted Operating Income definition as well as losses on debt extinguishment and related expenses; gain on equity method investment transactions; net earnings from divestitures (2); gains or losses on interest rate swaps no longer designated as accounting cash flow hedges due to changed financing and hedging plans and U.S. tax reform discrete impacts (10). Similarly, within Adjusted EPS, our equity method investment net earnings exclude our proportionate share of our investees’ unusual or infrequent items (11). We also evaluate growth in our Adjusted EPS on a constant currency basis (3). |
(1) | When items no longer impact our current or future presentation of non-GAAP operating results, we remove these items from our non-GAAP definitions. During 2018, we added to the non-GAAP definitions the exclusion of: remeasurement gains or losses related to remeasuring net monetary assets or liabilities in Argentina (see footnote (5) below) and the impact from pension participation changes (see footnote (9) below). |
(2) | Divestitures include completed sales of businesses and exits of major product lines upon completion of a sale or licensing agreement. See Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for information on divestitures and acquisitions impacting the comparability of our results. |
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(3) | Constant currency operating results are calculated by dividing or multiplying, as appropriate, the current-period local currency operating results by the currency exchange rates used to translate the financial statements in the comparable prior-year period to determine what the current-period U.S. dollar operating results would have been if the currency exchange rate had not changed from the comparable prior-year period. |
(4) | Non-GAAP adjustments related to the Simplify to Grow Program reflect costs incurred that relate to the objectives of our program to transform our supply chain network and organizational structure. Costs that do not meet the program objectives are not reflected in the non-GAAP adjustments. |
(5) | During the third quarter of 2018, as we began to apply highly inflationary accounting for Argentina, we excluded the remeasurement gains or losses related to remeasuring net monetary assets or liabilities in Argentina to be consistent with our prior accounting for these remeasurement gains or losses for Venezuela when it was subject to highly inflationary accounting prior to 2016. See Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, for more information. |
(6) | During the third quarter of 2016, we began to exclude unrealized gains and losses (mark-to-market impacts) from outstanding commodity and forecasted currency transaction derivatives from our non-GAAP earnings measures until such time that the related exposures impact our operating results. Since we purchase commodity and forecasted currency transaction contracts to mitigate price volatility primarily for inventory requirements in future periods, we made this adjustment to remove the volatility of these future inventory purchases on current operating results to facilitate comparisons of our underlying operating performance across periods. We also discontinued designating commodity and forecasted currency transaction derivatives for hedge accounting treatment. To facilitate comparisons of our underlying operating results, we have recast all historical non-GAAP earnings measures to exclude the mark-to-market impacts. |
(7) | See Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies – Tax Matters, for additional information. |
(8) | On November 20, 2017, Dirk Van de Put succeeded Irene Rosenfeld as CEO of Mondelēz International in advance of her retirement at the end of March 2018. In order to incent Mr. Van de Put to join us, we provided him compensation with a total combined target value of $42.5 million to make him whole for incentive awards he forfeited or grants that were not made to him when he left his former employer. The compensation we granted took the form of cash, deferred stock units, performance share units and stock options. In connection with Irene Rosenfeld’s retirement, we made her outstanding grants of performance share units for the 2016-2018 and 2017-2019 performance cycles eligible for continued vesting and approved a $0.5 million salary for her service as Chairman from January through March 2018. We refer to these elements of Mr. Van de Put’s and Ms. Rosenfeld’s compensation arrangements together as “CEO transition remuneration.” We are excluding amounts we expense as CEO transition remuneration from our non-GAAP results because those amounts are not part of our regular compensation program and are incremental to amounts we would have incurred as ongoing CEO compensation. As a result, in 2017, we excluded amounts expensed for the cash payment to Mr. Van de Put and partial vesting of his equity grants. In 2018, we excluded amounts paid for Ms. Rosenfeld’s service as Chairman and partial vesting of Mr. Van de Put’s and Ms. Rosenfeld’s equity grants. |
(9) | The impact from pension participation changes represents the charges incurred when employee groups are withdrawn from multiemployer pension plans and other changes in employee group pension plan participation. We exclude these charges from our non–GAAP results because those amounts do not reflect our ongoing pension obligations. See Note 10, Benefit Plans, for more information. |
(10) On December 22, 2017, the United States enacted tax reform legislation that included a broad range of business tax provisions as further detailed in Note 15, Income Taxes. We exclude the discrete U.S. tax reform impacts from our Adjusted EPS as they do not reflect our ongoing tax obligations under U.S. tax reform.
(11) We have excluded our proportionate share of our equity method investees’ unusual or infrequent items such as acquisition and divestiture related costs, restructuring program costs and discrete U.S. tax reform impacts, in order to provide investors with a comparable view of our performance across periods. Although we have shareholder rights and board representation commensurate with our ownership interests in our equity method investees and review the underlying operating results and unusual or infrequent items with them each reporting period, we do not have direct control over their operations or resulting revenue and expenses. Our use of equity method investment net earnings on an adjusted basis is not intended to imply that we have any such control. Our GAAP “diluted EPS attributable to Mondelēz International from continuing operations” includes all of the investees’ unusual and infrequent items.
We believe that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered together with our U.S. GAAP financial measures and the reconciliations to the corresponding U.S. GAAP financial measures, provides you with a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting our business than could be obtained absent these disclosures. Because non-GAAP financial measures vary among companies, the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this report may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Our use of these non-GAAP financial measures is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for any U.S. GAAP financial measure. A limitation of these non-GAAP financial measures is they exclude items detailed below that have an impact on our U.S. GAAP reported results. The best way this limitation can be addressed is by evaluating our non-GAAP financial measures in combination with our U.S. GAAP reported results and carefully evaluating the following tables that reconcile U.S. GAAP reported figures to the non-GAAP financial measures in this Form 10-K.
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Organic Net Revenue:
Applying the definition of “Organic Net Revenue”, the adjustments made to “net revenues” (the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure) were to exclude the impact of currency, acquisitions and divestitures. We believe that Organic Net Revenue reflects the underlying growth from the ongoing activities of our business and provides improved comparability of results. We also evaluate our Organic Net Revenue growth from emerging markets and Power Brands, and these underlying measures are also reconciled to U.S. GAAP below.
For the Year Ended December 31, 2018 | For the Year Ended December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Emerging Markets | Developed Markets | Total | Emerging Markets | Developed Markets | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | (in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Revenue | $ | 9,659 | $ | 16,279 | $ | 25,938 | $ | 9,707 | $ | 16,189 | $ | 25,896 | |||||||||||
Impact of currency | 604 | (261 | ) | 343 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
Impact of acquisitions | — | (52 | ) | (52 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Impact of divestitures | — | — | — | — | (270 | ) | (270 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Organic Net Revenue | $ | 10,263 | $ | 15,966 | $ | 26,229 | $ | 9,707 | $ | 15,919 | $ | 25,626 | |||||||||||
For the Year Ended December 31, 2018 | For the Year Ended December 31, 2017 (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Power Brands | Non-Power Brands | Total | Power Brands | Non-Power Brands | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | (in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Revenue | $ | 19,411 | $ | 6,527 | $ | 25,938 | $ | 19,035 | $ | 6,861 | $ | 25,896 | |||||||||||
Impact of currency | 224 | 119 | 343 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Impact of acquisitions | — | (52 | ) | (52 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Impact of divestitures | — | — | — | — | (270 | ) | (270 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Organic Net Revenue | $ | 19,635 | $ | 6,594 | $ | 26,229 | $ | 19,035 | $ | 6,591 | $ | 25,626 | |||||||||||
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017 | For the Year Ended December 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Emerging Markets | Developed Markets | Total | Emerging Markets | Developed Markets | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | (in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Revenue | $ | 9,707 | $ | 16,189 | $ | 25,896 | $ | 9,357 | $ | 16,566 | $ | 25,923 | |||||||||||
Impact of currency | (19 | ) | (58 | ) | (77 | ) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Impact of acquisitions | — | (59 | ) | (59 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Impact of divestitures | — | (270 | ) | (270 | ) | (10 | ) | (643 | ) | (653 | ) | ||||||||||||
Organic Net Revenue | $ | 9,688 | $ | 15,802 | $ | 25,490 | $ | 9,347 | $ | 15,923 | $ | 25,270 | |||||||||||
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017 | For the Year Ended December 31, 2016 (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Power Brands | Non-Power Brands | Total | Power Brands | Non-Power Brands | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | (in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Revenue | $ | 18,913 | $ | 6,983 | $ | 25,896 | $ | 18,372 | $ | 7,551 | $ | 25,923 | |||||||||||
Impact of currency | (97 | ) | 20 | (77 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Impact of acquisitions | (59 | ) | — | (59 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Impact of divestitures | — | (270 | ) | (270 | ) | — | (653 | ) | (653 | ) | |||||||||||||
Organic Net Revenue | $ | 18,757 | $ | 6,733 | $ | 25,490 | $ | 18,372 | $ | 6,898 | $ | 25,270 | |||||||||||
(1) | Each year we reevaluate our Power Brands and confirm the brands in which we will continue to make disproportionate investments. As such, we may make changes in our planned investments in primarily regional Power Brands following our annual review cycles. For 2018, we made limited changes to our list of regional Power Brands and as such, we reclassified 2017 and 2016 Power Brand net revenues on a basis consistent with the current list of Power Brands. As we shift our focus to invest in a wider group of global and local brands, after 2018, we will discontinue tracking Power Brands and have included it here for a final full-year comparison of results on this basis. |
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Adjusted Operating Income:
Applying the definition of “Adjusted Operating Income”, the adjustments made to “operating income” (the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure) were to exclude Simplify to Grow Program; intangible asset impairment charges, mark-to-market impacts from commodity and forecasted currency transaction derivative contracts; malware incident incremental expenses, acquisition integration costs; acquisition-related and divestiture-related costs; the operating results of divestitures; gain on divestitures; the remeasurement of net monetary position; the impact from pension participation changes; the impact from the resolution of tax matters and CEO transition remuneration. We also evaluate Adjusted Operating Income on a constant currency basis. We believe these measures provide improved comparability of underlying operating results.
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||
Operating Income | $ | 3,312 | $ | 3,462 | $ | (150 | ) | (4.3 | )% | |||||
Simplify to Grow Program (1) | 626 | 777 | (151 | ) | ||||||||||
Intangible asset impairment charges (2) | 68 | 109 | (41 | ) | ||||||||||
Mark-to-market (gains)/losses from derivatives (3) | (141 | ) | 96 | (237 | ) | |||||||||
Malware incident incremental expenses | — | 84 | (84 | ) | ||||||||||
Acquisition integration costs (4) | 3 | 3 | — | |||||||||||
Acquisition-related costs (5) | 13 | — | 13 | |||||||||||
Divestiture-related costs (5) | (1 | ) | 31 | (32 | ) | |||||||||
Operating income from divestiture (5) | — | (61 | ) | 61 | ||||||||||
Gain on divestitures (5) | — | (186 | ) | 186 | ||||||||||
Remeasurement of net monetary position (6) | 11 | — | 11 | |||||||||||
Impact from pension participation changes (7) | 423 | — | 423 | |||||||||||
Impact from resolution of tax matters (8) | (15 | ) | (209 | ) | 194 | |||||||||
CEO transition remuneration (9) | 22 | 14 | 8 | |||||||||||
Other/rounding | — | (1 | ) | 1 | ||||||||||
Adjusted Operating Income | $ | 4,321 | $ | 4,119 | $ | 202 | 4.9 | % | ||||||
Unfavorable currency translation | 55 | — | 55 | |||||||||||
Adjusted Operating Income (constant currency) | $ | 4,376 | $ | 4,119 | $ | 257 | 6.2 | % | ||||||
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For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||
Operating Income | $ | 3,462 | $ | 2,554 | $ | 908 | 35.6 | % | ||||||
Simplify to Grow Program (1) | 777 | 1,072 | (295 | ) | ||||||||||
Intangible asset impairment charges (2) | 109 | 137 | (28 | ) | ||||||||||
Mark-to-market losses from derivatives (3) | 96 | 94 | 2 | |||||||||||
Malware incident incremental expenses | 84 | — | 84 | |||||||||||
Acquisition integration costs (4) | 3 | 7 | (4 | ) | ||||||||||
Acquisition-related costs (5) | — | 1 | (1 | ) | ||||||||||
Divestiture-related costs (5) | 31 | 86 | (55 | ) | ||||||||||
Operating income from divestiture (5) | (61 | ) | (153 | ) | 92 | |||||||||
Gain on divestitures (5) | (186 | ) | (9 | ) | (177 | ) | ||||||||
Gain on sale of intangible assets (5) | — | (15 | ) | 15 | ||||||||||
Impact from resolution of tax matters (8) | (209 | ) | — | (209 | ) | |||||||||
CEO transition remuneration (9) | 14 | — | 14 | |||||||||||
Other/rounding | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | — | |||||||||
Adjusted Operating Income | $ | 4,119 | $ | 3,773 | $ | 346 | 9.2 | % | ||||||
Favorable currency translation | (3 | ) | — | (3 | ) | |||||||||
Adjusted Operating Income (constant currency) | $ | 4,116 | $ | 3,773 | $ | 343 | 9.1 | % | ||||||
(1) | Refer to Note 7, Restructuring Program, for more information. |
(2) | Refer to Note 5, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, for more information on trademark impairments. |
(3) | Refer to Note 9, Financial Instruments, Note 17, Segment Reporting, and Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item for more information on the unrealized gains/losses on commodity and forecasted currency transaction derivatives. |
(4) | Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for more information on the acquisition of a biscuit business in Vietnam. |
(5) | Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for more information on prior-year divestitures, intangible asset sales and the June 7, 2018 acquisition of Tate's Bake Shop. |
(6) | Refer to Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Currency Translation and Highly Inflationary Accounting, for information on our application of highly inflationary accounting for Argentina. |
(7) | Refer to Note 10, Benefit Plans, for more information. |
(8) | Refer to Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies – Tax Matters, for more information. |
(9) | Refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures definition and related table notes. |
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Adjusted EPS:
Applying the definition of “Adjusted EPS” (1), the adjustments made to “diluted EPS attributable to Mondelēz International” (the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure) were to exclude the impacts of the items listed in the Adjusted Operating Income tables above as well as net gain or loss related to interest rate swaps; loss on debt extinguishment; U.S. tax reform discrete impacts; gain on equity method investment transactions; and our proportionate share of unusual or infrequent items recorded by our JDE and Keurig equity method investees. We also evaluate Adjusted EPS on a constant currency basis. We believe Adjusted EPS provides improved comparability of underlying operating results.
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
Diluted EPS attributable to Mondelēz International | $ | 2.28 | $ | 1.85 | $ | 0.43 | 23.2 | % | ||||||
Simplify to Grow Program (2) | 0.32 | 0.39 | (0.07 | ) | ||||||||||
Intangible asset impairment charges (2) | 0.03 | 0.05 | (0.02 | ) | ||||||||||
Mark-to-market (gains)/losses from derivatives (2) | (0.09 | ) | 0.06 | (0.15 | ) | |||||||||
Malware incident incremental expenses | — | 0.04 | (0.04 | ) | ||||||||||
Acquisition integration costs (2) | — | — | — | |||||||||||
Acquisition-related costs (2) | 0.01 | — | 0.01 | |||||||||||
Divestiture-related costs (2) | — | 0.02 | (0.02 | ) | ||||||||||
Net earnings from divestitures (2) | — | (0.03 | ) | 0.03 | ||||||||||
Net gain on divestitures (2) | — | (0.11 | ) | 0.11 | ||||||||||
Remeasurement of net monetary position (2) | 0.01 | — | 0.01 | |||||||||||
Impact from pension participation changes (2) | 0.22 | — | 0.22 | |||||||||||
Impact from resolution of tax matters (2) | (0.01 | ) | (0.13 | ) | 0.12 | |||||||||
CEO transition remuneration (2) | 0.01 | 0.01 | — | |||||||||||
Net gain related to interest rate swaps (3) | (0.01 | ) | — | (0.01 | ) | |||||||||
Loss on debt extinguishment (4) | 0.07 | — | 0.07 | |||||||||||
U.S. tax reform discrete net tax expense/(benefit) (5) | 0.01 | (0.03 | ) | 0.04 | ||||||||||
Gain on equity method investment transactions (6) | (0.39 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.37 | ) | ||||||||
Equity method investee acquisition-related and other adjustments (7) | (0.03 | ) | 0.04 | (0.07 | ) | |||||||||
Adjusted EPS | $ | 2.43 | $ | 2.14 | $ | 0.29 | 13.6 | % | ||||||
Unfavorable currency translation | 0.03 | — | 0.03 | |||||||||||
Adjusted EPS (constant currency) | $ | 2.46 | $ | 2.14 | $ | 0.32 | 15.0 | % | ||||||
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For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||
Diluted EPS attributable to Mondelēz International | $ | 1.85 | $ | 1.04 | $ | 0.81 | 77.9 | % | ||||||
Simplify to Grow Program (2) | 0.39 | 0.51 | (0.12 | ) | ||||||||||
Intangible asset impairment charges (2) | 0.05 | 0.06 | (0.01 | ) | ||||||||||
Mark-to-market losses from derivatives (2) | 0.06 | 0.05 | 0.01 | |||||||||||
Malware incident incremental expenses | 0.04 | — | 0.04 | |||||||||||
Acquisition integration costs (2) | — | 0.01 | (0.01 | ) | ||||||||||
Divestiture-related costs (2) | 0.02 | 0.05 | (0.03 | ) | ||||||||||
Net earnings from divestitures (2) | (0.03 | ) | (0.08 | ) | 0.05 | |||||||||
Net gain on divestitures (2) | (0.11 | ) | — | (0.11 | ) | |||||||||
Gain on sale of intangible assets (2) | — | (0.01 | ) | 0.01 | ||||||||||
Impact from resolution of tax matters (2) | (0.13 | ) | — | (0.13 | ) | |||||||||
CEO transition remuneration (2) | 0.01 | — | 0.01 | |||||||||||
Loss related to interest rate swaps (3) | — | 0.04 | (0.04 | ) | ||||||||||
Loss on debt extinguishment (4) | — | 0.17 | (0.17 | ) | ||||||||||
U.S. tax reform discrete net tax benefit (5) | (0.03 | ) | — | (0.03 | ) | |||||||||
Gain on equity method investment transactions (6) | (0.02 | ) | (0.03 | ) | 0.01 | |||||||||
Equity method investee acquisition-related and other adjustments (7) | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.01 | |||||||||||
Adjusted EPS | $ | 2.14 | $ | 1.84 | $ | 0.30 | 16.3 | % | ||||||
Favorable currency translation | (0.01 | ) | — | (0.01 | ) | |||||||||
Adjusted EPS (constant currency) | $ | 2.13 | $ | 1.84 | $ | 0.29 | 15.8 | % | ||||||
(1) | The tax expense/(benefit) of each of the pre-tax items excluded from our GAAP results was computed based on the facts and tax assumptions associated with each item, and such impacts have also been excluded from Adjusted EPS. |
• | For the year ended December 31, 2018, taxes for the: Simplify to Grow Program were $(156) million, intangible asset impairment charges were $(16) million, mark-to-market gains from derivatives were $10 million, acquisition-related costs were $(3) million, impact from pension participation changes were $(108) million, impact from resolution of tax matters were $(6) million, CEO transition remuneration were $(5) million, net gain related to interest rate swaps were $2 million, loss on debt extinguishment were $(35) million, U.S. tax reform were $19 million, gain on equity method investment transaction were $192 million and equity method investee and other adjustments were $16 million. |
• | For the year ended December 31, 2017, taxes for the: Simplify to Grow Program costs were $(190) million, intangible asset impairment charges were $(30) million, acquisition integration costs were zero, gain on equity method investment transactions were $15 million, net gain on divestitures were $7 million, net earnings on divestitures were $15 million, divestiture-related costs were $8 million, loss on debt extinguishment and related costs were $(4) million, malware incident incremental costs were $(27) million, benefits from resolution of tax matters were $75 million, equity method investee acquisition-related and other adjustments were $10 million, CEO transition remuneration were $(5) million, mark-to-market gains/(losses) from derivatives were $(6) million and U.S. tax reform were $(44) million. |
• | For the year ended December 31, 2016, taxes for the: Simplify to Grow Program costs were $(288) million, intangible asset impairment charges were $(37) million, gain on sale of intangible assets were $3 million, acquisition integration costs were zero, net earnings from divestitures were $40 million, divestiture-related costs were $(15) million, loss on debt extinguishment and related costs were $(163) million, loss related to interest rate swaps were $(36) million, equity method investee acquisition-related and other adjustments were $3 million, gain on equity method investment transactions were $2 million and mark-to-market gains/(losses) from derivatives were $(11) million. |
(2) | See the Adjusted Operating Income table above and the related footnotes for more information. |
(3) | Refer to Note 9, Financial Instruments, for information on our interest rate swaps that we no longer designate as cash flow hedges. |
(4) | Refer to Note 8, Debt and Borrowing Arrangements, for more information on losses on debt extinguishment. |
(5) | Refer to Note 15, Income Taxes, for more information on the impact of U.S. tax reform. |
(6) | Refer to Note 6, Equity Method Investments, for more information on the KDP transaction in 2018, the 2017 sale of an interest in one of our equity method investments and the 2016 acquisition of an interest in Keurig. |
(7) | Includes our proportionate share of unusual or infrequent items, such as acquisition and divestiture-related costs, restructuring program costs and discrete U.S. tax reform impacts recorded by our JDE and Keurig equity method investees. |
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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
As we operate globally, we are primarily exposed to currency exchange rate, commodity price and interest rate market risks. We monitor and manage these exposures as part of our overall risk management program. Our risk management program focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effects that the volatility of these markets may have on our operating results. We principally utilize derivative instruments to reduce significant, unanticipated earnings fluctuations that may arise from volatility in currency exchange rates, commodity prices and interest rates. For additional information on our derivative activity and the types of derivative instruments we use to hedge our currency exchange, commodity price and interest rate exposures, see Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, and Note 9, Financial Instruments.
Many of our non-U.S. subsidiaries operate in functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Fluctuations in currency exchange rates create volatility in our reported results as we translate the balance sheets, operating results and cash flows of these subsidiaries into the U.S. dollar for consolidated reporting purposes. The translation of non-U.S. dollar denominated balance sheets and statements of earnings of our subsidiaries into the U.S. dollar for consolidated reporting generally results in a cumulative translation adjustment to other comprehensive income within equity. A stronger U.S. dollar relative to other functional currencies adversely affects our consolidated earnings and net assets while a weaker U.S. dollar benefits our consolidated earnings and net assets. While we hedge significant forecasted currency exchange transactions as well as certain net assets of non-U.S. operations and other currency impacts, we cannot fully predict or eliminate volatility arising from changes in currency exchange rates on our consolidated financial results. See Consolidated Results of Operations and Results of Operations by Reportable Segment under Discussion and Analysis of Historical Results for currency exchange effects on our financial results. For additional information on the impact of currency policies, recent currency devaluations and highly inflationary accounting on our financial condition and results of operations, also see Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Currency Translation and Highly Inflationary Accounting.
We also continually monitor the market for commodities that we use in our products. Input costs may fluctuate widely due to international demand, weather conditions, government policy and regulation and unforeseen conditions. To manage input cost volatility, we enter into forward purchase agreements and other derivative financial instruments. We also pursue productivity and cost saving measures and take pricing actions when necessary to mitigate the impact of higher input costs on earnings.
We regularly evaluate our variable and fixed-rate debt as well as current and expected interest rates in the markets in which we raise capital. Our primary exposures include movements in U.S. Treasury rates, corporate credit spreads, commercial paper rates as well as limited debt tied to London Interbank Offered Rates (“LIBOR”). The Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom plans to phase out LIBOR by the end of 2021. We do not anticipate a significant impact to our financial position from the planned phase out of LIBOR given our current mix of variable and fixed-rate debt. We periodically use interest rate swaps and forward interest rate contracts to achieve a desired proportion of variable versus fixed rate debt based on current and projected market conditions. Our weighted-average interest rate on our total debt was 2.3% as of December 31, 2018, up from 2.1% as of December 31, 2017 primarily due to higher interest rates on commercial paper borrowings.
Beginning in the first quarter of 2018, we entered into new investment hedge derivative contracts, specifically, cross-currency interest rate swaps and forwards, to hedge certain investments in our non-U.S. operations against movements in exchange rates. See Note 9, Financial Instruments, for more information on our derivative activity. There were no other significant changes in the types of derivative instruments we use to hedge our exposures between December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018.
Value at Risk:
We use a value at risk (“VAR”) computation to estimate: 1) the potential one-day loss in the fair value of our interest rate-sensitive financial instruments; and 2) the potential one-day loss in pre-tax earnings of our currency and commodity price-sensitive derivative financial instruments. The VAR analysis was done separately for our currency exchange, fixed income and commodity risk portfolios as of each quarter end during the periods presented below. The instruments included in the VAR computation were currency exchange forwards and options for currency exchange risk, debt and swaps for interest rate risk, and commodity forwards, futures and options for commodity risk. Excluded from the computation were anticipated transactions, currency trade payables and receivables, and net investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries, which the above-mentioned instruments are intended to hedge.
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The VAR model assumes normal market conditions, a 95% confidence interval and a one-day holding period. A parametric delta-gamma approximation technique was used to determine the expected return distribution in interest rates, currencies and commodity prices for the purpose of calculating the fixed income, currency exchange and commodity VAR, respectively. The parameters used for estimating the expected return distributions were determined by observing interest rate, currency exchange and commodity price movements over the prior quarter for the calculation of VAR amounts at December 31, 2018 and 2017, and over each of the four prior quarters for the calculation of average VAR amounts during each year. The values of currency and commodity options do not change on a one-to-one basis with the underlying currency or commodity and were valued accordingly in the VAR computation.
As of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the estimated potential one-day loss in fair value of our interest rate-sensitive instruments, primarily debt, and the estimated potential one-day loss in pre-tax earnings from our currency and commodity instruments, as calculated in the VAR model, were:
Pre-Tax Earnings Impact | Fair Value Impact | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At 12/31/18 | Average | High | Low | At 12/31/18 | Average | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Instruments sensitive to: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rates | $ | 35 | $ | 33 | $ | 36 | $ | 27 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency rates | $ | 19 | $ | 30 | $ | 39 | $ | 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity prices | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pre-Tax Earnings Impact | Fair Value Impact | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At 12/31/17 | Average | High | Low | At 12/31/17 | Average | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Instruments sensitive to: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rates | $ | 31 | $ | 45 | $ | 55 | $ | 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency rates | $ | 15 | $ | 16 | $ | 22 | $ | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity prices | 14 | 17 | 24 | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This VAR computation is a risk analysis tool designed to statistically estimate the maximum expected daily loss, under the specified confidence interval and assuming normal market conditions, from adverse movements in interest rates, currency exchange rates and commodity prices. The computation does not represent actual losses in fair value or earnings we will incur, nor does it consider the effect of favorable changes in market rates. We cannot predict actual future movements in market rates and do not present these VAR results to be indicative of future movements in market rates or to be representative of any actual impact that future changes in market rates may have on our future financial results.
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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Mondelēz International, Inc.
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Mondelēz International, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive earnings, equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, including the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.
Change in Accounting Principle
As discussed in Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for a certain equity method investment in 2018.
Basis for Opinions
The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
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Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
Chicago, Illinois
February 8, 2019
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2001.
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Mondelēz International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
For the Years Ended December 31
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data)
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
Net revenues | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Cost of sales | |||||||||||
Gross profit | |||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses | |||||||||||
Asset impairment and exit costs | |||||||||||
Net gain on divestitures | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Amortization of intangibles | |||||||||||
Operating income | |||||||||||
Benefit plan non-service income | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Interest and other expense, net | |||||||||||
Earnings before income taxes | |||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Gain on equity method investment transactions | |||||||||||
Equity method investment net earnings | |||||||||||
Net earnings | |||||||||||
Noncontrolling interest earnings | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Net earnings attributable to Mondelēz International | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Per share data: | |||||||||||
Basic earnings per share attributable to Mondelēz International | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Mondelēz International | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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Mondelēz International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings
For the Years Ended December 31
(in millions of U.S. dollars)
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
Net earnings | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Other comprehensive earnings/(losses), net of tax: | |||||||||||
Currency translation adjustment | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Pension and other benefit plans | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Derivative cash flow hedges | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Total other comprehensive earnings/(losses) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Comprehensive earnings | |||||||||||
less: Comprehensive earnings/(losses) attributable to noncontrolling interests | ( | ) | |||||||||
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Mondelēz International | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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Mondelēz International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets, as of December 31
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except share data)
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | |||||
Trade receivables (net of allowances of $40 at December 31, 2018 and $50 at December 31, 2017) | |||||||
Other receivables (net of allowances of $47 at December 31, 2018 and $98 at December 31, 2017) | |||||||
Inventories, net | |||||||
Other current assets | |||||||
Total current assets | |||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | |||||||
Goodwill | |||||||
Intangible assets, net | |||||||
Prepaid pension assets | |||||||
Deferred income taxes | |||||||
Equity method investments | |||||||
Other assets | |||||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | $ | |||||
LIABILITIES | |||||||
Short-term borrowings | $ | $ | |||||
Current portion of long-term debt | |||||||
Accounts payable | |||||||
Accrued marketing | |||||||
Accrued employment costs | |||||||
Other current liabilities | |||||||
Total current liabilities | |||||||
Long-term debt | |||||||
Deferred income taxes | |||||||
Accrued pension costs | |||||||
Accrued postretirement health care costs | |||||||
Other liabilities | |||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES | |||||||
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 13) | |||||||
EQUITY | |||||||
Common Stock, no par value (5,000,000,000 shares authorized and 1,996,537,778 shares issued at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017) | |||||||
Additional paid-in capital | |||||||
Retained earnings | |||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive losses | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||
Treasury stock, at cost (545,537,923 shares at December 31, 2018 and 508,401,694 shares at December 31, 2017) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||
Total Mondelēz International Shareholders’ Equity | |||||||
Noncontrolling interest | |||||||
TOTAL EQUITY | |||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $ | $ | |||||
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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Mondelēz International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Equity
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data)
Mondelēz International Shareholders’ Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Earnings/ (Losses) | Treasury Stock | Non-controlling Interest | Total Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||
Balances at January 1, 2016 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive earnings/(losses): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive earnings/ (losses), net of income taxes | — | — | — | ( | ) | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Exercise of stock options and issuance of other stock awards | — | ( | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock repurchased | — | — | — | — | ( | ) | — | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Cash dividends declared ($0.72 per share) | — | — | ( | ) | — | — | — | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividends paid on noncontrolling interest and other activities | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Balances at December 31, 2016 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive earnings/(losses): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive earnings/ (losses), net of income taxes | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise of stock options and issuance of other stock awards | — | ( | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock repurchased | — | — | — | — | ( | ) | — | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Cash dividends declared ($0.82 per share) | — | — | ( | ) | — | — | — | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividends paid on noncontrolling interest and other activities | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Balances at December 31, 2017 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive earnings/(losses): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive earnings/ (losses), net of income taxes | — | — | — | ( | ) | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Exercise of stock options and issuance of other stock awards | — | ( | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock repurchased | — | — | — | — | ( | ) | — | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Cash dividends declared ($0.96 per share) | — | — | ( | ) | — | — | — | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividends paid on noncontrolling interest and other activities | — | — | — | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balances at December 31, 2018 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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Mondelēz International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Years Ended December 31
(in millions of U.S. dollars)
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
CASH PROVIDED BY/(USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||
Net earnings | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to operating cash flows: | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | |||||||||||
U.S. tax reform transition tax (benefit)/tax | ( | ) | |||||||||
Deferred income tax provision/(benefit) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Asset impairments and accelerated depreciation | |||||||||||
Loss on early extinguishment of debt | |||||||||||
Net gain on divestitures | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Gain on equity method investment transactions | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Equity method investment net earnings | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Distributions from equity method investments | |||||||||||
Other non-cash items, net | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Change in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and divestitures: | |||||||||||
Receivables, net | ( | ) | |||||||||
Inventories, net | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Accounts payable | |||||||||||
Other current assets | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Other current liabilities | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Change in pension and postretirement assets and liabilities, net | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | |||||||||||
CASH PROVIDED BY/(USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||
Capital expenditures | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Acquisitions, net of cash received | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Proceeds from divestitures, net of disbursements | |||||||||||
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets | |||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
CASH PROVIDED BY/(USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||
Issuances of commercial paper, maturities greater than 90 days | |||||||||||
Repayments of commercial paper, maturities greater than 90 days | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Net issuances of other short-term borrowings | ( | ) | |||||||||
Long-term debt proceeds | |||||||||||
Long-term debt repaid | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Repurchase of Common Stock | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Dividends paid | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Other | |||||||||||
Net cash used in financing activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents: | |||||||||||
Increase/(decrease) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Balance at beginning of period | |||||||||||
Balance at end of period | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Cash paid: | |||||||||||
Interest | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Income taxes | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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Mondelēz International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The consolidated financial statements include Mondelēz International, Inc. as well as our wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries, except our Venezuelan subsidiaries which were deconsolidated in 2015. All intercompany transactions are eliminated. The noncontrolling interest represents the noncontrolling investors’ interests in the results of subsidiaries that we control and consolidate. We account for investments over which we exercise significant influence under the equity method of accounting. Investments over which we do not have significant influence or control are not material and are carried at cost as there is no readily determinable fair value for the equity interests. Under the cost method of accounting, earnings are recognized to the extent cash is received.
On October 1, 2016, we integrated our Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (“EEMEA”) operating segment into our Europe and Asia Pacific operating segments to further leverage and optimize the operating scale built within the Europe and Asia Pacific regions. Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Belarus, Georgia and Kazakhstan were combined within our Europe region, while the remaining Middle East and African countries were combined within our Asia Pacific region to form a new Asia, Middle East and Africa (“AMEA”) operating segment. We have reflected the segment change as if it had occurred in all periods presented.
Our operations and management structure are organized into four operating segments:
• | Latin America |
• | AMEA |
• | Europe |
• |
See Note 17, Segment Reporting, for additional information on our segments.
We translate the results of operations of our subsidiaries from multiple currencies using average exchange rates during each period and translate balance sheet accounts using exchange rates at the end of each period. We record currency translation adjustments as a component of equity (except for highly inflationary currencies) and realized exchange gains and losses on transactions in earnings.
Highly inflationary accounting is triggered when a country’s three-year cumulative inflation rate exceeds 100%. It requires the remeasurement of financial statements of subsidiaries in the country, from the functional currency of the subsidiary to our U.S. dollar reporting currency, with currency remeasurement gains or losses recorded in earnings. As discussed below, beginning on July 1, 2018, we began to apply highly inflationary accounting for our operations in Argentina.
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Argentina. During the second quarter of 2018, primarily based on published estimates which indicated that Argentina's three-year cumulative inflation rate exceeded 100%, we concluded that Argentina became a highly inflationary economy for accounting purposes. As of July 1, 2018, we began to apply highly inflationary accounting for our Argentinean subsidiaries and changed their functional currency from the Argentinean peso to the U.S. dollar. On July 1, 2018, both monetary and non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in Argentinean pesos were remeasured into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate as of the balance sheet date, with remeasurement and other transaction gains and losses recorded in net earnings. As of December 31, 2018, our Argentinean operations had less than $1 million of Argentinean peso denominated net monetary liabilities. Our Argentinean operations contributed $469 million, or 1.8 % of consolidated net revenues in 2018. During 2018 we recorded an $11 million remeasurement loss within selling, general and administrative expenses related to the devaluation of the Argentinean peso denominated net monetary assets from July 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018.
Brexit. In 2018, we generated 8.6 % of our net revenues in the United Kingdom. We continue to monitor the U.K. planned exit from the European Union ("Brexit") and take protective measures in response to the potential impacts on our results of operations and financial condition. Following the Brexit vote in June 2016, there was significant volatility in the global stock markets and currency exchange rates. The value of the British pound sterling relative to the U.S. dollar declined significantly and negatively affected our translated results reported in U.S. dollars. If the ultimate terms of the United Kingdom’s separation from the European Union negatively impact the U.K. economy or result in disruptions to sales or our supply chain, the impact to our results of operations and financial condition could be material. We are taking measures to increase our resources in customer service & logistics together with increasing our inventory levels of imported raw materials, packaging and finished goods in the United Kingdom to help us manage through the Brexit transition and the inherent risks.
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Property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost and depreciated by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Machinery and equipment are depreciated over periods ranging from 3 to 20 years and buildings and building improvements over periods up to 40 years.
We test goodwill and non-amortizable intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis on July 1. We assess goodwill impairment risk throughout the year by performing a qualitative review of entity-specific, industry, market and general economic factors affecting our goodwill reporting units. We review our operating segment and reporting unit structure for goodwill testing annually or as significant changes in the organization occur. Annually, we may perform qualitative testing, or depending on factors such as prior-year test results, current year developments, current risk evaluations and other practical considerations, we may elect to do quantitative testing instead. In our quantitative testing, we compare a reporting unit’s estimated fair value with its carrying value. We estimate a reporting unit’s fair value using a discounted cash flow method that incorporates planned growth rates, market-based discount rates and estimates of residual value. This year, for our Europe and North America reporting units, we used a market-based, weighted-average cost of capital of 7.3 % to discount the projected cash flows of those operations. For our Latin America and AMEA reporting units, we used a risk-rated discount rate of 10.3 %. Estimating the fair value of individual reporting units requires us to make assumptions and estimates regarding our future plans, industry and economic conditions, and our actual results and conditions may differ over time. If the carrying value of a reporting unit’s net assets exceeds its fair value, we would recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value.
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We predominantly sell food and beverage products across several product categories and in all regions as disclosed in Note 17, Segment Reporting. We recognize revenue when control over the products transfers to our customers, which generally occurs upon delivery or shipment of the products. A small percentage of our net revenues relates to the licensing of our intellectual property, predominantly brand and trade names, and we record these revenues when earned within the period of the license term. We account for product shipping, handling and insurance as fulfillment activities with revenues for these activities recorded within net revenue and costs recorded within cost of sales. Any taxes collected on behalf of government authorities are excluded from net revenues.
Revenues are recorded net of trade and sales incentives and estimated product returns. Known or expected pricing or revenue adjustments, such as trade discounts, rebates or returns, are estimated at the time of sale. We base these estimates of expected amounts principally on historical utilization and redemption rates. Estimates that affect revenue, such as trade incentives and product returns, are monitored and adjusted each period until the incentives or product returns are realized.
We use financial instruments to manage our currency exchange rate, commodity price and interest rate risks. We monitor and manage these exposures as part of our overall risk management program, which focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effects that the volatility of these markets may have on our operating results. A principal objective of our risk management strategies is to reduce significant, unanticipated earnings fluctuations that may arise from volatility in currency exchange rates, commodity prices and interest rates, principally through the use of derivative instruments.
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We use a combination of primarily currency forward contracts, futures, options and swaps; commodity forward contracts, futures and options; and interest rate swaps to manage our exposure to cash flow variability, protect the value of our existing currency assets and liabilities and protect the value of our debt. See Note 9, Financial Instruments, for more information on the types of derivative instruments we use.
We record derivative financial instruments on a gross basis and at fair value in our consolidated balance sheets within other current assets or other current liabilities due to their relatively short-term duration. Cash flows from derivative instruments are classified in the consolidated statements of cash flows based on the nature of the derivative instrument. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is designated as a cash flow hedge, to the extent that the hedge is effective, are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive earnings/(losses) and reclassified to earnings when the hedged item affects earnings. Changes in fair value of economic hedges and the ineffective portion of all hedges are recognized in current period earnings. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is designated as a fair value hedge, along with the changes in the fair value of the related hedged asset or liability, are recorded in earnings in the same period. We use non-U.S. dollar denominated debt to hedge a portion of our net investment in non-U.S. operations against adverse movements in exchange rates. Currency movements related to our non-U.S. debt and our net investments in non-U.S. operations, as well as the related deferred taxes, are recorded within currency translation adjustment in accumulated other comprehensive earnings/(losses).
In order to qualify for hedge accounting, a specified level of hedging effectiveness between the derivative instrument and the item being hedged must exist at inception and throughout the hedged period. We must also formally document the nature of and relationship between the derivative and the hedged item, as well as our risk management objectives, strategies for undertaking the hedge transaction and method of assessing hedge effectiveness. Additionally, for a hedge of a forecasted transaction, the significant characteristics and expected term of the forecasted transaction must be specifically identified, and it must be probable that the forecasted transaction will occur. If it is no longer probable that the hedged forecasted transaction will occur, we would recognize the gain or loss related to the derivative in earnings.
When we use derivatives, we are exposed to credit and market risks. Credit risk exists when a counterparty to a derivative contract might fail to fulfill its performance obligations under the contract. We reduce our credit risk by entering into transactions with counterparties with high quality, investment grade credit ratings, limiting the amount of exposure with each counterparty and monitoring the financial condition of our counterparties. We also maintain a policy of requiring that all significant, non-exchange traded derivative contracts with a duration of one year or longer are governed by an International Swaps and Derivatives Association master agreement. Market risk exists when the value of a derivative or other financial instrument might be adversely affected by changes in market conditions and commodity prices, currency exchange rates or interest rates. We manage derivative market risk by limiting the types of derivative instruments and derivative strategies we use and the degree of market risk that we plan to hedge through the use of derivative instruments.
Commodity derivatives. We are exposed to price risk related to forecasted purchases of certain commodities that we primarily use as raw materials. We enter into commodity forward contracts primarily for wheat, sugar and other sweeteners, soybean and vegetable oils and cocoa. Commodity forward contracts generally are not subject to the accounting requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities under the normal purchases exception. We also use commodity futures and options to hedge the price of certain input costs, including cocoa, energy costs, sugar and other sweeteners, wheat, packaging, dairy, corn, and soybean and vegetable oils. We also sell commodity futures to unprice future purchase commitments, and we occasionally use related futures to cross-hedge a commodity exposure. We are not a party to leveraged derivatives and, by policy, do not use financial instruments for speculative purposes. During the third quarter of 2016, we discontinued designating commodity derivatives for hedge accounting treatment. Any unrealized gains or losses (mark-to-market impacts) and realized gains or losses are recorded in earnings.
Currency exchange derivatives. We use various financial instruments to mitigate our exposure to changes in exchange rates from third-party and intercompany current and forecasted transactions. These instruments may include currency exchange forward contracts, futures, options and swaps. Based on the size and location of our businesses, we use these instruments to hedge our exposure to certain currencies, including the euro, pound sterling, Swiss franc, Canadian dollar and Mexican peso. During the third quarter of 2016, we discontinued designating currency exchange derivatives for hedge accounting treatment. Any unrealized gains or losses (mark-to-market impacts) and realized gains or losses are recorded in earnings (see Note 9, Financial Instruments, for additional information).
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Interest rate cash flow and fair value hedges. We manage interest rate volatility by modifying the pricing or maturity characteristics of certain liabilities so that the net impact on expense is not, on a material basis, adversely affected by movements in interest rates. As a result of interest rate fluctuations, hedged fixed-rate liabilities appreciate or depreciate in market value. We expect the effect of this unrealized appreciation or depreciation to be substantially offset by our gains or losses on the derivative instruments that are linked to these hedged liabilities. We use derivative instruments, including interest rate swaps that have indices related to the pricing of specific liabilities as part of our interest rate risk management strategy. As a matter of policy, we do not use highly leveraged derivative instruments for interest rate risk management. We use interest rate swaps to economically convert a portion of our fixed-rate debt into variable-rate debt. Under the interest rate swap contracts, we agree with other parties to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed-rate and floating-rate interest amounts, which is calculated based on an agreed-upon notional amount. We use interest rate swaps to hedge the variability of interest payment cash flows on a portion of our future debt obligations. We also execute cross-currency interest rate swaps to hedge interest payments on newly issued debt denominated in a different currency than the functional currency of the borrowing entity. Substantially all of these derivative instruments are highly effective and qualify for hedge accounting treatment.
Hedges of net investments in non-U.S. operations. We have numerous investments outside the United States. The net assets of these subsidiaries are exposed to changes and volatility in currency exchange rates. We use local currency denominated debt to hedge our non-U.S. net investments against adverse movements in exchange rates. We designated our euro, pound sterling, Swiss franc and Canadian dollar-denominated borrowings as a net investment hedge of a portion of our overall international operations. The gains and losses on our net investment in these designated international operations are economically offset by losses and gains on our euro, pound sterling, Swiss franc and Canadian dollar-denominated borrowings. The change in the debt’s value, net of deferred taxes, is recorded in the currency translation adjustment component of accumulated other comprehensive earnings/(losses).
Our provision for income taxes includes amounts payable or refundable for the current year, the effects of deferred taxes and impacts from uncertain tax positions. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of our assets and liabilities, operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply in the years in which those differences are expected to reverse.
The realization of certain deferred tax assets is dependent on generating sufficient taxable income in the appropriate jurisdiction prior to the expiration of the carryforward periods. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. When assessing the need for a valuation allowance, we consider any carryback potential, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences (including liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits), future taxable income and tax planning strategies.
We recognize tax benefits in our financial statements from uncertain tax positions only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained based on the technical merits of the position. The amount we recognize is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon resolution. Future changes related to the expected resolution of uncertain tax positions could affect tax expense in the period when the change occurs.
We monitor for changes in tax laws and reflect the impacts of tax law changes in the period of enactment. In response to the United States tax reform legislation enacted on December 22, 2017 (“U.S. tax reform”), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued guidance that allowed us to record provisional amounts for the impacts of U.S. tax reform if the full accounting could not be completed before we filed our 2017 financial statements. For provisions of the tax law where we were unable to make a reasonable estimate of the impact, the guidance allowed us to continue to apply the historical tax provisions in computing our income tax liability and deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2017. The guidance allowed us to finalize accounting for the U.S. tax reform changes within one year of the December 22, 2017 enactment date. We have finalized our
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In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") that aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs for internal-use software. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We are currently assessing the impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued an ASU that modifies the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The new standard may impact our disclosures and is not expected to have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued an ASU that modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The new standard may impact our disclosures and is not expected to have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In June 2018, the FASB issued an ASU that requires entities to record share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from non-employees at fair value as of adoption date. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. This ASU is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In February 2018, the FASB issued an ASU that permits entities to elect a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the 2017 enactment of U.S. tax reform legislation. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect to elect to reclassify these stranded tax effects from U.S. tax reform when we adopt this ASU in the first quarter of 2019. As such, this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In August 2017, the FASB issued an ASU to better align hedge accounting with an entity's risk management activities and improve disclosures surrounding hedging. For cash flow and net investment hedges as of the adoption date, the ASU requires a modified retrospective transition approach. Presentation and disclosure requirements related to this ASU are required prospectively. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We early adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018 and there was no material impact to our consolidated financial statements upon adoption. Refer to Note 9, Financial Instruments, for additional information.
In June 2016, the FASB issued an ASU on the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments. This ASU requires entities to measure the impairment of certain financial instruments, including trade receivables, based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for financial statement periods beginning after December 15, 2018. We are currently assessing the guidance. This ASU is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued an ASU on lease accounting to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by requiring the recognition of Right of Use ("ROU") assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The ASU revises existing U.S. GAAP and outlines a new model for lessors and lessees to use in accounting for lease contracts. The guidance requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases, with the exception of short-term leases. In the statement of earnings, lessees will classify leases as either operating (resulting in straight-line expense) or financing (resulting in a front-loaded expense pattern). In July 2018, the FASB issued an ASU which allows for an alternative transition approach, which will not require adjustments to comparative prior-period amounts. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We adopted the new standard on January 1, 2019. We elected to apply the package of practical expedients, including not reassessing whether expired or existing contracts contained leases, the classification of those leases
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and not reassessing initial direct costs for any existing leases. We elected not to separate non-lease components from lease components and to account for both as a single lease component by class of the underlying asset. The most significant impact from adopting the standard is the initial recognition of operating lease ROU assets and lease liabilities on our balance sheet, while our accounting for finance leases (i.e. capital leases) remains substantially unchanged. We continue to finalize our implementation efforts and currently estimate recording during the first quarter of 2019 an amount between approximately $650 to $800 million for long-term operating lease ROU assets and from approximately $650 to $800 million for operating lease liabilities, of which approximately $240 to $290 million will be recorded in other current liabilities and $410 to $510 million will be recorded in long-term operating lease liabilities. The transition method we elected for adoption of the standard requires us to make a cumulative effect adjustment as of January 1, 2019 and we do not believe that this amount will be material.
On June 7, 2018, we acquired a U.S. premium biscuit company, Tate’s Bake Shop, within our North America segment for $528 million cash paid, net of cash received, and extended our premium biscuit offerings. We expect to finalize the purchase price paid and related purchase price allocation once working capital and other adjustments are finalized. We accounted for the transaction as a business combination. As of December 31, 2018, we recorded a preliminary purchase price allocation of $45 million to definite-lived intangible assets, $205 million to indefinite-lived intangible assets, $298 million to goodwill, $16 million to property, plant and equipment, $5 million to inventory, $9 million to accounts receivable, $6 million to current liabilities and $44 million to deferred tax liabilities. The acquisition added incremental net revenues of $52 million and incremental operating income of $7 million in 2018. We also recorded $13 million of acquisition-related costs in 2018.
On December 28, 2017, we completed the sale of a confectionery business in Japan. We received cash proceeds of ¥2.8 billion ($24 million as of December 28, 2017) and recorded an immaterial pre-tax loss on the divestiture within our AMEA segment.
In connection with the 2012 spin-off of Kraft Foods Group, Inc. (now a part of The Kraft Heinz Company (“KHC”)), Kraft Foods Group and we each granted the other various licenses to use certain trademarks in connection with
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particular product categories in specified jurisdictions. On August 17, 2017, we entered into two agreements with KHC to terminate the licenses of certain KHC-owned brands used in our grocery business within our Europe region and to transfer to KHC inventory and certain other assets. On August 17, 2017, the first transaction closed and we received cash proceeds of €9 million ($11 million as of August 17, 2017) and on October 23, 2017, the second transaction closed and we received cash proceeds of €2 million ($3 million as of October 23, 2017). The gain on both transactions combined was immaterial.
On July 4, 2017, we completed the sale of most of our grocery business in Australia and New Zealand to Bega Cheese Limited for $456 million Australian dollars ($347 million as of July 4, 2017). We divested $27 million of current assets, $135 million of non-current assets and $4 million of current liabilities based on the July 4, 2017 exchange rate. We recorded a pre-tax gain of $247 million Australian dollars ($187 million as of July 4, 2017) on the sale. We also recorded divestiture-related costs of $2 million and a foreign currency hedge loss of $3 million during 2017. In the fourth quarter of 2017, we recorded a $3 million inventory-related working capital adjustment, increasing the pre-tax gain to $190 million in 2017.
On April 28, 2017, we completed the sale of several manufacturing facilities in France and the sale or license of several local confectionery brands. We received cash of approximately €157 million ($169 million as of April 28, 2017), net of cash divested with the businesses. On April 28, 2017, we divested $44 million of current assets, $155 million of non-current assets, $8 million of current liabilities and $22 million of non-current liabilities based on the April 28, 2017 exchange rate. We recorded a $3 million loss on the sale and divestiture-related costs of $27 million in 2017 and $84 million in 2016. These divestiture-related costs were recorded within cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses primarily within our Europe segment. In prior periods, we recorded a $5 million impairment charge in May 2016 for a candy trademark to reduce the overall net assets to the estimated net sales proceeds after transaction costs. On March 31, 2016, we recorded a $14 million impairment charge for another gum & candy trademark as a portion of its carrying value would not be recoverable based on future cash flows expected under a planned license agreement with the buyer.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, we also completed the following sale transactions:
• | On December 31, 2016, we completed the sale of a chocolate factory in Belgium. In connection with this transaction, we recorded a pre-tax loss of € |
• | On December 1, 2016, we completed the sale of a confectionery business in Costa Rica represented by a local brand. The sales price was $ |
• | On August 26, 2016, we recorded a $ |
• | On May 2, 2016, we completed the sale of certain local biscuit brands in Finland. The sales price was € |
On November 2, 2016, we purchased from Burton’s Biscuit Company certain intangibles, which included the license to manufacture, market and sell Cadbury-branded biscuits in additional key markets around the world, including in the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, North America and Saudi Arabia. The transaction was accounted for as a business combination. Total cash paid for the acquired assets was €199 million ($245 million as of November 2, 2016). During the third quarter of 2017, we completed the valuation work and finalized the purchase price allocation of $66 million to definite-lived intangible assets, $173 million to goodwill, $2 million to property, plant and equipment and $4 million to inventory, reflecting a November 2, 2016 exchange rate. The acquisition added incremental net revenues of $59 million in 2017 and $16 million in 2016 and added incremental operating income of $8 million in 2017 and $1 million in 2016.
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During the third quarter of 2016, we completed the acquisition of a Vietnamese biscuit operation within our AMEA segment. On July 15, 2015, we acquired an 80 % interest in the biscuit operation and on August 22, 2016, we acquired the remaining 20 % interest. Total cash paid for the biscuit operation, intellectual property, non-compete and consulting agreements less purchase price adjustments was 12,404 billion Vietnamese dong ($569 million using applicable exchange rates on July 15, 2015, November 27, 2015 and August 22, 2016). On August 22, 2016, in connection with acquiring the remaining 20 % interest in the biscuit operation, escrowed funds of $70 million were released and we retained an agreed $20 million related to two outstanding acquisition-related matters. We subsequently released $5 million in 2016 and $9 million in 2017 to the sellers and expect to pay $4 million within five years as remaining indemnified obligations are resolved. On August 22, 2016, we also made a final payment of 759 billion Vietnamese dong ($35 million as of August 22, 2016) for the non-compete and consulting agreements. The non-compete and consulting agreements were recorded as prepaid contracts within other current and non-current assets and will be amortized into net earnings over the term of the agreements. During the third quarter of 2016, we also finalized the valuation and purchase price allocation of the acquired net assets of the business, which included $10 million of inventory, $49 million of property, plant and equipment, $86 million of intangible assets, $385 million of goodwill and $31 million of other net liabilities. In periods following the initial July 15, 2015 first closing date, the allocation of the net asset fair values had an immaterial impact on our operating results. The acquisition added incremental net revenues of $71 million in 2016 and added incremental operating income of $5 million in 2016. Within selling, general and administrative expenses, we recorded integration costs of $7 million in 2016. We also recorded acquisition integration costs of $4 million in 2018 and $3 million in 2017.
Sales of Property:
On November 9, 2016, we completed the sale of a manufacturing plant in Russia and recorded total expenses of $12 million, including a related fixed asset impairment charge of $4 million within asset impairments and exit costs. The sale of the land, buildings and equipment generated cash proceeds of $6 million.
As of December 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Raw materials | $ | $ | |||||
Finished product | |||||||
Inventory reserves | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||
Inventories, net | $ | $ | |||||
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As of December 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Land and land improvements | $ | $ | |||||
Buildings and building improvements | |||||||
Machinery and equipment | |||||||
Construction in progress | |||||||
Accumulated depreciation | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||
Property, plant and equipment, net | $ | $ | |||||
Capital expenditures as presented on the statement of cash flow were $1.1 billion, $1.0 billion and $1.2 billion for the years ending December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 and excluded $331 million, $357 million and $343 million for accrued capital expenditures not yet paid.
In connection with our restructuring program, we recorded non-cash property, plant and equipment write-downs (including accelerated depreciation and asset impairments) of $59 million in 2018, $206 million in 2017 and $301 million in 2016 (see Note 7, Restructuring Program). These charges related to property, plant and equipment were recorded in the consolidated statements of earnings within asset impairment and exit costs and in the segment results as follows:
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Latin America | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
AMEA | |||||||||||
Europe | |||||||||||
North America | |||||||||||
Corporate | |||||||||||
Non-cash property, plant and equipment write-downs | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
As of December 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Latin America | $ | $ | |||||
AMEA | |||||||
Europe | |||||||
North America | |||||||
Goodwill | $ | $ | |||||
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As of December 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Non-amortizable intangible assets | $ | $ | |||||
Amortizable intangible assets | |||||||
Accumulated amortization | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||
Intangible assets, net | $ | $ | |||||
Non-amortizable intangible assets consist principally of brand names purchased through our acquisitions of Nabisco Holdings Corp., the Spanish and Portuguese operations of United Biscuits, the global LU biscuit business of Groupe Danone S.A. and Cadbury Limited. Amortizable intangible assets consist primarily of trademarks, customer-related intangibles, process technology, licenses and non-compete agreements.
Amortization expense for intangible assets was $176 million in 2018, $178 million in 2017 and $176 million in 2016. For the next five years, we estimate annual amortization expense of approximately $170 million for the next two years and approximately $85 million in years three to five, reflecting December 31, 2018 exchange rates.
2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||||
Goodwill | Intangible Assets, at cost | Goodwill | Intangible Assets, at cost | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||
Balance at January 1 | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Changes due to: | |||||||||||||||
Currency | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||
Divestitures | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||
Acquisitions | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
Asset impairments | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||
Other | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
Balance at December 31 | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Changes to goodwill and intangibles were:
• | Divestitures – During 2017, in connection with the divestiture of several manufacturing facilities, primarily in France, we divested $ |
• | Acquisitions – In connection with the acquisition of Tate's Bake Shop in the second quarter of 2018, we recorded a preliminary purchase price allocation of $ |
• | Asset impairments – As further discussed below, we recorded $ |
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In 2018, 2017 and 2016, there were no goodwill impairments and each of our reporting units had sufficient fair value in excess of its carrying value. While all reporting units passed our annual impairment testing, if planned business performance expectations are not met or specific valuation factors outside of our control, such as discount rates, change significantly, then the estimated fair values of a reporting unit or reporting units might decline and lead to a goodwill impairment in the future.
Our investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting totaled $7,123 million as of December 31, 2018 and $6,193 million as of December 31, 2017. In both years, our largest equity method investments were in Jacobs Douwe Egberts (“JDE”) and Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. ("Keurig") prior to July 9, 2018 and Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (NYSE: "KDP”) subsequent to July 9, 2018.
JDE:
On July 2, 2015, we completed transactions to combine our wholly owned coffee businesses with those of D.E Master Blenders 1753 B.V. (“DEMB”) to create a new company, JDE. Through March 7, 2016, we held a 43.5 % interest in JDE. Following the March 7, 2016 exchange of a portion of our investment in JDE for an interest in Keurig, we held a 26.5 % equity interest in JDE. (See Keurig below.) The remaining 73.5 % equity interest in JDE was held by a subsidiary of Acorn Holdings B.V. (“AHBV,” owner of DEMB prior to July 2, 2015). As of December 31, 2018, we held a 26.5 % voting interest, a 26.4 % ownership interest and a 26.3 % profit and dividend sharing interest in JDE. We recorded JDE equity earnings of $230 million (which includes a deferred tax benefit from a Dutch tax rate reduction) in 2018, $129 million in 2017 and $100 million in 2016. We also recorded $73 million of cash dividends received in 2018 and $49 million of cash dividends received in 2017.
On June 30, 2016, we entered into agreements with AHBV and its affiliates to establish a new stock-based compensation arrangement tied to the issuance of JDE equity compensation awards to JDE employees. This arrangement replaced a temporary equity compensation program tied to the issuance of AHBV equity compensation to JDE employees. New Class C, D and E JDE shares were authorized and issued for investments made by, and vested stock-based compensation awards granted to, JDE employees. Under these arrangements, share ownership dilution from the JDE Class C, D and E shareholders was limited to 2 %.
On July 5, 2016, we received an expected cash payment of $275 million from JDE to settle an outstanding receivable related to tax formation costs related to the formation of JDE.
On July 19, 2016, the Supreme Court of Spain reached a final resolution on a challenged JDE tax position held by a predecessor DEMB company that resulted in an unfavorable tax expense of €114 million. As a result, our share of JDE’s equity earnings during the third quarter of 2016 was negatively affected by €30 million ($34 million).
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Keurig:
On March 3, 2016, a subsidiary of AHBV completed a $13.9 billion acquisition of all of the outstanding common stock of Keurig through a merger transaction. On March 7, 2016, we exchanged with a subsidiary of AHBV a portion of our equity interest in JDE with a carrying value of €1.70 billion (approximately $2.0 billion as of March 7, 2016) for an interest in Keurig with a fair value of $2.0 billion based on the merger consideration per share for Keurig. We recorded the difference between the fair value of Keurig and our basis in JDE shares as a $43 million gain on the equity method investment exchange in March 2016. Immediately following the exchange, our ownership interest in JDE was 26.5 % and our interest in Keurig was 24.2 %.
Our initial $2.0 billion investment in Keurig included a $1.6 billion Keurig equity interest and a $0.4 billion shareholder loan receivable, which were reported on a combined basis within equity method investments prior to the Keurig Dr. Pepper transaction described below. The shareholder loan had a 5.5 % interest rate and was payable at the end of a seven-year term on February 27, 2023.
Within equity method investment net earnings, we recorded shareholder loan interest income of $12 million in 2018, $24 million in 2017 and $20 million in 2016. We received shareholder loan interest payments of $12 million in 2018, $30 million in 2017 and $14 million in 2016 and dividends of $34 million in 2018, $14 million in 2017 and $4 million in 2016.
Keurig Dr Pepper:
On July 9, 2018, Keurig closed on its definitive merger agreement with Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., and formed KDP, a publicly traded company. Following the close of the transaction, our 24.2 % investment in Keurig together with our shareholder loan receivable became a 13.8 % investment in KDP. During the third quarter of 2018, we recorded a preliminary pre-tax gain of $757 million reported as a gain on equity method transaction and $184 million of deferred tax expense reported in the provision for income taxes (or $573 million after-tax gain) related to the change in our ownership interest while KDP finalized the valuation for the transaction. During our fourth quarter of 2018, KDP finalized its opening balance sheet and we increased our pre-tax gain by $21 million (or $13 million after-tax) to $778 million (or $586 million after-tax) while recording $8 million of deferred tax expense related to the increase for a total deferred tax expense of $192 million for 2018.
We hold two director positions on the KDP board as well as additional governance rights. As we continue to have significant influence, we continue to account for our investment in KDP under the equity method, resulting in recognizing our share of their earnings within our earnings and our share of their dividends within our cash flows.
In connection with this transaction, we changed our accounting principle during the third quarter of 2018 to reflect our share of Keurig's historical and KDP's ongoing earnings on a one-quarter lag basis while we continue to record dividends when cash is received. We determined a lag was preferable as it enables us to continue to report our quarterly and annual results on a timely basis and to record our share of KDP’s ongoing results once KDP has publicly reported its results. This change in accounting principle was applied retrospectively to all periods. While our operating income did not change, equity method investment net earnings, net earnings and earnings per share have been adjusted to reflect the lag across all reported periods.
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For the Years Ended | |||||||||||||||
December 31, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||
As Reported | As Adjusted | As Reported | As Adjusted | ||||||||||||
(in millions, except per share data) | |||||||||||||||
Statements of Earnings | |||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||
Equity method investment net earnings | |||||||||||||||
Net earnings | |||||||||||||||
Net earnings attributable to Mondelēz International | |||||||||||||||
Earnings per share attributable to Mondelēz International: | |||||||||||||||
Basic EPS | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Diluted EPS | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Statements of Other Comprehensive Earnings | |||||||||||||||
Currency translation adjustment | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||||
Total other comprehensive earnings/(losses) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Mondelēz International | |||||||||||||||
As of December 31, 2017 | |||||||
As Reported | As Adjusted | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Balance Sheet | |||||||
Equity method investments | $ | $ | |||||
Deferred income taxes | |||||||
Retained earnings | |||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive losses | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||
Total Mondelēz International shareholders' equity | |||||||
Total equity | |||||||
As of December 31, 2018, we held a 13.8 % ownership interest in KDP. Our ownership interest in KDP may change over time due to stock-based compensation arrangements and other transactions by KDP. As of December 31, 2018, the fair value of our ownership interest in KDP was approximately $4.9 billion based on KDP's closing stock price.
Keurig and KDP equity earnings, as adjusted for the one-quarter lag basis, totaled $213 million in 2018 (which includes a deferred tax benefit Keurig recorded as a result of U.S. tax reform), $92 million in 2017 and $38 million in 2016.
Other Equity Method Investment transactions:
On October 2, 2017, we completed the sale of one of our equity method investments and received cash proceeds of $65 million. We recorded a pre-tax gain of $40 million within the gain on equity method investment transactions and $15 million of tax expense.
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Summary Financial Information for Equity Method Investments:
As of December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Current assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
Noncurrent assets | |||||||||||
Total assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
Current liabilities | $ | $ | |||||||||
Noncurrent liabilities | |||||||||||
Total liabilities | $ | $ | |||||||||
Equity attributable to shareowners of investees | $ | $ | |||||||||
Equity attributable to noncontrolling interests | |||||||||||
Total net equity of investees | $ | $ | |||||||||
Mondelēz International ownership interests | 13-50% | 24-50% | |||||||||
Mondelēz International share of investee net equity (1) | $ | $ | |||||||||
Keurig shareholder loan | |||||||||||
Equity method investments | $ | $ | |||||||||
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Gross profit | |||||||||||
Income from continuing operations | |||||||||||
Net income | |||||||||||
Net income attributable to investees | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Mondelēz International ownership interests | 13-50% | 24-50% | 24-50% | ||||||||
Mondelēz International share of investee net income | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Keurig shareholder loan interest income | |||||||||||
Equity method investment net earnings | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
(1) |
On May 6, 2014, our Board of Directors approved a $3.5 billion 2014-2018 restructuring program and up to $2.2 billion of capital expenditures. On August 31, 2016, our Board of Directors approved a $600 million reallocation between restructuring program cash costs and capital expenditures so the $5.7 billion program consisted of approximately $4.1 billion of restructuring program costs ($3.1 billion cash costs and $1.0 billion non-cash costs) and up to $1.6 billion of capital expenditures. On September 6, 2018, our Board of Directors approved an extension of the restructuring program through 2022, an increase of $1.3 billion in the program charges and an increase of $700 million in capital expenditures. The total $7.7 billion program now consists of $5.4 billion of program charges ($4.1 billion of cash costs and $1.3 billion of non-cash costs) and total capital expenditures of $2.3 billion to be incurred over the life of the program. The restructuring program, as increased and extended by these actions, is now called the Simplify to Grow Program.
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The primary objective of the Simplify to Grow Program is to reduce our operating cost structure in both our supply chain and overhead costs. The program covers severance as well as asset disposals and other manufacturing and procurement-related one-time costs. Since inception, we have incurred total restructuring and related implementation charges of $3.9 billion related to the Simplify to Grow Program. We expect to incur the program charges by year-end 2022.
Restructuring Costs:
Severance and related costs | Asset Write-downs | Total | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Liability Balance, January 1, 2017 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Charges | |||||||||||
Cash spent | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Non-cash settlements/adjustments | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Currency | |||||||||||
Liability Balance, December 31, 2017 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Charges | |||||||||||
Cash spent | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Non-cash settlements/adjustments | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Currency | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Liability Balance, December 31, 2018 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
We recorded restructuring charges of $316 million in 2018, $535 million in 2017 and $714 million in 2016 within asset impairment and exit costs. We spent $310 million in 2018 and $347 million in 2017 in cash severance and related costs. We also recognized non-cash pension settlement losses (See Note 10, Benefit Plans), non-cash asset write-downs (including accelerated depreciation and asset impairments) and other non-cash adjustments totaling $67 million in 2018 and $215 million in 2017. At December 31, 2018, $307 million of our net restructuring liability was recorded within other current liabilities and $66 million was recorded within other long-term liabilities.
Implementation Costs:
Implementation costs are directly attributable to restructuring activities; however, they do not qualify for special accounting treatment as exit or disposal activities. We believe the disclosure of implementation costs provides readers of our financial statements with more information on the total costs of our Simplify to Grow Program. Implementation costs primarily relate to reorganizing our operations and facilities in connection with our supply chain reinvention program and other identified productivity and cost saving initiatives. The costs include incremental expenses related to the closure of facilities, costs to terminate certain contracts and the simplification of our information systems. Within our continuing results of operations, we recorded implementation costs of $315 million in 2018, $257 million in 2017 and $372 million in 2016. We recorded these costs within cost of sales and general corporate expense within selling, general and administrative expenses.
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Restructuring and Implementation Costs in Operating Income:
Latin America | AMEA | Europe | North America (1) | Corporate (2) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
For the Year Ended December 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Restructuring Costs | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
Implementation Costs | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Restructuring Costs | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
Implementation Costs | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
For the Year Ended December 31, 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Restructuring Costs | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
Implementation Costs | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
Total Project (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Restructuring Costs | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
Implementation Costs | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
(1) | During 2016-2018, our North America region implementation costs included incremental costs that we incurred related to renegotiating collective bargaining agreements that expired in February 2016 for eight U.S. facilities and related to executing business continuity plans for the North America business. |
(2) | During the first quarter of 2018, in connection with adopting a new pension cost classification accounting standard, we reclassified certain of our benefit plan component costs other than service costs out of operating income into a new line, benefit plan non-service income, on our consolidated statements of earnings. As such, we have recast our historical operating income, segment operating income and restructuring and implementation costs by segment to reflect this reclassification, which had no impact to earnings before income taxes or net earnings. The benefit plan non-service income amounts no longer recorded in segment operating income are included within the Corporate column in the table above. The Corporate column also includes minor adjustments for rounding. |
(3) |
Short-Term Borrowings:
As of December 31, | |||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Amount Outstanding | Weighted- Average Rate | Amount Outstanding | Weighted- Average Rate | ||||||||||
(in millions) | (in millions) | ||||||||||||
Commercial paper | $ | % | $ | % | |||||||||
Bank loans | % | % | |||||||||||
Total short-term borrowings | $ | $ | |||||||||||
88
As of December 31, 2018, commercial paper issued and outstanding had between 2 and 109 days remaining to maturity. Commercial paper borrowings decreased since the 2017 year-end primarily as a result of higher operating cash flows and long-term debt issuances net of repayments, partially offset by increased commercial paper borrowings for share repurchases and shareholder dividends.
Bank loans include borrowings on primarily uncommitted credit lines maintained by some of our international subsidiaries to meet short-term working capital needs. Collectively, these credit lines amounted to $1.7 billion at December 31, 2018 and $2.0 billion at December 31, 2017. Borrowings on these lines were $138 million at December 31, 2018 and $107 million at December 31, 2017.
Borrowing Arrangements:
On April 2, 2018, in connection with the tender offer described below, we entered into a $2.0 billion revolving credit agreement for a 364 -day senior unsecured credit facility that is scheduled to expire on April 1, 2019. The agreement includes the same terms and conditions as our existing $4.5 billion multi-year credit facility discussed below. On April 17, 2018, we borrowed $714 million on this facility to fund the debt tender described below and availability under the facility was reduced to match the borrowed amount. On May 7, 2018, we repaid the $714 million from the net proceeds received from the May 2018 $2.5 billion long-term debt issuance and terminated this credit facility.
On February 28, 2018, to supplement our commercial paper program, we entered into a $1.5 billion revolving credit agreement for a 364 -day senior unsecured credit facility that is scheduled to expire on February 27, 2019 . The agreement replaces our previous credit agreement that matured on February 28, 2018 and includes the same terms and conditions as our existing $4.5 billion multi-year credit facility discussed below. As of December 31, 2018, no amounts were drawn on the facility.
We also maintain a $4.5 billion multi-year senior unsecured revolving credit facility for general corporate purposes, including working capital needs, and to support our commercial paper program. On October 14, 2016, the revolving credit agreement, which was scheduled to expire on October 11, 2018 , was extended through October 11, 2021 . The revolving credit agreement includes a covenant that we maintain a minimum shareholders’ equity of at least $24.6 billion, excluding accumulated other comprehensive earnings/(losses) and the cumulative effects of any changes in accounting principles. At December 31, 2018, we complied with this covenant as our shareholders’ equity, as defined by the covenant, was $36.3 billion. The revolving credit facility agreement also contains customary representations, covenants and events of default. There are no credit rating triggers, provisions or other financial covenants that could require us to post collateral as security. As of December 31, 2018, no amounts were drawn on the facility.
Long-Term Debt:
As of December 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
U.S. dollar notes, 1.625% to 7.000% (weighted-average effective rate 3.412%), due through 2040 | $ | $ | |||||
Euro notes, 1.000% to 2.375% (weighted-average effective rate 1.934%), due through 2035 | |||||||
Pound sterling notes, 3.875% to 4.500% (weighted-average effective rate 4.151%), due through 2045 | |||||||
Swiss franc notes, 0.050% to 1.125% (weighted-average effective rate 0.703%), due through 2025 | |||||||
Canadian dollar notes, 3.250% (effective rate 3.320%), due through 2025 | |||||||
Capital leases and other obligations | |||||||
Total | |||||||
Less current portion of long-term debt | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||
Long-term debt | $ | $ | |||||
89
Deferred debt issuance costs of $32 million as of December 31, 2018 and $33 million as of December 31, 2017 are netted against the related debt in the table above. Deferred financing costs related to our revolving credit facility are classified in long-term other assets and were immaterial for all periods presented.
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Thereafter | Total | ||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||
On August 23, 2018, $280 million of our 6.125 % U.S. dollar notes matured. The notes and accrued interest to date were paid with the issuance of commercial paper and cash on hand.
On July 18, 2018, £76 million (or $99 million) of our 7.25 % pound sterling notes matured. The notes and accrued interest to date were paid with the issuance of commercial paper and cash on hand.
On May 3, 2018, we issued $2.5 billion of U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate notes consisting of:
• | $ |
• | $ |
• | $ |
• | $ |
On May 7, 2018, we received net proceeds of $2.48 billion that were used to repay amounts outstanding under our revolving credit agreement facility and for other general corporate purposes, including the repayment of outstanding commercial paper borrowings and other debt. We recorded approximately $22 million of discounts and deferred financing costs net of various fees associated for the bond transaction and underwriter fee reimbursement, which will be amortized into interest expense over the life of the notes.
On April 17, 2018, we completed a cash tender offer and retired $570 million of the long-term U.S. dollar debt consisting of:
• | $ |
• | $ |
• | $ |
• | $ |
• | $ |
• | $ |
• | $ |
We financed the repurchase of the notes, including the payment of accrued interest and other costs incurred, from the $2.0 billion revolving credit agreement entered into on April 2, 2018. We recorded a loss on debt extinguishment of $140 million within interest and other expense, net related to the amount we paid to retire the debt in excess of its carrying value and from recognizing unamortized discounts, deferred financing and other cash costs in earnings at the time of the debt extinguishment. Cash costs related to tendering the debt are included in long-term debt repayments in the consolidated statement of cash flows for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018.
On March 2, 2018, we launched an offering of C$600 million of 3.250 % Canadian-dollar denominated notes that mature on March 7, 2025. On March 7, 2018, we received C$595 million (or $461 million) of proceeds, net of discounts and underwriting fees, to be used for general corporate purposes. We recorded approximately $4 million of discounts and deferred financing costs, which will be amortized into interest expense over the life of the notes.
On February 1, 2018, $478 million of our 6.125 % U.S. dollar notes matured. The notes and accrued interest to date were paid with the issuance of commercial paper and cash on hand.
On January 26, 2018, fr.250 million (or $260 million) of our 0.080 % Swiss franc notes matured. The notes and accrued interest to date were paid with the issuance of commercial paper and cash on hand.
On April 12, 2017, we discharged $488 million of our 6.500 % U.S. dollar-denominated debt. We paid $504 million, representing principal as well as past and future interest accruals from February 2017 through the August 2017
90
maturity date. We recorded an $11 million loss on debt extinguishment within interest expense and a $5 million reduction in accrued interest.
On March 30, 2017, fr.175 million (approximately $175 million) of our 0.000 % Swiss franc-denominated notes matured. The notes and accrued interest to date were paid with net proceeds from the fr.350 million Swiss franc-denominated notes issued on March 13, 2017.
On March 13, 2017, we launched an offering of fr.349 million of Swiss franc-denominated notes, or $349 million in U.S. dollars as of March 31, 2017, consisting of:
• | fr. |
• | fr. |
On March 30, 2017, we received net proceeds of fr.349 million (or $349 million) that were used for general corporate purposes.
On January 26, 2017, €750 million (approximately $801 million) of our 1.125 % euro-denominated notes matured. The notes and accrued interest to date were paid with the issuance of commercial paper and cash on hand.
Our weighted-average interest rate on our total debt was 2.3 % as of December 31, 2018, 2.1 % as of December 31, 2017 and 2.2 % as of December 31, 2016.
Fair Value of Our Debt:
The fair value of our short-term borrowings at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 reflects current market interest rates and approximates the amounts we have recorded on our consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of our long-term debt was determined using quoted prices in active markets (Level 1 valuation data) for the publicly traded debt obligations. At December 31, 2018, the aggregate fair value of our total debt was $18,650 million and its carrying value was $18,372 million. At December 31, 2017, the aggregate fair value of our total debt was $18,354 million and its carrying value was $17,652 million.
Interest and Other Expense, net:
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Interest expense, debt | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Loss on debt extinguishment and related expenses | |||||||||||
(Gain)/loss related to interest rate swaps | ( | ) | |||||||||
Other (income)/expense, net | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Interest and other expense, net | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
91
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments:
As of December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||||
Asset Derivatives | Liability Derivatives | Asset Derivatives | Liability Derivatives | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||
Derivatives designated as accounting hedges: | |||||||||||||||
Interest rate contracts | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Net investment hedge derivative contracts (1) | |||||||||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Derivatives not designated as accounting hedges: | |||||||||||||||
Currency exchange contracts | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Commodity contracts | |||||||||||||||
Interest rate contracts | |||||||||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Total fair value | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
(1) |
Derivatives designated as accounting hedges have included cash flow, fair value and net investment hedge derivative contracts. Our economic hedges are derivatives not designated as accounting hedges. We record derivative assets and liabilities on a gross basis on our consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of our asset derivatives is recorded within other current assets and the fair value of our liability derivatives is recorded within other current liabilities.
As of December 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||||
Total Fair Value of Net Asset/(Liability) | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||
Currency exchange contracts | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Commodity contracts | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||
Interest rate contracts | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||
Net investment hedge contracts | |||||||||||||||
Total derivatives | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||
92
As of December 31, 2017 | |||||||||||||||
Total Fair Value of Net Asset/(Liability) | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||
Currency exchange contracts | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||
Commodity contracts | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||
Interest rate contracts | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||
Total derivatives | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||
Level 1 financial assets and liabilities consist of exchange-traded commodity futures and listed options. The fair value of these instruments is determined based on quoted market prices on commodity exchanges.
Level 2 financial assets and liabilities consist primarily of over-the-counter (“OTC”) currency exchange forwards, options and swaps; commodity forwards and options; and interest rate swaps. Our currency exchange contracts are valued using an income approach based on observable market forward rates less the contract rate multiplied by the notional amount. Commodity derivatives are valued using an income approach based on the observable market commodity index prices less the contract rate multiplied by the notional amount or based on pricing models that rely on market observable inputs such as commodity prices. Our calculation of the fair value of interest rate swaps is derived from a discounted cash flow analysis based on the terms of the contract and the observable market interest rate curve. Our calculation of the fair value of financial instruments takes into consideration the risk of nonperformance, including counterparty credit risk. Our OTC derivative transactions are governed by International Swap Dealers Association agreements and other standard industry contracts. Under these agreements, we do not post nor require collateral from our counterparties. The majority of our derivative contracts do not have a legal right of set-off. We manage the credit risk in connection with these and all our derivatives by entering into transactions with counterparties with investment grade credit ratings, limiting the amount of exposure with each counterparty and monitoring the financial condition of our counterparties.
Derivative Volume:
Notional Amount | |||||||
As of December 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Currency exchange contracts: | |||||||
Intercompany loans and forecasted interest payments | $ | $ | |||||
Forecasted transactions | |||||||
Commodity contracts | |||||||
Interest rate contracts | |||||||
Net investment hedges: | |||||||
Net investment hedge derivative contracts | |||||||
Non-U.S. dollar debt designated as net investment hedges | |||||||
Euro notes | |||||||
British pound sterling notes | |||||||
Swiss franc notes | |||||||
Canadian dollar notes | |||||||
93
Cash Flow Hedges:
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Accumulated (loss)/gain at beginning of period | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
Transfer of realized (gains)/losses in fair value to earnings | ( | ) | |||||||||
Unrealized gain/(loss) in fair value | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Accumulated (loss)/gain at end of period | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Currency exchange contracts – forecasted transactions | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||
Commodity contracts | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Interest rate contracts | ( | ) | |||||||||
Total | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||
After-tax gains/(losses) recognized in other comprehensive earnings/(losses) were:
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Currency exchange contracts – forecasted transactions | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||
Commodity contracts | ( | ) | |||||||||
Interest rate contracts | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Total | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
Cash flow hedge ineffectiveness was not material for all periods presented.
We recognized a gain of $10 million in 2018 in interest and other expense, net related to certain forward-starting interest rate swaps for which the planned timing of the related forecasted debt was changed. We also recorded pre-tax losses of $97 million within interest and other expense, net in the first quarter of 2016 related to amounts excluded from effectiveness testing. These amounts relate to interest rate swaps no longer designated as cash flow hedges due to changes in financing plans. Due to lower overall costs and our decision to hedge a greater portion of our net investments in operations that use currencies other than the U.S. dollar as their functional currencies, we changed our plans to issue U.S. dollar-denominated debt and instead issued euro and Swiss franc-denominated notes in 2016. Amounts excluded from effectiveness testing were not material for all other periods presented.
We record pre-tax (i) gains or losses reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive earnings/(losses) into earnings, (ii) gains or losses on ineffectiveness and (iii) gains or losses on amounts excluded from effectiveness testing in:
• | cost of sales for currency exchange contracts related to forecasted transactions; |
• | cost of sales for commodity contracts; and |
• | interest and other expense, net for interest rate contracts and currency exchange contracts related to intercompany loans. |
Based on current market conditions, we would expect to transfer unrealized losses of $106 million (net of taxes) for interest rate cash flow hedges to earnings during the next 12 months.
94
Cash Flow Hedge Coverage:
As of December 31, 2018, our longest dated cash flow hedges are interest rate swaps that hedge forecasted interest rate payments over the next 4 years and 10 months.
Fair Value Hedges:
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Borrowings | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Derivatives | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Total | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
As of December 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Notional value of borrowings (and related derivatives) | $ | $ | ( | ) | |||
Cumulative fair value hedging adjustments | |||||||
Carrying amount of borrowings | $ | $ | ( | ) | |||
Fair value hedge ineffectiveness and amounts excluded from effectiveness testing were not material for all periods presented.
Hedges of Net Investments in International Operations:
Net investment hedge derivative contracts:
Beginning in the first quarter of 2018, we entered into cross-currency interest rate swaps and forwards to hedge certain investments in our non-U.S. operations against movements in exchange rates. The aggregate notional value as of December 31, 2018 was $6.7 billion. The after-tax unrealized gain/(loss) on these net investment hedge contracts was recorded in the cumulative translation adjustment section of other comprehensive income and was $207 million in 2018. In addition, the after-tax realized gain on net investment hedge contracts settled in 2018 was recorded in the cumulative translation adjustment section of other comprehensive income and was $191 million. There were no after-tax gains/(losses) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive earnings/(losses) into net earnings in 2018. During the fourth quarter of 2018, we replaced six cross-currency swaps with new derivative contracts and received $127 million in cash. Also, during 2018, eight currency forward contracts matured and we received $152 million in cash upon the settlement. The cash received was recorded within other investing activities on the consolidated statement of cash flows. We elected to record changes in the fair value of amounts excluded from the assessment of effectiveness in net earnings. Amounts excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness were $120 million in 2018 and were recorded as income in interest and other expense, net. The cash flows from these contracts are reported as other investing activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows.
95
Non-U.S. dollar debt designated as net investment hedges:
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Euro notes | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||
British pound sterling notes | ( | ) | |||||||||
Swiss franc notes | ( | ) | |||||||||
Canadian notes | |||||||||||
Economic Hedges:
For the Years Ended December 31, | Recognized in Earnings | ||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||
Currency exchange contracts: | |||||||||||||
Intercompany loans and forecasted interest payments | $ | $ | $ | Interest and other expense, net | |||||||||
Forecasted transactions | ( | ) | ( | ) | Cost of sales | ||||||||
Forecasted transactions | ( | ) | ( | ) | Interest and other expense, net | ||||||||
Forecasted transactions | ( | ) | Selling, general and administrative expenses | ||||||||||
Commodity contracts | ( | ) | ( | ) | Cost of sales | ||||||||
Total | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||
96
Pension Plans
Obligations and Funded Status:
U.S. Plans | Non-U.S. Plans | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||
Projected benefit obligation at January 1 | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Service cost | |||||||||||||||
Interest cost | |||||||||||||||
Benefits paid | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Settlements paid | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||
Actuarial (gains)/losses | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||
Divestiture | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
Currency | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
Other | |||||||||||||||
Projected benefit obligation at December 31 | |||||||||||||||
Fair value of plan assets at January 1 | |||||||||||||||
Actual return on plan assets | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||
Contributions | |||||||||||||||
Benefits paid | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Settlements paid | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||
Divestiture | |||||||||||||||
Currency | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
Fair value of plan assets at December 31 | |||||||||||||||
Net pension (liabilities)/assets at December 31 | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||
The accumulated benefit obligation, which represents benefits earned to the measurement date, was $1,488 million at December 31, 2018 and $1,715 million at December 31, 2017 for the U.S. pension plans. The accumulated benefit obligation for the non-U.S. pension plans was $9,374 million at December 31, 2018 and $10,610 million at December 31, 2017.
Salaried and non-union hourly employees hired after January 1, 2009 in the U.S. and after January 1, 2011 in Canada (or earlier for certain legacy Cadbury employees) are no longer eligible to participate in the defined benefit pension plans. These employees are given an enhanced Company contribution to our employee defined contribution plans. For those salaried and non-union hourly employees who are currently participating in the defined benefit pension plans in the U.S. and Canada, benefit accruals will cease December 31, 2019.
As of December 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Prepaid pension assets | $ | $ | |||||
Other current liabilities | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||
Accrued pension costs | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||
$ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
97
U.S. Plans | Non-U.S. Plans | ||||||||||||||
As of December 31, | As of December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||
Projected benefit obligation | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Accumulated benefit obligation | |||||||||||||||
Fair value of plan assets | |||||||||||||||
U.S. Plans | Non-U.S. Plans | ||||||||||
As of December 31, | As of December 31, | ||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Discount rate | % | % | % | % | |||||||
Expected rate of return on plan assets | % | % | % | % | |||||||
Rate of compensation increase | % | % | % | % | |||||||
Year-end discount rates for our U.S., Canadian, Eurozone and U.K. plans were developed from a model portfolio of high quality, fixed-income debt instruments with durations that match the expected future cash flows of the benefit obligations. Year-end discount rates for our remaining non-U.S. plans were developed from local bond indices that match local benefit obligations as closely as possible. Changes in our discount rates were primarily the result of changes in bond yields year-over-year. We determine our expected rate of return on plan assets from the plan assets’ historical long-term investment performance, current asset allocation and estimates of future long-term returns by asset class.
For the periods presented, we measure service and interest costs by applying the specific spot rates along a yield curve used to measure plan obligations to the plans’ liability cash flows. We believe this approach provides a more precise measurement of service and interest costs by aligning the timing of the plans’ liability cash flows to the corresponding spot rates on the yield curve.
Components of Net Periodic Pension Cost:
U.S. Plans | Non-U.S. Plans | ||||||||||||||||||||||
For the Years Ended December 31, | For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Service cost | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
Interest cost | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Expected return on plan assets | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||
Amortization: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss from experience differences | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Prior service cost/(benefit) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Settlement losses and other expenses (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net periodic pension cost | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
(1) |
98
For the U.S. plans, we determine the expected return on plan assets component of net periodic benefit cost using a calculated market return value that recognizes the cost over a four year period. For our non-U.S. plans, we utilize a similar approach with varying cost recognition periods for some plans, and with others, we determine the expected return on plan assets based on asset fair values as of the measurement date.
As of December 31, 2018, for the combined U.S. and non-U.S. pension plans, we expected to amortize from accumulated other comprehensive earnings/(losses) into net periodic pension cost during 2019:
• | an estimated $ |
• | an estimated $ |
U.S. Plans | Non-U.S. Plans | ||||||||||||||||
For the Years Ended December 31, | For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||
Discount rate | % | % | % | % | % | % | |||||||||||
Expected rate of return on plan assets | % | % | % | % | % | % | |||||||||||
Rate of compensation increase | % | % | % | % | % | % | |||||||||||
Plan Assets:
As of December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
Asset Category | Total Fair Value | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. equity securities | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Non-U.S. equity securities | ||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds - equity securities | ||||||||||||||||
Total equity securities | ||||||||||||||||
Government bonds | ||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds - fixed-income securities | ||||||||||||||||
Corporate bonds and other fixed-income securities | ||||||||||||||||
Total fixed-income securities | ||||||||||||||||
Real estate | ||||||||||||||||
Private equity | ||||||||||||||||
Cash | ||||||||||||||||
Other | ||||||||||||||||
Total assets in the fair value hierarchy | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Investments measured at net asset value | ||||||||||||||||
Total investments at fair value | $ | |||||||||||||||
99
As of December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||
Asset Category | Total Fair Value | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. equity securities | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Non-U.S. equity securities | ||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds - equity securities | ||||||||||||||||
Total equity securities | ||||||||||||||||
Government bonds | ||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds - fixed-income securities | ||||||||||||||||
Corporate bonds and other fixed-income securities | ||||||||||||||||
Total fixed-income securities | ||||||||||||||||
Real estate | ||||||||||||||||
Private equity | ||||||||||||||||
Cash | ||||||||||||||||
Other | ||||||||||||||||
Total assets in the fair value hierarchy | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Investments measured at net asset value | ||||||||||||||||
Total investments at fair value | $ | |||||||||||||||
We excluded plan assets of $67 million at December 31, 2018 and $71 million at December 31, 2017 from the above tables related to certain insurance contracts as they are reported at contract value, in accordance with authoritative guidance.
Fair value measurements:
• | Level 1 – includes primarily U.S and non-U.S. equity securities and government bonds valued using quoted prices in active markets. |
• | Level 2 – includes primarily pooled funds, including assets in real estate pooled funds, valued using net asset values of participation units held in common collective trusts, as reported by the managers of the trusts and as supported by the unit prices of actual purchase and sale transactions. Level 2 plan assets also include corporate bonds and other fixed-income securities, valued using independent observable market inputs, such as matrix pricing, yield curves and indices. |
• | Level 3 – includes investments valued using unobservable inputs that reflect the plans’ assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the assets, based on the best information available. |
• | Fair value estimates for pooled funds are calculated by the investment advisor when reliable quotations or pricing services are not readily available for certain underlying securities. The estimated value is based on either cost or last sale price for most of the securities valued in this fashion. |
• | Fair value estimates for private equity investments are calculated by the general partners using the market approach to estimate the fair value of private investments. The market approach utilizes prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions, type of security, degree of liquidity, restrictions on the disposition, latest round of financing data, company financial statements, relevant valuation multiples and discounted cash flow analyses. |
• | Fair value estimates for private debt placements are calculated using standardized valuation methods, including but not limited to income-based techniques such as discounted cash flow projections or market-based techniques utilizing public and private transaction multiples as comparables. |
• | Fair value estimates for real estate investments are calculated by investment managers using the present value of future cash flows expected to be received from the investments, based on valuation methodologies such as appraisals, local market conditions, and current and projected operating performance. |
• | Fair value estimates for certain fixed-income securities such as insurance contracts are calculated based on the future stream of benefit payments discounted using prevailing interest rates based on the valuation date. |
• | Net asset value – primarily includes equity funds, fixed income funds, real estate funds, hedge funds and private equity investments for which net asset values are normally used. |
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Asset Category | January 1, 2018 Balance | Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/ (Losses) | Net Purchases, Issuances and Settlements | Net Transfers Into/(Out of) Level 3 | Currency Impact | December 31, 2018 Balance | ||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-U.S. equity | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds- fixed-income securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate bond and other fixed-income securities | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Real estate | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Private equity and other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Level 3 investments | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||||
Asset Category | January 1, 2017 Balance | Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/ (Losses) | Net Purchases, Issuances and Settlements | Net Transfers Into/(Out of) Level 3 | Currency Impact | December 31, 2017 Balance | ||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-U.S. equity | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||
Pooled funds- fixed-income securities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate bond and other fixed-income securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Real estate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Private equity and other | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Level 3 investments | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||
The increase in Level 3 pension plan investments during 2018 and 2017 was primarily due to additional purchases of corporate bond and other fixed income securities, which includes private debt placements.
U.S. Plans | Non-U.S. Plans | |||||||||||
As of December 31, | As of December 31, | |||||||||||
Asset Category | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||
Equity securities | % | % | % | % | ||||||||
Fixed-income securities | % | % | % | % | ||||||||
Real estate | % | % | ||||||||||
Hedge funds | % | % | ||||||||||
Private equity | % | % | ||||||||||
Cash | % | % | ||||||||||
Total | % | % | % | % | ||||||||
For our U.S. plans, our investment strategy is to reduce the risk of underfunded plans in part through appropriate asset allocation within our plan assets. We attempt to maintain our target asset allocation by rebalancing between asset classes as we make contributions and monthly benefit payments. The strategy involves using indexed U.S. equity and international equity securities and actively managed U.S. investment grade fixed-income securities (which constitute 95 % or more of fixed-income securities) with smaller allocations to high yield fixed-income securities.
For our non-U.S. plans, the investment strategy is subject to local regulations and the asset/liability profiles of the plans in each individual country. In aggregate, the asset allocation targets of our non-U.S. plans are broadly
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characterized as a mix of approximately 31 % equity securities (including investments in real estate), approximately 67 % fixed-income securities and approximately 2 % for other types of securities. Our investment strategy for our largest non-U.S. plan, which comprises 63 % of our non-U.S. pension assets, is designed to balance risk and return by diversifying across a wide range of return-seeking and liability matching assets, invested in a range of both active and passive mandates. We target an allocation of approximately 23 % in equity securities, 20 % credit, and 57 % liability matching assets. The strategy uses indexed global developed equities, actively managed global investment grade and alternative credit, real estate and other liability matching assets including a buy-in annuity policy.
Employer Contributions:
In 2018, we contributed $39 million to our U.S. pension plans and $310 million to our non-U.S. pension plans. In addition, employees contributed $13 million to our non-U.S. plans. We make contributions to our pension plans in accordance with local funding arrangements and statutory minimum funding requirements. Discretionary contributions are made to the extent that they are tax deductible and do not generate an excise tax liability.
In 2019, we estimate that our pension contributions will be $5 million to our U.S. plans and $232 million to our non-U.S. plans based on current tax laws. Our actual contributions may be different due to many factors, including changes in tax and other benefit laws, significant differences between expected and actual pension asset performance or interest rates.
Future Benefit Payments:
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024-2028 | ||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Plans | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
Non-U.S. Plans | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Multiemployer Pension Plans:
In accordance with obligations we have under collective bargaining agreements, we made contributions to multiemployer pension plans of $17 million in 2018, $26 million in 2017 and $25 million in 2016. In 2017 and 2016, the only individually significant multiemployer plan we contributed to was the Bakery and Confectionery Union and Industry International Pension Fund (the “Fund”). Our obligation to contribute to the Fund arose with respect to 8 collective bargaining agreements covering most of our employees represented by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco and Grain Millers Union. All of those collective bargaining agreements expired in 2016 and we continued to contribute to the Fund through 2018. Our contributions to the Fund were $12 million in 2018, $22 million in 2017 and $21 million in 2016, while our contributions to other multiemployer pension plans that were not individually significant were $5 million in 2018, $4 million in 2017 and $4 million in 2016. Our contributions are based on our contribution rates under our collective bargaining agreements, the number of our eligible employees and Fund surcharges.
Pension Fund | EIN / Pension Plan Number | Pension Protection Act Zone Status | FIP / RP Status Pending / Implemented | Surcharge Imposed | Expiration Date of Collective-Bargaining Agreements | ||||
Bakery and Confectionery Union and Industry International Pension Fund | |||||||||
Effective January 1, 2012, the Fund’s zone status changed to “Red”. As a result of this certification, beginning in July 2012, we were charged a 5% surcharge on our contribution rates. This surcharge increased to 10% for contributions paid from February 2013 forward. As of August 28, 2016, the 10 % surcharge was no longer applicable and we were required to pay higher contributions under the Fund’s rehabilitation plan Default schedule. We continued to contribute to the Fund until December 2018.
In the fourth quarter of 2018, we executed a complete withdrawal from the Fund. We estimated a withdrawal liability of $573 million, which represents our best estimate of the withdrawal liability absent an assessment from the Fund. We anticipate receiving an assessment in 2019, and the ultimate withdrawal liability may change from the currently estimated amount. We will record any future adjustments in the period during which the liability is confirmed or as new information becomes available. We expect to pay the liability over a period of 20 years from the date of the assessment. During 2018, within our North America segment, we recorded a discounted liability and related charge
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of $423 million or $316 million net of tax. We determined the net present value of the liability using a risk-free interest rate. We recorded the pre-tax non-cash charges in selling, general and administrative expense (and in other non-cash items, net in the consolidated statement of cash flows) and the liability in long-term other liabilities. During 2018, we also recorded $6 million of accreted interest related to the long-term liability within interest and other expense, net.
Other Costs:
We sponsor and contribute to employee defined contribution plans. These plans cover eligible salaried, non-union and union employees. Our contributions and costs are determined by the matching of employee contributions, as defined by the plans. Amounts charged to expense in continuing operations for defined contribution plans totaled $57 million in 2018, $43 million in 2017 and $44 million in 2016.
Postretirement Benefit Plans
Obligations:
As of December 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Accrued benefit obligation at January 1 | $ | $ | |||||
Service cost | |||||||
Interest cost | |||||||
Benefits paid | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||
Currency | ( | ) | |||||
Assumption changes | ( | ) | |||||
Actuarial losses/(gains) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||
Accrued benefit obligation at December 31 | $ | $ | |||||
The current portion of our accrued postretirement benefit obligation of $15 million at December 31, 2018 and $16 million at December 31, 2017 was included in other current liabilities.
U.S. Plans | Non-U.S. Plans | ||||||||||
As of December 31, | As of December 31, | ||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||
Discount rate | % | % | % | % | |||||||
Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year | % | % | % | % | |||||||
Ultimate trend rate | % | % | % | % | |||||||
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate | |||||||||||
Year-end discount rates for our U.S., Canadian and U.K. plans were developed from a model portfolio of high quality, fixed-income debt instruments with durations that match the expected future cash flows of the benefit obligations. Year-end discount rates for our remaining non-U.S. plans were developed from local bond indices that match local benefit obligations as closely as possible. Changes in our discount rates were primarily the result of changes in bond yields year-over-year. Our expected health care cost trend rate is based on historical costs.
For the periods presented, we measure service and interest costs for other postretirement benefits by applying the specific spot rates along a yield curve used to measure plan obligations to the plans’ liability cash flows. We believe this approach provides a good measurement of service and interest costs by aligning the timing of the plans’ liability cash flows to the corresponding spot rates on the yield curve.
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Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant impact on the amounts reported for the health care plans. A one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects:
As of December 31, 2018 | |||||||
One-Percentage-Point | |||||||
Increase | Decrease | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation | $ | $ | ( | ) | |||
Effect on annual service and interest cost | ( | ) | |||||
Components of Net Periodic Postretirement Health Care Costs:
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Service cost | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Interest cost | |||||||||||
Amortization: | |||||||||||
Net loss from experience differences | |||||||||||
Prior service credit (1) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Net periodic postretirement health care costs | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||
(1) |
As of December 31, 2018, we expected to amortize from accumulated other comprehensive earnings/(losses) into pre-tax net periodic postretirement health care costs during 2019:
• | an estimated $ |
• | an estimated $ |
U.S. Plans | Non-U.S. Plans | ||||||||||
For the Years Ended December 31, | For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||
Discount rate | |||||||||||
Health care cost trend rate | |||||||||||
Future Benefit Payments:
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024-2028 | ||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Plans | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
Non-U.S. Plans | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Costs:
We made contributions to multiemployer medical plans totaling $19 million in 2018, $18 million in 2017 and $19 million in 2016. These plans provide medical benefits to active employees and retirees under certain collective bargaining agreements.
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Postemployment Benefit Plans
Obligations:
As of December 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Accrued benefit obligation at January 1 | $ | $ | |||||
Service cost | |||||||
Interest cost | |||||||
Benefits paid | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||
Assumption changes | ( | ) | |||||
Actuarial losses/(gains) | ( | ) | |||||
Accrued benefit obligation at December 31 | $ | $ | |||||
The accrued benefit obligation was determined using a weighted-average discount rate of 6.7 % in 2018 and 6.5 % in 2017, an assumed weighted-average ultimate annual turnover rate of 0.3 % in 2018 and 2017, assumed compensation cost increases of 4.0 % in 2018 and 2017 and assumed benefits as defined in the respective plans.
Postemployment costs arising from actions that offer employees benefits in excess of those specified in the respective plans are charged to expense when incurred.
Components of Net Periodic Postemployment Costs:
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Service cost | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Interest cost | |||||||||||
Amortization of net gains | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Net periodic postemployment costs | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Under our Amended and Restated 2005 Performance Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), we are authorized through May 21, 2024 to issue a maximum of 243.7 million shares of our Common Stock to employees and non-employee directors. As of December 31, 2018, there were 61.1 million shares available to be granted under the Plan.
Stock Options:
Stock options (including stock appreciation rights) are granted at an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying stock on the grant date, generally become exercisable in three annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date and have a maximum term of ten years.
We account for our employee stock options under the fair value method of accounting using a Black-Scholes methodology or a Lattice Model to measure stock option expense at the date of grant. The fair value of the stock options at the date of grant is amortized to expense over the vesting period. We recorded compensation expense related to stock options held by our employees of $43 million in 2018, $50 million in 2017 and $57 million in 2016 in our results from continuing operations. The deferred tax benefit recorded related to this compensation expense was
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$7 million in 2018, $12 million in 2017 and $15 million in 2016. The unamortized compensation expense related to our employee stock options was $42 million at December 31, 2018 and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.3 years.
Risk-Free Interest Rate | Expected Life | Expected Volatility | Expected Dividend Yield | Fair Value at Grant Date | ||||||||||
2018 | % | % | % | $ | ||||||||||
2017 | % | % | % | $ | ||||||||||
2016 | % | % | % | $ | ||||||||||
The risk-free interest rate represents the constant maturity U.S. government treasuries rate with a remaining term equal to the expected life of the options. The expected life is the period over which our employees are expected to hold their options. Volatility reflects historical movements in our stock price for a period commensurate with the expected life of the options. The dividend yield reflects the dividend yield in place at the time of the historical grants.
Shares Subject to Option | Weighted- Average Exercise or Grant Price Per Share | Average Remaining Contractual Term | Aggregate Intrinsic Value | |||||||||
Balance at January 1, 2016 | $ | $ | million | |||||||||
Annual grant to eligible employees | ||||||||||||
Additional options issued | ||||||||||||
Total options granted | ||||||||||||
Options exercised (1) | ( | ) | $ | million | ||||||||
Options cancelled | ( | ) | ||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2016 | $ | million | ||||||||||
Annual grant to eligible employees | ||||||||||||
Additional options issued | ||||||||||||
Total options granted | ||||||||||||
Options exercised (1) | ( | ) | $ | million | ||||||||
Options cancelled | ( | ) | ||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2017 | $ | million | ||||||||||
Annual grant to eligible employees | ||||||||||||
Additional options issued | ||||||||||||
Total options granted | ||||||||||||
Options exercised (1) | ( | ) | $ | million | ||||||||
Options cancelled | ( | ) | ||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2018 | $ | million | ||||||||||
Exercisable at December 31, 2018 | $ | million | ||||||||||
(1) |
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Deferred Stock Units, Performance Share Units and Restricted Stock:
Historically we have made grants of deferred stock units, performance share units and restricted stock. Beginning in 2016, we only grant deferred stock units and performance share units and no longer grant restricted stock. We may grant shares of deferred stock units to eligible employees, giving them, in most instances, all of the rights of shareholders, except that they may not sell, assign, pledge or otherwise encumber the shares and our deferred stock units do not have voting rights until vested. Shares of deferred stock units are subject to forfeiture if certain employment conditions are not met. Deferred stock units generally vest on the third anniversary of the grant date. Performance share units granted under our 2005 Plan vest based on varying performance, market and service conditions. The unvested performance share units have no voting rights and do not pay dividends. Dividend equivalents accumulated over the vesting period are paid only after the performance share units vest.
The fair value of the deferred stock units, performance share units and restricted stock at the date of grant is amortized to earnings over the vesting period. The fair value of our deferred stock units and restricted stock is measured at the market price of our Common Stock on the grant date. Performance share unit awards generally have targets tied to both performance and market-based conditions. For market condition components, market volatility and other factors are taken into consideration in determining the grant date fair value and the related compensation expense is recognized regardless of whether the market condition is satisfied, provided that the requisite service has been provided. For performance condition components, we estimate the probability that the performance conditions will be achieved each quarter and adjust compensation expenses accordingly. The grant date fair value of performance share units is determined based on the Monte Carlo simulation model for the market-based total shareholder return component and the market price of our Common Stock on the grant date for performance-based components. The number of performance share units that ultimately vest ranges from 0 -200 percent of the number granted, based on the achievement of the performance and market-based components. We recorded compensation expense related to deferred stock units, performance share units and restricted stock of $85 million in 2018, $87 million in 2017 and $83 million in 2016 in our results from continuing operations. The deferred tax benefit recorded related to this compensation expense was $12 million in 2018, $23 million in 2017 and $22 million in 2016. The unamortized compensation expense related to our deferred stock units, performance share units and restricted stock was $113 million at December 31, 2018 and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.5 years.
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Number of Shares | Grant Date | Weighted-Average Fair Value Per Share (3) | Weighted-Average Aggregate Fair Value (3) | |||||||||
Balance at January 1, 2016 | $ | |||||||||||
Annual grant to eligible employees: | Feb. 22, 2016 | |||||||||||
Performance share units | ||||||||||||
Deferred stock units | ||||||||||||
Additional shares granted (1) | Various | |||||||||||
Total shares granted | $ | million | ||||||||||
Vested (2) | ( | ) | $ | million | ||||||||
Forfeited (2) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||
Annual grant to eligible employees: | Feb. 16, 2017 | |||||||||||
Performance share units | ||||||||||||
Deferred stock units | ||||||||||||
Additional shares granted (1) | Various | |||||||||||
Total shares granted | $ | million | ||||||||||
Vested (2) | ( | ) | $ | million | ||||||||
Forfeited (2) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||
Annual grant to eligible employees: | Feb. 22, 2018 | |||||||||||
Performance share units | ||||||||||||
Deferred stock units | ||||||||||||
Additional shares granted (1) | Various | |||||||||||
Total shares granted | $ | million | ||||||||||
Vested (2) | ( | ) | $ | million | ||||||||
Forfeited (2) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||
(1) |
(2) |
(3) | The grant date fair value of performance share units is determined based on the Monte Carlo simulation model for the market-based total shareholder return component and the closing market price of the Company’s stock on the grant date for performance-based components. The Monte Carlo simulation model incorporates the probability of achieving the total shareholder return market condition. Compensation expense is recognized using the grant date fair values regardless of whether the market condition is achieved, so long as the requisite service has been provided. |
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Our amended and restated articles of incorporation authorize 5.0 billion shares of Class A common stock (“Common Stock”) and 500 million shares of preferred stock. There were no preferred shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. Shares of Common Stock issued, in treasury and outstanding were:
Shares Issued | Treasury Shares | Shares Outstanding | |||||||
Balance at January 1, 2016 | ( | ) | |||||||
Shares repurchased | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Exercise of stock options and issuance of other stock awards | |||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2016 | ( | ) | |||||||
Shares repurchased | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Exercise of stock options and issuance of other stock awards | |||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2017 | ( | ) | |||||||
Shares repurchased | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Exercise of stock options and issuance of other stock awards | |||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2018 | ( | ) | |||||||
Stock plan awards to employees and non-employee directors are issued from treasury shares. At December 31, 2018, 111 million shares of Common Stock held in treasury were reserved for stock options and other stock awards.
Share Repurchase Program:
Legal Proceedings:
We routinely are involved in legal proceedings, claims and governmental inspections or investigations ("Legal Matters") arising in the ordinary course of our business.
In February 2013 and March 2014, Cadbury India Limited (now known as Mondelez India Foods Private Limited), a subsidiary of Mondelēz International, and other parties received show cause notices from the Indian Central Excise Authority (the “Excise Authority”) calling upon the parties to demonstrate why the Excise Authority should not collect a total of 3.7 billion Indian rupees ($54 million as of December 31, 2018) of unpaid excise tax and an equivalent amount of penalties, as well as interest, related to production at the same Indian facility. We contested these demands for unpaid excise taxes, penalties and interest. On March 27, 2015, after several hearings, the Commissioner of the Excise Authority issued an order denying the excise exemption that we claimed for the Indian facility and confirming the Excise Authority’s demands for total taxes and penalties in the amount of 5.8 billion Indian rupees ($84 million as of December 31, 2018) plus accrued interest. We have appealed this order. In addition, the Excise Authority issued additional show cause notices in February 2015, December 2015 and October 2017 on the same issue but covering the periods January to October 2014, November 2014 to September 2015 and October 2015 to June 2017, respectively. These notices added a total of 4.9 billion Indian rupees ($70 million as of December 31, 2018) of allegedly unpaid excise taxes subject to penalties up to an equivalent amount plus accrued interest. Interest will continue to accrue until the matters are resolved. With the implementation of the new
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Goods and Services Tax in India in July 2017, we will not receive any further show cause notices for additional amounts on this issue. We believe that the decision to claim the excise tax benefit is valid and we are continuing to contest the show cause notices through the administrative and judicial process. As part of a continuing appeals process, we may be required to deposit an amount up to the equivalent of the total demand for unpaid excise taxes under the five show cause notices, which will be repaid if the proceedings conclude in our favor. We do not expect to be required to make any such deposit before 2020.
On April 1, 2015 , the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") filed a complaint against Kraft Foods Group and Mondelēz Global LLC (“Mondelēz Global”) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division (the “CFTC action”) following its investigation of activities related to the trading of December 2011 wheat futures contracts that occurred prior to the spin-off of Kraft Foods Group. The complaint alleges that Kraft Foods Group and Mondelēz Global (1) manipulated or attempted to manipulate the wheat markets during the fall of 2011; (2) violated position limit levels for wheat futures and (3) engaged in non-competitive trades by trading both sides of exchange-for-physical Chicago Board of Trade wheat contracts. The CFTC seeks civil monetary penalties of either triple the monetary gain for each violation of the Commodity Exchange Act (the “Act”) or $1 million for each violation of Section 6(c)(1), 6(c)(3) or 9(a)(2) of the Act and $140,000 for each additional violation of the Act, plus post-judgment interest; an order of permanent injunction prohibiting Kraft Foods Group and Mondelēz Global from violating specified provisions of the Act; disgorgement of profits; and costs and fees. We are awaiting the outcome of our motion for summary judgment. If our motion is denied, the case could proceed to trial in 2019. Additionally, several class action complaints were filed against Kraft Foods Group and Mondelēz Global in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by investors in wheat futures and options on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated. The complaints make similar allegations as those made in the CFTC action and seek class action certification; an unspecified amount for damages, interest and unjust enrichment; costs and fees; and injunctive, declaratory and other unspecified relief. In June 2015, these suits were consolidated in the Northern District of Illinois. We are contesting the plaintiffs’ request for class certification. It is not possible to predict the outcome of these matters; however, based on our Separation and Distribution Agreement with Kraft Foods Group dated as of September 27, 2012, we expect to bear any monetary penalties or other payments in connection with the CFTC action. Although the CFTC action and the class action complaints involve the same alleged conduct, a resolution or decision with respect to one of the matters may not be dispositive as to the outcome of the other matter.
On August 21, 2018, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (“VDEQ”) issued a Notice of Violation (“NOV”) to Mondelēz Global. In the NOV, the VDEQ alleges that in our Richmond bakery, one operating line did not have the proper minimum temperature on its pollution control equipment and that the bakery failed to provide certain observation and training records. The VDEQ indicated that the alleged violations may lead to a fine and/or injunctive relief. We are working with the VDEQ to reach a resolution of this matter, and we do not expect this matter to have a material effect on our financial results.
We are a party to various legal proceedings incidental to our business, including those noted above in this section. At present we believe that the ultimate outcome of these proceedings, individually and in the aggregate, will not materially harm our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, legal proceedings and government investigations are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings or other events could occur. Unfavorable resolutions could involve substantial monetary damages. In addition, in matters for which conduct remedies are sought, unfavorable resolutions could include an injunction or other order prohibiting us from selling one or more products at all or in particular ways, precluding particular business practices or requiring other remedies. An unfavorable outcome might result in a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations or financial position.
Third-Party Guarantees:
We enter into third-party guarantees primarily to cover long-term obligations of our vendors. As part of these transactions, we guarantee that third parties will make contractual payments or achieve performance measures. At December 31, 2018, we had no material third-party guarantees recorded on our consolidated balance sheet.
Tax Matters:
We are a party to various tax matter proceedings incidental to our business. These proceedings are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable outcomes could subject us to additional tax liabilities and could materially adversely impact our business, results of operations or financial position.
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A tax indemnification matter related to our 2007 acquisition of the LU biscuit business was closed during the quarter ended June 30, 2018. The closure had no impact on net earnings, however, it did result in a $15 million tax benefit that was fully offset by an $11 million expense in selling, general and administrative expenses and a $4 million expense in interest and other expense, net.
During the first quarter of 2017, the Brazilian Supreme Court (the “Court”) ruled against the Brazilian tax authorities in a leading case related to the computation of certain indirect taxes. The Court ruled that the indirect tax base should not include a value-added tax known as “ICMS”. By removing the ICMS from the tax base, the Court effectively eliminated a “tax on a tax.” In lower courts, our Brazilian subsidiaries filed lawsuits to recover amounts paid and to discontinue subsequent payments related to the “tax on a tax.” Our Brazilian subsidiaries received injunctions against making payments for the “tax on a tax” in 2008 and since that time until December 2016, had accrued this portion of the tax each quarter in the event that the tax was reaffirmed by the Brazilian courts. On September 30, 2017, based on legal advice and the publication of the Court’s decision related to this case, we determined that the likelihood that the increased tax base would be reinstated and assessed against us was remote. Accordingly, we reversed our accrual of 667 million Brazilian reais, or $212 million as of September 30, 2017, of which $153 million was recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses and $59 million was recorded within interest and other expense, net. In connection with the Court's 2017 decision, the Brazilian tax authority filed a motion seeking clarification and adjustment of the terms of enforcement and that motion is still to be decided. We continue to monitor developments in this matter and currently do not expect a material future impact on our financial statements. During the fourth quarter of 2018, in one of our lower court cases, the Brazilian Federal Court of Appeals ruled in our favor against the Brazilian tax authority, allowing one of our Brazil subsidiaries to recover amounts previously paid. As a result, we recorded a net benefit in selling, general and administrative expenses of $26 million.
As part of our 2010 Cadbury acquisition, we became the responsible party for tax matters under a February 2, 2006 dated Deed of Tax Covenant between the Cadbury Schweppes PLC and related entities (“Schweppes”) and Black Lion Beverages and related entities. The tax matters included an ongoing transfer pricing case with the Spanish tax authorities related to the Schweppes businesses Cadbury divested prior to our acquisition of Cadbury. During the first quarter of 2017, the Spanish Supreme Court decided the case in our favor. As a result of the final ruling, during the first quarter of 2017, we recorded a favorable earnings impact of $46 million in selling, general and administrative expenses and $12 million in interest and other expense, net, for a total pre-tax impact of $58 million due to the non-cash reversal of Cadbury-related accrued liabilities related to this matter. We recorded a total of $4 million of income over the third and fourth quarters of 2017 in connection with the related bank guarantee releases.
Leases:
Rental expenses recorded in continuing operations were $260 million in 2018, $284 million in 2017 and $317 million in 2016. As of December 31, 2018, minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating leases in effect at year-end were (in millions):
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Thereafter | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
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For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Currency Translation Adjustments: | |||||||||||
Balance at beginning of period | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
Currency translation adjustments | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Reclassification to net earnings related to: | |||||||||||
Equity method investment transactions | |||||||||||
Tax (expense)/benefit | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Other comprehensive earnings/(losses) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Less: (earnings)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | ( | ) | |||||||||
Balance at end of period | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Pension and Other Benefit Plans: | |||||||||||
Balance at beginning of period | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
Net actuarial gain/(loss) arising during period | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Tax (expense)/benefit on net actuarial gain/(loss) | ( | ) | |||||||||
Losses/(gains) reclassified into net earnings: | |||||||||||
Amortization of experience losses and prior service costs | |||||||||||
Settlement losses | |||||||||||
Tax (expense)/benefit on reclassifications (1) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Currency impact | ( | ) | |||||||||
Other comprehensive earnings/(losses) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Balance at end of period | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Derivative Cash Flow Hedges: | |||||||||||
Balance at beginning of period | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
Net derivative gains/(losses) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Tax (expense)/benefit on net derivative gain/(loss) | |||||||||||
Losses/(gains) reclassified into net earnings: | |||||||||||
Currency exchange contracts - forecasted transactions (2) | |||||||||||
Commodity contracts (2) | |||||||||||
Interest rate contracts (3) | ( | ) | |||||||||
Tax (expense)/benefit on reclassifications (1) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Currency impact | ( | ) | |||||||||
Other comprehensive earnings/(losses) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Balance at end of period | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to Mondelēz International: | |||||||||||
Balance at beginning of period | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
Total other comprehensive earnings/(losses) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Less: (earnings)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | ( | ) | |||||||||
Other comprehensive earnings/(losses) attributable to Mondelēz International | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Balance at end of period | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
112
On December 22, 2017, new U.S. tax reform legislation was enacted that included a broad range of complex provisions impacting the taxation of businesses. Certain impacts of the new legislation would have generally required accounting to be completed and incorporated into our 2017 year-end financial statements, however in response to the complexities of this new legislation, the SEC issued guidance to provide companies with relief. The SEC provided up to a one-year window for companies to finalize the accounting for the impacts of this new legislation. We finalized our accounting for the new provisions during the fourth quarter of 2018.
The impact on our 2018 results from finalizing the accounting for the new provisions was a discrete net tax expense of $19 million. The $19 million expense in 2018 is primarily comprised of a $60 million expense related to finalizing the changes in our indefinite reinvestment assertion, partially offset by a $38 million decrease to the provisional transition tax recorded as of December 31, 2017.
In general, the transition tax is a result of the deemed repatriation imposed by the new legislation that results in the taxation of our accumulated foreign earnings and profits (“E&P”) at a 15.5 % rate on liquid assets (i.e. cash and other specified assets) and 8 % on the remaining unremitted foreign E&P, both net of foreign tax credits. We finalized the accounting for this provision during the fourth quarter of 2018. During 2018 we recognized a $38 million decrease to the $1,317 million provisional transition tax recorded as December 31, 2017 for a total transition net tax expense and gross U.S. tax reform transition tax liability (before payments) of $1,279 million which will be paid in installments through 2026.
During the fourth quarter of 2018, we also finalized our accounting for the deferred tax benefit resulting from the revaluation of our net U.S. deferred tax liabilities. The $1,311 million deferred tax benefit recorded as of 2017 year-end was reduced to $1,295 million as a result of the change to lag accounting for Keurig.
As a result of U.S. tax reform, we changed our indefinite reinvestment assertion for most companies owned directly by our U.S. subsidiaries. As of 2017 year end, we accrued deferred tax assets related to two entities where the deferred tax benefits were expected to be realized. As of 2018 year end, we finalized our analysis related to the change in our indefinite reinvestment assertion and recognized $60 million in deferred tax expense to capture the foreign and state tax impacts of the US GAAP over tax basis difference in those subsidiaries where we are no longer indefinitely reinvested.
The legislation established various new provisions, including a new provision that taxes U.S. allocated expenses (e.g. interest and general administrative expenses) as well as currently taxes certain income from foreign operations (Global Intangible Low-Tax Income, or “GILTI”). As of December 31, 2018, we have made a policy decision and elected to treat taxes due from GILTI as a current period expense.
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For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Earnings/(losses) from continuing operations before income taxes: | |||||||||||
United States | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||
Outside United States | |||||||||||
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Provision for income taxes: | |||||||||||
United States federal: | |||||||||||
Current | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||
Deferred | ( | ) | |||||||||
( | ) | ||||||||||
State and local: | |||||||||||
Current | |||||||||||
Deferred | |||||||||||
Total United States | ( | ) | |||||||||
Outside United States: | |||||||||||
Current | |||||||||||
Deferred | ( | ) | |||||||||
Total outside United States | |||||||||||
Total provision for income taxes | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||
U.S. federal statutory rate | % | % | % | |||||
Increase/(decrease) resulting from: | ||||||||
State and local income taxes, net of federal tax benefit | % | % | % | |||||
Foreign rate differences | ( | )% | ( | )% | ( | )% | ||
Changes in judgment on realizability of deferred tax assets | ( | )% | % | |||||
Reversal of other tax accruals no longer required | ( | )% | ( | )% | ( | )% | ||
Tax accrual on investment in Keurig (including tax impact of the gain from the KDP transaction) | % | % | % | |||||
Excess tax benefits from equity compensation | ( | )% | ( | )% | ||||
Tax legislation (non-U.S. tax reform) | % | ( | )% | ( | )% | |||
U.S. tax reform - deferred benefit from tax rate change | ( | )% | ||||||
U.S. tax reform - transition tax | ( | )% | % | |||||
U.S. tax reform - changes in indefinite reinvestment assertion | % | ( | )% | |||||
Foreign tax provisions under TCJA (GILTI, FDII and BEAT)(1) | % | |||||||
Other | % | ( | )% | % | ||||
Effective tax rate | % | % | % | |||||
114
(1) |
Our 2018 effective tax rate of 27.2 % was unfavorably impacted by net tax expenses from $128 million of discrete one-time events as well as unfavorable provisions within the new U.S. tax reform legislation, partially offset by the favorable mix of pre-tax income in various non-U.S. tax jurisdictions as well as the reduction in the U.S. federal tax rate. The discrete net tax expenses included a $192 million deferred tax expense related to a $778 million gain on the KDP transaction reported as a gain on equity method investment as well as $19 million expense from the final updates to the provisional impacts from U.S. tax reform reported as of 2017 year-end, partially offset by an $81 million benefit from favorable audit settlements and statutes of limitations in various jurisdictions.
Our 2017 effective tax rate of 21.3 % was favorably impacted by the mix of pre-tax income in various non-U.S. tax jurisdictions and net tax benefits from $97 million of discrete one-time events, partially offset by an increase in domestic earnings as compared to the prior year. The discrete net tax benefits included the provisional net impact from U.S. tax reform discussed previously, favorable audit settlements and statutes of limitations in various jurisdictions, and the net reduction of our French and Belgian deferred tax liabilities resulting from tax legislation enacted during 2017 that reduced the corporate income tax rates in each country, partially offset by the addition of a valuation allowance in one of our Chinese entities.
Our 2016 effective tax rate of 7.8 % was favorably impacted by the mix of pre-tax income in various non-U.S. tax jurisdictions and net tax benefits from $161 million of discrete one-time events. The discrete net tax benefits related to favorable audit settlements and statutes of limitations in various jurisdictions and the net reduction of our U.K. and French deferred tax liabilities resulting from tax legislation enacted during 2016 that reduced the corporate income tax rates in each country.
As of December 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Deferred income tax assets: | |||||||
Accrued postretirement and postemployment benefits | $ | $ | |||||
Accrued pension costs | |||||||
Other employee benefits | |||||||
Accrued expenses | |||||||
Loss carryforwards | |||||||
Tax credit carryforwards | |||||||
Other | |||||||
Total deferred income tax assets | |||||||
Valuation allowance | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||
Net deferred income tax assets | $ | $ | |||||
Deferred income tax liabilities: | |||||||
Intangible assets | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |
Property, plant and equipment | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||
Other | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||
Total deferred income tax liabilities | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||
Net deferred income tax liabilities | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |
Our significant valuation allowances are in the U.S., China and Mexico. The U.S. valuation allowance relates to excess foreign tax credits generated by the deemed repatriation under U.S. tax reform. The valuation allowance in China results from a change in judgment in 2017 as to the realizability of one of our Chinese entity’s deferred tax
115
assets. The Mexico valuation allowance relates to loss carryforwards where we do not currently expect to generate gains of the proper character to utilize the carryforwards in the future.
At December 31, 2018, the Company has pre-tax loss carryforwards of $3,744 million, of which $1,114 million will expire at various dates between 2019 and 2038 and the remaining $2,630 million can be carried forward indefinitely.
The unremitted earnings as of December 31, 2018 in those subsidiaries where we continue to be indefinitely reinvested is approximately $1.7 billion. We currently have not recognized approximately $115 million of deferred tax liabilities related to those unremitted earnings. Future tax law changes or changes in the needs of our non-U.S. subsidiaries could require us to recognize deferred tax liabilities on a portion, or all, of our accumulated earnings that are currently indefinitely reinvested.
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
January 1 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Increases from positions taken during prior periods | |||||||||||
Decreases from positions taken during prior periods | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Increases from positions taken during the current period | |||||||||||
Decreases relating to settlements with taxing authorities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Reductions resulting from the lapse of the applicable statute of limitations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Currency/other | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
December 31 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
As of January 1, 2018, our unrecognized tax benefits were $579 million. If we had recognized all of these benefits, the net impact on our income tax provision would have been $524 million. Our unrecognized tax benefits were $516 million at December 31, 2018, and if we had recognized all of these benefits, the net impact on our income tax provision would have been $463 million. Within the next 12 months, our unrecognized tax benefits could increase by approximately $40 million due to unfavorable audit developments or decrease by approximately $151 million due to audit settlements and the expiration of statutes of limitations in various jurisdictions. We include accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in our tax provision. We had accrued interest and penalties of $212 million as of January 1, 2018 and $180 million as of December 31, 2018. Our 2018 provision for income taxes included $9 million benefit for interest and penalties.
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For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions, except per share data) | |||||||||||
Net earnings | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Noncontrolling interest (earnings) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Net earnings attributable to Mondelēz International | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Weighted-average shares for basic EPS | |||||||||||
Plus incremental shares from assumed conversions of stock options and long-term incentive plan shares | |||||||||||
Weighted-average shares for diluted EPS | |||||||||||
Basic earnings per share attributable to Mondelēz International | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Mondelēz International | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
We manufacture and market primarily snack food products, including biscuits (cookies, crackers and salted snacks), chocolate, gum & candy and various cheese & grocery products, as well as powdered beverage products.
We manage our global business and report operating results through geographic units. We manage our operations by region to leverage regional operating scale, manage different and changing business environments more effectively and pursue growth opportunities as they arise in our key markets. Our regional management teams have responsibility for the business, product categories and financial results in the regions.
Our operations and management structure are organized into four operating segments:
• | Latin America |
• | AMEA |
• | Europe |
• | North America |
On October 1, 2016, we integrated our EEMEA operating segment into our Europe and Asia Pacific operating segments to further leverage and optimize the operating scale built within the Europe and Asia Pacific regions. Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Belarus, Georgia and Kazakhstan were combined within our Europe operating segment, while the remaining Middle East and African countries were combined within our Asia Pacific region to form the AMEA operating segment. We have reflected the segment change as if it had occurred in all periods presented.
We use segment operating income to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources. We believe it is appropriate to disclose this measure to help investors analyze segment performance and trends. Segment operating income excludes unrealized gains and losses on hedging activities (which are a component of cost of sales), general corporate expenses (which are a component of selling, general and administrative expenses), amortization of intangibles, net gain on divestitures and acquisition-related costs (which are a component of selling, general and administrative expenses) in all periods presented. We exclude these items from segment operating income in order to provide better transparency of our segment operating results. Furthermore, we centrally manage benefit plan non-service income and interest and other expense, net. Accordingly, we do not present these items by segment because they are excluded from the segment profitability measure that management reviews.
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For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Net revenues: | |||||||||||
Latin America | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
AMEA | |||||||||||
Europe | |||||||||||
North America | |||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Earnings before income taxes: | |||||||||||
Operating income: | |||||||||||
Latin America | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
AMEA | |||||||||||
Europe | |||||||||||
North America | |||||||||||
Unrealized gains/(losses) on hedging activities (mark-to-market impacts) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
General corporate expenses | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Amortization of intangibles | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Net gain on divestitures | |||||||||||
Acquisition-related costs | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Operating income | |||||||||||
Benefit plan non-service income (1) | |||||||||||
Interest and other expense, net | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
Earnings before income taxes | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
(1) |
Items impacting our segment operating results are discussed in Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, Note 4, Property, Plant and Equipment, Note 5, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Note 7, Restructuring Program, and Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies. Also see Note 8, Debt and Borrowing Arrangements, and Note 9, Financial Instruments, for more information on our interest and other expense, net for each period.
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For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Total assets: | |||||||||||
Latin America (1) | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
AMEA (1) | |||||||||||
Europe (1) | |||||||||||
North America (1) | |||||||||||
Equity method investments | |||||||||||
Unallocated assets and adjustments (2) | ( | ) | |||||||||
Total assets | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
(1) |
(2) |
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Depreciation expense: | |||||||||||
Latin America | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
AMEA | |||||||||||
Europe | |||||||||||
North America | |||||||||||
Total depreciation expense | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Capital expenditures: | |||||||||||
Latin America | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
AMEA | |||||||||||
Europe | |||||||||||
North America | |||||||||||
Total capital expenditures | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
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For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Net revenues: | |||||||||||
United States | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Other | |||||||||||
Total net revenues | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
As of December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Long-lived assets: | |||||||||||
United States | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
Other | |||||||||||
Total long-lived assets | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
No individual country within Other exceeded 10% of our net revenues or long-lived assets for all periods presented.
For the Year Ended December 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||
Latin America | AMEA | Europe | North America | Total | |||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||
Biscuits | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Chocolate | |||||||||||||||||||
Gum & Candy | |||||||||||||||||||
Beverages | |||||||||||||||||||
Cheese & Grocery | |||||||||||||||||||
Total net revenues | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017 (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
Latin America | AMEA | Europe | North America | Total | |||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||
Biscuits | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Chocolate | |||||||||||||||||||
Gum & Candy | |||||||||||||||||||
Beverages | |||||||||||||||||||
Cheese & Grocery | |||||||||||||||||||
Total net revenues | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
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For the Year Ended December 31, 2016 (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
Latin America | AMEA | Europe | North America | Total | |||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||
Biscuits | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Chocolate | |||||||||||||||||||
Gum & Candy | |||||||||||||||||||
Beverages | |||||||||||||||||||
Cheese & Grocery | |||||||||||||||||||
Total net revenues | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
(1) |
2018 Quarters | |||||||||||||||
First | Second | Third | Fourth | ||||||||||||
(in millions, except per share data) | |||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Gross profit | |||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Gain on equity method investment transactions | |||||||||||||||
Equity method investment net earnings | |||||||||||||||
Net earnings (1) | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Noncontrolling interest | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Net earnings attributable to Mondelēz International | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Weighted-average shares for basic EPS | |||||||||||||||
Plus incremental shares from assumed conversions of stock options and long-term incentive plan shares | |||||||||||||||
Weighted-average shares for diluted EPS | |||||||||||||||
Per share data: | |||||||||||||||
Basic EPS attributable to Mondelēz International: | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Diluted EPS attributable to Mondelēz International: | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Dividends declared | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
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2017 Quarters | |||||||||||||||
First | Second | Third | Fourth | ||||||||||||
(in millions, except per share data) | |||||||||||||||
Net revenues | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Gross profit | |||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Gain on equity method investment transactions | |||||||||||||||
Equity method investment net earnings | |||||||||||||||
Net earnings (1) | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Noncontrolling interest | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
Net earnings attributable to Mondelēz International | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Weighted-average shares for basic EPS | |||||||||||||||
Plus incremental shares from assumed conversions of stock options and long-term incentive plan shares | |||||||||||||||
Weighted-average shares for diluted EPS | |||||||||||||||
Per share data: | |||||||||||||||
Basic EPS attributable to Mondelēz International: | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Diluted EPS attributable to Mondelēz International: | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
Dividends declared | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||
(1) |
Basic and diluted EPS are computed independently for each of the periods presented. Accordingly, the sum of the quarterly EPS amounts may not equal the total for the year.
2018 Quarters | |||||||||||||||
First | Second | Third | Fourth | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||
Asset impairment and exit costs | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||
Divestiture-related costs | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
Gain on equity method investment transaction | |||||||||||||||
Gain/(loss) related to interest rate swaps | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
Loss on early extinguishment of debt and related expenses | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
Impact from the resolution of tax matters | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
Impact from pension participation changes | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||
$ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||||
122
2017 Quarters | |||||||||||||||
First | Second | Third | Fourth | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||
Asset impairment and exit costs | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||
Net gain on divestitures | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
Divestiture-related costs | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||
Loss on early extinguishment of debt and related expenses | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
Impact from the resolution of tax matters | |||||||||||||||
$ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||||
123
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We have established disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management, together with our CEO and CFO, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2018. Based on this evaluation, the CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2018.
Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our CEO and CFO, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the Company’s Board of Directors, management and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those written policies and procedures that:
• | pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of assets; |
• | provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
• | provide reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with management and director authorization; and |
• | provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. |
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018. Management based this assessment on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in Internal Control Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”).
Based on this assessment, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective as of December 31, 2018, based on the criteria in Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the COSO.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, as stated in their report that appears under Item 8.
February 8, 2019
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Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management, together with our CEO and CFO, evaluated the changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2018. We continued to transition some of our transactional data processing as well as financial and contract management services for a number of countries across all regions to outsourced partners. Pursuant to our service agreements, the controls previously established around these accounting functions will be maintained by our outsourced partners or by us, and they are subject to management’s internal control testing. We also continued to refine information technology security measures and business process controls. There were no other changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2018, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
125
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Information required by this Item 10 is included under the heading “Executive Officers of the Registrant” in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-K, as well as under the headings “Election of Directors,” “Corporate Governance – Governance Guidelines,” “Corporate Governance – Codes of Conduct,” “Board Committees and Membership – Audit Committee” and “Ownership of Equity Securities – Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in our definitive Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held on May 15, 2019 (“2019 Proxy Statement”). All of this information from the 2019 Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
The information on our web site is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this Annual Report or incorporated into any other filings we make with the SEC.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
Information required by this Item 11 is included under the headings “Board Committees and Membership – Human Resources and Compensation Committee,” “Compensation of Non-Employee Directors,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Executive Compensation Tables,” “Human Resources and Compensation Committee Report for the Year Ended December 31, 2018” and "CEO Pay Ratio" in our 2019 Proxy Statement. All of this information is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The number of shares to be issued upon exercise or vesting of grants issued under, and the number of shares remaining available for future issuance under, our equity compensation plans at December 31, 2018 were:
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (1) | Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (2) | Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (3) | |||||||
(a) | (b) | (c) | |||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | 50,356,414 | $ | 32.36 | 61,077,287 | |||||
(1) | Includes outstanding options, deferred stock units and performance share units and excludes restricted stock. |
(2) | Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options only. |
(3) | Shares available for grant under our Amended and Restated 2005 Performance Incentive Plan. |
Information related to the security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is included in our 2019 Proxy Statement under the heading “Ownership of Equity Securities” and is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Information required by this Item 13 is included under the headings “Corporate Governance – Director Independence” and “Corporate Governance – Review of Transactions with Related Persons” in our 2019 Proxy Statement. All of this information is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Information required by this Item 14 is included under the heading “Board Committees and Membership – Audit Committee” in our 2019 Proxy Statement. All of this information is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
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PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) | Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules |
Page | |
Schedules other than those listed above have been omitted either because such schedules are not required or are not applicable.
(b) | The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report: |
2.1 | |||
2.2 | |||
2.3 | |||
2.4 | |||
2.5 | |||
2.6 | |||
2.7 | |||
3.1 | |||
3.2 | |||
4.1 | The Registrant agrees to furnish to the SEC upon request copies of any instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term debt of the Registrant and its consolidated subsidiaries that does not exceed 10 percent of the total assets of the Registrant and its consolidated subsidiaries. | ||
127
4.2 | |||
4.3 | |||
4.4 | |||
4.5 | |||
10.1 | |||
10.2 | |||
10.3 | |||
10.4 | |||
10.5 | |||
10.6 | |||
10.7 | |||
10.8 | |||
10.9 | |||
10.10 | |||
10.11 | |||
10.12 | |||
128
10.13 | |||
10.14 | |||
10.15 | |||
10.16 | |||
10.17 | |||
10.18 | |||
10.19 | |||
10.20 | |||
10.21 | |||
10.22 | |||
10.23 | |||
10.24 | |||
10.25 | |||
10.26 | |||
10.27 | |||
10.28 | |||
10.29 | |||
10.30 | |||
10.31 | |||
10.32 | |||
129
10.33 | |||
10.34 | |||
10.35 | |||
10.36 | |||
10.37 | |||
10.38 | |||
10.39 | |||
10.40 | |||
10.41 | |||
10.42 | |||
10.43 | |||
10.44 | |||
10.45 | |||
10.46 | |||
10.47 | |||
10.48 | |||
10.49 | |||
10.50 | |||
10.51 | |||
130
10.52 | |||
10.53 | |||
10.54 | |||
10.55 | |||
10.56 | |||
10.57 | |||
18.1 | |||
21.1 | |||
23.1 | |||
31.1 | |||
31.2 | |||
32.1 | |||
101.1 | The following materials from Mondelēz International’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, formatted in iXBRL (Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Statements of Earnings, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings, (iii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Equity, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. | ||
* | Upon request, Mondelēz International, Inc. agrees to furnish to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, on a supplemental basis, a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to such agreement. | ||
** | Portions of this exhibit (indicated by asterisks) have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and have been separately filed with the SEC. | ||
+ | Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. | ||
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
131
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
MONDELĒZ INTERNATIONAL, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ LUCA ZARAMELLA | |
(Luca Zaramella | ||
Executive Vice President | ||
and Chief Financial Officer) | ||
Date: February 8, 2019
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ DIRK VAN DE PUT | Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | February 8, 2019 | ||
(Dirk Van de Put) | ||||
/s/ LUCA ZARAMELLA | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | February 8, 2019 | ||
(Luca Zaramella) | ||||
/s/ NELSON URDANETA | Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer | February 8, 2019 | ||
(Nelson Urdaneta) | ||||
/s/ LEWIS W.K. BOOTH | Director | February 8, 2019 | ||
(Lewis W.K. Booth) | ||||
/s/ CHARLES E. BUNCH | Director | February 8, 2019 | ||
(Charles E. Bunch) | ||||
/s/ DEBRA A. CREW | Director | February 8, 2019 | ||
(Debra A. Crew) | ||||
/s/ LOIS D. JULIBER | Director | February 8, 2019 | ||
(Lois D. Juliber) | ||||
/s/ MARK D. KETCHUM | Director | February 8, 2019 | ||
(Mark D. Ketchum) | ||||
/s/ PETER W. MAY | Director | February 8, 2019 | ||
(Peter W. May) | ||||
/s/ JORGE S. MESQUITA | Director | February 8, 2019 | ||
(Jorge S. Mesquita) | ||||
/s/ JOSEPH NEUBAUER | Director | February 8, 2019 | ||
(Joseph Neubauer) | ||||
/s/ FREDRIC G. REYNOLDS | Director | February 8, 2019 | ||
(Fredric G. Reynolds) | ||||
/s/ CHRISTIANA S. SHI | Director | February 8, 2019 | ||
(Christiana S. Shi) | ||||
/s/ PATRICK T. SIEWERT | Director | February 8, 2019 | ||
(Patrick T. Siewert) | ||||
/s/ JEAN-FRANÇOIS M. L. VAN BOXMEER | Director | February 8, 2019 | ||
(Jean-François M. L. van Boxmeer) | ||||
132
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
For the Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016
(in millions)
Col. A | Col. B | Col. C | Col. D | Col. E | ||||||||||||||||
Additions | ||||||||||||||||||||
Description | Balance at Beginning of Period | Charged to Costs and Expenses | Charged to Other Accounts | Deductions | Balance at End of Period | |||||||||||||||
(a) | (b) | |||||||||||||||||||
2018: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Allowance for trade receivables | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
Allowance for other current receivables | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Allowance for long-term receivables | ||||||||||||||||||||
Allowance for deferred taxes | ||||||||||||||||||||
$ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
2017: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Allowance for trade receivables | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
Allowance for other current receivables | ||||||||||||||||||||
Allowance for long-term receivables | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Allowance for deferred taxes | ||||||||||||||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||
2016: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Allowance for trade receivables | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
Allowance for other current receivables | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Allowance for long-term receivables | ||||||||||||||||||||
Allowance for deferred taxes | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Notes:
(a) |
(b) |
S-1