Provides 2004 Sales and Earnings Guidance
NEW YORK, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- International Flavors &
Fragrances Inc. (NYSE: IFF) ("IFF" or "the Company") reported earnings per
share for the fourth quarter 2003 of $.40 compared to $.41 for the prior year
quarter. The 2003 fourth quarter results include $11.4 million ($7.2 million
after tax or $.08 per share) of restructuring and other charges related to the
Company's ongoing reorganization plan; 2002 fourth quarter results had no
comparable charges. Excluding the effects of these charges, 2003 fourth
quarter earnings per share would have been $.48, compared to $.41 in the prior
year comparable quarter, an increase of 17%.
Fourth quarter 2003 sales totaled $471.8 million, increasing 11% in
comparison to the prior year quarter. Reported sales for the 2003 quarter
benefited from the strengthening of various currencies, most notably the Euro,
the Pound Sterling and the Australian dollar, in relation to the U.S. dollar;
had exchange rates remained constant, sales for the fourth quarter 2003 would
have increased approximately 3% in comparison to the prior year quarter.
Sales for the fourth quarter were strongest in North America, Latin
America and Asia Pacific, and to a lesser extent in India. European sales
remained weak. For the quarter, sales performance by region was as follows:
* North America flavor sales grew 19% while fragrance sales grew 2%; in
total, the region grew 10%. The flavor sales performance was driven by
new wins and accelerated order activity across the entire customer
portfolio. Functional fragrance sales increased 9%; this growth was
partially offset by weaker sales of fine fragrances and aroma
chemicals, which declined by 4% and 3%, respectively.
* In Europe, local currency flavor sales were flat, while fragrance sales
declined 4%, resulting in reported dollar increases of 14% and 13%,
respectively. In total, sales in the region declined 2% in local
currency terms and increased 13% in dollars. Local currency sales of
fine fragrances increased 2% and functional fragrances were flat, while
aroma chemical sales declined 12%. The local currency performance
reflected the persistent economic weakness in much of the European
region, most notably in France, Germany, the U.K. and Switzerland,
where sales were weakest in comparison to the 2002 fourth quarter;
local currency sales in Eastern Europe also declined in the low double
digits.
* Local currency sales in Asia Pacific increased 3%, resulting in a 12%
increase in reported dollar sales. Local currency fragrance sales
increased 8% in comparison to the prior year quarter, resulting in a
15% increase in reported dollars; this strong performance reflects
improving economic conditions in the region and the benefit of
significant new fragrance wins. Local currency flavor sales increased
1%, resulting in a 10% increase in reported dollars. For the region,
Indonesia and Thailand were strongest, each achieving double digit
growth with Greater China and South Korea each reaching high single
digit growth; this growth was partially offset by continued weakness in
Japan, where local currency sales declined 10% in comparison to the
2002 fourth quarter.
* Latin American sales increased 6%; flavor and fragrance sales increased
by 15% and 3%, respectively, in comparison to the 2002 fourth quarter.
Flavor sales were led by 32% and 17% increases in Brazil and Argentina,
respectively, resulting from a combination of new wins and improved
economic conditions in those countries. Fragrance sales in Argentina
increased 60% although this performance was substantially offset by
sales declines in Mexico and Central America; fragrance sales in Brazil
were flat for the quarter.
* India sales increased 6% in local currency and 9% in reported dollars.
Local currency fragrance sales increased 3% resulting in an 8% increase
in reported dollars. Flavor sales increased 8% in local currency,
resulting in a 10% increase in reported dollars. In both flavors and
fragrances, the sales performance reflected the benefit of new wins and
the benefits of the continued strong Indian economy.
Net income for the quarter declined 2% in comparison to the prior year
quarter. Excluding the impact of restructuring and other charges, net income
increased 16% in the current quarter in comparison to the prior year. Gross
profit as a percentage of sales improved in the quarter primarily as a result
of improved sales performance and cost cutting efforts. Operating margin in
the fourth quarter, as a percentage of sales, declined in comparison to the
prior year; the decline was primarily attributable to higher research and
development expenses. Earnings have been sustained by the Company's
cost-cutting efforts and by reduced interest expense.
Richard A. Goldstein, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IFF, said,
"I am pleased with our fourth quarter performance. Our strong growth in North
America flavors and our continued solid performance in Latin America, Asia
Pacific, and India reaffirm my confidence that we are on the right track. In
each of these regions, growth has been buoyed by improved economic conditions,
but has mainly been driven by new wins. Our improved competitive position is
largely due to our renewed focus on customer service and our research and
development initiatives -- both of which we believe are key to our future
success."
Sales for the year ended December 31, 2003 totaled $1,901.5 million,
increasing 5% in comparison to the prior year. Sales for 2002 included
$9.4 million attributable to non-core businesses that the Company disposed of
during 2002; excluding such sales from the 2002 results, 2003 sales increased
6% in comparison to the prior year. Reported sales for 2003 benefited from
the strengthening of various currencies, most notably the Euro, the Japanese
Yen, the Pound Sterling and the Australian dollar, in relation to the U.S.
dollar; had exchange rates remained constant, 2003 sales would have declined
approximately 2% in comparison to the prior year as reported.
Excluding, for comparative purposes, sales attributable to non-core
businesses disposed of during 2002, sales performance by region for 2003 was
as follows:
* North America flavor sales increased 3%, while fragrances declined 6%;
in total the region declined by 2%. Flavor sales were driven primarily
by new wins. The fragrance performance reflected weak demand for fine
fragrance products as well as the effect of ongoing customer efforts to
reduce inventory levels. Functional fragrance, fine fragrance and
chemical sales declined 4%, 8% and 8%, respectively.
* Local currency flavor sales in Europe declined 1% in comparison to the
prior year period, resulting in a 15% increase in reported dollar
sales. Fragrance sales declined 5% in local currency, resulting in a
12% increase in reported dollar sales. Overall, the region's sales
declined 3% in local currency terms and increased 13% in dollars. Fine
fragrance local currency sales increased 3%, while functional fragrance
and aroma chemical sales declined by 4% and 12%, respectively. The
local currency performance reflected the persistent economic weakness
throughout much of the European region.
* Local currency sales in Asia Pacific increased 1% resulting in a 7%
increase in reported dollar sales. Local currency fragrance sales
increased 7% in comparison to the prior year period resulting in a 12%
increase in reported dollars. Local currency flavor sales declined 2%
in comparison to the prior year period resulting in a 4% increase in
reported dollars. For the region, sales performance for the year was
strongest in Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia and Greater China, with
respective local currency increases of 25%, 8%, 9% and 6%,
respectively. These strong performances were substantially offset by
persistent weakness in Japan and the Philippines where local currency
sales declined by 7% and 18%, respectively.
* Latin America sales declined 2% in comparison to 2002. Flavor sales
increased 9%, benefiting from increases of 80%, 31% and 19% in Central
America, Argentina and Brazil, respectively, reflecting the benefit of
new wins and, most notably in Argentina, an improved economic
environment. Fragrance sales declined 5% with Central America, Mexico
and Brazil declining 15%, 6% and 8%, respectively; Argentina fragrance
sales increased 22% for the period, mainly benefiting from improved
economic conditions in that country.
* India sales increased 9% in local currency and 12% in reported dollars.
This performance was led by an 11% local currency increase in flavor
sales with fragrance sales increasing 7% in comparison to the prior
year. In both flavors and fragrances, the sales performance reflected
the benefit of new wins.
Net income for 2003 decreased 2% in comparison to the prior year.
Excluding the impact of restructuring and other charges in both years, 2003
net income increased 9% in comparison to the prior year. Gross margin on
sales in 2003, as a percentage of sales, declined in comparison to the prior
year, primarily due to the weak sales performance in the higher margin fine
fragrance business. Earnings have been sustained by the Company's ongoing
cost-cutting efforts and by reduced interest expense.
Earnings per share for 2003 were $1.83 compared to $1.84 for the prior
year. The 2003 results include $42.4 million ($27.5 million after tax or
$.29 per share) of restructuring and other charges related to the Company's
reorganization plan; 2002 results had $11.7 million ($7.7 million after tax or
$.08 per share) in comparable charges. Excluding the effects of these
charges, 2003 earnings per share would have been $2.12, compared to $1.92 in
the prior year, an increase of 10%.
Reorganization Actions
In the fourth quarter 2003, the Company eliminated 60 positions,
principally in its North American and European operating regions. As a result
of these actions, the Company recorded restructuring and other pre-tax charges
of $11.4 million ($7.2 million after tax or $.08 per share) in the quarter.
In 2003, the Company eliminated 320 positions and recorded restructuring and
other pre-tax charges of $42.4 million ($27.5 million after tax or $.29 per
share); essentially all elements of these charges relate to employee
terminations.
On October 5, 2000, the Company announced a significant reorganization,
including management changes, consolidation of production facilities and
related actions. The Company's reorganization, which is essentially complete,
is expected to yield annual savings approximating $25 million to $30 million.
A portion of these savings is to be reinvested in the business, although a
substantial portion is expected to contribute to improving earnings.
Since inception, the Company has recognized approximately $116.1 million
of related pre-tax charges in comparison to expected charges of $110.0
million. This increase in actual costs incurred exceeds the previous estimate
due to the effect of the substantial appreciation of the Euro against the U.S.
dollar, most notably in the last six months of 2003.
Outlook for 2004
IFF expects 2004 local currency sales to increase in the low-single digits
in comparison to 2003. Based on current exchange rates, this local currency
growth is expected to result in a mid-to-high single digit increase in
reported dollars.
IFF expects earnings per share for 2004 to be in the range of $2.24 to
$2.31 compared to $1.83 in 2003. Excluding restructuring and other charges
recorded in 2003, this performance represents an expected increase in earnings
per share of between 6% and 9% over the comparable 2003 results of $2.12 per
share.
Mr. Goldstein stated, "Our asset utilization and cash flow is strong, and
with our reorganization now essentially complete, I believe that we have the
right operating foundation in place. As we move forward, our shareholders can
expect growth to be driven by IFF's innovation. Still, we remain cautious in
our outlook for 2004 given the global economic environment in which we
operate. We are seeing improvements in Latin America, most notably Brazil and
Argentina, yet Mexico remains fairly weak. Southeast Asia and China continue
to grow solidly, as does India. But Japan, in our estimation, remains
fragile. Statistics suggest North America continues to rebound, but questions
and doubts remain."
About IFF
IFF is a leading creator and manufacturer of flavors and fragrances used
in a wide variety of consumer products-from fine fragrances and toiletries, to
soaps, detergents and other household products, to beverages and food
products. IFF is dedicated to The Pursuit of Excellence in every area of its
business, using knowledge, creativity, innovation and technology to
continually provide customers with the highest quality products and service
and superior consumer understanding.
IFF has sales, manufacturing and creative facilities in 34 countries
worldwide and annual sales exceeding $1.9 billion. For more information,
please visit our Web site at http://www.iff.com.
Cautionary Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995
Statements in this report, which are not historical facts or information,
are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of The Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain of such forward-looking information may
be identified by such terms as "expect", "believe", "may", "will", and similar
terms or variations thereof. All information concerning future revenues, tax
rates or benefits, interest savings, and other future financial results or
financial position, constitutes forward-looking information. Such forward-
looking statements are based on management's reasonable current assumptions
and expectations. Such forward-looking statements involve risks,
uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results of the
Company to be materially different from any future results expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements, and there can be no assurance that
actual results will not differ materially from management's expectations.
Such factors include, among others, the following: general economic and
business conditions in the Company's markets, including economic, population
health and political uncertainties; interest rates; the price and availability
of raw materials; the Company's ability to implement its business strategy,
including the achievement of anticipated cost savings, profitability and
growth targets; the impact of currency fluctuation or devaluation in the
Company's principal foreign markets and the success of the Company's hedging
and risk management strategies; the impact of possible pension funding
obligations and increased pension expense on the Company's cash flow and
results of operations; and the effect of legal and regulatory proceedings, as
well as restrictions imposed on the Company, its operations or its
representatives by foreign governments. The Company intends its
forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time of such statements and
does not undertake to update or revise them as more information becomes
available or to reflect changes in expectations, assumptions or results.
Conference call
There will be a conference call today at 9:00 AM Eastern Time, at which
time the Company will discuss operating results for the fourth quarter 2003
and its expectations for 2004. The dial in number for U.S.-based participants
is 888-208-1812; for international participants, the number is 719-457-2654.
The passcode for the call is 585397.
A replay of the conference call will be available from 1:00 PM Eastern
Time beginning on Wednesday January 28, 2004 and ending at Midnight on
Wednesday, February 11, 2004. The dial in number for the replay for U.S.-
based listeners is 888-203-1112; for international listeners, the number is
719-457-0820. The replay pass code will be 585397.
The call can also be monitored via the World Wide Web at http://www.iff.com.
Real Network's Real Player or Microsoft Media Player is required to access the
webcast. They can be downloaded from http://www.real.com or
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/mediaplayer. A replay of the conference call will
be available on the Company's website for twelve months.
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
Consolidated Income Statement
(Amounts in thousands except per share data)
Quarter Ended Year Ended
December 31, December 31,
2002 2003 2002 2003
Net sales $424,292 $471,799 $1,809,249 $1,901,520
Cost of goods sold 242,284 268,583 1,035,835 1,092,456
Gross margin on sales 182,008 203,216 773,414 809,064
Research & development 36,171 42,243 144,027 159,286
Selling and administrative 75,707 84,310 305,156 308,951
Amortization 3,158 3,158 12,632 12,632
66,972 73,505 311,599 328,195
Restructuring and
other charges -- (11,401) (11,737) (42,421)
Interest expense (8,368) (5,875) (37,036) (28,477)
Other income
(expense), net 258 (986) 3,591 (5,437)
Pretax income 58,862 55,243 266,417 251,860
Income taxes 19,866 17,132 90,473 79,263
Net income $38,996 $38,111 $175,944 $172,597
Including restructuring and other charges
Net income $38,996 $38,111 $175,944 $172,597
Earnings per share -
basic $.41 $.41 $1.86 $1.84
Earnings per share -
diluted $.41 $.40 $1.84 $1.83
Excluding restructuring and other charges
Net income $38,996 $ 45,318 $183,689 $200,111
Result per share -
basic $.41 $.48 $1.94 $2.14
Result per share -
diluted $.41 $.48 $1.92 $2.12
Average Shares Outstanding (in thousands) 2002 2003
Fourth quarter:
Basic 94,309 93,669
Diluted 95,632 94,423
Full year:
Basic 94,511 93,718
Diluted 95,873 94,419
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet
(Amounts in thousands)
December 31, December 31,
2002 2003
Cash & short-term investments $15,165 $12,555
Receivables 338,607 339,725
Inventories 421,603 454,631
Other current assets 91,374 144,436
Total current assets 866,749 951,347
Property, plant and equipment, net 520,499 510,612
Goodwill and other intangibles, net 782,703 785,748
Other assets 62,743 60,360
Total assets $2,232,694 $2,308,067
Commercial paper/notes payable - bank $49,663 $194,304
Other current liabilities 309,834 331,446
Total current liabilities 359,497 525,750
Long-term debt 1,007,085 690,493
Non-current liabilities 291,434 342,965
Shareholders' equity 574,678 748,859
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $2,232,694 $2,308,067
Notes:
1. Capital spending - Quarter: $25 million
Full Year: $66 million
2. Depreciation - Quarter: $19 million
Full Year: $74 million
3. At December 31, 2003, Long-term debt includes unamortized gains of
$38.0 million on various interest rate swaps the Company has entered
into; such gains have been deferred and are being amortized over the
remaining term of the underlying debt. At December 31, 2002, debt
included $63.5 million of such swap gains.
Quarter ended December 31, 2003:
% Change in Sales by
Region of Destination Fragrances Flavors Total
North America 2 19 10
Europe - Reported 13 14 13
Europe - Local Currency (4) -- (2)
Latin America 3 15 6
Asia Pacific - Reported 15 10 12
Asia Pacific - Local Currency 8 1 3
India - Reported 8 10 9
India - Local Currency 3 8 6
Total - Reported 8 14 11
Total - Local Currency -- 6 3
Year ended December 31, 2003 as Reported
% Change in Sales by
Region of Destination Fragrances Flavors Total
North America (6) (1) (4)
Europe - Reported 12 15 13
Europe - Local Currency (5) (1) (3)
Latin America (5) 9 (2)
Asia Pacific - Reported 12 4 7
Asia Pacific - Local Currency 7 (2) 1
India - Reported 12 12 12
India- Local Currency 7 11 9
Total - Reported 3 7 5
Total - Local Currency (4) -- (2)
Year ended December 31, 2003 Pro-Forma Excluding Non-Core Businesses Disposed
of in 2002
% Change in Sales by
Region of Destination Fragrances Flavors Total
North America (6) 3 (2)
Europe - Reported 12 15 13
Europe - Local Currency (5) (1) (3)
Latin America (5) 9 (2)
Asia Pacific - Reported 12 4 7
Asia Pacific - Local Currency 7 (2) 1
India - Reported 12 12 12
India- Local Currency 7 11 9
Total - Reported 3 8 6
Total - Local Currency (4) 1 (2)
SOURCE International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.iff.com
CONTACT:
Douglas J. Wetmore, Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer, +1-212-708-7145
|
