UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
________________________________________
FORM 10-K
(Mark One) | |
x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 29, 2012
OR
o | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the Transition period from to
Commission file number 1-11657
________________________________________
TUPPERWARE BRANDS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 36-4062333 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
14901 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, Florida | 32837 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (407) 826-5050 | |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: | |
Title of Each Class | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered |
Common Stock, $0.01 par value | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None | |
________________________________________
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No x
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer x Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act). Yes o No x
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity on the New York Stock Exchange-Composite Transaction Listing on June 29, 2012 (the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter) was $2,999,899,643.
As of February 21, 2013, 54,016,274 shares of the common stock, $0.01 par value, of the registrant were outstanding.
Documents Incorporated by Reference:
Portions of the Proxy Statement relating to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 24, 2013 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report.
Table of Contents | ||
Item | Page | |
Part I | ||
Item 1 | ||
Item 1A | ||
Item 1B | ||
Item 2 | ||
Item 3 | ||
Part II | ||
Item 5 | ||
Item 5a | ||
Item 5c | ||
Item 6 | ||
Item 7 | ||
Item 7A | ||
Item 8 | ||
Item 9 | ||
Item 9A | ||
Item 9B | ||
Part III | ||
Item 10 | ||
Item 11 | ||
Item 12 | ||
Item 13 | ||
Item 14 | ||
Part IV | ||
Item 15 | ||
PART I
Item 1. | Business. |
(a) General Development of Business
Tupperware Brands Corporation (“Registrant”, “Tupperware Brands” or the “Company”) is a global direct seller of premium, innovative products across multiple brands and categories through an independent sales force of 2.8 million. Product brands and categories include design-centric preparation, storage and serving solutions for the kitchen and home through the Tupperware® brand and beauty and personal care products through the Armand Dupree®, Avroy Shlain®, BeautiControl®, Fuller®, NaturCare®, Nutrimetics® and Nuvo® brands. The Registrant is a Delaware corporation that was organized on February 8, 1996 in connection with the corporate reorganization of Premark International, Inc. (“Premark”). In the reorganization, certain businesses of the Registrant and certain other assets and liabilities of Premark and its subsidiaries were transferred to the Registrant. On May 31, 1996, the Registrant became a publicly held company through the pro rata distribution by Premark to its shareholders of all of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Registrant. Prior to December 5, 2005, the Registrant's name was Tupperware Corporation. On October 18, 2000, the Registrant acquired 100 percent of the stock of BeautiControl, Inc. (“BeautiControl”), and on December 5, 2005, the Registrant acquired the direct-to-consumer businesses of Sara Lee Corporation.
(b) New York Stock Exchange-Required Disclosures
General. The address of the Registrant's principal office is 14901 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, Florida 32837. The names of the Registrant's directors are Catherine A. Bertini, Susan M. Cameron, Kriss Cloninger, III, E.V. Goings, Joe R. Lee, Angel R. Martinez, Antonio Monteiro de Castro, Robert J. Murray, David R. Parker, Joyce M. Roché and M. Anne Szostak. Members of the Audit, Finance and Corporate Responsibility Committee of the Board of Directors are Ms. Bertini, Ms. Cameron and Messrs. Cloninger (Chair), Martinez and Parker. The members of the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board of Directors are Ms. Roché (Chair), Ms. Szostak, and Messrs. Lee, Monteiro de Castro and Murray. The members of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors are Mr. Murray (Chair), Ms. Roché, Ms. Szostak, and Messrs. Cloninger and Parker. The members of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors are Mr. Goings (Chair), Ms. Roché and Messrs. Cloninger, Murray and Parker. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is E.V. Goings and the Presiding Director is Robert J. Murray. The Registrant's officers and the number of its employees are set forth below in Part I of this Report. The name and address of the Registrant's transfer agent and registrar is Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., c/o Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, 161 North Concord Exchange, South St. Paul, MN 55075. The number of the Registrant's shareholders is set forth below in Part II, Item 5 of this Report. The Registrant is satisfying its annual distribution requirement to shareholders under the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) rules by the distribution of its Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in lieu of a separate annual report.
Corporate Governance. Investors can obtain access to periodic reports and corporate governance documents, including board committee charters, corporate governance principles and codes of conduct and ethics for financial executives, and information regarding the Registrant's transfer agent and registrar through the Registrant's website free of charge (as soon as reasonably practicable after reports are filed with the SEC, in the case of periodic reports) by going to www.tupperwarebrands.com and searching under Investor Relations / SEC Filings and Governance Documents. The Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant has certified to the NYSE that he is not aware of any violation by the Registrant of NYSE corporate governance listing standards.
BUSINESS OF TUPPERWARE BRANDS CORPORATION
The Registrant is a worldwide direct-to-consumer company engaged in the manufacture and sale of Tupperware® products and cosmetics and personal care products under a variety of trade names, including Armand Dupree®, Avroy Shlain®, BeautiControl®, Fuller®, NaturCare®, Nutrimetics® and Nuvo®. Each business manufactures and/or markets a broad line of high quality products.
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I. PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS
Tupperware. The core of the Tupperware product line consists of design-centric preparation, storage and serving solutions for the kitchen and home. Tupperware also has an established line of kitchen cookware and tools, microwave products, microfiber textiles and gifts. In addition to its traditional kitchen and home lines, such as the Modular Mates* and FridgeSmart* containers and Tupperware* Impressions serve ware, the Tupperware line has evolved towards truly lifestyle-oriented products and has leveraged its research and development expertise to bring new concepts to market, such as the Power Time Savers Extra Chef* food processor system, which simplifies and speeds up everyday meal preparation. In 2012, key launches contemporized Tupperware classics, leveraging Tupperware's design, engineering and manufacturing expertise to bring consumers the next generation of serving, fridge storage and microwave products. The new ranges offer enhanced consumer features and benefits without additional cost. These include the Blossom* serving range, Crystalwave* Generation II microwave reheatable line, Tupperware* MicroCook microwave cooking line and VentSmart* fridge storage line.
The Company continues to introduce new materials, designs, colors and decoration in its product lines, to vary its offerings by season and to extend existing products into new markets around the world. The development of new products varies across markets in order to address differences in cultures, lifestyles, tastes and needs, although most products are offered in a large number of markets. New product development will continue to be an important part of the Company's strategy.
Beauty. In Beauty, the Company manufactures and distributes skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, jewelry and nutritional products.
New skin care products launched in 2012 include Bio Joven* Ginseng Energizing Anti-Wrinkle Facial Treatment, Armand Dupree* Revitalizing Anti-Wrinkle Treatment, Armand Dupree* Eye Contour Gel, Armand Dupree Reductive* Body Sculpting Gel and Herbal 3* Body Creams by Fuller Mexico; Regeneration* Tight, Firm and Fill* Extreme Tri-Peptide Complex, Regeneration* Tight, Firm and Fill* Extreme Lip Treatment and the BC Spa Bright line by BeautiControl; Nutrimetics Ultra Care+* Extreme Hand Repair, Nutrimetics Ultra Care+* Facial Rejuvenation Kit and Nutrimetics* Restore Anti-Aging Serum by Nutrimetics; as well as the Sun Caring* UV Protector Face Lotion and Natur Radiance* Moistrich Base by NaturCare.
Numerous new fragrances were also launched, such as Armand Dupree Red*, Tour Collection New York*, Scappare Fly* and celebrity fragrances, Espinoza Paz* and Galilea*, by Fuller Mexico; Sexy Red, BeautiControl Fancy*, Summer Mist, BC Man* and BeautiControl Spirit* by BeautiControl; Pink Diamond*, Avroy Shlain Delite Me*, After Midnight Gold* and Be Mine Tonight* by Avroy Shlain; and Armand Dupree Acqua*, Ornella Piü Fresh and Bella fragrances by Nuvo.
New additions to the Company's cosmetics ranges include Armand Dupree* Extra Glossy Lipstick from Fuller Mexico; BC Color Hydrating Lip Color from BeautiControl; Nutrimetics Hydra Brilliance* Lipstick, Colour Impact Eyeshadow and Pure Touch Blush from Nutrimetics; as well as a complete color cosmetics line under the brand name Colorfull*, which includes lipsticks, lip pencils, nail enamels, mascara, eye pencils and eye shadow, from Avroy Shlain.
Category expansions included baby care and jewelry by BeautiControl, with the BC Spa for Baby Collection and BC Jewelry which includes four jewelry collections, customized to correspond with BeautiControl's eBeauti Style online fashion diagnostic tool; and a family range including Camphor Cream, as well as a Naturals range which includes body butters by Avroy Shlain.
(Words followed by * are registered or unregistered trademarks of the Registrant.)
II. MARKETS
The Company operates its business under five reporting segments in three broad geographic regions: Europe (Europe, Africa and the Middle East), Asia Pacific and the Americas. Market penetration varies throughout the world. Several areas that have low penetration, such as Latin America, Asia and Eastern and Central Europe, provide the Company significant growth potential. The Company's strategy continues to include greater penetration in markets throughout the world.
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Tupperware Brands' products are sold around the world under eight brands: Tupperware, Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics and Nuvo. The Company defines its established market economy units as those in Western Europe (including Scandinavia), Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United States. All other units are classified as operating in emerging market economies. Businesses operating in emerging markets accounted for 61 percent of 2012 sales, while businesses operating in established markets accounted for the other 39 percent. For the past five fiscal years, 86 to 90 percent of total revenues from the sale of Tupperware Brands' products have been in international markets.
III. DISTRIBUTION OF PRODUCTS
The Company's products are distributed worldwide primarily through the “direct-to-consumer” method, under which products are sold by an independent sales force to consumers outside traditional retail store locations. The system facilitates the timely distribution of products to consumers, without having to work through retail intermediaries, and establishes uniform practices regarding the use of Tupperware Brands' trademarks and administrative arrangements, such as order entry, delivery and payment, along with the recruiting and training of the sales force.
Products are primarily sold directly to distributors, directors, managers and dealers (“sales force”) throughout the world. Where distributorships are granted, they have the right to market the Company's products using parties and other non-retail methods and to utilize Tupperware Brands' trademarks. The vast majority of the sales force are independent contractors and not employees of Tupperware. In certain limited circumstances, the Company has acquired ownership of distributorships for a period of time, until an independent distributor can be installed, in order to maintain market presence.
In addition to the introduction of new products and development of new geographic markets, a key element of the Company's strategy is expanding its business by increasing the size of its sales force. Under the system, distributors, directors and managers recruit, train, and motivate a large number of dealers. Managers are developed from among the dealer group and promoted to assist in recruiting, training and motivating dealers, while continuing to sell products.
As of December 29, 2012, the Company's distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 86,000 managers and 2.8 million dealers worldwide. During the year, 22 million group presentation sales events, or parties, took place worldwide.
Tupperware relies on the “party” method of sales, which is designed to enable the purchaser to appreciate, through demonstration, the features and benefits of the Company's products. Parties are held in homes, offices, social clubs and other locations. Products are also promoted through brochures mailed or given to people invited to attend parties and various other types of demonstrations. Some business units utilize a campaign merchandising system, whereby sales force members sell through brochures generated every two or three weeks, to their friends, neighbors and relatives. Sales of products are supported through programs of sales promotions, sales and training aids and motivational conferences for the sales force. In addition, to support its sales force, the Company utilizes catalogs and television and magazine advertising, which help to increase its sales levels with hard-to-reach customers and generate leads for sales and new dealers. A significant portion of the Company's business is operated through distributors, many of whom stock inventory and fulfill orders of the sales force that are generally placed after orders have been received from end consumers. In other cases, the Company sells directly to the sales force, also generally after they have received a consumer order.
In 2012, the Company continued to sell directly, and/or through its sales force, to end consumers via the Internet. It also entered into a limited number of business-to-business transactions, in which it sells products to a partner company for sale to consumers through the partner's distribution channel, with a link back to the core business.
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IV. COMPETITION
There are many competitors to Tupperware Brands' businesses both domestically and internationally. The principal bases of competition generally are marketing, price, quality and innovation of products, as well as competition with other “direct-to-consumer” companies for sales personnel and demonstration dates. Due to the nature of the direct-to-consumer industry, it is critical that the Company provides a compelling earnings opportunity for the sales force, along with developing new and innovative products. The Company maintains its competitive position, in part, through the use of strong incentives and promotional programs.
Through its Tupperware® brand, the Company competes in the food storage, serving and preparation, containers, toys and gifts categories. Through its beauty and personal care brands, the Company also competes in the skin care, cosmetics, toiletries and fragrances categories. The Company works to differentiate itself from its competitors through its brand names, product innovation, quality, value-added services, celebrity endorsements, technological sophistication, new product introductions and its channel of distribution, including the training, motivation and compensation arrangements for its independent sales forces.
V. EMPLOYEES
The Registrant employs approximately 13,000 people, of whom approximately 1,000 are based in the United States.
VI. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The Registrant incurred $18.9 million, $19.5 million and $17.8 million for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, on research and development activities for new products.
VII. RAW MATERIALS
Many of the products manufactured by and for the Company require plastic resins that meet its specifications. These resins are purchased through various arrangements with a number of large chemical companies located throughout the Company's markets. As a result, the Company has not experienced difficulties in obtaining adequate supplies and generally has been successful in obtaining favorable resin prices on a relative basis. Research and development relating to resins used in Tupperware® products is performed by both the Company and its suppliers.
Materials used in the Company's skin care, cosmetic and bath and body care products consist primarily of readily available ingredients, containers and packaging materials. Such raw materials and components used in goods manufactured and assembled by the Company and through outsource arrangements are available from a number of sources. To date, the Company has been able to secure an adequate supply of raw materials for its products, and it endeavors to maintain relationships with backup suppliers in an effort to ensure that no interruptions occur in its operations.
VIII. TRADEMARKS AND PATENTS
Tupperware Brands considers its trademarks and patents to be of material importance to its business; however, except for the Tupperware®, Fuller® and BeautiControl® trademarks, Tupperware Brands is not dependent upon any single patent or trademark, or group of patents or trademarks. The Tupperware®, Fuller® and BeautiControl® trademarks are registered on a country-by-country basis. The current duration for such registration ranges from five years to ten years; however, each such registration may be renewed an unlimited number of times. The patents used in Tupperware Brands' business are registered and maintained on a worldwide basis, with a variety of durations. Tupperware Brands has followed the practice of applying for design and utility patents with respect to most of its significant patentable developments. The Company has a patent on the formula for its “REGENERATION”® alpha-hydroxy acid-based products.
IX. ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
Compliance with federal, state and local environmental protection laws has not had in the past, and is not expected to have in the future, a material effect upon the Registrant's capital expenditures, liquidity, earnings or competitive position.
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X. OTHER
Sales do not vary significantly on a quarterly basis; however, third quarter sales are generally lower than the other quarters in any year due to vacations by dealers and their customers, as well as reduced promotional activities during this quarter. Sales generally increase in the fourth quarter, as it includes traditional gift-giving occasions in many markets and as children return to school and households refocus on activities that include party plan sales events and the use of the Company's housewares products, along with increased promotional activities supporting these opportunities.
Generally, there are no working capital practices or backlog conditions which are material to an understanding of the Registrant's business, although the Company generally seeks to minimize its net working capital position at the end of each fiscal year and normally generates a significant portion of its annual cash flow from operating activities in its fourth quarter. The Registrant's business is not dependent on a small number of customers, nor is any of its business subject to renegotiation of profits or termination of contracts or subcontracts at the election of the United States government.
XI. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Following is a list of the names and ages of all the Executive Officers of the Registrant, indicating all positions and offices held by each such person with the Registrant, and each such person's principal occupations or employment during the past five years. Each such person has been elected to serve until the next annual election of officers of the Registrant (expected to occur on May 24, 2013).
Name and Age | Office and Experience | |
Edward R. Davis III, age 50 | Vice President and Treasurer since May 2004. | |
R. Glenn Drake, age 60 | Group President, Europe, Africa and the Middle East since August 2006. | |
Lillian D. Garcia, age 57 | Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, after serving as Executive Vice President and Area Vice President, Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela and Ecuador from January 2011 to December 2012, and as Executive Vice President and President, Fuller Argentina since January 2010. Prior thereto, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer since August 2005. | |
E.V. Goings, age 67 | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since October 1997. | |
Josef Hajek, age 55 | Senior Vice President, Tax and Governmental Affairs since February 2006. | |
Simon C. Hemus, age 63 | President and Chief Operating Officer since January 2007. | |
Timothy A. Kulhanek, age 48 | Vice President, Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk Management since June 2010 after serving as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, BeautiControl, Inc., since August 2007. | |
Pablo Munoz, age 55 | Group President, Americas, after serving as Group President, Latin America from January 2011 to September 2012, and as Area Vice President, Tupperware and Beauty, Latin America since January 2006. | |
Michael S. Poteshman, age 49 | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since August 2004. | |
Nicholas K. Poucher, age 51 | Vice President and Controller since August 2007. | |
Thomas M. Roehlk, age 62 | Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer & Secretary since August 2005. | |
Christian E. Skroeder, age 64 | Group President, Asia Pacific since January 2009, after serving as Senior Vice President, Worldwide Market Development since April 2001. | |
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Positions and Offices Held and Principal Occupations
of Employment During Past Five Years
Name and Age | Office and Experience | |
Jose R. Timmerman, age 64 | Executive Vice President, Supply Chain Worldwide since February 2010, after serving as Senior Vice President, Supply Chain since March 2009 and Senior Vice President, Worldwide Operations since August 1997. | |
Robert F. Wagner, age 52 | Vice President and Chief Technology Officer since August 2002. | |
William J. Wright, age 50 | Senior Vice President, Global Product Marketing since October 2010, after serving as Senior Vice President, Global Third Party Sourced Products & Product Development since June 2010. Prior thereto, he served as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development of Tupperware Europe, Africa and the Middle East since August 2006. | |
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing the Company. Other events that the Company does not currently anticipate or that the Company currently deems immaterial also may affect results of operations and financial condition.
Sales Force Factors
The Company’s products are marketed and sold through the "direct-to-consumer" method of distribution, in which products are primarily marketed and sold to consumers, without the use of retail establishments, by a sales force made up of independent contractors. This distribution system depends upon the successful recruitment, retention and motivation of a large force of sales personnel to grow and compensate for a high turnover rate. The recruitment and retention of sales force members is dependent upon the competitive environment among direct-to-consumer companies and upon the general labor market, unemployment levels, general economic conditions, and demographic and cultural changes in the workforce. The motivation of the sales force is dependent, in part, upon the effectiveness of compensation and promotional programs of the Company, the competitiveness of the same compared with other direct-to-consumer companies, the introduction of new products and the ability to advance through the sales force structure.
The Company’s sales are directly tied to the activity levels of its sales force, which is in large part a temporary working activity for sales force members. Activity levels may be affected by the degree to which a market is penetrated by the presence of the Company’s sales force, the amount of average sales per order, the amount of sales per sales force member, the mix of high-margin and low-margin products sold at parties and elsewhere, and the activities and actions of the Company’s product line and channel competitors. In addition, the Company’s sales force members may be affected by initiatives undertaken by the Company to grow its revenue base that may lead to the inaccurate perception that the independent sales force system is at risk of being phased out.
International Operations
A significant portion of the Company’s sales and profit comes from its international operations. Although these operations are geographically dispersed, which partially mitigates the risks associated with operating in particular countries, the Company is subject to the usual risks associated with international operations. These risks include local political and economic environments, adverse new tax regulations and relations between U.S. and foreign governments.
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The Company derived 90 percent of its net sales from operations outside the United States in 2012. Because of this, movement in exchange rates may have a significant impact on the Company’s earnings, cash flows and financial position. The Company’s most significant exposures are to the euro, the Indonesian rupiah and the Mexican peso. Business units in which the Company generated at least $100 million of sales in 2012 included Brazil, Tupperware France, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia/Singapore, Fuller Mexico, Tupperware Mexico, and Tupperware United States and Canada. Although this currency risk is partially mitigated by the natural hedge arising from the Company’s local product sourcing in many markets, a strengthening U.S. dollar generally has a negative impact on the Company. In response to this fact, the Company continues to implement foreign currency hedging and risk management strategies to reduce the exposure to fluctuations in earnings associated with changes in foreign exchange rates. The Company generally does not seek to hedge the impact of currency fluctuations on the translated value of the sales, profit or cash flow generated by its operations. Some of the hedging strategies implemented have a positive or negative impact on cash flows as foreign currencies fluctuate versus the U.S. dollar. There can be no assurance that foreign currency fluctuations will not have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows and/or financial condition.
Another risk associated with the Company’s international operations is restrictions foreign governments may impose on currency remittances. Due to the possibility of government restrictions on transfers of cash out of countries and control of exchange rates, the Company may not be able to immediately access its cash at the exchange rate used to translate its financial statements. This is a particular issue currently in Venezuela.
Legal and Regulatory Issues
The Company's business may also be affected by actions of domestic and foreign governments to restrict the activities of direct-to-consumer companies for various reasons, including the limitation on the ability of direct-to-consumer companies to operate through direct sales without the involvement of a traditional retail channel. Foreign governments may also introduce other forms of protectionist legislation, such as limitations on the products which can be produced locally or requirements that non-domestic companies doing or seeking to do business place a certain percentage of ownership of legal entities in the hands of local nationals to protect the commercial interests of its citizens. Customs laws, tariffs, import duties, export quotas and restrictions on repatriation of foreign earnings and/or other methods of accessing cash generated internationally, may negatively affect the Company's international operations. Governments may seek either to impose taxes on independent sales force members or to classify independent sales force members as employees of direct-to-consumer companies with whom they may be associated, triggering employment-related taxes on the part of the direct-to-consumer companies. The U.S. government may impose restrictions on the Company's ability to engage in business in a foreign country in connection with the foreign policy of the United States.
Product Safety
Certain of the materials used in the Company’s product lines may give rise to concerns of consumers based upon scientific theories which are espoused from time to time, including the risk of certain materials leaching out of plastic containers used for their intended purposes or the ingredients used in cosmetics, personal care or nutritional products causing harm to human health. This includes polycarbonate that contains the chemical Bisphenol A. It is the Company’s policy to use only those materials or ingredients that are approved by relevant regulatory authorities for contact with food or skin or for ingestion by consumers, as applicable.
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General Business Factors
The Company’s business can be affected by a wide range of factors that affect other businesses. Weather, natural disasters, strikes, epidemics/pandemics, political instability and public scrutiny of the direct-to-consumer channel, may have a significant impact on the willingness or ability of consumers to attend parties or otherwise purchase the Company’s products. The supply and cost of raw materials, particularly petroleum and natural gas-based resins, may have an impact on the availability or cost of the Company’s plastic products. The Company is also subject to frequent product copying, counterfeiting and other intellectual property infringement, which may be difficult to police and prevent, depending upon the availability of intellectual property rights, the ability to identify the source of such activities and the existence and enforceability of laws affording protection to Company property. Other risks, as discussed under the sub-heading “Forward-Looking Statements” contained in Part II, Item 7A of this Report, may be relevant to performance as well.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2. Properties.
The principal executive office of the Registrant is owned by the Registrant and is located in Orlando, Florida. The Registrant owns and maintains significant manufacturing and distribution facilities in Brazil, France, Greece, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa and the United States, and leases significant manufacturing and distribution facilities in Belgium, China, India and Venezuela. The Registrant owns and maintains the BeautiControl headquarters in Texas and leases its manufacturing and distribution facilities in Texas. The Registrant conducts a continuing program of new product design and development at its facilities in Florida, Texas, Belgium, Mexico and New Zealand. None of the owned principal properties is subject to any encumbrance material to the consolidated operations of the Company. The Registrant considers the condition and extent of utilization of its plants, warehouses and other properties to be good, the capacity of its plants and warehouses generally to be adequate for its needs, and the nature of the properties to be suitable for its needs.
In addition to the above-described improved properties, the Registrant owns unimproved real estate surrounding its corporate headquarters in Orlando, Florida. The Registrant prepared certain portions of this real estate for a variety of development purposes and, in 2002, began selling parts of this property. To date, approximately 200 acres have been sold and about 300 acres remain to be sold in connection with this project, which is expected to continue for a number of years.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
A number of ordinary-course legal and administrative proceedings against the Registrant or its subsidiaries are pending. In addition to such proceedings, there are certain proceedings that involve the discharge of materials into, or otherwise relating to the protection of, the environment. Certain of such proceedings involve federal environmental laws such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as well as state and local laws. The Registrant has established reserves with respect to certain of such proceedings. Because of the involvement of other parties and the uncertainty of potential environmental impacts, the eventual outcomes of such actions and the cost and timing of expenditures cannot be determined with certainty. It is not expected that the outcome of such proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect upon the Registrant.
As part of the 1986 reorganization involving the formation of Premark, Premark was spun-off by Dart & Kraft, Inc., and Kraft Foods, Inc. assumed any liabilities arising out of any legal proceedings in connection with certain divested or discontinued former businesses of Dart Industries Inc., a subsidiary of the Registrant, including matters alleging product and environmental liability. The assumption of liabilities by Kraft Foods, Inc. remains effective subsequent to the distribution of the equity of the Registrant to Premark shareholders in 1996.
8
As part of the 2005 acquisition of the direct-to-consumer businesses of Sara Lee Corporation, that company indemnified the Registrant for any liabilities arising out of any existing litigation at that time and for certain legal and tax matters arising out of circumstances that might relate to periods before or after the date of that acquisition.
Item 4. Mine Safety Procedures.
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. | Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities. |
The Registrant has not sold any securities in 2010 through 2012 that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933. As of February 21, 2013, the Registrant had 58,628 shareholders of record and beneficial holders. The principal United States market on which the Registrant’s common stock is being traded is the New York Stock Exchange. The stock price and dividend information set forth in Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, entitled “Quarterly Financial Summary (Unaudited),” is included in Item 8 of Part II of this Report and is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.
Item 5a. | Performance Graph. |
The following performance graph compares the performance of the Company's common stock to the Standard & Poor's 400 Mid-Cap Stock Index and the Standard & Poor's 400 Mid-Cap Consumer Discretionary Index. The graph assumes that the value of the investment in the Company's common stock and each index was $100 at December 29, 2007 and that all dividends were reinvested. The Company's stock is included in both indices.
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Measurement Period (Fiscal Year Ended) | Tupperware Brands Corporation | S&P 400 Mid-Cap | S&P 400 Mid-Cap Consumer Discretionary Index | |||||
12/29/2007 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | |||||
12/27/2008 | 64.73 | 60.62 | 57.83 | |||||
12/26/2009 | 152.50 | 88.63 | 94.27 | |||||
12/25/2010 | 159.67 | 110.70 | 124.57 | |||||
12/31/2011 | 189.23 | 108.40 | 125.47 | |||||
12/29/2012 | 217.08 | 125.76 | 151.66 | |||||
Item 5c. | Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities. |
The following information relates to the repurchase by the Registrant of its equity securities during each month of the fourth quarter of the Registrant's fiscal year covered by this report:
Total Number of Shares Purchased | Average Price Paid Per Share | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (a) | Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (a) | ||||||||||
9/30/12-11/3/12 | 192,800 | $60.58 | 192,800 | $ | 460,638,113 | ||||||||
11/4/12-12/1/12 | 885,700 | 63.12 | 885,700 | 404,736,085 | |||||||||
12/2/12-12/29/12 | 493,700 | 65.66 | 493,700 | 372,319,383 | |||||||||
1,572,200 | $63.60 | 1,572,200 | $ | 372,319,383 | |||||||||
____________________
(a) | The Company's Board of Directors approved, in October 2011, a program for repurchasing shares with an aggregate cost up to $1.2 billion until February 1, 2015. In January 2013, the Company's board further increased the share repurchase authorization by $800 million to $2 billion. The revised authorization is effective until February 1, 2017. |
Item 6. | Selected Financial Data. |
The following table presents the Company’s selected historical financial information for the last five years. The selected financial information has been derived from the Company's audited consolidated financial statements which, for the data presented for fiscal years 2012 and 2011 and for some data presented for 2010, are included as Item 8 of this Report. This data should be read in conjunction with the Company's other financial information, including "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A)" and the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included as Items 7 and 8, respectively, in this report.
Effective with the first quarter of 2011, the Company changed its segment reporting to reflect the geographic distribution of its businesses in accordance with how it views the operations. Consequently, the Company no longer has a Beauty Other segment, and the businesses previously reported in that segment are now reported as follows: Tupperware Brands Philippines in Asia Pacific; the Company’s Central America businesses in Tupperware North America; the Nutrimetics businesses in Europe and Asia Pacific (as applicable); and the businesses in South America as a separate geographic segment. Comparable information from the 2010, 2009 and 2008 fiscal years has been revised to conform to the new segment presentation. The Company's fiscal year ends on the last Saturday of December and, as a result, the 2011 fiscal year contained 53 weeks as compared with 52 weeks for the other fiscal years presented.
11
(in millions, except per share amounts) | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||||||||||
Operating results | |||||||||||||||||||
Net sales: | |||||||||||||||||||
Europe | $ | 791.4 | $ | 848.9 | $ | 796.0 | $ | 768.9 | $ | 789.2 | |||||||||
Asia Pacific | 780.7 | 714.0 | 584.0 | 494.0 | 451.8 | ||||||||||||||
Tupperware North America | 344.8 | 352.0 | 331.5 | 296.9 | 306.4 | ||||||||||||||
Beauty North America | 348.3 | 395.5 | 406.0 | 391.6 | 460.7 | ||||||||||||||
South America | 318.6 | 274.6 | 182.9 | 176.1 | 153.7 | ||||||||||||||
Total net sales | $ | 2,583.8 | $ | 2,585.0 | $ | 2,300.4 | $ | 2,127.5 | $ | 2,161.8 | |||||||||
Segment profit (loss): | |||||||||||||||||||
Europe | $ | 131.6 | $ | 148.3 | $ | 147.1 | $ | 141.8 | $ | 121.2 | |||||||||
Asia Pacific | 172.7 | 147.0 | 111.8 | 84.9 | 65.3 | ||||||||||||||
Tupperware North America | 63.7 | 58.4 | 52.8 | 40.3 | 29.2 | ||||||||||||||
Beauty North America | 30.2 | 37.9 | 58.9 | 52.2 | 60.5 | ||||||||||||||
South America (a) | 61.0 | 48.6 | 24.4 | 12.7 | (4.5 | ) | |||||||||||||
Unallocated expenses | (62.6 | ) | (58.9 | ) | (56.8 | ) | (51.9 | ) | (39.8 | ) | |||||||||
Gain on disposal of assets including insurance recoveries, net (b),(c) | 7.9 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 21.9 | 24.9 | ||||||||||||||
Re-engineering and impairment charges (a) | (22.4 | ) | (7.9 | ) | (7.6 | ) | (8.0 | ) | (9.0 | ) | |||||||||
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets (d) | (76.9 | ) | (36.1 | ) | (4.3 | ) | (28.1 | ) | (9.0 | ) | |||||||||
Interest expense, net (e) | (32.4 | ) | (45.8 | ) | (26.8 | ) | (28.7 | ) | (36.9 | ) | |||||||||
Income before income taxes | 272.8 | 295.3 | 299.7 | 237.1 | 201.9 | ||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 79.8 | 77.0 | 74.1 | 62.0 | 40.5 | ||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 193.0 | $ | 218.3 | $ | 225.6 | $ | 175.1 | $ | 161.4 | |||||||||
Basic earnings per common share (f) | $ | 3.49 | $ | 3.63 | $ | 3.60 | $ | 2.80 | $ | 2.61 | |||||||||
Diluted earnings per common share (f) | $ | 3.42 | $ | 3.55 | $ | 3.53 | $ | 2.75 | $ | 2.55 | |||||||||
Profitability ratios | |||||||||||||||||||
Segment profit as a percent of sales: | |||||||||||||||||||
Europe | 17 | % | 17 | % | 18 | % | 18 | % | 15 | % | |||||||||
Asia Pacific | 22 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 14 | ||||||||||||||
Tupperware North America | 19 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 10 | ||||||||||||||
Beauty North America | 9 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 13 | ||||||||||||||
South America (a) | 19 | 18 | 13 | 7 | na | ||||||||||||||
Return on average equity (g) | 37.4 | 30.0 | 31.7 | 31.6 | 29.3 | ||||||||||||||
Return on average invested capital (h) | 18.7 | 20.5 | 21.4 | 18.1 | 15.8 | ||||||||||||||
See footnotes beginning on the following page.
12
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||||||||||
Financial Condition | |||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 119.8 | $ | 138.2 | $ | 248.7 | $ | 112.4 | $ | 124.8 | |||||||||
Net working capital | 72.0 | 96.0 | 348.8 | 236.3 | 252.3 | ||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 298.8 | 273.1 | 258.0 | 254.6 | 245.4 | ||||||||||||||
Total assets | 1,821.8 | 1,822.6 | 1,991.7 | 1,818.8 | 1,789.8 | ||||||||||||||
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term obligations | 203.4 | 195.7 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 3.8 | ||||||||||||||
Long-term obligations | 414.4 | 415.2 | 426.8 | 426.2 | 567.4 | ||||||||||||||
Shareholders’ equity | 479.1 | 500.8 | 789.8 | 637.7 | 474.0 | ||||||||||||||
Current ratio | 1.10 | 1.14 | 1.70 | 1.51 | 1.56 | ||||||||||||||
Other Data | |||||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 298.7 | $ | 274.7 | $ | 299.5 | $ | 250.9 | $ | 131.0 | |||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (64.8 | ) | (68.9 | ) | (46.1 | ) | (26.9 | ) | (39.1 | ) | |||||||||
Net cash used in financing activities | (252.5 | ) | (300.9 | ) | (103.9 | ) | (227.8 | ) | (66.5 | ) | |||||||||
Capital expenditures | 75.6 | 73.9 | 56.1 | 46.4 | 54.4 | ||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 49.6 | 49.8 | 49.7 | 51.7 | 60.6 | ||||||||||||||
Common Stock Data | |||||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared per share | $ | 1.44 | $ | 1.20 | $ | 1.05 | $ | 0.91 | $ | 0.88 | |||||||||
Dividend payout ratio (i) | 41.3 | % | 33.1 | % | 29.2 | % | 32.5 | % | 33.7 | % | |||||||||
Average common shares outstanding (thousands): | |||||||||||||||||||
Basic | 55,271 | 60,046 | 62,550 | 62,374 | 61,559 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted | 56,413 | 61,432 | 63,845 | 63,403 | 62,976 | ||||||||||||||
Period-end book value per share (j) | $ | 8.49 | $ | 8.15 | $ | 12.37 | $ | 10.10 | $ | 7.51 | |||||||||
Period-end price/earnings ratio (k) | 18.3 | 15.8 | 13.7 | 17.1 | 8.1 | ||||||||||||||
Period-end market/book ratio (l) | 7.4 | 6.9 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 2.8 | ||||||||||||||
____________________
na - not applicable
a. | Re-engineering and impairment charges provide for severance and other exit costs. In fiscal year 2008, the Company reached a decision to begin selling beauty products in Brazil through the Tupperware sales force and cease operating its separate beauty business. As a result of this decision, the Company recorded a $2.9 million charge relating to the write-off of inventory, prepaid assets and accounts receivable. This amount was included in the South America results. |
b. | In 2002, the Company began to sell land held for development near its Orlando, Florida headquarters. There were no land sales in the 2012, 2010 or 2009 fiscal years. During 2011 and 2008 fiscal years, pretax gains from these sales were $0.7 million and $2.2 million, respectively, and were included in gains on disposal of assets including insurance recoveries, net. |
c. | Included in gain on disposal of assets including insurance recoveries, net are: |
• | Pretax gains of $0.2 million in 2012, $3.0 million in 2011 and $1.1 million in 2008, as a result of respective insurance recoveries from flood damage in Venezuela in 2012, Australia in 2011 and France and Indonesia in 2008; |
• | Pretax gains of $7.5 million in 2012 from the sale of a facility in Belgium, and $0.2 million and $2.9 million in 2010 and 2009, respectively, from the sale of property in Australia; |
• | Pretax gains of $19.0 million and $22.2 million in 2009 and 2008, respectively, as a result of insurance recoveries associated with a 2007 fire in South Carolina; |
• | A pretax loss of $0.6 million in 2008, as a result of asset disposals in the Philippines; and |
• | A pretax gain of $0.2 million of equipment sales in 2012. |
13
d. | Valuations completed on the Company’s intangible assets resulted in the conclusion that certain tradenames and goodwill values were impaired. This resulted in non-cash charges of $76.9 million, $36.1 million, $28.1 million and $9.0 million in 2012, 2011, 2009 and 2008, respectively. In 2010, the Company recorded a $4.3 million impairment related to certain intangibles and goodwill, associated with a decision by the Company to cease operating its Swissgarde business as an independent entity. See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. |
e. | In 2011, the Company entered into new credit agreements, which resulted in a non-cash write-off of deferred debt costs to interest expense of $0.9 million. In connection with the termination of the previous credit facilities, the Company also impaired certain floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps resulting in interest expense of $18.9 million. |
f. | On December 28, 2008, the Company adopted authoritative guidance addressing share-based payment transactions and participating securities, which requires that unvested share-based payment awards with a nonforfeitable right to receive dividends (participating securities) be included in the two-class method of computing earnings per share. The net income available to common shareholders for 2009 - 2012, were computed in accordance with this guidance. The prior period has been retrospectively adjusted, resulting in a $0.01 reduction in 2008 diluted and basic earnings per share. The Company had 0.2 million, 0.2 million and 0.4 million of unvested share-based payment awards outstanding for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, which were classified as participating securities under this guidance. The Company had no unvested share-based payment awards classified as participating securities in 2012 and 2011. |
g. | Return on average equity is calculated by dividing net income by the average monthly balance of shareholders’ equity. |
h. | Return on average invested capital is calculated by dividing net income plus net interest expense multiplied by one minus the estimated marginal tax rate of 38%, by average shareholders’ equity plus debt, for the last five quarters. |
i. | The dividend payout ratio is dividends declared per share divided by basic earnings per share. |
j. | Period-end book value per share is calculated as year-end shareholders’ equity divided by average diluted shares. |
k. | Period-end price/earnings ratio is calculated as the year-end market price of the Company’s common stock divided by full year diluted earnings per share. |
l. | Period-end market/book ratio is calculated as the period-end market price of the Company’s common stock divided by period-end book value per share. |
14
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following is a discussion of the results of operations for 2012 compared with 2011 and 2011 compared with 2010, and changes in financial condition during 2012. The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Saturday of December and, as a result, included 52 weeks during 2012 and 2010, as compared with 53 weeks in 2011. This information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial information provided in Item 8 of this Annual Report.
The Company's primary means of distributing its products is through independent sales organizations and individuals, which in many cases are also its customers. The vast majority of the Company's products are, in turn, sold to end customers who are not members of its sales force. The Company is largely dependent upon these independent sales organizations and individuals to reach end consumers, and any significant disruption of this distribution network would have a negative financial impact on the Company and its ability to generate sales, earnings and operating cash flows. The Company's primary business drivers are the size, activity and productivity of its independent sales organizations.
As exchange rates are an important factor in understanding period-to-period comparisons, the Company believes the presentation of results on a local currency basis, as a supplement to reported results, helps improve readers' ability to understand those results and evaluate performance in comparison with prior periods. The Company presents local currency information that compares results between periods as if current period exchange rates had been the exchange rates in the prior period. The Company uses results on a local currency basis as one measure to evaluate performance. The Company generally refers to such amounts as calculated on a "local currency" basis or "excluding the impact of foreign currency." These results should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, results reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). Results on a local currency basis may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.
Estimates included herein are those of the Company’s management and are subject to the risks and uncertainties as described in the Forward Looking Statements caption included in Item 7A.
Overview
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
Total Company results 2012 vs 2011
52 weeks ended | 53 weeks ended | Change | Change excluding the impact of foreign exchange | Foreign exchange impact | |||||||||||||
December 29, 2012 | December 31, 2011 | ||||||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 2,583.8 | $ | 2,585.0 | — | % | 5 | % | $ | (127.3 | ) | ||||||
Gross margin as a percent of sales | 66.9 | % | 66.6 | % | 0.3 | pp | na | na | |||||||||
Delivery, sales & administrative expense as a percent of sales | 51.5 | % | 51.8 | % | (0.3 | )pp | na | na | |||||||||
Operating income | $ | 306.5 | $ | 342.3 | (10 | )% | (2 | )% | $ | (29.3 | ) | ||||||
Net income | 193.0 | 218.3 | (12 | ) | (2 | ) | (22.2 | ) | |||||||||
Net income per diluted share | 3.42 | 3.55 | (4 | ) | 7 | (0.36 | ) | ||||||||||
15
Total Company results 2011 vs 2010
53 weeks ended | 52 weeks ended | Change | Change excluding the impact of foreign exchange | Foreign exchange impact | |||||||||||||
December 31, 2011 | December 25, 2010 | ||||||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 2,585.0 | $ | 2,300.4 | 12 | % | 9 | % | $ | 69.1 | |||||||
Gross margin as percent of sales | 66.6 | % | 66.7 | % | (0.1 | )pp | na | na | |||||||||
Delivery, sales & administrative expense as a percent of sales | 51.8 | % | 51.9 | % | (0.1 | )pp | na | na | |||||||||
Operating income | $ | 342.3 | $ | 329.4 | 4 | % | 1 | % | $ | 8.7 | |||||||
Net income | 218.3 | 225.6 | (3 | ) | (6 | ) | 6.5 | ||||||||||
Net income per diluted share | 3.55 | 3.53 | 1 | (2 | ) | 0.11 | |||||||||||
____________________
na not applicable
pp percentage points
Sales
Reported sales decreased slightly in 2012 compared with 2011. This included an estimated 1 percentage point negative impact on the comparison from the extra week in 2011. Excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates sales increased 5 percent, reflecting strong growth in the Company’s emerging market economy businesses, while its sales in established market economy businesses were down slightly compared with 2011. The Company defines its established markets as those in Western Europe including Scandinavia, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States. All other markets are classified as emerging markets. The Company’s emerging markets accounted for 61 and 59 percent of reported sales in 2012 and 2011, respectively. The 2012 reported sales in the emerging markets were up 4 percent compared with the prior year, including a negative $89.7 million impact on the comparison from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, these markets’ had strong growth of 11 percent. The strong results in the emerging markets were led by Brazil, India, Indonesia, Malaysia/Singapore, Tupperware Mexico, Turkey and Venezuela. This primarily reflected increases in their total and active sales forces, other than in Venezuela where the increase primarily reflected inflation related price increases. Among the emerging markets, those with notable declines in local currency sales were Fuller Mexico, due to a smaller and less active sales force in light of heavy promotional investments made in 2011 that were not repeated to the same extent, and Tupperware South Africa due to less sales force productivity. In South Africa, this reflected the impact on confidence of the sales force in light of counterfeit and knocked-off product in the market place and a generally weak consumer spending environment. The Company’s established market businesses' sales were down 6 percent in U.S. dollars, including a negative $37.6 million impact on the comparison from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, sales in these markets were down 3 percent. Among these units, there were local currency decreases in BeautiControl and Tupperware United States and Canada due to smaller and less active sales forces, as well as in Tupperware France, reflecting lower productivity. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in Germany, reflecting continued strength in sales force recruiting.
16
Reported sales increased 12 percent in 2011 compared with 2010. This increase included an estimated 1 percentage point positive impact from the extra week in 2011 compared with 2010. Excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, sales increased 9 percent, reflecting strong growth in the Company’s emerging market economy businesses, while sales in established market economy businesses were about even with 2010. The Company’s emerging markets accounted for 59 and 56 percent of reported sales in 2011 and 2010, respectively. The 2011 reported sales in the emerging markets were up 18 percent compared with the prior year, including a positive $19.6 million impact on the comparison from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, these markets’ had strong growth of 16 percent. The strong results in the emerging markets were led by Brazil, India, Indonesia, Malaysia/Singapore, Turkey and Venezuela. The core businesses in all of these units performed well through increases in their total and active sales forces, along with higher sales per active sales force member in most units. Of the emerging markets, Russia had the most notable decline in local currency sales compared with 2010, due to a lower sales force size with less activity, as the Company worked to strengthen its top independent sales force leaders. The decrease also reflected continued difficulties in the consumer spending environment. The Company’s established market businesses were up 5 percent in 2011 reported sales, including a positive $49.6 million impact on the comparison from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Excluding the foreign exchange benefit, sales in these markets were even with 2010. Germany, Italy and Tupperware United States and Canada were the units with the most significant sales growth during the year, reflecting larger and more productive sales forces, offset by declines by Tupperware Australia and BeautiControl, due to smaller and less active sales forces.
Specific segment impacts are further discussed in the Segment Results section.
Gross Margin
Gross margin as a percentage of sales was 66.9 percent in 2012 and 66.6 percent in 2011. The increase of 0.3 percentage points ("pp") was primarily due to a better product mix, improved merchandising and slightly less promotional pricing (1.2 pp) and lower inventory obsolescence (0.1 pp). These improvements were partially offset by increased manufacturing costs, in part due to the lower absorption of fixed costs from lower sales volume in certain markets, mainly in Europe and Tupperware North America (0.8 pp), and a less favorable country mix as sales fell in some units with high gross margins (0.2 pp).
Gross margin as a percentage of sales was 66.6 percent in 2011 and 66.7 percent in 2010. The decrease was primarily due to higher resin costs of $16 million (0.6 pp), partially offset by the leverage on fixed costs from higher sales volume in certain markets (0.2 pp), changes in estimates of certain non-income tax costs (0.1 pp) and reduced inventory obsolescence (0.2 pp).
Operating Expenses
Delivery, sales and administrative expense (DS&A) as a percentage of sales was 51.5 percent in 2012, compared with 51.8 percent in 2011. The lower DS&A percentage in 2012 was mainly due to lower commission expenses (0.3 pp), lower promotion expenses (0.4 pp) and lower marketing expenses (0.1pp). Partially offsetting these improvements was an overall increase in operating expenses and the impact of a stronger U.S. dollar that offset some of the normal benefit of the leverage on higher sales on the dollar-denominated fixed cost elements of this caption (0.5 pp).
DS&A as a percentage of sales was 51.8 percent in 2011, compared with 51.9 percent in 2010. The lower DS&A percentage in 2011 was mainly due to lower commission expenses (0.4 pp), the absence of out-of-period amounts recorded in Russia (0.2 pp) in 2010, and leverage from higher sales volume due to the fixed nature of a portion of the costs included in this caption. Partially offsetting these improvements was higher spending on promotions (0.4 pp) and marketing (0.2 pp), reflecting efforts to grow the sales force size and build brand recognition and appreciation in certain markets. Also, the normal benefit of the leverage on higher sales was offset by the impact of the strengthening of certain foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar on non-dollar-denominated fixed cost elements of this caption.
17
The Company segregates corporate operating expenses into allocated and unallocated expenses based upon the time spent managing segment operations. The allocated costs are then apportioned to each segment based upon segment revenues. The unallocated expenses reflect amounts unrelated to segment operations. Operating expenses to be allocated are determined at the beginning of the year based upon estimated expenditures. Total unallocated expenses for 2012 increased $3.7 million compared with 2011, reflecting higher incentive and equity compensation due to improved operating results, as well as impacts from variations in foreign exchange rates.
Total unallocated expenses for 2011 increased $2.1 million compared with 2010, largely reflecting impacts from variations in certain foreign exchange rates.
As discussed in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company includes costs related to the distribution of its products in DS&A expense. As a result, the Company’s gross margin may not be comparable with other companies that include these costs in cost of products sold.
Included in 2012 net income were pretax charges of $22.4 million for re-engineering and impairment charges, compared with $7.9 million and $7.6 million in 2011 and 2010, respectively. These charges are discussed in the re-engineering costs section following.
The Company’s goodwill and intangible assets relate primarily to the December 2005 acquisition of the direct-to-consumer businesses of Sara Lee Corporation and the October 2000 acquisition of BeautiControl. The Company conducts an annual assessment of goodwill and intangible assets in the third quarter of each year, other than for BeautiControl where the annual valuation is performed in the second quarter, and in other quarters in the event of a change in circumstances that would lead the Company to believe that a triggering event for impairment may have occurred. Refer to Note 6 of the Consolidated Statements.
During the second quarter of 2012, the Company completed its annual impairment test of the BeautiControl reporting units, resulting in an impairment charge of $38.9 million related to the goodwill in the BeautiControl United States and Canada business. This was a result of the rates of growth of sales, profit and cash flow and expectations for future performance that were below the Company's previous projections. Also in the second quarter, the financial performance of the Nutrimetics reporting units fell below their previous trend line and it became apparent that they would fall significantly short of previous expectations for the year. Additionally, reductions in the forecasted operating trends of NaturCare, relating to declines in the rates of growth of sales, profit and cash flows in the Japanese market, led to interim impairment testing in both these businesses, as of the end of May and June 2012, respectively. The result of these tests was to record tradename impairments of $13.8 million for Nutrimetics and $9.0 million for NaturCare, primarily due to the use of lower estimated royalty rates in light of lower sales and profit forecasts for these units, as well as macroeconomic factors that increased the discount rates used in the valuations versus those used previously. In addition, the Company wrote off the $7.2 million and $7.7 million carrying value of the goodwill of the Nutrimetics Asia Pacific and Nutrimetics Europe reporting units, respectively, in light of then current operating trends and expected future results, as well as the macroeconomic factors that increased the discount rates used in the valuations.
During the third quarter of 2011, the financial results of Nutrimetics were below expectations. The Company also made at that time, the decision to cease operating its Nutrimetics business in Malaysia. As a result, the Company lowered its forecast of future sales and profit. The result of the impairment tests was to record a $31.1 million impairment to the Nutrimetics goodwill in the Asia Pacific reporting unit and a $5.0 million impairment to its tradename.
During 2010, the Company decided it would cease operating its Swissgarde unit. As a result of this decision, the Company concluded that its intangible assets and goodwill were impaired. Hence, in the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company recorded a $2.1 million impairment to the Swissgarde tradename, a $0.1 million impairment related to a sales force intangible and a $2.1 million impairment to goodwill relating to the South African beauty reporting unit. During 2011, the Company sold its interest in Swissgarde for $0.7 million that resulted in a gain of $0.1 million.
18
The Company continues working on its program to sell land for development near its Orlando, Florida headquarters, which began in 2002. During 2011, a pretax gain of $0.7 million was recognized as a result of a sale under this program. There were no land sales under this program in 2012 or 2010 due to negative developments in the real estate market, including ramifications of the credit crisis in the United States. Gains on land transactions are recorded based upon when the transactions close and proceeds are collected. Transactions in one period may not be representative of what may occur in future periods. Since the Company began this program in 2002, cumulative proceeds from these sales have totaled $67.7 million and currently are expected to be up to an additional $100 million when the program is completed. The carrying value of the remaining land included in the Company's land sales program was $23.2 million as of December 29, 2012. This amount was included in property, plant and equipment held for use within the Consolidated Balance Sheet as it is not considered probable that any land sales will be completed within one year.
In 2012, the Company recognized a $7.5 million pretax gain from the sale of its old manufacturing facility in Belgium, and in 2010, the Company recorded a pretax gain of $0.2 million from the sale of property in Australia.
Re-engineering Costs
As the Company continuously evaluates its operating structure in light of current business conditions and strives to maintain the most efficient possible structure, it periodically implements actions designed to reduce costs and improve operating efficiency. These actions often result in re-engineering costs related to facility downsizing and closure, as well as related asset write downs and other costs that may be necessary in light of the revised operating landscape. In addition, the Company may recognize gains upon disposal of closed facilities or other activities directly related to its re-engineering efforts. Over the past three years, the Company has incurred such costs as detailed below that were included in the following income statement captions (in millions):
2012 | 2011 | 2010 | |||||||||
Re-engineering and impairment charges | $ | 22.4 | $ | 7.9 | $ | 7.6 | |||||
Cost of products sold | 0.2 | 1.7 | — | ||||||||
Total pretax re-engineering costs | $ | 22.6 | $ | 9.6 | $ | 7.6 | |||||
The Company recorded re-engineering and impairment charges of $5.3 million, $5.9 million and $6.5 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, related to severance costs incurred to reduce head count in various units, mainly due to implementing changes in the businesses' management structures. These costs were primarily related to operations in Argentina, Australia, Fuller Mexico, Japan and exiting the Nutrimetics businesses in Greece and the United Kingdom in 2012; France, Fuller Mexico, Japan and Malaysia in 2011; and Australia, France and Japan in 2010. In 2012, re-engineering and impairment charges included $0.9 million in exit costs, primarily related to the decision to cease operating the Nutrimetics businesses in Greece and the United Kingdom. Also in connection with the liquidation of the Nutrimetics business in the United Kingdom, the Company incurred a $16.2 million non-cash charge that related to the reclassification of currency translation adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive income into operating income, as well as a $0.2 million charge to cost of sales for inventory obsolescence. In 2011, re-engineering and impairment charges also included $1.3 million related to the decision to merge the Nutrimetics and Tupperware businesses in Malaysia and $0.7 million related to asset impairments, exit activities and relocation costs as well as a $1.7 million charge to cost of sales for inventory obsolescence. In 2010, re-engineering and impairment charges also included $1.1 million related to moving costs and the impairment of property, plant and equipment associated with the relocation of a manufacturing facility in Japan.
See also Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, regarding the Company's re-engineering actions.
Net Interest Expense
Net interest expense was $32.4 million in 2012, compared with $45.8 million in 2011. Excluding the impact of the non-cash interest rate swap impairment charge recorded in 2011 of $18.9 million and the write-off of deferred debt issuance costs of $0.9 million, interest expense increased due to higher borrowing levels and higher weighted average interest rates.
19
Net interest expense was $45.8 million in 2011, compared with $26.8 million in 2010. This increase reflected the $18.9 million cost from the impairment of floating-to-fixed interest swaps, along with the write-off of deferred debt costs. This was partially offset by higher interest income earned on higher average cash balances held during 2011 in Brazil, China and India.
Tax Rate
The effective tax rates for 2012, 2011 and 2010 were 29.3, 26.1 and 24.7 percent, respectively. The comparatively higher 2012 tax rate was due to the impact of nondeductible goodwill impairment charges. As a result of tax law changes in Mexico, an election was made during 2011 that resulted in a reduction of $20.4 million of deferred tax liabilities. The Company also incurred in 2011, additional costs of $16.0 million associated with the repatriation of foreign earnings. During 2011, the Company decided to repatriate earnings from Australia and certain other foreign units that were previously determined to be indefinitely reinvested in order to take advantage of historically favorable exchange rates. The effective tax rates for 2012, 2011 and 2010 are below the U.S. statutory rate, reflecting the availability of excess foreign tax credits, as well as lower foreign effective tax rates.
Tax rates are affected by many factors, including the global mix of earnings, changes in tax legislation, acquisitions or dispositions as well as the tax characteristics of income. The Company is required to make judgments on the need to record deferred tax assets and liabilities, uncertain tax positions and assessments regarding the realizability of deferred tax assets in determining the income tax provision. The Company has recognized deferred tax assets based upon its analysis of the likelihood of realizing the benefits inherent in them. At December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had valuation allowances against certain deferred tax assets totaling $103.1 million and $96.0 million, respectively. These valuation allowances relate to tax assets in jurisdictions where it is management's best estimate that there is not a greater than 50 percent probability that the benefit of the assets will be realized in the associated tax returns. This assessment is based upon expected future domestic results, future foreign dividends from then current year earnings and cash flows and other foreign source income, including rents and royalties, as well as anticipated gains related to future sales of land held for development near the Company's Orlando, Florida headquarters. In addition, certain tax planning transactions may be entered into to facilitate realization of these benefits. In evaluating uncertain tax positions, the Company makes determinations regarding the application of complex tax rules, regulations and practices. Uncertain tax positions are evaluated based on many factors including but not limited to changes in tax laws, new developments and the impact of settlements on future periods. Refer to the critical accounting policies section and Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussions of the Company's methodology for evaluating deferred tax assets.
As of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company's gross unrecognized tax benefit was $24.9 million and $28.6 million, respectively. During the year ended December 29, 2012, the accrual for uncertain tax positions decreased $4.5 million due to the expiration of the statute of limitations in various jurisdictions. The accrual also increased for positions being taken during the year in various tax filings. The accrual is further impacted by changes in foreign exchange rates.
The Company estimates that it may settle one or more foreign audits in the next twelve months that may result in a decrease in the amount of accrual for uncertain tax positions of up to $1.8 million. For the remaining balance as of December 29, 2012, the Company is not able to reliably estimate the timing or ultimate settlement amount. While the Company does not currently expect material changes, it is possible that the amount of unrecognized benefit with respect to the uncertain tax positions will significantly increase or decrease related to audits in various foreign jurisdictions that may conclude during that period or new developments that could also, in turn, impact the Company's assessment relative to the establishment of valuation allowances against certain existing deferred tax assets. At this time, the Company is not able to make a reasonable estimate of the range of impact on the balance of unrecognized tax benefits or the impact on the effective tax rate related to these items.
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Net Income
For 2012, operating income decreased 10 percent compared with 2011, which included an 8 percent negative impact on the comparison from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Net income decreased 12 percent on a reported basis, primarily reflecting the negative impact from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates, net income was 2 percent lower than 2011. The decrease was due to the impact of lower sales by Beauty North America and a higher level of operating expenses in Europe, as well as lower gross margin from lower manufacturing volume in Europe. There were also non-cash charges related to higher goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges in 2012, as well as $16.2 million related to the reclassification of currency translation adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive income into operating income as a result of the liquidation of the Nutrimetics business in the United Kingdom. There was also a higher income tax rate in 2012 than in 2011, primarily reflecting the impact of the higher nondeductible foreign goodwill impairment charges. These decreases were partially offset by the higher profit achieved from the businesses in Asia Pacific and South America based on the contribution margin on higher sales, while Tupperware North America had lower operating expenses that led to higher profit despite local currency sales that were even with 2011. In addition, the year-over-year comparison also benefited from not having the $18.9 million impairment charge associated with interest rate swaps recorded in 2011 as well as a $7.5 million gain from the sale of an old manufacturing facility in Belgium in 2012.
For 2011, operating income increased 4 percent compared with 2010, which included a 3 percent positive impact on the comparison from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Net income decreased 3 percent on a reported basis, and this included a positive 3 percent impact from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The businesses in Asia Pacific, Tupperware North America, and South America achieved higher profit based on the contribution margin on higher sales. These increases were offset by the impact of lower sales by Beauty North America, as well as higher levels of promotional spending in Europe and Beauty North America, along with the $36.1 million impairment of goodwill and intangible assets of the Nutrimetics businesses and $19.8 million in costs incurred from the impairment of interest rate swaps and the write-off of deferred debt issuance costs in connection with the repayment of the underlying debt in the second quarter of 2011. There was also a higher income tax rate in 2011 than in 2010, primarily reflecting the impact of the nondeductible foreign goodwill impairment charges.
International operations accounted for 90 percent of the Company's sales in both 2012 and 2011 and 88 percent in 2010. They accounted for 98, 99 and 96 percent of the Company’s net segment profit in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
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Segment Results 2012 vs. 2011
(Dollars in millions) | 2012 | 2011 | Change | Change excluding the impact of foreign exchange | Foreign exchange impact | Percent of total | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dollar | Percent | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Europe | $ | 791.4 | $ | 848.9 | $ | (57.5 | ) | (7)% | 1% | $ | (62.0 | ) | 31 | % | 33 | % | |||||||||||
Asia Pacific | 780.7 | 714.0 | 66.7 | 9 | 12 | (17.1 | ) | 30 | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||
Tupperware North America | 344.8 | 352.0 | (7.2 | ) | (2 | ) | — | (7.1 | ) | 13 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||
Beauty North America | 348.3 | 395.5 | (47.2 | ) | (12 | ) | (9 | ) | (14.3 | ) | 14 | 15 | |||||||||||||||
South America | 318.6 | 274.6 | 44.0 | 16 | 29 | (26.8 | ) | 12 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total net sales | $ | 2,583.8 | $ | 2,585.0 | $ | (1.2 | ) | — | 5% | $ | (127.3 | ) | 100 | % | 100 | % | |||||||||||
Segment profit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Europe | $ | 131.6 | $ | 148.3 | $ | (16.7 | ) | (11)% | (4)% | $ | (11.2 | ) | 29 | % | 34 | % | |||||||||||
Asia Pacific | 172.7 | 147.0 | 25.7 | 17 | 23 | (6.4 | ) | 38 | 33 | ||||||||||||||||||
Tupperware North America | 63.7 | 58.4 | 5.3 | 9 | 13 | (1.9 | ) | 14 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||
Beauty North America | 30.2 | 37.9 | (7.7 | ) | (20 | ) | (14 | ) | (2.6 | ) | 6 | 9 | |||||||||||||||
South America | 61.0 | 48.6 | 12.4 | 25 | 42 | (5.6 | ) | 13 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||
Segment profit as a percent of sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Europe | 16.6 | % | 17.5 | % | na | (0.9 | )pp | (0.8 | )pp | (0.1 | )pp | na | na | ||||||||||||||
Asia Pacific | 22.1 | 20.6 | na | 1.5 | 1.9 | (0.4 | ) | na | na | ||||||||||||||||||
Tupperware North America | 18.5 | 16.6 | na | 1.9 | 2.1 | (0.2 | ) | na | na | ||||||||||||||||||
Beauty North America | 8.7 | 9.6 | na | (0.9 | ) | (0.6 | ) | (0.3 | ) | na | na | ||||||||||||||||
South America | 19.1 | 17.7 | na | 1.4 | 1.7 | (0.3 | ) | na | na | ||||||||||||||||||
____________________
pp | Percentage points |
na | Not applicable |
Europe
Reported sales decreased 7 percent in 2012 compared with 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, sales increased 1 percent. The slight improvement was due to a local currency increase in the Company’s established markets, which are composed of Western Europe, including Scandinavia. The increase in these markets was driven by Germany, the largest market in the segment, and Scandinavia, primarily reflecting larger and slightly more productive sales forces, and was partially offset by a decreases at Tupperware France due to lower productivity resulting from the social and political environment in that market in 2012.
Emerging markets accounted for $271.7 and $298.1 million of reported net sales in this segment in 2012 and 2011, respectively, which represented 34 percent and 35 percent of reported net segment sales. Local currency sales in the emerging markets were about even with 2011. The most significant growth in these markets was in Turkey, due to a larger sales force from improved recruiting and lower turnover, as well as increased activity during significant promotional campaigns. Positive results also came from the Avroy Shlain beauty business in South Africa, reflecting a larger sales force, as well as modest growth in Russia due to greater productivity. This growth was offset by a significant sales decrease in Tupperware South Africa, reflecting a less productive sales force due to the impact on confidence and decrease in sales leadership associated with counterfeit and knocked off product issues, as well as a more challenging consumer spending environment.
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For 2012, compared with 2011, segment profit decreased $16.7 million, or 11 percent. Segment profit as a percentage of sales at 16.6 percent decreased 0.9 percentage points from 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, segment profit decreased 4 percent. On a local currency basis, the decrease in segment profit primarily reflected the decline in sales in Tupperware France and Tupperware South Africa, lower gross margin due to the impact on cost per unit of low production volume, as well as overall increased operating expenses. These impacts were partially offset by increased profit from higher sales in Germany, Scandinavia and Turkey, as well as a profit increase in Russia due to lower operating costs.
The negative impact of foreign currency rates on the year-over-year comparison of sales and profit for the entire segment was primarily attributable to the weaker euro and South African rand versus the U.S. dollar.
Asia Pacific
Reported sales in Asia Pacific increased 9 percent in 2012, reflecting significant growth by the emerging market businesses. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, the segment's sales increased 12 percent. Emerging markets include China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia/Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand, and accounted for $593.1 million and $511.5 million, or 76 and 72 percent, of the sales in this segment in 2012 and 2011, respectively. Total emerging market sales increased $81.6 million, or 16 percent, in 2012 compared with 2011. The comparison was negatively impacted by changes in foreign currency exchange rates totaling $16.7 million. Excluding the impact of foreign currencies, these markets' sales increased by 20 percent in 2012, primarily from substantial growth in India, Indonesia and Malaysia/Singapore. India grew primarily from a larger active sales force, in part reflecting continued market penetration into new, densely populated areas. Growth in Indonesia, which is the Company's largest housewares unit, was attributable to continued strength in recruiting and retention resulting from well received sales force activity initiatives and attractive consumer offers. Malaysia/Singapore drove an increased sales force activity rate through strong marketing and merchandising campaigns and successful new product launches.
Reported sales in the established markets decreased 7 percent. The impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates was minimal in the established markets. The more significant decreases in local currency were in Nutrimetics Australia, due to a smaller and less active sales force, and Tupperware Japan, reflecting lower productivity as it continued to shift its product mix toward core housewares categories that, on average, have lower price points than non-core categories.
Total segment profit increased $25.7 million, or 17 percent, in 2012. Segment profit as a percentage of sales at 22.1 percent was higher than 2011 by 1.5 percentage points. The segment profit comparison was negatively impacted by changes in foreign currency, and excluding this impact, segment profit increased 23 percent compared with 2011. The increase was mainly from the improved sales volume in the emerging markets and the leverage these higher sales had on the fixed components of DS&A spending, as well as more efficient promotional spending. These were partially offset by lower profit at Nutrimetics Australia and Tupperware Japan, reflecting the lower sales volume.
The negative impact from foreign currencies on the sales and profit comparison of 2012 with 2011 was mainly attributable to the Indian rupee and the Indonesian rupiah.
Tupperware North America
Reported sales decreased 2 percent in 2012 compared with 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, sales were even with the prior year, reflecting strong growth in Tupperware Mexico due to a larger sales force. This increase was offset by a decrease at Tupperware United States and Canada, as less promotionally driven recruiting initiatives led to a smaller and less active sales force.
Segment profit increased $5.3 million, or 9 percent, in 2012 compared with 2011. Segment profit as a percentage of sales at 18.5 percent was 1.9 percentage points higher in 2012 than in 2011. The improvement was primarily in Mexico due to higher sales volume and an improved gross margin from more efficient manufacturing during the year. Notwithstanding the decrease in sales in the United States and Canada, profit in this unit increased slightly due to a higher realized gross margin percentage and less aggressive promotional spending.
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Beauty North America
Reported sales for this segment were down 12 percent in 2012. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, sales decreased 9%. This decrease was primarily a result of smaller and less active sales forces in both Fuller Mexico, due to higher field manager turnover, and BeautiControl, from higher achievement standards for awards and fewer promotionally driven initiatives compared with 2011.
Segment profit decreased $7.7 million, or 20 percent, in 2012 compared with 2011. Segment profit as a percentage of sales, at 8.7 percent, was 0.9 percentage points lower than 2011. Foreign currency exchange rates negatively impacted the comparison by $2.6 million, or 6 percent. The decrease in profit was largely due to lower sales and a slightly lower gross margin percentage due to promotional pricing of certain products at Fuller Mexico. This was partially offset by value chain improvements at BeautiControl compared with 2011.
South America
Reported sales for this segment increased 16 percent in 2012 compared with 2011. Excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, sales increased 29 percent. The increase was mainly in Brazil and Venezuela. In Brazil, the increase was driven by a larger sales force as a result of strong recruiting programs and less turnover, and higher prices in light of consumer inflation, while in Venezuela, the increase was due primarily to higher prices as well as a larger sales force. The Company estimates that half of the overall local currency sales increase for the segment was due to price increases.
Segment profit increased $12.4 million, or 25 percent, in 2012 compared with 2011. Segment profit as a percentage of sales, at 19.1 percent, was 1.4 percentage points higher than in 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, segment profit increased 42 percent. The increase in profit was primarily due to the contribution margin from the significantly higher sales volume and the leverage these higher sales had on the fixed cost components of the value chain.
The Company had expected to implement during 2012, the registration of certain of its independent sales force members under new requirements of the social security system in Brazil. While most of the changes involved in the process were implemented in the fourth quarter of the year, due to changes in some of the governmental regulations and process, the remainder of the implementation is now expected to take place in 2013. While there could be a financial impact to the Company as the result of this change, any adverse impact is not expected to be significant.
The Company uses the "banded" exchange rate of 5.3 to translate the value of the Venezuelan bolivar versus the U.S dollar. There were no changes to this rate in 2012; however, in February 2013, the Venezuelan government set a new official exchange rate of 6.3 bolivars to the U.S. dollar and abolished the banded exchange rate. Venezuela continues to be deemed hyper-inflationary for accounting purposes. As a result, assuming the 6.3 exchange rate is the rate used by the Company and remains in effect for the rest of 2013, the Company estimates it will record expense associated with the devaluation's impact on its net monetary assets and inventory produced and procured prior to the February 2013 devaluation, of $4 million in the first quarter and $1 million in the second quarter of 2013. To illustrate the sensitivity of potential future changes in the exchange rate, if the exchange rate were to further devalue to 18 bolivars to the U.S. dollar as of the beginning of March 2013, the Company estimates there would be an additional negative impact upon translating the value of its net monetary assets and inventory on hand of $10 million in the first quarter of 2013 and $4 million in the second quarter of 2013. In addition, with respect to the translation of the ongoing results of the Company's business in Venezuela, the negative impact on pretax earnings of using the 6.3 rate for the succeeding 12 months is estimated to be between $2 and $3 million, and from a devaluation to 18, an additional $10 million.
As of December 29, 2012, the Company had $17 million in net monetary assets denominated in Venezuelan bolivars, which will be directly impacted by any change in the exchange rate, including $24 million in cash and cash equivalents.
24
Segment Results 2011 vs. 2010
Effective with the first quarter of 2011, the Company changed its segment reporting to reflect the geographic distribution of its businesses in accordance with how it views the operations. Consequently, the Company no longer has a Beauty Other segment, and the businesses previously reported in that segment are now reported as follows: Tupperware Brands Philippines in the Asia Pacific segment; the Company's Central America businesses in the Tupperware North America segment; the Nutrimetics businesses in the Europe and Asia Pacific segments (as applicable); and the businesses in South America as a separate geographic segment. Comparable information from 2010 has been reclassified to conform with the new presentation.
(Dollars in millions) | 2011 | 2010 | Change | Change excluding the impact of foreign exchange | Foreign exchange impact | Percent of total | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dollar | Percent | 2011 | 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Europe | $ | 848.9 | $ | 796.0 | $ | 52.9 | 7 | % | 3% | $ | 25.3 | 33 | % | 35 | % | ||||||||||||
Asia Pacific | 714.0 | 584.0 | 130.0 | 22 | 15 | 34.9 | 27 | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||
Tupperware North America | 352.0 | 331.5 | 20.5 | 6 | 5 | 3.2 | 14 | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||
Beauty North America | 395.5 | 406.0 | (10.5 | ) | (3 | ) | (3 | ) | 3.0 | 15 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||
South America | 274.6 | 182.9 | 91.7 | 50 | 48 | 2.7 | 11 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total net sales | $ | 2,585.0 | $ | 2,300.4 | $ | 284.6 | 12% | 9% | $ | 69.1 | 100 | % | 100 | % | |||||||||||||
Segment profit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Europe | $ | 148.3 | $ | 147.1 | $ | 1.2 | 1% | (1)% | $ | 3.2 | 34 | % | 37 | % | |||||||||||||
Asia Pacific | 147.0 | 111.8 | 35.2 | 31 | 26 | 5.3 | 33 | 28 | |||||||||||||||||||
Tupperware North America | 58.4 | 52.8 | 5.6 | 11 | 9 | 0.8 | 13 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||
Beauty North America | 37.9 | 58.9 | (21.0 | ) | (36 | ) | (36 | ) | 0.3 | 9 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||
South America | 48.6 | 24.4 | 24.2 | 99 | 92 | 0.9 | 11 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
Segment profit as a percent of sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Europe | 17.5 | % | 18.5 | % | na | (1.0 | )pp | (0.8 | )pp | (0.2 | )pp | na | na | ||||||||||||||
Asia Pacific | 20.6 | 19.1 | na | 1.5 | 1.7 | (0.2 | ) | na | na | ||||||||||||||||||
Tupperware North America | 16.6 | 15.9 | na | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.1 | na | na | |||||||||||||||||||
Beauty North America | 9.6 | 14.5 | na | (4.9 | ) | (4.9 | ) | — | na | na | |||||||||||||||||
South America | 17.7 | 13.3 | na | 4.4 | 4.1 | 0.3 | na | na | |||||||||||||||||||
____________________
pp | Percentage points |
na | Not applicable |
25
Europe
Reported sales increased 7 percent in 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, sales increased 3 percent. The improvement was due to a slight local currency improvement in the Company’s emerging markets and modest local currency growth in the established markets. Emerging markets accounted for $298.1 and $292.3 million of reported net sales in this segment in 2011 and 2010, respectively, which represented 35 percent and 37 percent of reported net segment sales. The impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates was minimal in the emerging markets. The improvement in emerging markets came from significant growth in Turkey, as well as strong growth in the Avroy Shlain, due to larger and more active sales forces in those markets. This growth was offset by a significant sales decrease in Russia, resulting from a decline in consumer spending power and a smaller sales force with lower activity. Sales by the Tupperware South Africa unit were up modestly for the full year, although down in the fourth quarter, after several years of robust growth. The lower sales in the fourth quarter reflected a less favorable reaction to the holiday promotional program than in 2010, including a lower number of active sellers as a result of lower confidence in light of counterfeit and knocked-off product activity in the country.
The established markets’ increase in reported sales, compared with 2010, was driven by Tupperware France, Germany, and Italy, reflecting larger and more productive sales forces resulting from a continued focus on recruiting, pay for performance under sales force compensation and incentive programs, sales force leadership development and training in these markets. These results were partially offset by decreases in Austria and Tupperware Greece, primarily from less productive sales forces. In Greece particularly, there was an impact of lower consumer spending in light of the difficult economic environment.
For 2011, compared with 2010, segment profit increased $1.2 million, or 1 percent. Segment profit as a percentage of sales of 17.5 percent decreased 1 percentage point from 2010. The higher segment profit was due to the positive impact of foreign currency exchange rates. On a local currency basis, segment profit was down slightly due to elevated promotional spending in Italy that resulted in a significant sales increase, but at a much higher than normal cost, as well as a lower gross margin from a variation in sales mix. The decreases were partially offset by the benefit of not having $7.6 million of out-of-period amounts recorded in Russia in 2010.
The year-over-year comparison on sales and profit for the entire segment was positively impacted by foreign currency rates, primarily a stronger euro versus the U.S. dollar.
Asia Pacific
Asia Pacific achieved significant growth in 2011 with a 22 percent increase in reported sales, largely reflecting increases by the businesses in emerging markets in this segment. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, sales increased 15 percent. Emerging markets accounted for $511.5 million and $384.6 million, or 72 and 66 percent, of the sales in this segment in 2011 and 2010, respectively. Total emerging market sales increased $126.9 million, or 33 percent, in 2011 compared with 2010. The comparison was positively impacted by changes in foreign currency exchange rates totaling $12.7 million. Excluding the impact of foreign currencies, these markets increased by 29 percent in 2011, compared with 2010. This result was from larger, more active sales forces, reflecting strong recruiting, training and retention, attractive consumer offers and successful promotional activities.
Reported sales in the established markets increased 2 percent. Excluding the impacts of foreign currency exchange rates, the established markets decreased by 9 percent compared with 2010. The more significant decreases in local currency were in the Tupperware and Nutrimetics businesses in Australia and the Tupperware business in Japan, largely due to smaller and less active sales forces in light of continued difficult consumer spending environments in these markets.
Total segment profit increased $35.2 million, or 31 percent, in 2011 compared with 2010. Segment profit as a percentage of sales at 20.6 percent was higher than 2010 by 1.5 percentage points. The segment profit comparison was positively impacted by changes in foreign currency, and excluding this impact, segment profit increased 26 percent compared with 2010. This was mainly due to improved sales volume in the emerging market units, as well as an improved gross margin percentage, reflecting the leverage on fixed costs from the higher sales volume, lower inventory obsolescence, changes in estimates of certain non-income tax costs and a more favorable product mix. There was also leverage from the higher sales on the fixed components of DS&A spending. This was partially offset with higher marketing expenses for continued brand building initiatives.
26
The positive impact from foreign currencies on the sales and profit comparison of 2011 with 2010 was mainly attributable to the Australian dollar, the Indonesian rupiah and the Malaysian ringgit.
Tupperware North America
Reported sales increased 6 percent in 2011 compared with 2010. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, sales increased 5 percent. The modest increase came primarily from growth in core sales by both Tupperware Mexico and the United States and Canada, primarily reflecting a larger sales force in Mexico and higher active sales forces in both units. Tupperware Mexico also overcame $5.2 million less business-to-business sales than in 2010.
Segment profit increased $5.6 million, or 11 percent, in 2011 compared with 2010. Segment profit as a percentage of sales at 16.6 percent was 0.7 percentage points higher in 2011 than in 2010. The improvement was primarily from the higher sales volume in Mexico and lower inventory obsolescence, along with a mix benefit toward core consumer sales by that unit, as consumer sales have a higher gross margin. These improvements were partially offset by a lower profit by the United States and Canada unit due to a lower gross margin and planned investments to activate the sales force and drive sales growth.
Beauty North America
Reported sales for this segment were down 3 percent in 2011 compared with 2010, primarily reflecting lower sales by BeautiControl North America where there was a smaller and less active sales force. The impact of foreign currency exchange rates on the comparison was minimal. Fuller Mexico was also down slightly.
Segment profit decreased $21.0 million, or 36 percent, in 2011 compared with 2010. Segment profit as a percentage of sales, at 9.6 percent, was 4.9 percentage points lower than 2010. The impact of foreign currency exchange rates on the comparison was minimal. The decrease in profit was largely due to lower sales with lower margins due to increased product costs at both BeautiControl and Fuller Mexico. Both units also made significant promotional investments for sales force recruiting and activation initiatives during the year that did not translate into incremental sales.
South America
Reported sales for this segment increased 50 percent in 2011 compared with 2010. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, sales increased 48 percent. The increase was mainly in Tupperware Brazil driven by a larger sales force from strong recruiting, sales force activation and higher productivity. Also contributing to the segment sales increase was Venezuela due to higher pricing reflecting inflation and a modest increase in the size and activity of the sales force, as well as Uruguay and Argentina due to higher pricing in line with inflation. The Company estimates that one-third of the overall local currency sales increase by the segment was from price increases.
Segment profit increased $24.2 million, or 99 percent, in 2011 compared with 2010. Segment profit as a percentage of sales, at 17.7 percent, was 4.4 percentage points higher than 2010. The impact of foreign currency exchange rates on the comparison was minimal. The increase in profit mainly reflected higher sales volume in Brazil and, to a lesser extent, in Venezuela, as well as more efficient promotional spending and leverage from the higher sales on the fixed components of DS&A spending.
Financial Condition
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Net working capital was $72.0 million as of December 29, 2012, compared with $96.0 million as of December 31, 2011 and $348.8 million as of December 25, 2010. The current ratio was 1.1 to 1 at the end of 2012 and 2011, and 1.7 to 1 at the end of 2010.
The most significant component in the Company’s $24 million reduction in net working capital in 2012 was $18 million less cash and cash equivalents, which together with cash flow from operating activities, was the main source of funding the cash outflow during the year for investing activities, dividends and share repurchases. While both inventory and accounts receivable increased modestly, this was largely offset by an increase in accrued liabilities, including accrued compensation related to management incentives.
27
The Company’s net working capital decreased as of the end of 2011 compared with 2010, primarily reflecting a lower level of cash as of the end of 2011 and borrowings under its revolving credit facility, both of which were used to repurchase shares. There was also an impact from a reduction in receivables, reflecting the timing of collections around the Company's fiscal year-end. There was a partial offset from a higher level of inventory to support a higher level of sales generally, along with more specific instances where inventory was increased in units to enable a better level of service to customers and in light of sales below expectations. There was also an increase in deferred tax assets and a decrease in accrued liabilities, largely from lower income taxes payable due to the timing of the Company's tax payments around year end.
On June 2, 2011, the Company completed the sale of $400 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.750% Senior Notes due June 1, 2021 (the “Senior Notes”) at an issue price of 98.989%, as well as entered into a new $450 million multicurrency revolving Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). The proceeds were used to repay all of the Company's $405 million term loans outstanding under the Company's previous credit facility from September 2007 ("Old Credit Facility"), which was terminated on the same date. The Company is permitted to request, on up to three separate occasions, an increase to its borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement by up to $200 million in the aggregate (for a maximum aggregate Facility Amount of $650 million).
Loans made under the revolving credit facility bear interest under a formula that includes, at the Company's option, one of three different base rates. The Company generally selects the London interbank offered rate ("LIBOR") for the applicable currency and interest period as its base for its interest rate. As provided in the credit facility, a margin is added to the base. The applicable margin is determined by reference to a pricing schedule based upon the ratio (the “Consolidated Leverage Ratio”) of the consolidated funded indebtedness of the Company and its subsidiaries to the consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of the Company and its subsidiaries for the four fiscal quarters then most recently ended. As of December 29, 2012, the Credit Agreement dictated a base rate spread of 150 basis points, which gave the Company a weighted average interest rate of 2.03 percent on $199.0 million of total borrowings under the Credit Agreement, of which $162 million was denominated in euros. The Company routinely increases its revolver borrowings under the Credit Agreement during each quarter to fund operating, investing and financing activities and uses cash available at the end of each quarter to reduce borrowing levels. As a result, the Company has higher foreign exchange exposure on the value of its cash during each quarter than at the end of each quarter.
The Credit Agreement contains customary covenants, including financial covenants requiring minimum interest coverage and allowing a maximum amount of leverage. As of December 29, 2012, the Company had, and currently has, considerable leeway under its financial covenants. However, economic conditions, adverse changes in foreign exchange rates, lower than foreseen sales and profit or the occurrence of other events discussed under “Forward Looking Statements” and elsewhere could cause noncompliance.
The Company monitors the financial stability of third-party depository institutions that hold its cash and cash equivalents and diversifies its cash and cash equivalents among counterparties, which minimizes exposure to any one of these entities. Furthermore, the Company is exposed to financial market risk resulting from changes in interest rates, foreign currency rates and the possible liquidity and credit risks of its counterparties. The Company believes that it has sufficient liquidity to fund its working capital and capital spending needs and its current dividend. This liquidity includes its year-end 2012 cash and cash equivalents balance of $119.8 million, cash flows from operating activities, and access to its $450 million Credit Agreement. As of December 29, 2012, the Company had $247.9 million available under its Credit Agreement and $85.6 million available under other uncommitted lines of credit. The Company has not experienced any limitations on its ability to access its committed facility. On February 1, 2013, in conjunction with executing its planned 2013 share repurchase program, the Company entered into a 90-day $75 million promissory note with the same interest rate and covenant terms as under its $450 million Credit Agreement. The Company expects to make further changes to its financing arrangements in 2013 in order to fund its investing and financing activities.
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Cash and cash equivalents (“cash”) totaled $119.8 million as of December 29, 2012. Of this amount, $118.7 million was held by foreign subsidiaries. Approximately 50 percent of the cash held outside of the United States was not eligible for repatriation due to the level of past statutory earnings by the foreign unit in which the cash was held or other local restrictions. The remaining cash is subject to repatriation tax effects. The Company's current intent is to indefinitely reinvest these funds in its foreign operations, as the cash is needed to fund on-going operations. In the event circumstances change, leading to the conclusion that these funds will not be indefinitely reinvested, the Company would need to provide at that time for the income taxes that would be triggered upon their repatriation.
The Company’s most significant foreign currency exposures are to the euro, Indonesian rupiah and Mexican peso. Business units in which the Company generated at least $100 million of sales in 2012 included Brazil, Tupperware France, Fuller Mexico, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia/Singapore, Tupperware Mexico and Tupperware United States and Canada. A significant downturn in the Company’s business in these units would adversely impact its ability to generate operating cash flows. Operating cash flows would also be adversely impacted by significant difficulties in the recruitment, retention and activity of the Company’s independent sales force or the success of new products and/or promotional programs.
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities in 2012 was $298.7 million, compared with $274.7 million in 2011. Net income before the impacts of non-cash charges for goodwill and intangible assets and gains on disposal of assets in both periods, reclassification of cumulative translation adjustments into operating income in 2012 and non-cash interest swap impairments in 2011, was $8 million higher in 2012 than 2011. Other more significant factors impacting the year-over-year comparison of cash flow from operating activities were a smaller increase in inventory due to success in managing to a lower number of days on hand, and offsetting effects in the comparison of trade receivables and accounts payable and accruals associated with the Company's fiscal year ending before the end of the calendar month of December in 2012 but not in 2011.
Net cash provided by operating activities in 2011 was $274.7 million, compared with $299.5 million in 2010. The decrease in operating cash flow in 2011, notwithstanding a $44.0 million increase in net income excluding the non-cash impairment charges, primarily reflected the timing of distributions for payables and accruals around the beginning of each year resulting from the extra week in 2011. Inventory levels also increased during 2011 due to purchases to support higher sales and customer service levels in certain markets and in light of sales below forecast in other markets.
Investing Activities
In 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company spent $75.6 million, $73.9 million and $56.1 million, respectively, for capital expenditures. The most significant type of spending in all years was for molds for new products, with the greatest amount spent in Europe, and vehicles for the sales force. In 2012, capital was also invested in the purchase of a new office in Venezuela for $6 million to support expanding operations and as a natural hedge against possible currency devaluation, the expansion of warehouse and office space in Indonesia for $8 million, as well as $17 million for manufacturing capacity in India, Brazil and various other operations. In 2011, the Company also spent capital for molding machinery and increasing warehouse and manufacturing capacity in South Africa, India and Brazil. In 2010, the Company also spent capital on molding machines and outfitting a new leased manufacturing facility in India.
Partially offsetting the capital spending were $10.8 million, $5.0 million and $10.0 million of proceeds related to the sale of certain property, plant and equipment and insurance recoveries in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. In all years, there were proceeds related to the sale of vehicles that had been purchased for the sales force. Another significant source of proceeds in 2012 was the sale of an old manufacturing facility in Belgium.
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Financing Activities
In 2012, the Company made net payments on borrowings of $2.3 million, mainly related to its scheduled lease payments. The Company also had a net inflow of $6.0 million from increased borrowings under its Credit Agreement. In 2011, the Company made net payments on long-term borrowings of $14.1 million in connection with the issuance of the Senior Notes and termination of the Old Credit Facility, as well as scheduled lease payments. The Company also had a net inflow of $193.5 million from borrowings under its Credit Agreement. In 2010, the Company made $2.0 million in net payments to reduce borrowings, mainly related to its capital lease obligations.
Dividends
During 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company paid dividends of $1.44, $1.20, and $1.00 per share of common stock, respectively, totaling $77.6 million, $73.8 million and $63.2 million, respectively.
Going forward, the Company expects its Board of Directors to evaluate its dividend rate annually with its declaration in the first quarter of each year. In the first quarters of 2013 and 2012, the Board increased the regular quarterly dividend per share by 72 percent, to $0.62 in 2013 and 20 percent to $0.36 in 2012. It also increased the regular quarterly dividend by 20 percent to $0.30 per share with its declaration in November 2010. The payment of a dividend on common shares is a discretionary decision and subject to a significant event that would require cash, the ability to continue to comply with debt covenants, cash needed to finance operations, making necessary investments in the future growth of the business, required or discretionary debt repayment obligations or other cash needs. If there is an event requiring the use of cash, such as a strategic acquisition, the Company would need to reevaluate whether to maintain its dividend payout.
Stock Option Exercises
During 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company received proceeds of $12.9 million, $16.1 million and $16.8 million, respectively, related to the exercise of stock options. The corresponding shares were issued out of the Company’s balance held in treasury.
Stock Repurchases
The Company's Board of Directors increased its existing share repurchase authorization in February 2010 to allow open market repurchases with an aggregate cost of up to $350 million until February 1, 2015. The Company expected, at that time, to use proceeds from stock option exercises and excess cash generated by the business to offset dilution associated with the Company's equity incentive plans, with the intention of keeping the number of shares outstanding at about 63 million. In 2011, the Company's board increased the share repurchase authorization on two occasions to a total of $1.2 billion. In January 2013, the Board further increased the share repurchase authorization by $800 million to $2 billion and extended the term of the authorization by two years to February 1, 2017. Going forward, in setting share repurchase amounts, the Company expects to target over time a debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 1.75 times consolidated funded debt (as defined in the Company's Credit Agreement), which is an increase of a quarter point from its previous target leverage ratio of 1.5 times consolidated funded debt, as targeted since 2011.
During 2012, 2011 and 2010 the Company repurchased in the open market 3.3 million, 7.1 million and 1.3 million shares under this program at an aggregate cost of $200.0 million, $426.1 million and $60.3 million, respectively. Since inception of the program in May 2007, and through December 29, 2012, the Company had repurchased 15.5 million shares at an aggregate cost of $827.7 million.
Employees are also allowed to use shares to pay withholding taxes, up to the minimum statutory amount on all stock incentive plans. For 2012, 2011 and 2010, the value of shares used for withholding taxes was $5.1 million, $2.5 million and $2.2 million, respectively, which is included as stock repurchases in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
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Contractual Obligations
The following summarizes the Company’s contractual obligations at December 29, 2012 and the effect such obligations are expected to have on its liquidity and cash flow in future periods (in millions).
Total | Less than 1 year | 1-3 years | 3-5 years | More than 5 years | |||||||||||||||
Debt obligations | $ | 617.8 | $ | 203.4 | $ | 4.8 | $ | 4.8 | $ | 404.8 | |||||||||
Interest payments on long term obligations | 165.8 | 19.9 | 39.5 | 39.0 | 67.4 | ||||||||||||||
Pension benefits | 189.2 | 14.3 | 34.6 | 52.6 | 87.7 | ||||||||||||||
Post-employment medical benefits | 25.7 | 2.9 | 5.8 | 5.5 | 11.5 | ||||||||||||||
Income tax payments (a) | 1.8 | 1.8 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Capital commitments (b) | 6.0 | 4.5 | 1.5 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Operating lease obligations | 96.1 | 33.0 | 37.2 | 16.4 | 9.5 | ||||||||||||||
Total contractual obligations (c) | $ | 1,102.4 | $ | 279.8 | $ | 123.4 | $ | 118.3 | $ | 580.9 | |||||||||
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(a) | The Company has not included in the above table amounts related to its other unrecognized tax positions, as it is unable to make a reliable estimate of the amount and period in which these items might lead to payments. As of December 29, 2012 the Company’s total gross unrecognized tax positions were $24.9 million. It is reasonably possible that the amount of uncertain tax positions could materially change within the next 12 months based on the results of tax examinations, expiration of statutes of limitations in various jurisdictions and additions due to ongoing transactions and activity. However, the Company is unable to estimate the impact of such events. |
(b) | Capital commitments represent signed agreements as of December 29, 2012 on relatively minor capital projects in process in the Company’s Brazil, Indonesia, Portugal manufacturing and Tupperware South Africa units. |
(c) | The table excludes information on recurring purchases of inventory as these purchase orders are non-binding, are generally consistent from year to year, and are short-term in nature. |
Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is based upon the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements that have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported and disclosed amounts. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The Company believes the implementation of the following critical accounting policies are the most significantly affected by its judgments and estimates.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.
The Company maintains current receivable amounts with most of its independent distributors and sales force in certain markets. It also maintains long-term receivable amounts with certain of these customers. The Company regularly monitors and assesses its risk of not collecting amounts owed to it by customers. This evaluation is based upon an analysis of amounts current and past due, along with relevant history and facts particular to the customer. It is also based upon estimates of distributor business prospects, particularly related to the evaluation of the recoverability of long-term amounts due. This evaluation is performed market by market and account by account, based upon historical experience, market penetration levels and similar factors. It also considers collateral of the customer that could be recovered to satisfy debts. The Company records its allowance for uncollectible accounts based on the results of this analysis. The analysis requires the Company to make significant estimates and as such, changes in facts and circumstances could result in material changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company considers any receivable balance not collected within its contractual terms past due.
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Inventory Valuation
The Company writes down its inventory for obsolescence or unmarketability in an amount equal to the difference between the cost of the inventory and estimated market value based upon expected future demand and pricing. The demand and pricing is estimated based upon the historical success of product lines as well as the projected success of promotional programs, new product introductions and new markets or distribution channels. The Company prepares projections of demand and pricing on an item by item basis for all of its products. If inventory on hand exceeds projected demand or the expected market value is less than the carrying value, the excess is written down to its net realizable value. However, if actual demand or the estimate of market decreases, additional write-downs would be required.
Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets also are recognized for credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted rates applicable to taxable income in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse and the credits are expected to be used. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. At December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had valuation allowances against certain deferred tax assets totaling $103.1 million and $96.0 million, respectively. These valuation allowances relate to tax assets in jurisdictions where it is management's best estimate that there is not a greater than 50 percent probability that the benefit of the assets will be realized in the associated tax returns. At the end of 2012, the Company had gross domestic deferred tax assets of approximately $378.0 million against which a valuation allowance of $4.2 million has been provided. Of these total assets, approximately $103.8 million relates to recurring type temporary differences which reverse regularly and are replaced by newly originated items. The balance is primarily related to foreign tax credits and federal and state net operating losses that, other than for the amount for which a valuation allowance has been provided, are expected to be realized prior to expiration. This assessment is based upon expected future domestic results, future foreign dividends from then current year earnings and cash flows and other foreign source income, including rents and royalties, as well as anticipated gains related to future sales of land held for development near the Company's Orlando, Florida headquarters. In addition, certain tax planning transactions may be entered into to facilitate realization of these benefits. These estimates are made based upon the Company's business plans and growth strategies in each market and are made on an ongoing basis; consequently, future material changes in the valuation allowance are possible. Any change in valuation allowance amounts is reflected in the period in which the change occurs.
As of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company's gross unrecognized tax benefit was $24.9 million and $28.6 million, respectively. During the year ended December 29, 2012, the accrual for uncertain tax positions decreased $4.5 million due to the expiration of the statute of limitations in various jurisdictions. The accrual also increased for positions being taken during the year in various tax filings. The accrual is further impacted by changes in foreign exchange rates.
Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in the Company's global operations are recorded as a component of the provision for income taxes. Accrued interest and penalties were $5.9 million and $5.8 million as of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. Interest and penalties included in the provision for income taxes totaled $0.3 million, $1.2 million and $0.8 million for 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
The Company estimates that it may settle one or more foreign audits in the next twelve months that may result in a decrease in the amount of accrual for uncertain tax positions of up to $1.8 million. For the remaining balance as of December 29, 2012, the Company is not able to reliably estimate the timing or ultimate settlement amount. While the Company does not currently expect material changes, it is possible that the amount of unrecognized benefit with respect to the uncertain tax positions will significantly increase or decrease related to audits in various foreign jurisdictions that may conclude during that period or new developments that could also, in turn, impact the Company's assessment relative to the establishment of valuation allowances against certain existing deferred tax assets. At this time, the Company is not able to make a reasonable estimate of the range of impact on the balance of unrecognized tax benefits or the impact on the effective tax rate related to these items.
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Promotional and Other Accruals
The Company frequently makes promotional offers to its independent sales force to encourage them to meet specific goals or targets for sales levels, party attendance, recruiting or other business critical activities. The awards offered are in the form of cash, product awards, special prizes or trips. The cost of these awards is recorded during the period over which the sales force qualifies for the award. These accruals require estimates as to the cost of the awards based upon estimates of achievement and actual cost to be incurred. The Company makes these estimates on a market by market and program by program basis. It considers the historical success of similar programs, current market trends and perceived enthusiasm of the sales force when the program is launched. During the promotion qualification period, actual results are monitored and changes to the original estimates that are necessary are made when known. Like promotional accruals, other accruals are recorded at the time when the liability is probable and the amount is reasonably estimable. Adjustments to amounts previously accrued are made when changes occur in the facts and circumstances that generated the accrual.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The Company’s recorded goodwill relates primarily to that generated by its acquisition of BeautiControl in October 2000 and the Sara Lee direct-to-consumer businesses in December 2005. The Company conducts an annual impairment test of its recorded goodwill in each of its eight reporting units in the second and third quarter of each year related to BeautiControl and the former Sara Lee direct-to-consumer units, respectively. Additionally, in the event of a change in circumstances that leads the Company to determine that a triggering event for impairment testing has occurred, a test is completed at that time.
The annual process for evaluating goodwill begins with an assessment for each entity of qualitative factors to determine whether the two-step goodwill impairment test is necessary. Further testing is only performed if the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the reporting unit's fair value is less than its carrying value. The qualitative factors evaluated by the Company include: macro-economic conditions of the local business environment, overall financial performance, sensitivity analysis from the most recent step one fair value test, and other entity specific factors as deemed appropriate. When the Company determines the two-step goodwill impairment test is necessary, the first step involves comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill, after any long-lived asset impairment charges. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, a second step is performed to determine whether there is a goodwill impairment, and if so, the amount of the loss. This step revalues all assets and liabilities of the reporting unit to their current fair value and then compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill to the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit's goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of the goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess. Prior to 2012, the Company's annual assessment began with the two-step impairment test.
The Company recorded as assets the fair value of various trademarks and tradenames acquired in conjunction with its purchase of the Sara Lee direct-to-consumer businesses. Certain tradenames are allocated between multiple reporting units. The Company early adopted Accounting Standards Update 2012-02, "Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangibles for Impairment" ("the ASU") in connection with the performance of its 2012 annual impairment testing of its tradenames. Under the ASU, entities are provided the option of first performing a qualitative assessment that is similar to the assessment performed for goodwill. When the Company determines it is necessary, the quantitative impairment test for the Company's tradenames involves comparing the estimated fair value of the assets to the carrying amounts, to determine if fair value is lower and a write-down required. If the carrying amount of a tradename exceeds its estimated fair value, an impairment charge is recognized in an amount equal to the excess.
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During the second quarter of 2012, the Company completed its annual impairment test of the BeautiControl reporting units, resulting in an impairment charge of $38.9 million related to the goodwill in the BeautiControl United States and Canada business. This was a result of the rates of growth of sales, profit and cash flow and expectations for future performance that were below the Company's previous projections. Also in the second quarter, the financial performance of the Nutrimetics reporting units fell below their previous trend line and it became apparent that they would fall significantly short of previous expectations for the year. Additionally, reductions in the forecasted operating trends of NaturCare relating to declines in the rates of growth of sales, profit and cash flows in the Japanese market led to interim impairment testing in both these businesses, as of the end of May and June 2012, respectively. The result of these tests was to record tradename impairments of $13.8 million for Nutrimetics and $9.0 million for NaturCare, primarily due to the use of lower estimated royalty rates in light of lower sales and profit forecasts for these units, as well as macroeconomic factors that increased the discount rates used in the valuations versus those used previously. In addition, the Company wrote off the $7.2 million and $7.7 million carrying value of the goodwill of the Nutrimetics Asia Pacific and Nutrimetics Europe reporting units, respectively, in light of then current operating trends and expected future results, as well as the macroeconomic factors that increased the discount rates used in the valuations. In the third quarter of 2012, the Company completed the annual impairment assessments for all of the reporting units and tradename intangibles, except for BeautiControl which was completed in the second quarter, determining there was no impairment.
In the third quarter of 2011, the Company completed the annual impairment tests for all of the reporting units and tradenames, other than BeautiControl, which was completed in the second quarter. During the third quarter of 2011, the financial results of Nutrimetics were below expectations. The Company also made at that time, the decision to cease operating its Nutrimetics business in Malaysia. As a result, the Company lowered its forecast of future sales and profit. The result of the impairment tests was to record a $31.1 million impairment to the Nutrimetics goodwill in the Asia Pacific reporting unit and a $5.0 million impairment to its tradename.
During 2010, the Company completed the annual impairment tests for all of the reporting units and tradenames, determining there was no impairment. The Company subsequently decided it would cease operating its Swissgarde unit in Southern Africa as a separate business. As a result of this decision, the Company concluded that its intangible assets and goodwill were impaired and recorded a $2.1 million impairment to the Swissgarde tradename, a $0.1 million impairment related to the sales force intangible and a $2.1 million impairment to goodwill relating to the South African beauty reporting unit. During 2011, the Company sold its interest in Swissgarde for $0.7 million that resulted in a gain of $0.1 million.
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Fair value of the BeautiControl United States and Canada, Nutrimetics and NaturCare reporting units was determined by the Company in the second quarter of 2012 using a combination of the income and market approaches with generally a greater weighting on the income approach (75 percent). When the characteristics of the reporting unit are more similar to the guideline public companies in terms of size, markets and economy, then a more equal weighting is used between the income and market approaches. The income approach, or discounted cash flow approach, requires significant assumptions to determine the fair value of each reporting unit. These include estimates regarding future operations and the ability to generate cash flows, including projections of revenue, costs, utilization of assets and capital requirements, along with an estimate as to the appropriate discount rate to be used. The most sensitive estimate in this valuation is the projection of operating cash flows, as these provide the basis for the fair market valuation. The Company’s cash flow model uses forecasts for periods of about 10 years and a terminal value. The significant assumptions for these forecasts in 2012 included annual revenue growth rates ranging from negative 7 percent to positive 10.0 percent with an average growth rate of positive 3 percent. The growth rates were determined by reviewing historical results of these units and the historical results of the Company’s other business units that are similar to those of the reporting units, along with the expected contribution from growth strategies implemented in the units. Terminal values for all reporting units were calculated using a long-term growth rate of 3 percent. In estimating the fair value of these reporting units in 2012, the Company applied discount rates to the projected cash flows ranging from 12.5 to 14.0 percent. The discount rate at the high end of this range was for the Nutrimetics Asia Pacific reporting unit due to higher country-specific risks. The market approach relies on an analysis of publicly-traded companies similar to Tupperware and deriving a range of revenue and profit multiples. The publicly-traded companies used in the market approach were selected based on their having similar product lines of consumer goods, beauty products and/or companies using direct-to-consumer or network marketing distribution methods. The resulting multiples were then applied to the reporting unit to determine fair value.
The fair value of the Nutrimetics and NaturCare tradenames were determined in the second quarter using the relief from royalty method, which is a form of the income approach. In this method, the value of the asset is calculated by selecting royalty rates, which estimate the amount a company would be willing to pay for the use of the asset. These rates were applied to the Company’s projected revenue, tax affected and discounted to present value. Royalty rates used were selected by reviewing comparable trademark licensing agreements in the market and the forecasted performance of the business. As a result, the royalty rates were reduced to 1.5 percent from 3.0 percent for Nutrimetics and 3.75 percent from 4.75 percent for NaturCare. In estimating the fair value of the tradenames, the Company applied discount rates of 15.2 and 13.5 percent, respectively, and annual revenue growth ranging from negative 7 percent to positive 7 percent, with an average growth rate of positive 2 percent, and a long-term terminal growth rate of 3 percent.
With the tradename impairment recorded in the current year for Nutrimetics and NaturCare, these assets are at a higher risk of additional impairments in future periods if changes in certain assumptions occur. There is no longer a goodwill balance recorded related to Nutrimetics or BeautiControl United States and Canada. The estimated fair value of the NaturCare reporting unit exceeded the carrying value by 29 percent as of June 2012. Given the sensitivity of the valuations to changes in cash flow or market multiples, the Company may be required to recognize an impairment of goodwill or intangible assets in the future due to changes in market conditions or other factors related to the Company’s performance. Actual results below forecasted results or a decrease in the forecasted future results of the Company’s business plans or changes in discount rates could also result in an impairment charge, as could changes in market characteristics including declines in valuation multiples of comparable publicly-traded companies. Further impairment charges would have an adverse impact on the Company’s net income and shareholders' equity.
Additionally, as of December 29, 2012 the Company had $5.0 million included on its Consolidated Balance Sheets as the value of acquired sales forces. The estimated annual amortization expense associated with these intangibles for each of the five succeeding years is $1.4 million, $1.0 million, $0.7 million, $0.6 million and $0.4 million, respectively. As of December 29, 2012, a product formulation asset recorded as part of the acquisition was fully amortized.
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Retirement Obligations
Pensions
The Company records pension costs and the funded status of its defined benefit pension plans using the applicable accounting guidance for defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. This guidance requires that amounts recognized in the financial statements be determined on an actuarial basis. The measurement of the retirement obligations and costs of providing benefits under the Company’s pension plans involves various factors, including several assumptions. The Company believes the most critical of these assumptions are the discount rate and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets.
The Company determines the discount rate primarily by reference to rates of high-quality, long-term corporate and government bonds that mature in a pattern similar to the expected payments to be made under the plans. The discount rate assumptions used to determine pension expense for the Company’s U.S. and foreign plans was as follows:
Discount Rate | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | |||||
U.S. Plans | 3.7 | % | 4.7 | % | 5.1 | % | ||
Foreign Plans | 3.3 | 3.9 | 4.3 | |||||
The Company has established strategic asset allocation percentage targets for significant asset classes with the aim of achieving an appropriate balance between risk and return. The Company periodically revises asset allocations, where appropriate, in an effort to improve return and manage risk. The estimated rate of return is based on long-term expectations given current investment objectives and historical results. The expected rate of return assumptions used by the Company for its U.S. and foreign plans were as follows:
Expected rate of return | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | |||||
U.S. Plans | 8.3 | % | 8.3 | % | 8.3 | % | ||
Foreign Plans | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.4 | |||||
The following table highlights the potential impact on the Company’s pension expense due to changes in certain key assumptions with respect to the Company’s pension plans, based on assets and liabilities at December 29, 2012:
50 basis points | |||||||
(In millions) | Increase | Decrease | |||||
Discount rate change by 50 basis points | $ | 1.5 | $ | 0.9 | |||
Expected rate of return on plan assets change by 50 basis points | 0.6 | 0.6 | |||||
Other Post Retirement Benefits
The Company accounts for its post-retirement benefit plan in accordance with applicable accounting guidance, which requires that amounts recognized in financial statements be determined on an actuarial basis. This determination requires the selection of various assumptions, including a discount rate and health care cost trend rates used to value benefit obligations. The Company determines the discount rate primarily by reference to rates of return on high-quality, long term corporate bonds that mature in a pattern similar to the expected payments to be made under the plan. The discount rate assumptions used by the Company to determine other post retirement benefit expense were 4.0 percent, 5.0 percent, and 5.3 percent for the 2012, 2011 and 2010 fiscal years, respectively. A change in discount rate of 50 basis points would not be material.
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The following are the assumed health-care cost trend rates used by the Company:
Health-care trend rates | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | |||||
Initial health-care cost trend | 7.3 | % | 7.3 | % | 7.3 | % | ||
Ultimate health-care cost trend | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | |||||
Year Ultimate trend rate achieved | 2019 | 2019 | 2017 | |||||
The healthcare cost trend rate assumption may have a significant effect on the amounts reported. A one percentage point change in the assumed healthcare cost trend rates would have the following effects:
One percentage point | |||||||
(In millions) | Increase | Decrease | |||||
Effect on total of service and interest cost components | $ | 0.1 | $ | 0.1 | |||
Effect on post-retirement benefit obligation | 1.9 | 1.7 | |||||
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized when the price is fixed, the risks and rewards of ownership have passed to the customer who, in most cases, is one of the Company’s independent distributors or a member of its independent sales force, and when collection is reasonably assured. When revenue is recorded, estimates of returns are made and recorded as a reduction of revenue. Discounts earned based on promotional programs in place, volume of purchases or other factors are also estimated at the time of revenue recognition and recorded as a reduction of that revenue.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company measures compensation cost for stock-based awards at fair value and recognizes compensation over the service period for awards expected to vest. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to value stock options, which requires the input of assumptions, including dividend yield, risk-free interest rate, the estimated length of time employees will retain their vested stock options before exercising them (expected term) and the estimated volatility of the Company's common stock price over the expected term. Furthermore, in calculating compensation expense for these awards, the Company is also required to estimate the extent to which options will be forfeited prior to vesting (forfeitures). Many factors are considered when estimating expected forfeitures, including types of awards, employee class and historical experience. To the extent actual results or updated estimates differ from current estimates; such amounts are recorded as a cumulative adjustment to the previously recorded amounts.
Impact of Inflation
Inflation, as measured by consumer price indices, has continued at a low level in most of the countries in which the Company operates, except for Argentina and Venezuela.
New Pronouncements
Refer to Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of new accounting pronouncements.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
One of the Company's market risks is its exposure to the impact of interest rate changes on its borrowings. The Company's borrowings under the Credit Agreement carry a variable interest rate. The Company has elected to manage this risk through the maturity structure of its borrowings and the currencies in which it borrows.
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Loans taken under the Credit Agreement bear interest under a formula that includes, at the Company's option, one of three different base rates, plus an applicable spread. The Company generally selects the London interbank offered rate ("LIBOR"). As of December 29, 2012, the Credit Agreement dictated a spread of 150 basis points, which gave the Company an interest rate of 2.03 percent on borrowings under the Credit Agreement. Going forward, in light of the Company's share repurchase program, the Company is targeting an increase in its debt-to-EBITDA ratio from 1.5 times consolidated funded indebtedness to 1.75 times consolidated funded indebtedness (as defined in the Credit Agreement) as of the end of each quarter. At this level of leverage, the spread would increase by 25 basis points.
Of the Company's short-term borrowings as of December 29, 2012, $162.0 million was denominated in euro and $37.0 million in U.S. dollars. If short-term interest rates varied by 10 percent, with all other variables remaining constant, the Company's annual interest expense would not be significantly impacted.
The Company routinely increases its revolver borrowings under the Credit Agreement during each quarter to fund operating, investing and financing activities and uses cash available at the end of each quarter to reduce borrowing levels. As a result, the Company has higher foreign exchange exposure on the value of its cash during each quarter than at the end of each quarter.
A significant portion of the Company's sales and profit come from its international operations. Although these operations are geographically dispersed, which partially mitigates the risks associated with operating in particular countries, the Company is subject to the usual risks associated with international operations. These risks include local political and economic environments and relations between foreign and U.S. governments.
Another economic risk of the Company is exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on the earnings, cash flows and financial position of its international operations. The Company is not able to project, in any meaningful way, the possible effect of these fluctuations on translated amounts or future earnings. This is due to the Company's constantly changing exposure to various currencies, the fact that all foreign currencies do not react in the same manner in relation to the U.S. dollar and the large number of currencies involved, although the Company's most significant exposures are to the euro, Indonesia rupiah and Mexican peso, as well as the Brazilian real and Malaysian ringgit.
Although this currency risk is partially mitigated by the natural hedge arising from the Company's local product sourcing in many markets, a strengthening U.S. dollar generally has a negative impact on the Company. In response to this fact, the Company uses financial instruments, such as forward contracts, to hedge its exposure to certain foreign exchange risks associated with a portion of its investment in international operations. In addition to hedging against the balance sheet impact of changes in exchange rates, the hedge of investments in international operations also has the effect of hedging a portion of cash flows from those operations. The Company also hedges, with these instruments, certain other exposures to various currencies arising from amounts payable and receivable, non-permanent intercompany loans and forecasted purchases. The Company generally does not seek to hedge the impact of currency fluctuations on the translated value of the sales, profit or cash flow generated by its operations.
While the Company's hedges of its equity in its foreign subsidiaries and its fair value hedges of balance sheet risks all work together to mitigate its exposure to foreign exchange gains or losses, they result in an impact to operating cash flows as they are settled. The cash flow impact of these currency hedges was an inflow of $2.1 million and $6.1 million in 2012 and 2011, respectively, and an outflow of $5.9 million in 2010.
The U.S. dollar equivalent of the Company's most significant net open foreign currency hedge positions as of December 29, 2012 were to buy U.S. dollar $69.9 million; euro $66.6 million; Malaysian ringgit $17.2 million and Indonesian rupiah $11.3 million, and to sell Swiss franc $53.8 million; Japanese yen $32.8 million; Mexican peso $22.0 million; Australian dollar $15.5 million and Turkish lira $12.3 million. In agreements to sell foreign currencies in exchange for U.S. dollars, for example, an appreciating dollar versus the opposing currency would generate a cash inflow for the Company at settlement, with the opposite result in agreements to buy foreign currencies for U.S. dollars. The above noted notional amounts change based upon changes in the Company's outstanding currency exposures. Based on rates existing as of December 29, 2012, the Company was in a net payable position of approximately $2.7 million related to its currency hedges, which, upon settlement, could have a significant impact on the Company's cash flow. The Company records the impact of forward points in net interest expense.
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A precise calculation of the impact of currency fluctuations is not practical since some of the contracts are between non-U.S. dollar currencies. The Company continuously monitors its foreign currency exposure and may enter into additional contracts to hedge exposure in the future. See further discussion regarding the Company's hedging activities for foreign currency in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Company is subject to credit risks relating to the ability of counterparties of hedging transactions to meet their contractual payment obligations. The risks related to creditworthiness and nonperformance have been considered in the determination of fair value for the Company's foreign currency forward exchange contracts. The Company continues to closely monitor its counterparties and will take action, as appropriate and possible, to further manage its counterparty credit risk.
The Company is also exposed to rising material prices in its manufacturing operations and, in particular, the cost of oil and natural gas-based resins. This is the primary material used in production of most Tupperware® products, and the Company estimates that 2013 cost of sales will include about $160 million for the cost of resin in the Tupperware® brand products it produces. The Company uses many different kinds of resins in its products. About three-fourths of its resins are “polyolefins” (simple chemical structure, easily refined from oil), and as such, the price of these is strongly affected by the underlying price of oil and natural gas. The remaining one-fourth of its resins is more highly engineered, where the price of oil and natural gas plays a less direct role in determining price. With a comparable product mix and exchange rates, a 10 percent fluctuation in the cost of resin would impact the Company's annual cost of sales by about $16 million compared with the prior year. For 2012, the Company estimates its cost of sales of the Tupperware® products it produced was positively impacted by about $1 million in local currency due to resin cost changes, as compared with 2011. For the full year of 2013, the impact of resin cost changes, on a local currency basis, on the Company's cost of sales of the Tupperware® products it produces is expected to be positive $1 million, as compared with 2012. The Company partially manages its risk associated with rising resin costs by utilizing a centralized procurement function that is able to take advantage of bulk discounts while maintaining multiple suppliers and also enters into short-term pricing arrangements. It also manages its margin through the pricing of its products, with price increases generally in line with consumer inflation in each market, and its mix of sales through its promotional programs and discount offers. It may also, on occasion, make advance material purchases to take advantage of current favorable pricing. At this point in time, the Company has determined that entering into forward contracts for resin is not practical or cost beneficial and has no such contracts in place. However, should circumstances warrant, the Company may consider such contracts in the future.
The Company has a program to sell land held for development around its Orlando, Florida headquarters. This program is exposed to the risks inherent in the real estate development process. Included among these risks is the ability to obtain all government approvals, the success of buyers in attracting tenants for commercial or residential developments in the Orlando real estate market or obtaining financing and general economic conditions, such as interest rate increases. The Company's land sale program has been negatively impacted by the drivers and ramifications of the credit crisis and real estate market conditions in the United States, which have delayed the completion of this program.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain written and oral statements made or incorporated by reference from time to time by the Company or its representatives in this report, other reports, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases, conferences or otherwise are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this report or elsewhere that are not based on historical facts or information are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the following:
• | successful recruitment, retention and productivity levels of the Company's independent sales forces; |
• | disruptions caused by the introduction of new distributor operating models or sales force compensation systems or allegations by equity analysts or others as to the legality or viability of the Company's business model; |
• | success of new products and promotional programs; |
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• | the ability to implement appropriate product mix and pricing strategies; |
• | governmental regulation of materials used in products coming into contact with food (e.g. polycarbonate), as well as beauty, personal care and nutritional products; |
• | the impact of changes in consumer spending patterns and preferences, particularly given the global nature of the Company's business; |
• | the value of long-term assets, particularly goodwill and indefinite lived intangibles associated with acquisitions, and the realizability of the value of recognized tax assets; |
• | changes in plastic resin prices, other raw materials and packaging components, the cost of converting such items into finished goods and procured finished products and the cost of delivering products to customers; |
• | the introduction of Company operations in new markets outside the United States; |
• | general social, economic and political conditions in markets; |
• | issues arising out of the sovereign debt crisis in Europe, resulting in potential economic and operational challenges for the Company's European supply chain, heightened counterparty credit risk due to adverse effects on customers and suppliers, exchange controls and translation risks due to potential impairments of investments in affected markets and the potential for banks with which the Company maintains lines of credit to be unable to fulfill their commitments; |
• | disruptions resulting from either internal or external labor strikes, work stoppages, or similar difficulties; |
• | changes in cash flow resulting from changes in operating results, working capital management, debt payments, share repurchases and hedge settlements; |
• | the impact of currency fluctuations on the value of foreign operations generally, and particularly in Venezuela, including their cash balances, the results of those operations, the cost of sourcing products across geographies and the success of foreign hedging and risk management strategies; |
• | the impact of natural disasters and epidemic or pandemic disease outbreaks; |
• | the ability to repatriate, or otherwise make available, cash in the United States and to do so at a favorable foreign exchange rate and with favorable tax ramifications; |
• | the ability to obtain all government approvals on, and to control the cost of infrastructure obligations associated with, land development; |
• | the ability to timely and effectively implement, transition, maintain and protect necessary information technology systems and infrastructure; |
• | the ability to attract and retain certain executive officers and key management personnel; |
• | the success of land buyers in attracting tenants for commercial and residential development and obtaining financing; |
• | the costs and covenant restrictions associated with the Company's credit arrangements; |
• | integration of non-traditional product lines into Company operations; |
• | the effect of legal, regulatory and tax proceedings, as well as restrictions imposed on the Company operations or Company representatives by foreign governments, including exposure to tax responsibilities imposed on the sales force and their potential impact on the sales force's value chain and resulting disruption to the business; |
• | the effect of competitive forces in the markets in which the Company operates, particularly related to sales of beauty, personal care and nutritional products, where there are a greater number of competitors; |
• | the impact of changes in U.S. federal, state and foreign tax or other laws; |
• | the Company's access to, and the costs of, financing; and |
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• | other risks discussed in Item 1A, Risk Factors, as well as the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, notes, other financial information contained in this report and the Company’s other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. |
The Company does not intend to update forward-looking information other than in its quarterly earnings releases unless it expects diluted earnings per share for the current quarter, excluding items impacting comparability and the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates, to be significantly below its previous guidance.
Investors should also be aware that while the Company does, from time to time, communicate with securities analysts, it is against the Company's policy to disclose to them any material non-public information or other confidential commercial information. Accordingly, it should not be assumed that the Company agrees with any statement or report issued by any analyst irrespective of the content of the confirming financial forecasts or projections issued by others.
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Item 8. | Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. |
Tupperware Brands Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Income
Year Ended | |||||||||||
(In millions, except per share amounts) | December 29, 2012 | December 31, 2011 | December 25, 2010 | ||||||||
Net sales | $ | 2,583.8 | $ | 2,585.0 | $ | 2,300.4 | |||||
Cost of products sold | 856.4 | 862.5 | 766.2 | ||||||||
Gross margin | 1,727.4 | 1,722.5 | 1,534.2 | ||||||||
Delivery, sales and administrative expense | 1,329.5 | 1,340.0 | 1,193.1 | ||||||||
Re-engineering and impairment charges | 22.4 | 7.9 | 7.6 | ||||||||
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets | 76.9 | 36.1 | 4.3 | ||||||||
Gains on disposal of assets | 7.9 | 3.8 | 0.2 | ||||||||
Operating income | 306.5 | 342.3 | 329.4 | ||||||||
Interest income | 2.5 | 3.2 | 2.5 | ||||||||
Interest expense | 34.9 | 49.0 | 29.3 | ||||||||
Other expense | 1.3 | 1.2 | 2.9 | ||||||||
Income before income taxes | 272.8 | 295.3 | 299.7 | ||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 79.8 | 77.0 | 74.1 | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 193.0 | $ | 218.3 | $ | 225.6 | |||||
Basic earnings per common share | $ | 3.49 | $ | 3.63 | $ | 3.60 | |||||
Diluted earnings per common share | $ | 3.42 | $ | 3.55 | $ | 3.53 | |||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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TUPPERWARE BRANDS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In millions) | December 29, 2012 | December 31, 2011 | December 25, 2010 | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 193.0 | $ | 218.3 | $ | 225.6 | |||||
Other comprehensive income (loss): | |||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | 32.2 | (54.2 | ) | 18.7 | |||||||
Deferred (loss) gain on cash flow hedges, net of tax provision of $0.1, $8.7 and $1.0, respectively | (0.5 | ) | 14.5 | 2.6 | |||||||
Pension and other post-retirement costs, net of tax benefit of $2.9, $2.9 and $1.7, respectively | (7.5 | ) | (9.3 | ) | (4.5 | ) | |||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) | 24.2 | (49.0 | ) | 16.8 | |||||||
Total comprehensive income | $ | 217.2 | $ | 169.3 | $ | 242.4 | |||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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Tupperware Brands Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In millions, except share amounts) | December 29, 2012 | December 31, 2011 | |||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 119.8 | $ | 138.2 | |||
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $30.4 and $26.8, respectively | 173.4 | 163.7 | |||||
Inventories | 313.9 | 302.5 | |||||
Deferred income tax benefits, net | 94.9 | 94.2 | |||||
Non-trade amounts receivable, net | 39.0 | 47.5 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 25.5 | 23.3 | |||||
Total current assets | 766.5 | 769.4 | |||||
Deferred income tax benefits, net | 359.1 | 317.6 | |||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 298.8 | 273.1 | |||||
Long-term receivables, less allowances of $22.4 and $23.3, respectively | 24.8 | 23.2 | |||||
Trademarks and tradenames | 138.4 | 157.1 | |||||
Other intangible assets, net | 5.0 | 7.2 | |||||
Goodwill | 192.9 | 241.4 | |||||
Other assets, net | 36.3 | 33.6 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 1,821.8 | $ | 1,822.6 | |||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 154.8 | $ | 157.2 | |||
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations | 203.4 | 195.7 | |||||
Accrued liabilities | 336.3 | 320.5 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 694.5 | 673.4 | |||||
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations | 414.4 | 415.2 | |||||
Other liabilities | 233.8 | 233.2 | |||||
Shareholders' equity: | |||||||
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; none issued | — | — | |||||
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 600,000,000 shares authorized; 63,607,090 shares issued | 0.6 | 0.6 | |||||
Paid-in capital | 151.2 | 126.8 | |||||
Retained earnings | 1,172.4 | 1,091.7 | |||||
Treasury stock, 9,547,436 and 7,099,345 shares, respectively, at cost | (573.8 | ) | (422.8 | ) | |||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (271.3 | ) | (295.5 | ) | |||
Total shareholders' equity | 479.1 | 500.8 | |||||
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ | 1,821.8 | $ | 1,822.6 | |||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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Tupperware Brands Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
Common Stock | Treasury Stock | Paid-In Capital | Retained Earnings | |||||||||||||||||||||||||