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The J. M. Smucker Company Announces Fourth Quarter Results

Source: J. M. Smucker Company
19/06/2008

Orrville, Ohio, June 19 - The J. M. Smucker Company today announced results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended April 30, 2008. Results for the quarter and year ended April 30, 2008, include the operations of Eagle Family Foods Holdings, Inc. which was acquired on May 1, 2007.

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    Fourth Quarter Results
                                               Three months ended
                                                    April 30,
                                                2008         2007   % Increase
                                           (Dollars in millions, except per
                                                       share data)

    Net sales                                  $590.0       $493.5        20%
    Net income:
       Income                                   $37.1        $42.5       (13%)
       Income per diluted share                 $0.67        $0.75       (11%)

Net sales increased 20 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the fourth quarter of 2007 as acquisitions accounted for over half of the growth, and price increases accounted for a majority of the remainder of the overall increase in sales. The acquired Eagle businesses contributed $42.5 million and acquisitions in total added $59.9 million in net sales during the quarter. The Smucker's®, Crisco®, and Hungry Jack® brands increased over last year due to a combination of volume and pricing gains. Favorable exchange rates also contributed to net sales.

Net income per diluted share for the quarter was $0.67, a decrease of 11 percent compared to last year's fourth quarter. During last year's fourth quarter, a peanut butter competitor was temporarily out of the market, and as a result, sales benefited by approximately $15 million and earnings by an estimated $0.08 per share. Included in net income for this quarter was a net insurance settlement of approximately $4 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, related to storm damage at a third-party distribution center in Memphis, Tennessee. Also included in net income for the fourth quarter of 2008 were restructuring and merger and integration costs of $0.06 per diluted share, while net income for the fourth quarter of 2007 included restructuring and merger and integration costs of less than $0.01 per diluted share. Excluding restructuring and merger and integration costs in both years, the Company's income per diluted share was $0.73 in the fourth quarter of 2008, and $0.75 in the fourth quarter of 2007, a decrease of 3 percent.

"Our performance this year is especially gratifying in a time of unprecedented cost increases," commented Tim Smucker, chairman and co-chief executive officer. "Despite raw material cost increases over $150 million, we completed another record year with both sales and earnings exceeding our long- term strategic growth goals. It is our focus on the consumer, and meeting their needs with quality products, that provides the basis for our continued success and enhances opportunities for continued growth."

"As we start the new year, we look forward to completing the transaction to merge the Folgers coffee business into Smucker," added Richard Smucker, president and co-chief executive officer. "Folgers® is a perfect fit with our strategy to own and market number one brands in North America. The addition of Folgers will strengthen our portfolio of brands and we believe it is financially compelling. This powerful combination will provide increased size and scale that will benefit all of our businesses, position us for future growth, and deliver long-term shareholder value."

    Full Year Results
                                              Year ended April 30,
                                                2008         2007   % Increase
                                          (Dollars in millions, except per
                                                     share data)

    Net sales                                $2,524.8     $2,148.0      18%
    Net income:
       Income                                  $170.4       $157.2       8%
       Income per diluted share                 $3.00        $2.76       9%

Net sales increased 22 percent in 2008 compared to 2007, excluding the Canadian nonbranded, grain-based foodservice and industrial businesses sold in September 2006. The acquired Eagle businesses contributed $236.2 million in 2008 and total acquisitions added $279.7 million. Net sales increased 8 percent excluding both acquisitions and the divested Canadian businesses.

Net income per diluted share for 2008 was $3.00, an increase of 9 percent over last year. Net income for 2008 included restructuring and merger and integration costs of $0.15 per diluted share, while net income for 2007 included restructuring and merger and integration costs of $0.13 per diluted share. Excluding these costs in both years, the Company's income per diluted share was $3.15 in 2008, and $2.89 in 2007, an increase of 9 percent.

The Company uses income and income per diluted share, excluding restructuring and merger and integration costs, as key measures of results of operations for purposes of evaluating performance internally. These non-GAAP measures are not intended to replace the presentation of financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Rather, the presentation of results excluding such charges is consistent with the way management internally evaluates its businesses, facilitates the comparison of past and present operations, and provides management a more comprehensive understanding of the financial results. A reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to net income for the current quarter and year is included in the "Unaudited Financial Highlights" table.

    Margins

                                           Three months ended   Year ended
                                               April 30,         April 30,
                                            2008     2007     2008     2007
                                                   (% of net sales)
    Gross profit                            30.9%    36.5%    31.0%    32.7%
    Selling, distribution, and
     administrative expenses                20.3%    22.2%    19.4%    20.6%
    Operating income                        10.5%    13.9%    11.3%    11.8%

Operating income decreased by $6.9 million, or 10 percent, compared to the fourth quarter of 2007, and decreased from 13.9 percent to 10.5 percent of net sales. The impact of higher raw material costs, predominantly the record levels for soybean oil and wheat, was the primary cause of the decline in gross profit to 30.9 percent of net sales compared to an unusually high 36.5 percent in last year's fourth quarter. The impact of price increases taken to date, while essentially offsetting higher raw material costs, was not sufficient to maintain profit margins and accounted for approximately one- third of the gross margin decline. Margins in the current quarter were also negatively impacted by the Eagle business which, due to higher milk costs and a higher percentage of non-branded versus branded sales, realized margins below the Company's average. Last year's fourth quarter results also were favorably affected by the nonrecurring benefit of incremental higher-margin peanut butter sales.

Selling, distribution, and administrative ("SD&A") expenses increased 9 percent, for the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to 2007, resulting from increased marketing investment, along with costs related to the acquired Eagle business. However, all SD&A expenses, particularly corporate overhead expenses, increased at a lesser rate than net sales resulting in an overall decrease in SD&A from 22.2 percent of net sales to 20.3 percent, providing some offset to the decline in gross profit as a percent of net sales. Restructuring and merger and integration costs were $4.1 million higher in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to 2007, further reducing operating margin by almost 70 basis points.

Other

Interest expense increased by $4.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the fourth quarter of 2007, resulting from the issuance of $400 million in senior notes in the first quarter of 2008, a portion of which repaid short-term debt used in financing the Eagle acquisition.

The effective tax rate decreased to 30.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008, from 35.3 percent in the comparable period in 2007 primarily due to a lower state tax rate.

During the fourth quarter, the Company repurchased 1,296,600 common shares for $66.2 million in cash, including one million common shares under a previously announced Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

    Segment Performance

    Net sales
                           Three months ended April 30,  Year ended April 30,
                                          % Increase                % Increase
                                2008  2007 (Decrease)    2008  2007 (Decrease)
                              (Dollars in millions)   (Dollars in millions)

    U.S. retail market         $419.0  $365.5   15%  $1,874.5  $1,547.1   21%
    Special markets            $171.0  $128.0   34%    $650.2    $601.0    8%
    Special markets excluding
     divested nonbranded
     Canadian businesses       $171.0  $128.0   34%    $650.2    $525.8   24%


U.S. Retail Market

U.S. retail market segment net sales for the quarter were up 15 percent. Net sales in the consumer strategic business area increased 5 percent led by Smucker's fruit spreads and Uncrustables®, and Hungry Jack products. Net sales in the consumer oils and baking strategic business area were up 32 percent. Excluding the contribution of $34.1 million from the acquired Eagle business, consumer oils and baking strategic business area net sales increased 6 percent, primarily due to volume gains in oils and price increases.

For 2008, U.S. retail market segment net sales increased 21 percent compared to 2007. Net sales in the consumer strategic business area increased 9 percent. Excluding the contribution of $198.9 million from the acquired Eagle business, net sales in the oils and baking strategic business area increased 8 percent over 2007.

Special Markets

Net sales in the fourth quarter for the special markets segment increased 34 percent. Net sales in the Canada strategic business area were up 63 percent primarily due to the impact of the acquired Eagle and Carnation® canned milk businesses, the Europe's Best® acquisition, and favorable exchange rates. Net sales increased 20 percent in the foodservice strategic business area, and were up 8 percent, excluding the contribution of the Eagle acquisition. Net sales in the beverage strategic business area increased by 16 percent.

For 2008, special markets segment net sales increased 24 percent compared to 2007, excluding divested Canadian businesses.

Outlook

Earlier this month, the Company announced that it entered into a definitive agreement with The Procter & Gamble Company ("P&G") to merge P&G's Folgers coffee business with and into the Company. Assuming the transaction closes early in the fourth quarter of calendar 2008, the Company's net sales are estimated to range from $3.8 to $4.0 billion and earnings per share before one-time costs associated with the transaction, are estimated to range from $3.45 to $3.50. Actual results for the year will depend on the final closing date of the transaction.

On its base business, the Company expects raw material costs in 2009 to increase approximately $150 million over 2008 levels with soybean oil, wheat, peanuts, and certain fruits accounting for the majority of the increase. Pricing actions, taken over the last several months, and including those effective in May, will help offset the impact of the cost increases, but will not be sufficient to expand margins in the near term. The Company also plans to increase its 2009 marketing investment by 20 percent.

 

    ( )



                          The J. M. Smucker Company
            Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

                                 Three Months Ended          Year Ended
                                       April 30,              April 30,
                                   2008        2007        2008        2007
                               (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

    Net  sales                   $589,998    $493,472  $2,524,774  $2,148,017
    Cost of products sold         406,511     313,569   1,741,100   1,435,981
    Cost of products sold -
     restructuring                  1,248         -         1,510       9,981
    Gross Profit                  182,239     179,903     782,164     702,055
    Selling, distribution, and
     administrative expenses      119,647     109,540     490,665     442,814
    Other restructuring costs       1,631         783       3,237       2,120
    Merger and integration
     costs                          2,083          61       7,967          61
    Other operating (income)
     expense - net                 (2,809)        955      (3,879)      2,689
    Operating Income               61,687      68,564     284,174     254,371
    Interest income                 2,244       2,600      13,259       9,225
    Interest expense              (10,410)     (5,682)    (42,145)    (23,363)
    Other (expense) income -
     net                             (592)        247        (500)        771
    Income Before Income Taxes     52,929      65,729     254,788     241,004
    Income taxes                   15,878      23,230      84,409      83,785
    Net Income                    $37,051     $42,499    $170,379    $157,219

       Net income per common
        share                       $0.68       $0.76       $3.03       $2.79

       Net income per common
        share- assuming
        dilution                    $0.67       $0.75       $3.00       $2.76

     Dividends declared per
      common share                  $0.32       $0.30       $1.22       $1.14

    Weighted-average shares
     outstanding               54,721,975  56,240,696  56,226,206  56,432,839
    Weighted-average shares
     outstanding - assuming
     dilution                  55,229,379  57,044,652  56,720,645  57,056,421




                          The J. M. Smucker Company
               Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                              April 30, 2008    April 30, 2007
                                                    (Dollars in thousands)
    Assets
    Current Assets:
       Cash and cash equivalents                   $184,175          $200,119
       Trade receivables                            162,426           124,048
       Inventories                                  379,608           286,052
       Other current assets                          49,998            29,147
          Total Current Assets                      776,207           639,366

    Property, Plant, and Equipment, Net             496,296           454,028

    Other Noncurrent Assets:
       Goodwill                                   1,132,476           990,771
       Other intangible assets, net                 614,000           478,194
       Marketable securities                         16,043            44,117
       Other assets                                  94,859            87,347
          Total Other Noncurrent Assets           1,857,378         1,600,429
                                                 $3,129,881        $2,693,823

    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
    Current Liabilities:
       Accounts payable                            $119,844           $93,500
       Current portion of long-term debt                -              33,000
       Other current liabilities                    119,553           109,968
          Total Current Liabilities                 239,397           236,468

    Noncurrent Liabilities:
       Long-term debt, net of current portion       789,684           392,643
       Other noncurrent liabilities                 300,947           269,055
          Total Noncurrent Liabilities            1,090,631           661,698

    Shareholders' Equity, net                     1,799,853         1,795,657
                                                 $3,129,881        $2,693,823



                          The J. M. Smucker Company
           Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow

                                                       Year Ended April 30,
                                                     2008               2007
                                                       (Dollars in thousands)
    Operating Activities
       Net income                                 $170,379           $157,219
       Adjustments to reconcile net
        income to net cash provided by
        operating activities:
         Depreciation                               58,497             57,346
         Amortization                                4,122              1,528
         Asset impairments and other
          restructuring charges                      1,510             10,089
         Share-based compensation expense           11,531             11,257
         Working capital                           (54,462)            35,985
    Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities      191,577            273,424

    Investing Activities
       Businesses acquired, net of cash
        acquired                                  (220,949)           (60,488)
       Additions to property, plant, and
        equipment                                  (76,430)           (57,002)
       Proceeds from sale of business                3,407             84,054
       Purchases of marketable securities         (229,405)           (20,000)
       Sales and maturities of marketable
        securities                                 257,536             26,272
       Other - net                                   3,355                123
    Net Cash Used for Investing
     Activities                                   (262,486)           (27,041)

    Financing Activities
       Proceeds from long-term debt                400,000               -
       Repayments of long-term debt               (148,000)              -
       Dividends paid                              (68,074)           (63,632)
       Purchase of treasury shares                (152,521)           (52,125)
       Other - net                                  18,434             (1,868)
    Net Cash Provided by (Used for)
     Financing Activities                           49,839           (117,625)
    Effect of exchange rate changes                  5,126               (595)
    Net (decrease) increase in cash and
     cash equivalents                              (15,944)           128,163
    Cash and cash equivalents at
     beginning of period                           200,119             71,956
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of
     period                                       $184,175           $200,119



                          The J. M. Smucker Company
                        Unaudited Financial Highlights

                                    Three Months Ended        Year Ended
                                        April 30,              April 30,
                                      2008      2007        2008       2007
                                 (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

    Net sales                      $589,998  $493,472  $2,524,774  $2,148,017

    Net income and net income per
     common share:
       Net income                   $37,051   $42,499    $170,379    $157,219
       Net income per common share
        -- assuming dilution          $0.67     $0.75       $3.00       $2.76

    Income before restructuring
     and merger and integration
     costs: (1)
       Income                       $40,433   $43,025    $178,881    $165,152
       Income per common share --
        assuming dilution             $0.73     $0.75       $3.15       $2.89


    (1) Reconciliation to net
         income:
        Income before income taxes  $52,929   $65,729    $254,788    $241,004
        Merger and integration
         costs                        2,083        61       7,967          61
        Cost of products sold -
         restructuring                1,248       -         1,510       9,981
        Other restructuring costs
         (credits)                    1,631       783       3,237       2,120
        Income before income taxes,
         restructuring, and merger
         and integration costs       57,891    66,573     267,502     253,166
        Income taxes                 17,458    23,548      88,621      88,014
        Income before restructuring
         and merger and integration
         costs                      $40,433   $43,025    $178,881    $165,152


       The Company uses income and income per diluted share, excluding
       restructuring and merger and integration costs, as key performance
       measures of results of operations for purposes of evaluating
       performance internally.  These non-GAAP measures are not intended to
       replace the presentation of financial results in accordance with U.S.
       GAAP.  Rather, the presentation of results excluding such charges is
       consistent with the way management internally evaluates its businesses,
       facilitates the comparison of past and present operations and provides
       management a more comprehensive understanding of the financial results.



                          The J. M. Smucker Company
                        Unaudited Reportable Segments


                            Three Months Ended April 30,  Year Ended April 30,
                                    2008      2007         2008        2007
                                             (Dollars in thousands)

    Net sales:
        U.S. retail market         $418,994  $365,508  $1,874,547  $1,547,064
        Special markets             171,004   127,964     650,227     600,953
    Total net sales                $589,998  $493,472  $2,524,774  $2,148,017

    Segment profit:
        U.S. retail market          $76,283   $82,999    $332,827    $319,795
        Special markets              24,389    20,526      92,019      72,974
    Total segment profit           $100,672  $103,525    $424,846    $392,769


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