Conagra Brands Completes Third Year Of Transformation With Strong End To Fiscal 2018

CHICAGO, June 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) reported results for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2018, which ended on May 27, 2018. All comparisons are against the prior year fiscal period, unless otherwise noted.

Fourth Quarter Highlights

• In the quarter, net sales grew 5.6%, and organic net sales¹ grew 2.0%.
• Gross margin expanded 85 basis points to 29.3%; adjusted² gross margin expanded 12 basis points to 29.2%.
• Every segment showed operating profit growth and operating margin expansion.
• The Refrigerated & Frozen segment continued its strong momentum with 7.9% net sales growth and 5.2% organic net sales growth. This is the segment's fourth consecutive quarter of organic net sales growth.
• Sales trends continue to improve in the Grocery & Snacks segment with 7.1% net sales growth and 1.1% organic net sales growth. The segment has now reported three consecutive quarters of consumption growth.
• Diluted earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations decreased from $0.36 to $0.18 in the quarter, and adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations grew 35.1% from $0.37 to $0.50.

Full-Year Highlights

• For the full fiscal year, net sales grew 1.4%, and organic net sales declined 0.2%, near the high end of the full year guidance range.
• Despite higher-than-expected inflation, full year adjusted operating margin was within the original full year guidance range.
• For the full fiscal year, EPS from continuing operations increased 56.0% to $1.95, and adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations grew 21.3% to $2.11.

CEO Perspective
Sean Connolly, president and chief executive officer of Conagra Brands, commented, "Fiscal 2018 marked another year of tremendous progress in our transformation, despite a challenging inflationary environment. The year was further proof that we are squarely on track to deliver on the long-term commitments we presented at our 2016 investor day. Since then, we have improved our sales performance with innovation, renovation and enhanced marketing capabilities.  We've also driven profitability through a focus on executional excellence and we created an externally-focused, results-oriented culture. Clearly, our hard work is paying off with improved and more consistent performance, and I am very proud of the progress we have made over the past three years."

Connolly added, "Looking ahead, our fiscal 2019 guidance anticipates solid growth in our net sales, adjusted gross profit, and adjusted operating profit, consistent with our long-term plan. We are confident we will sustain the progress we've made on our fundamentals, and we are well-positioned to continue to drive meaningful value creation. Our pending acquisition of Pinnacle Foods, which we also announced this morning, will further enhance our progress and we expect it will provide incremental opportunities to capture value for our shareholders."

Total Company Fiscal 2018 Results
For the full fiscal year, net sales increased 1.4%. Organic net sales decreased 0.2% as price/mix favorability of 1.3% was more than offset by a volume decline of 1.5%. Growth from new innovation was more than offset by the Company's actions to build a higher quality revenue base and invest in retailer marketing to drive brand saliency, enhanced distribution, and consumer trial.

For the full fiscal year, gross profit increased 0.4%. Adjusted gross profit decreased 0.5% as strong supply chain realized productivity, favorable price/mix, and profit contribution from acquisitions were more than offset by higher-than-expected input costs and transportation expenses, lower volume, and the previously-mentioned retailer marketing. 

For the full fiscal year, diluted EPS from continuing operations grew 56.0%, and adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations grew 21.3%. The increases were primarily driven by fewer shares outstanding, lower selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses, higher equity method investment earnings, and a reduction in the effective tax rate.

Total Company Fourth Quarter Results
Net sales grew 5.6% in the quarter with recent acquisitions and foreign exchange adding 330 basis points and 30 basis points to the net sales growth rate, respectively. Organic net sales grew 2.0% driven by solid growth in both domestic retail segments. While the Company continued to invest in retailer marketing to drive brand saliency, enhanced distribution, and consumer trial, every reporting segment showed favorability in both net pricing and mix. 

Gross profit increased 8.8% to $575 million in the quarter and adjusted gross profit increased 6.1% to $573 million. The increases were primarily driven by favorable price/mix, strong supply chain realized productivity, and the contribution of recent acquisitions. These benefits were partially offset by higher input costs and transportation expenses. In the quarter, gross margin improved 85 basis points to 29.3%, and adjusted gross margin improved 12 basis points to 29.2%.

Diluted EPS from continuing operations decreased from $0.36 to $0.18 in the quarter. Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations grew 35.1% to $0.50, primarily driven by higher gross profit as outlined above, a reduction in the effective tax rate, and fewer shares outstanding.

Grocery & Snacks Segment Fourth Quarter Results
Net sales for the Grocery & Snacks segment increased 7.1% to $803 million in the quarter, and organic net sales increased 1.1% as the acquisitions of the Duke's, BIGS, and Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP businesses added 600 basis points to the net sales growth rate. Volume declined 0.3% as growth from innovation and strong growth in snacking businesses such as Slim Jim, Orville Redenbacher's, and Act II were more than offset by planned discontinuations of lower-performing products. Price/mix increased 1.4% as favorable mix improvements from recent innovation and higher net pricing more than offset continued investments in retailer marketing to drive brand saliency, enhanced distribution, and consumer trial.

Operating profit for the segment increased from $51 million to $173 million, largely driven by the prior-year period's intangible impairment charges of $67 million pre-tax related to the Chef Boyardee brand and other costs of $31 million pre-tax related to a Wesson oil production facility. Adjusted operating profit increased 13.7% as favorable price/mix, supply chain realized productivity, and the contribution of recent acquisitions were partially offset by higher input costs and transportation expenses.

Refrigerated & Frozen Segment Fourth Quarter Results
Net sales for the Refrigerated & Frozen segment increased 7.9% to $691 million in the quarter, and organic net sales grew 5.2% as the acquisition of Sandwich Bros. of Wisconsin added 270 basis points to the net sales growth rate. Volume grew 2.9% behind continued core business improvements and innovation launches in the Marie Callender's, Healthy Choice, and Banquet branded businesses. While the Company continued to invest in retailer marketing to drive brand saliency, enhanced distribution, and consumer trial, price/mix increased 2.3% behind favorability in both net pricing and mix.

Operating profit for the segment increased 15.0% in the quarter, and adjusted operating profit increased 14.9%. Strong supply chain realized productivity, volume growth, and favorable price/mix more than offset higher input costs and transportation expenses. 

International Segment Fourth Quarter Results
Net sales for the International segment increased 2.0% to $209 million in the quarter, and organic net sales decreased 0.6% as foreign exchange favorably impacted the net sales growth rate by 260 basis points. Volume decreased 2.5% and price/mix increased 1.9%, reflecting the impacts of the ongoing value over volume strategy.

The segment reported an operating profit of $18 million in the quarter from an operating loss of $11 million in the prior-year period. The prior-year period included pre-tax goodwill and intangible impairment charges of $28 million related to the Canadian and Mexican businesses. Adjusted operating profit increased 6.4% in the quarter as favorable price/mix and supply chain realized productivity more than offset the impact of higher input costs.

Foodservice Segment Fourth Quarter Results
Net sales for the Foodservice segment decreased 1.2% to $264 million in the quarter. Volume decreased 5.4% as the segment continues to execute the value over volume strategy. Price/mix increased 4.2% driven by improved product mix as well as pricing to cover inflation.

Operating profit increased 14.6% in the quarter as the benefits of favorable price/mix and supply chain realized productivity for the segment more than offset the previously-mentioned decrease in volume as well as increased input costs.

Other Fourth Quarter Items
Corporate expenses increased from $59 million to $207 million in the quarter, primarily driven by legal matters, including $151 million related to certain legal reserves. Adjusted corporate expenses increased 1.5% to $55 million, as lower employee-related costs were offset by reduced transition service agreement income.

Advertising and promotion (A&P) expense decreased 21.2% to $59 million in the quarter as the Company continued to shift investments from A&P marketing to retailer marketing in order to drive brand saliency, enhanced distribution, and consumer trial.

Equity method investment earnings decreased just over $1 million to $18 million. In the year-ago period, the Ardent Mills joint venture benefitted from more favorable market conditions.

Net interest expense increased 18.7% to $45 million in the quarter, primarily driven by more debt outstanding compared to the prior year period.

Capital Allocation
In the quarter, the Company paid a quarterly dividend of $0.2125 per share. In light of the Company's pending acquisition of Pinnacle Foods, the Company intends to maintain its quarterly dividend at the current annual rate of $0.85 per share during fiscal 2019. In the future, the Company expects modest dividend increases while it focuses on deleveraging, subject to the approval of its Board of Directors.

In the quarter, the Company repurchased approximately 3 million shares of its common stock for $107 million. 

In May 2018, the Company's Board of Directors approved an additional $1 billion share repurchase program. The Company's total current authorization is approximately $1.4 billion and has no expiration date. The Company plans to repurchase shares under its authorized program only at times and in amounts as is consistent with the prioritization of achieving its leverage targets.

As previously disclosed, on February 26, 2018, the Company borrowed $300 million pursuant to a term loan agreement entered into on February 22, 2018. The Company used the proceeds from this borrowing to make a voluntary pension plan contribution of $300 million.

Portfolio Update
As announced in a separate press release today, the Company has entered into a definitive agreement under which Conagra Brands will acquire all the outstanding shares of Pinnacle Foods for $43.11 in cash and 0.6494 shares of Conagra Brands common stock per share of Pinnacle Foods common stock in a transaction valued at approximately $10.9 billion, including Pinnacle Foods's outstanding net debt. This represents an implied price of $68.00 per share of Pinnacle Foods. The transaction is expected to close by the end of calendar 2018, subject to Pinnacle Foods shareholder approval, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

The previously-announced divestiture of the Company's Canadian Del Monte processed fruit and vegetable business to Bonduelle Group is expected to close in July 2018.

On May 31, 2018, the Company sold its Trenton, Missouri production facility. As a result of the transaction, the Company's Foodservice segment exited a non-core co-manufacturing arrangement that generated approximately $79 million of net sales in fiscal 2018. The absence of the related business in fiscal 2019 will serve as a headwind to segment and total Company organic net sales growth.

Pension Accounting and Asset Allocation Change
In the first quarter of 2019, the Company is adopting Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2017-07, which requires the Company to present the service cost component of net benefit cost in the same line items in which it reports compensation cost. The Company will present all other components of net benefit cost outside operating income in a new line item named Pension and Postretirement Non-Service Income. There is no impact to the Company's reported Net Income, only a shift between line items. However, Pension and Postretirement Non-Service Income will shift out of Adjusted Operating Profit to its own line below Adjusted Operating Profit resulting in a headwind for Adjusted Operating Profit prospectively. On June 27, 2018, the Company furnished a Current Report on Form 8-K with historical financial information that has been recast to reflect ASU 2017-07. This recast financial information is provided to ensure comparability, as the Company's guidance is based on growth from this recast base. 

After the previously-mentioned voluntary pension plan contribution, the plans started shifting its asset mix to a higher proportion of fixed income assets. This asset mix shift reduces the Company's expected return on plan assets. As outlined in the Company's guidance, this reduction in expected return will reduce the previously-mentioned Pension and Postretirement Non-Service Income line.

Standalone Fiscal 2019 and Fiscal 2020 Outlook
The Company is providing standalone fiscal 2019 guidance as summarized below:

• Reported net sales growth in the range of 0.5% to 1.5%.
• Organic net sales growth, excluding the previously-mentioned impact of the Trenton facility sale and related Foodservice business exit, is expected to be in the range of 1.0% to 2.0%.
• Adjusted gross margin in the range of 29.7% to 30.0%.
• Input cost inflation in the range of 3.0% to 3.2%.
• Adjusted operating margin in the range of 15.0% to 15.3%. As previously mentioned, this metric now reflects the impact of ASU 2017-07.
• Effective tax rate in the range of 23% to 24%.
• Pension and Postretirement Non-Service Income, recast as described above, is expected to decrease approximately $46 million. This decrease is related to the previously-mentioned asset mix shift.

The Company is providing standalone fiscal first quarter 2019 guidance as summarized below:

• Reported net sales growth in the range of 2.0% to 2.5%.
• Adjusted operating margin in the range of 14.1% to 14.4%.
• Adjusted diluted EPS in the range of $0.46 to $0.49.

The Company's three-year standalone fiscal 2020 financial algorithm, which uses fiscal 2017 as the base year, remains on-track. The Company is truing up its algorithm, which now reflects changes in pension accounting standards and the Company's strategic decision to shift brand building investments from A&P marketing to retailer marketing.

The trued-up three-year standalone fiscal 2020 financial algorithm, which uses fiscal 2017 as the base year, is summarized below:

• Strategic Shift from A&P Marketing to Retailer Marketing: The Company intends to continue shifting marketing investments from A&P marketing to retailer marketing in order to achieve higher returns on total marketing investments. The Company estimates that A&P as a percent of net sales will decrease by approximately 150 basis points with a corresponding decrease in adjusted gross margin of 150 basis points. While retailer marketing is accounted for as a reduction to net sales, the improved return on these investments is expected to result in a net neutral impact on the 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of organic net sales.

• Changes in Pension Accounting Standards: As previously noted, Pension and Postretirement Non-Service Income will be moved to a new line item. As a result of adopting the new accounting standard, SG&A as a percent of net sales is expected to increase by approximately 100 basis points with a corresponding decrease in operating margin by 100 basis points. There is no impact to Net Income, only a shift between line items.

All guidance metrics shown above include the expected results for the Wesson oil business and exclude the expected results for the Company's Canadian Del Monte processed fruit and vegetable business for the full time-period indicated. The Company continues to assess alternatives for the Wesson oil business. All guidance metrics shown above do not include any impact from the pending acquisition of Pinnacle Foods.

The inability to predict the amount and timing of the impacts of foreign exchange, acquisitions, divestitures, and other items impacting comparability makes a detailed reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures impracticable.  Please see the end of this release for more information. 

Items Affecting Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2018 Comparability
Included in the $0.18 diluted EPS from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 (EPS amounts rounded and after tax)

• Approximately $0.01 per diluted share of net expense, or $4.8 million pre-tax ($4.2 million after tax), related to restructuring plans ($2.2 million in cost of goods sold (COGS) and $2.6 million in SG&A)
• Approximately $0.01 per diluted share of net expense, or $4.0 million pre-tax ($3.3 million after tax), related to costs associated with acquisitions and divestitures (SG&A)
• Approximately $0.01 per diluted share of net expense, or $4.8 million pre-tax ($3.7 million after tax), related to goodwill and intangible impairment charges (SG&A)
• Approximately $0.29 per diluted share of net expense, or $151.0 million pre-tax ($113.3 million after tax), related to legal matters (SG&A)
• Approximately $0.01 per diluted share of net gain, or $4.3 million pre-tax ($3.3 million after tax), related to corporate hedging of derivatives (COGS)
• Approximately $0.01 per diluted share of net expense, or $3.6 million, of tax items primarily related to the 2017 U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax)

Included in the $0.36 diluted EPS from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 (EPS amounts rounded and after tax)

• Approximately $0.02 per diluted share of net expense, or $16.0 million pre-tax ($10.5 million after tax), related to restructuring plans ($5.5 million in COGS and $10.5 million in SG&A)
• Approximately $0.05 per diluted share of net expense, or $31.4 million pre-tax ($19.6 million after tax), related to the planned divestiture of the Wesson oil brand, most of which is related to impairment charges on the Wesson oil production facility ($0.5 million in COGS and $30.9 million in SG&A)
• Approximately $0.16 per diluted share of net expense, or $95.5 million pre-tax ($66.7 million after tax), related to goodwill and intangible impairment charges (SG&A)
• Approximately $0.01 per diluted share of net income, or $5.7 million pre-tax ($3.7 million after tax), related to a historical lawsuit (SG&A)
• Approximately $0.01 per diluted share of net expense, or $5.5 million pre-tax ($3.4 million after tax), related to corporate hedging of derivatives (COGS)
• Approximately $0.21 per diluted share of net tax benefit, or $91.3 million, related to a tax adjustment of valuation allowance associated with the then-planned divestiture of the Wesson oil brand (Tax)
• Approximately $0.01 per diluted share of beneficial impact due to rounding

Discussion of Results
Conagra Brands has changed the date of its conference call. The Company will host a webcast and conference call at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time today to discuss the results and pending Pinnacle Foods acquisition.   

The live audio webcast and presentation slides will be available on www.conagrabrands.com/investor-relations under Events & Presentations. The conference call may be accessed by dialing 1-877-883-0383 for participants in the continental U.S. and 1-412-902-6506 for all other participants and using passcode 8320318. Please dial in 10 to 15 minutes prior to the call start time. Following the Company's remarks, the conference call will include a question-and-answer session with the investment community.

A replay of the webcast will be available on conagrabrands.com/investor-relations under Events & Presentations until June 27, 2019.

About Conagra Brands 
Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG), headquartered in Chicago, is one of North America's leading branded food companies. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Conagra Brands combines a rich heritage of making great food with a sharpened focus on innovation. The company's portfolio is evolving to satisfy people's changing food preferences. Conagra's iconic brands, such as Marie Callender's®, Reddi-wip®, Hunt's®, Healthy Choice®, Slim Jim® and Orville Redenbacher's®, as well as emerging brands, including Alexia®, Blake's®, Frontera®, Duke's® and Angie's® BOOMCHICKAPOP®, offer choices for every occasion. For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com. 

Note on Forward-looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Readers of this document should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. Many factors could affect our actual financial results and cause them to vary materially from the expectations contained in the forward-looking statements, including those set forth in this document. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: the failure to obtain Pinnacle Foods shareholder approval of the proposed transaction; the possibility that the closing conditions to the proposed transaction may not be satisfied or waived, including that a governmental entity may prohibit, delay or refuse to grant a necessary regulatory approval and any conditions imposed on the combined entity in connection with consummation of the proposed transaction; delay in closing the proposed transaction or the possibility of non-consummation of the proposed transaction; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the proposed transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected, including that the proposed transaction may not be accretive within the expected timeframe or to the extent anticipated; the occurrence of any event that could give rise to termination of the merger agreement; the risk that shareholder litigation in connection with the proposed transaction may affect the timing or occurrence of the proposed transaction or result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; risks related to the disruption of the proposed transaction to us and our management; the effect of the announcement of the proposed transaction on our ability to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers and other third parties; the ability and timing to obtain required regulatory approvals and satisfy other closing conditions for the pending divestiture of our Del Monte processed fruit and vegetable business in Canada; our ability to achieve the intended benefits of recent and pending acquisitions and divestitures, including the recent spin-off of our Lamb Weston business; the continued evaluation of the role of our Wesson oil business; general economic and industry conditions; our ability to successfully execute our long-term value creation strategy; our ability to access capital on acceptable terms or at all; our ability to execute our operating and restructuring plans and achieve our targeted operating efficiencies from cost-saving initiatives and to benefit from trade optimization programs; the effectiveness of our hedging activities and our ability to respond to volatility in commodities; the competitive environment and related market conditions; our ability to respond to changing consumer preferences and the success of our innovation and marketing investments; the ultimate impact of any product recalls and litigation, including litigation related to the lead paint and pigment matters; actions of governments and regulatory factors affecting our businesses, including the ultimate impact of recently enacted U.S tax legislation and related regulations or interpretations; the availability and prices of raw materials, including any negative effects caused by inflation or weather conditions; risks and uncertainties associated with intangible assets, including any future goodwill or intangible assets impairment charges; the costs, disruption, and diversion of management's attention associated with campaigns commenced by activist investors; and other risks described in our reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements included in this document, which speak only as of the date of this document. We undertake no responsibility to update these statements, except as required by law.

Note on Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This document includes certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations, organic net sales, adjusted gross profit, adjusted operating profit, adjusted gross margin, and adjusted operating margin. Management considers GAAP financial measures as well as such non-GAAP financial information in its evaluation of the Company's financial statements and believes these non-GAAP measures provide useful supplemental information to assess the Company's operating performance and financial position. These measures should be viewed in addition to, and not in lieu of, the Company's diluted earnings per share, operating performance and financial measures as calculated in accordance with GAAP. Certain of these non-GAAP measures, such as organic net sales, adjusted operating margin, and adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations, are forward-looking.  Historically, the Company has excluded the impact of certain items impacting comparability, such as, but not limited to, restructuring expenses, the impact of the extinguishment of debt, the impact of foreign exchange, the impact of acquisitions and divestitures, hedging gains and losses, impairment charges, the impact of legacy legal contingencies, and the impact of unusual tax items, from the non-GAAP financial measures it presents.  Reconciliations of these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are not provided because the Company is unable to provide such reconciliations without unreasonable effort, due to the uncertainty and inherent difficulty of predicting the occurrence and the financial impact of such items impacting comparability and the periods in which such items may be recognized.  For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could be material to future results.

Hedge gains and losses are generally aggregated, and net amounts are reclassified from unallocated corporate expense to the operating segments when the underlying commodity or foreign currency being hedged is expensed in segment cost of goods sold. The Company identifies these amounts as items that impact comparability within the discussion of unallocated Corporate results.

Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed transaction, Conagra Brands will file a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS THAT WILL BE PART OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. The final proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to stockholders of Pinnacle Foods. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain the documents free of charge at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, from Pinnacle Foods at its website, www.pinnaclefoods.com, or by contacting the Pinnacle Foods Investor Relations department at 1-973-541-8629, or from Conagra Brands at its website, www.conagrabrands.com, or by contacting the Conagra Brands Investor Relations department at 1-312-549-5002.

Participants in Solicitation
Conagra Brands and Pinnacle Foods and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information concerning Conagra Brands' participants is set forth in the proxy statement, filed August 11, 2017, for Conagra Brands' 2017 annual meeting of stockholders as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A. Information concerning Pinnacle Foods' participants is set forth in the proxy statement, filed April 20, 2018, for Pinnacle Foods' 2018 annual meeting of stockholders as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A. Additional information regarding the interests of such participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction will be included in the registration statement and proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.

For more information, please contact:
MEDIA: Mike Cummins
312-549-5257
[email protected]

INVESTORS: Brian Kearney
312-549-5002
[email protected]

__________________________________
¹ Organic net sales excludes the impact of foreign exchange and divested businesses, as well as acquisitions (until the anniversary date of the acquisitions). All references to changes in volume and price/mix are based on organic net sales.
² "Adjusted" financial measures, including organic net sales, are non-GAAP financial measures. Please see the end of this release for reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.
³ CAGR stands for Compound Annual Growth Rate for the three years ending in FY20.

SOURCE Conagra Brands, Inc.

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