Bunge Reports Strong First Quarter Results

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG)

• Total segment EBIT of $317 million, up $199 million vs. 2010
• Strong performance in agribusiness and food & ingredients
• Sugar & bioenergy and fertilizer results generally in line with expectations

Financial Highlights

Overview

Alberto Weisser, Bunge's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Bunge is off to a strong start in 2011.  Agribusiness and food & ingredients performed very well in the first quarter and sugar & bioenergy and fertilizer produced segment results generally in line with our expectations.  The Brazilian sugarcane harvest is getting underway now, and all eight of our mills should be operating next week.

"The agribusiness and food markets continue to be characterized by tight supply and volatility, resulting from a combination of factors, including weather and trade policy.  While current conditions are likely to persist throughout the year, farmers around the world are responding to higher commodity prices with large plantings and ample use of crop inputs.  South American harvests are near record levels and, weather permitting, U.S. farmers are expected to plant the largest acreage of major crops in nearly 25 years.  Another season of large harvests will be an important step in rebuilding stocks and moderating prices.

"The current market environment puts a premium on an efficient, flexible supply chain and excellent risk management. These are some of Bunge's key strengths which allow us to deliver reliable service to customers and generate value for shareholders."

First Quarter Results

Agribusiness

Higher results in the quarter were primarily due to strong performance in grain merchandising, which benefited from strong global demand for U.S. and South American exports.  Results in oilseed processing were lower, due to weaker volumes and margins.  Lower volume in the quarter was primarily due to reduced European grain origination and softseed processing volumes resulting from the smaller 2010 crops in the Black Sea region.  First quarter 2010 results included $14 million of impairment and restructuring charges.

Sugar & Bioenergy

The first quarter is the inter-harvest period in Brazil when sugarcane mills in the Center-South region are not operating and are selling sugar and ethanol inventories from the previous cane harvest.  High prices in the quarter were offset by low volumes due to the impact of dry weather on sugarcane yields in Brazil last year.  First quarter 2010 results included $11 million of transaction-related expenses in connection with the Moema acquisition.

Edible Oil Products

Strong results in Europe and North America were partially offset by lower results in our margarine business, which experienced aggressive competition.

Milling Products

Higher results in the quarter were due to stronger margins in wheat and corn milling, as well as the contribution of our U.S. rice milling business, which we acquired in the fourth quarter of 2010.  Wheat milling benefited from the combination of high local sales prices and low raw material costs, as much of our inventory was purchased prior to the rise in global wheat prices.  First quarter 2010 results included $3 million of impairment and restructuring charges.

Fertilizer

First quarter is typically a low-volume period due to the seasonality of the South American planting season, which mostly occurs in the second half of the year.  In the quarter, volumes were generally in line with expectations and margins were higher due to tight industry inventory levels in Brazil.  Results in first quarter 2010 include operating results from our Brazilian nutrients business that we sold.

Financial Costs

Interest expense decreased in the quarter due to lower average interest rates on debt.

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 was 15 percent compared to 10 percent for the same period last year.

Cash Flow

Cash provided by operations in the quarter ended March 31, 2011 was $734 million compared to cash provided by operations of $760 million in the same period last year.

Outlook

Drew Burke, Chief Financial Officer, stated, "In agribusiness, the favorable environment for our grain merchandising business should continue.  Global demand is good and farmers around the world are responding to high agricultural commodity prices by increasing crop production.  Oilseed processing margins in South America should benefit from higher utilization now that harvest is underway.  Margins in Europe should improve later in the year when stocks are replenished during harvest.  However, margins in the U.S. are likely to remain under pressure due to excess capacity.

"In sugar & bioenergy, tight global sugar supplies and strong demand for ethanol in Brazil should continue to be supportive of prices.

"Food & ingredients should continue to perform well.  However, pricing pressures in edible oils will likely persist in certain markets, and wheat milling margins will likely decrease as low-cost raw material inventories are replaced at market prices.  

"In fertilizer, strong farm economics should result in increased plantings and demand for fertilizer.  

"Results in our fertilizer and sugar & bioenergy segments will be weighted to the second half of the year due to the seasonality of the businesses."

Conference Call and Webcast Details

Bunge Limited's management will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. EDT on April 28, 2011 to discuss the company's results.

A slide presentation to accompany the discussion of results will be posted in the "Investor Information" section of www.bunge.com.

To listen to the call from within the U.S., dial 888-895-5479.  From outside the U.S. or Canada, dial 847-619-6250.  When prompted, enter confirmation code 29553381.  The call will also be webcast live at www.bunge.com.

To access the webcast, select the "Investor Information" link on the Bunge homepage, then select "Webcasts and News Alerts."  Select "Q1 2011 Bunge Limited Conference Call" and follow the prompts.

A replay of the call will be available later in the day on April 28, 2011, continuing through May 28, 2011.  To listen to the replay from within the U.S., dial 888-843-7419.  From outside the U.S. or Canada, dial 630-652-3042.  When prompted, enter confirmation code 29553381.  A replay will also be available on the company's website.  To access it, select the "Investor Information" link on the Bunge homepage, then select "Audio Archives" and follow the prompts.

About Bunge Limited

Bunge Limited (www.bunge.com, NYSE: BG) is a leading global agribusiness and food company with approximately 32,000 employees in more than 30 countries. Bunge buys, sells, stores and transports oilseeds and grains to serve customers worldwide; processes oilseeds to make protein meal for animal feed and edible oil products for commercial customers and consumers; produces sugar and ethanol from sugarcane; mills wheat and corn to make ingredients used by food companies; and sells fertilizer in North and South America. Founded in 1818, the company is headquartered in White Plains, New York.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains both historical and forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather reflect our current expectations and projections about our future results, performance, prospects and opportunities. We have tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words including "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "continue" and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. The following important factors, among others, could affect our business and financial performance: industry conditions, including fluctuations in supply, demand and prices for agricultural commodities and other raw materials and products used in our business; fluctuations in energy and freight costs and competitive developments in our industries; the effects of weather conditions and the outbreak of crop and animal disease on our business; global and regional agricultural, economic, financial and commodities market, political, social and health conditions; the outcome of pending regulatory and legal proceedings; our ability to complete, integrate and benefit from acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures and strategic alliances; our ability to achieve the efficiencies, savings and other benefits anticipated from our cost reduction, margin improvement and other business optimization initiatives; changes in government policies, laws and regulations affecting our business, including agricultural and trade policies, tax regulations and biofuels legislation; and other factors affecting our business generally. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made only as of the date of this release, and except as otherwise required by federal securities law, we do not have any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Additional Financial Information

The following table provides a summary of certain gains and charges that may be of interest to investors.  The table includes a description of these items and their effect on total segment EBIT, income from operations before income tax, net income attributable to Bunge and earnings per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

This earnings release contains certain "non-GAAP financial measures" as defined in Regulation G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Bunge has reconciled these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures below.  These measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Total segment EBIT

Total segment EBIT is consolidated net income attributable to Bunge excluding interest income and expense and income tax attributable to each segment.

Total segment EBIT is a non-GAAP financial measure and is not intended to replace net income attributable to Bunge, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.  Total segment earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) is an operating performance measure used by Bunge's management to evaluate its segments' operating activities.  Bunge's management believes total segment EBIT is a useful measure of its segments' operating profitability, since the measure allows for an evaluation of segment performance without regard to its financing methods or capital structure.  In addition, EBIT is a financial measure that is widely used by analysts and investors in Bunge's industries.  Total segment EBIT is not a measure of consolidated operating results under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or any other measure of consolidated operating results under U.S. GAAP.

Below is a reconciliation of total segment EBIT to net income attributable to Bunge:

SOURCE Bunge Limited