Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc Announces Q1 Trading Update & Interim Dividend Declaration

Trading Update for the First Quarter ended 29 March 2024 & Interim Dividend Declaration

UXBRIDGE, UNITED KINGDOM / ACCESSWIRE / April 25, 2024 / Good start to the year, confidently reaffirming FY24 guidance

Damian Gammell, Chief Executive Officer, said:

"We have had an encouraging start to the year reflecting great brands and great execution. All delivered by great people, to whom we extend our sincere thanks, alongside our customers and brand partners.

"Our first quarter delivered good volume and revenue growth despite cycling strong growth in Europe albeit more than offset by a great start to the year in APS, especially in the Philippines. This demonstrates how our diversity makes us a stronger and more robust business, operating in categories that remain resilient despite ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical volatility. We grew both share and household penetration ahead of the market. And our focus on revenue growth management and our headline price and promotion strategy across a broad pack offering also drove solid gains in revenue per unit case.

"Although our first quarter has set us up well for the rest of the year, it is typically our smallest. We are building on this momentum supported by fantastic activation plans, including the Paris Olympics and the UEFA Euros, to engage customers and consumers. We remain focused on driving profitable revenue growth, to actively manage our pricing and promotional spend to remain affordable and relevant to our consumers, alongside our focus on productivity and free cash flow. In that context, we confidently reaffirm our full-year guidance for 2024, despite a dynamic outlook.

"We are well placed for FY24 and beyond, continuing to invest for the long-term. We are confident that we have the right strategy, done sustainably, to deliver on our mid-term growth objectives which combined with today's interim dividend declaration, demonstrate the strength of our business, and our ability to deliver continued shareholder value."

Note: All footnotes included after the 'About CCEP' section

Revenue

Q1 Reported +7.5%; Q1 Adjusted Comparable ^[4] +5.3% ^[3]

• Continue to create value for our customers
• NARTD YTD value share gains ^[5] across measured channels both in-store (+40bps) & online (+30bps)
• Adjusted comparable volume +2.0% ^[4],[6]
• By geography:
  • Europe -1.4% ^[6] reflecting solid in-market execution offset by strategic de-listings of water & Capri Sun, & cycling strong comparables (Q1'23 comparable volume +5.0%)
  • APS +8.1% ^[6] reflecting:
• Australia/Pacific (AP): continued solid underlying momentum in Australia & NZ despite cycling strong comparables & strategic bulk water de-listings in Q2 last year
• Southeast Asia (SEA): strong demand in the Philippines & an encouraging start to the year in Indonesia supported by an earlier Ramadan
• By channel:

Away from Home (AFH) +2.8% ^[6] , Home +1.3% ^[6]

• Europe: AFH -4.6% cycling strong comparables (Q1'23 comparable volume +8.5%), Home +0.3%
• APS: AFH +10.3%, Home +4.8%
• Adjusted comparable revenue per unit case +3.4% ^[2],[3],[4] reflecting positive headline pricing & promotional optimisation, partly offset by geographic mix
• Europe: +5.6% reflecting Q1'24 headline price increases in France & Iberia, & annualisation of H2'23 headline pricing in GB & Germany
• APS: +0.2% reflecting headline price increases & promotional optimisation in Australia, offset by geographic mix driven by strong growth in the Philippines (which is at a lower revenue per unit case)

Dividend

• First half interim dividend per share of €0.74 (declared at Q1 & paid in May), calculated as 40% of the FY23 dividend. Reaffirming FY24 guidance for an annualised total dividend payout ratio of approximately 50% ^[7]

Other

Sustainability highlights

• Retained inclusion on Carbon Disclosure Project's A List for Climate for 8th consecutive year
• Introduced autonomous electric trucks in Germany to reduce carbon emissions from our logistics, now operating in 4 markets
• Second industry partnership PET recycling facility opened in Australia

The outlook for FY24 reflects our current assessment of market conditions. Unless stated otherwise, guidance is on an adjusted comparable ^[4] & FX-neutral basis. Guidance is therefore provided on the basis that the acquisition of CCBPI occurred on 1 Jan 2023.

Revenue: comparable growth of ~4% in line with our mid-term strategic objectives

• More balanced between volumes & price/mix than FY23
• Two extra selling days in Q4

Cost of sales per unit case: comparable growth of 3-4%

• Expect commodity inflation to grow low single-digit
• FY24 hedge coverage at ~85% (previously 80%)
• Taxes increase driven by Netherlands
• Concentrate directly linked to revenue per unit case through the incidence pricing model

Operating profit: comparable growth of ~7% in line with our mid-term strategic objectives

• Continued focus on optimising discretionary spend & delivering efficiency programmes

Other:

Finance costs: weighted average cost of net debt of ~2%

Comparable effective tax rate: ~25%

Comparable free cash flow: ~€1.7bn in line with our mid-term strategic objectives

Capital expenditure: ~5% of revenue excluding leases

Dividend payout ratio: ~50% ^[7] based on comparable EPS

All values are unaudited and all references to volumes are on a comparable basis for Europe and Australia / Pacific, and on an adjusted comparable basis for SEA. All changes are versus prior year equivalent period unless stated otherwise.

FBN

• France volume broadly flat, with solid consumer demand offset by tough comparables & the strategic de-listing of Capri Sun.
• Moderate volume decline in Benelux & Nordics reflecting strong comparables in the AFH channel, the strategic de-listing of Capri Sun & the Netherlands consumption tax increase.
• Sprite, Fuze Tea & Powerade outperformed with double-digit volume growth.
• Revenue/UC ^[10] growth driven by headline price increases across the markets (& earlier in France compared to last year).

Germany

• Modest volume growth reflects solid trading in the Home channel supported by great execution partly offset by strong comparables in the AFH channel.
• High single-digit growth in Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. Monster, Fuze Tea & Powerade outperformed with double-digit volume growth.
• Revenue/UC ^[10] growth driven by annualisation of the headline price increase implemented in Q3 last year.
• Positive brand mix also contributed to the growth e.g. Monster & Powerade.

Great Britain

• Moderate volume decline reflects some softness in the AFH channel, adverse weather & the de-listing of Capri Sun.
• Coca-Cola Zero Sugar continued to outperform. High single-digit volume growth for both Monster & Powerade.
• Revenue/UC ^[10] growth driven by annualisation of the headline price increase implemented at the end of the second quarter last year.
• Positive mix also contributed to the growth e.g. Monster & late Q1 launch of Jack Daniel's & Coca-Cola last year.

Iberia

• Slight volume decline driven by cycling strong comparables.
• Sprite, Monster, Royal Bliss & Fuze Tea volumes outperformed with double-digit volume growth.
• Revenue/UC ^[10] growth driven by headline price increase.
• Positive brand mix also contributed to the growth e.g. Monster & Powerade.

Australia / Pacific

• Slight volume decline reflects tough comparables across Australia & NZ, reflecting industry-wide supply constraints last year alongside strategic bulk water de-listings in Australia which started in Q2 2023. Excluding de-listings, volume would have been broadly flat in Q1. Solid underlying demand supported by great activation.
• Home channel volume performed slightly ahead of the AFH channel.
• Coca-Cola Classic, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Fanta & Monster performed well in all markets supported by innovation, including the launch of Monster Energy Zero Sugar & Fanta Pineapple Zero Sugar in Australia.
• Revenue/UC ^[10] growth driven by headline price increases & promotional optimisation.

Southeast Asia

• Solid volume driven by double-digit growth in the Philippines, reflecting strong underlying market demand & solid share gains, & cycling the softest quarter of last year.
• Good start to the year in Indonesia delivering encouraging sparkling volume & transaction growth, supported by an earlier Ramadan festive period.
• AFH channel volume grew ahead of the Home channel driven by the Philippines.
• Coke TM in double-digit growth in Philippines & Indonesia, driven by Coca-Cola Classic & supported by encouraging performance of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar in Indonesia following its recent launch. Sprite & Fanta also performing well.
• Revenue/UC ^[10] growth driven by annualisation of the headline price increase implemented last year & favourable pack mix.

All values are unaudited & all references to volumes are on an adjusted comparable basis. All changes are versus prior year equivalent period unless stated otherwise.

^[A] % change: +4.2% exc. Juices

Coca-Cola®

• Coca-Cola Classic +4.4% driven by growth across all APS markets, especially the Philippines, partially offset by strong comparables in Europe.
• Coca-Cola Zero Sugar +1.3% driven by solid execution & innovation despite cycling strong comparables (Q1'23: +8.0% ^[14] ).
• Value share gains of Total Cola +20bps ^[5] , led by the Philippines.

Flavours & Mixers

• Sprite +8.7% driven by solid consumer demand & great execution across all key markets.
• Fanta +2.6% despite strong comparables (Q1'23 +6.5% ^[14] ) supported by flavour extensions e.g. Fanta Exotic.
• Royal Bliss continues to perform well supported by the launch in Portugal.

Water, Sports, RTD Tea & Coffee

• Water -1.5% driven by strategic water de-listings within Europe & Australia.
• Sports +4.3% despite strong comparables (Q1'23 +14.5% ^[14] ) with growth in Powerade driven by continued consumer trends in this category.
• RTD Tea & Coffee +4.7% driven by Fuze Tea in Europe.

Other inc. Energy

• Strong growth in Energy +7.5% led by Monster despite strong comparables (Q1'23 +15.0% ^[14] ), continuing to gain distribution (inc. recent category launch in the Philippines) & share through innovation e.g. Monster Green Zero & Bad Apple.
• Juices decline resulting from the strategic de-listing of Capri Sun in Europe.
• Encouraging early start for Absolute & Sprite following the launch in Europe.

• 25 April 2024 at 12:00 BST, 13:00 CEST & 7:00 a.m. EDT; accessible via www.cocacolaep.com Replay & transcript will be available at www.cocacolaep.com as soon as possible

• The CCEP Board of Directors declared a first-half interim dividend of €0.74 per share
• The interim dividend is payable 23 May 2024 to those shareholders of record on 10 May 2024
• CCEP will pay the interim dividend in euros to holders of shares on Euronext Amsterdam, the Spanish Stock Exchanges & London Stock Exchange
• Other publicly held shares will be converted into an equivalent US dollar amount using exchange rates issued by WM/Reuters taken at 16:00 BST on 25 April 2024. This translated amount will be posted on our website here:

https://ir.cocacolaep.com/shareholder-information-and-tools/dividends

• H1 2024 Results: 7 August 2024
• AGM: 22 May 2024
• Financial calendar available here: https://ir.cocacolaep.com/financial-calendar/

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners is one of the world's leading consumer goods companies. We make, move and sell some of the world's most loved brands - serving nearly 600 million consumers and helping over 2 million customers across 31 countries grow.

We combine the strength and scale of a large, multi-national business with an expert, local knowledge of the customers we serve and communities we support.

The Company is currently listed on Euronext Amsterdam, NASDAQ (and a constituent of the Nasdaq 100), London Stock Exchange and on the Spanish Stock Exchanges, trading under the symbol CCEP.

For more information about CCEP, please visit www.cocacolaep.com & follow CCEP on LinkedIn @ Coca-Cola Europacific Partners | LinkedIn

___________________

1. Refer to 'Note Regarding the Presentation of Adjusted financial information and Alternative Performance Measures' for further details & to 'Supplementary Financial Information' for a reconciliation of reported to adjusted comparable results; Change percentages against prior year equivalent period unless stated otherwise
2. A unit case equals approximately 5.678 litres or 24 8-ounce servings
3. Comparable & FX-neutral
4. Non-IFRS adjusted comparable financial information as if the acquisition of Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc (CCBPI) occurred at the beginning of the period presented for illustrative purposes only. It does not intend to represent the results had the acquisition occurred at the dates indicated, or project the results for any future dates or periods. Acquisition completed on 23 February 2024. Prepared on a basis consistent with CCEP accounting policies and includes provisional transaction accounting adjustments for the period 1 January to 23 February. Refer to 'Note Regarding the Presentation of Adjusted financial information and Alternative Performance Measures' for further details.
5. External data sources: Nielsen & IRI Period 2 YTD
6. No selling day shift in Q1; CCEP adjusted comparable volume +2.0% in Q1
7. Dividends subject to Board approval
8. Includes France, Monaco, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden & Iceland
9. Includes Spain, Portugal & Andorra
10. Revenue per unit case
11. Includes Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea
12. Includes Philippines & Indonesia.
13. RTD refers to ready to drink;
14. Excludes Philippines

This document contains statements, estimates or projections that constitute "forward-looking statements" concerning the financial condition, performance, results, guidance and outlook, dividends, consequences of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and divestitures, including the joint venture with Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) and acquisition of Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI), strategy and objectives of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc and its subsidiaries (together CCEP or the Group). Generally, the words "ambition", "target", "aim", "believe", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "project", "plan", "seek", "may", "could", "would", "should", "might", "will", "forecast", "outlook", "guidance", "possible", "potential", "predict", "objective" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature.

Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from CCEP's historical experience and present expectations or projections. As a result, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. These risks include but are not limited to:

1. those set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of CCEP's 2023 Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on 15 March 2024;
2. risks and uncertainties relating to the global supply chain and distribution, including impact from war in Ukraine and increasing geopolitical tensions and conflicts including in the Middle East and Asia Pacific region, such as the risk that the business will not be able to guarantee sufficient supply of raw materials, supplies, finished goods, natural gas and oil and increased state-sponsored cyber risks;
3. risks and uncertainties relating to the global economy and/or a potential recession in one or more countries, including risks from elevated inflation, price increases, price elasticity, disposable income of consumers and employees, pressure on and from suppliers, increased fraud, and the perception or manifestation of a global economic downturn;
4. risks and uncertainties relating to potential water use reductions due to regulations by national and regional authorities leading to a potential temporary decrease in production volume; and
5. risks and uncertainties relating to the integration and operation of the joint venture with AEV and acquisition of CCBPI, including the risk that our integration of CCBPI's business and operations may not be successful or may be more difficult, time consuming or costly than expected.

Due to these risks, CCEP's actual future financial condition, results of operations, and business activities, including its results, dividend payments, capital and leverage ratios, growth, including growth in revenue, cost of sales per unit case and operating profit, free cash flow, market share, tax rate, efficiency savings, achievement of sustainability goals, including net zero emissions and recycling initiatives, capital expenditures, our agreements relating to and results of the joint venture with AEV and acquisition of CCBPI, and ability to remain in compliance with existing and future regulatory compliance, may differ materially from the plans, goals, expectations and guidance set out in forward-looking statements. These risks may also adversely affect CCEP's share price. Additional risks that may impact CCEP's future financial condition and performance are identified in filings with the SEC which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. CCEP does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required under applicable rules, laws and regulations. Any or all of the forward-looking statements contained in this filing and in any other of CCEP's public statements may prove to be incorrect.

Adjusted financial information

Non-IFRS adjusted financial information for selected metrics has been provided in order to illustrate the effects of the acquisition of CCBPI on the results of operations of CCEP and to allow for greater comparability of the results of the combined group between periods. The adjusted financial information has been prepared for illustrative purposes only, and because of its nature addresses a hypothetical situation. It does not intend to represent the results had the acquisition occurred at the dates indicated, or project the results for any future dates or periods. It is based on information and assumptions that CCEP believe are reasonable, including assumptions as at 1 January of the period presented relating to provisional transaction accounting adjustments. No cost savings or synergies were contemplated in these provisional adjustments.

The non-IFRS adjusted financial information has not been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Regulation S-X Article 11 of the US Securities Act of 1933 or any generally accepted accounting standards, may not necessarily be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies and should be considered supplemental to, and not a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards.

The acquisition completed on 23 February 2024 and the non-IFRS adjusted financial information provided reflects the inclusion of CCBPI as if the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of the period presented. It has been prepared on a basis consistent with CCEP accounting policies and includes provisional transaction accounting adjustments for the period 1 January to 23 February.

Alternative Performance Measures

We use certain alternative performance measures (non-IFRS performance measures) to make financial, operating and planning decisions and to evaluate and report performance. We believe these measures provide useful information to investors and as such, where clearly identified, we have included certain alternative performance measures in this document to allow investors to better analyse our business performance and allow for greater comparability. To do so, we have excluded items affecting the comparability of period-over-period financial performance as described below. The alternative performance measures included herein should be read in conjunction with and do not replace the directly reconcilable IFRS measures.

For purposes of this document, the following terms are defined:

''As reported'' are results extracted from our unaudited consolidated financial statements.

"Adjusted" includes the results of CCEP as if the CCBPI acquisition had occurred at the beginning of the period presented, including provisional acquisition accounting adjustments, accounting policy reclassifications and the impact of debt financing costs in connection with the acquisition.

"Comparable'' is defined as results excluding items impacting comparability, which include restructuring charges, accelerated amortisation charges, expenses related to legal provisions and integration related costs. Comparable volume is also adjusted for selling days.

''Adjusted comparable" is defined as adjusted results excluding items impacting comparability, as described above.

''Fx-neutral'' or "FXN" is defined as period results excluding the impact of foreign exchange rate changes. Foreign exchange impact is calculated by recasting current year results at prior year exchange rates.

''Capex'' or "Capital expenditures'' is defined as purchases of property, plant and equipment and capitalised software, plus payments of principal on lease obligations, less proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment. Capex is used as a measure to ensure that cash spending on capital investment is in line with the Group's overall strategy for the use of cash.

''Comparable free cash flow'' is defined as net cash flows from operating activities less capital expenditures (as defined above) and net interest payments, adjusted for items that are not reasonably likely to recur within two years, nor have occurred within the prior two years. Comparable free cash flow is used as a measure of the Group's cash generation from operating activities, taking into account investments in property, plant and equipment, non-discretionary lease and net interest payments while excluding the effects of items that are unusual in nature to allow for better period over period comparability. Comparable free cash flow reflects an additional way of viewing our liquidity, which we believe is useful to our investors, and is not intended to represent residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures.

''Dividend payout ratio'' is defined as dividends as a proportion of comparable profit after tax.

Additionally, within this document, we provide certain forward-looking non-IFRS financial information, which management uses for planning and measuring performance. We are not able to reconcile forward-looking non-IFRS measures to reported measures without unreasonable efforts because it is not possible to predict with a reasonable degree of certainty the actual impact or exact timing of items that may impact comparability throughout year.

Revenue

^[1] The adjusted financial information for 2024 reflects the inclusion of Philippines revenue as if the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of the period presented and prepared on a basis consistent with CCEP accounting policies.

Volume

^[1] The adjusted financial information for 2024 reflects the inclusion of Philippines volume as if the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of the period presented and prepared on a basis consistent with CCEP accounting policies. No selling day shift in Q1 2024.

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SOURCE: Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc