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 28, 2013
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. x
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 28, 2013 (the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter) was $4,013,944,327.
As of February 20, 2014, 50,358,255 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 9, 2014 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 | ||
Item 4 | ||
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-to-consumer marketer of premium, innovative products across multiple brands and categories through an independent sales force of 2.9 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 established lines of cookware, knives, microwave products, microfiber textiles, water related items and an array of products for on-the-go consumers. The Company has continued to refresh its traditional kitchen and home lines, such as the Modular Mates* and FridgeSmart* containers with updated designs and incremental technology enhancements while evolving towards more lifestyle-oriented products. These new lifestyle solutions are based on consumer insights from the Company's market and product leaders around the globe. Combining these insights with the Company's R&D expertise has resulted in time saving solutions such as the new Power Time Savers Mandoline, which simplifies and speeds the preparation of everyday meals. In 2013, key launches contemporizing the Tupperware product offering included the DSL serving range, Kids Eco Bottles, Collapsible Cake Taker, FusionMaster* Mincer, Croquette Maker and the latest generation of our classic Modular Mates* range.
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. 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.
Research and development and the resultant new product development will continue to be an important part of the Company's strategy going forward.
Beauty. In Beauty, the Company manufactures and distributes skin and hair care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, jewelry and nutritional products.
New skin and hair care products launched in 2013 included Microderm™ Apeel* for Body, Microderm™ Apeel for Face and Regeneration*® Tight, Firm & Fill* Age-Defying Moisture Veil for Body by BeautiControl; Nutri-Rich* Instant Radiance Beauty Balm and Nourishing Masque and Nutrimetics Ultra Care+* Platinum Tight, Firm, & Fill Face Serum, Daily Complexion Refiner, Pore Perfection Kit and SPF 50 Day Lotion by Nutrimetics; Armand Dupree Essentials* skin care range, SS Silhouette System Firm.E* Firming Cream for Body and Spacio Holistico* range of aromatherapy products including body gels, mists and lotions by Fuller Mexico; Armand Dupree* Skin Revitalization Treatment (SRT) skin care range by Armand Dupree; Avroy Shlain Even Tone* Solutions skin care range by Avroy Shlain; and Chere hair care products by NaturCare.
Numerous new fragrances were also launched, such as celebrity fragrances, Gloria Trevi* and Marco Antonio Solis Una Noche de Luna*, as well as Armand Dupree Silver Class* and Fidelity* fragrances by Fuller Mexico; Gold by Armand Dupree*, Águas da Manhã Frescor* and Águas da Manhã Flores* by Fuller Brazil; Shine For You*, Oceanic* and Trendy Design* by Nuvo; and Coppelia Man*, F-15 Bold* and Perfect Lady* by Avroy Shlain.
New additions to the Company's cosmetics ranges include Colour Collection* Ultimate Wear Slim Lipsticks for Tupperware Brands Philippines; Nutrimetics nc Dramatic* Lash Mascara, BB Crème Perfector and Defining Waterproof Eye Pencil for Nutrimetics; and a color cosmetics range including lipstick, foundation, loose powder, mascara, brow liner, eye liner and lip liner under the brand Coppelia Colour* for Avroy Shlain.
New nutritional products were also launched in 2013 including DHA 500 Plus nutritional supplement and an energy boosting drink from NaturCare.
(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 65 percent of 2013 sales, while businesses operating in established markets accounted for the other 35 percent. For the past five fiscal years, 86 to 91 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, team leaders and managers, and dealers 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 28, 2013, the Company's distribution system had approximately 1,900 distributors, 93,600 managers (including directors and team leaders) and 2.9 million dealers worldwide. During the year, 24 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 2013, 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. Internet and business-to-business transactions do not constitute a significant portion of sales for the Company.
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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, fragrances and nutritionals 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 13,100 people, of whom approximately 800 are based in the United States.
VI. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The Registrant incurred $20.0 million, $18.9 million and $19.5 million for fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, on research and development activities for new products and production processes.
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® and Fuller® trademarks, Tupperware Brands is not dependent upon any single patent or trademark, or group of patents or trademarks. The Tupperware® and Fuller® 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.
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 9, 2014).
Name and Age | Office and Experience | |
Mercedes Bazterrica, age 51 | Senior Vice President and Chief Brands Officer since March 2013. Prior thereto she served as Vice President, Marketing, International for Kimberly-Clark Corporation. | |
Teresa Burchfield, age 51 | Vice President, Investor Relations since December, 2011 after serving as Vice President & CFO, Tupperware Europe, Africa and Middle East and prior thereto as Vice President, Investor Relations. | |
Edward R. Davis III, age 51 | Vice President and Treasurer since May 2004. | |
Nicole F. Decker, age 39 | Vice President Strategy since October 2011, after serving as Vice President, Investor Relations & Strategy since July 2010 and prior thereto as Vice President, Investor Relations. | |
R. Glenn Drake, age 61 | Group President, Europe, Africa and the Middle East since August 2006. | |
Lillian D. Garcia, age 58 | 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 68 | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since October 1997. | |
Asha Gupta, age 42 | Group President, Asia Pacific since January 1, 2014 after serving as Area Vice President, India, Philippines and Nutrimetics Australia since January 2012. Prior thereto she served as Managing Director, Tupperware India. | |
Josef Hajek, age 56 | Senior Vice President, Tax and Governmental Affairs since February 2006. | |
Simon C. Hemus, age 64 | President and Chief Operating Officer since January 2007. | |
Timothy A. Kulhanek, age 49 | 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. | |
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Positions and Offices Held and Principal Occupations
of Employment During Past Five Years
Name and Age | Office and Experience | |
Gavin D. Little, age 46 | Senior Vice President and Senior Area Vice President, Central Europe and Strategy Tupperware Europe, Africa and Middle East since January 2014, after serving as Senior Vice President, Global Marketing and Strategy since July 2013. Prior thereto he served as a consultant to Mattel, Inc. in 2013, as Managing Director of the British Government's UK Trade and Investment unit since 2012, and prior to that as a business consultant. Prior to 2010, Mr. Little served in various executive positions with British American Tobacco Co., Plc. | |
Michael S. Poteshman, age 50 | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since August 2004. | |
Nicholas K. Poucher, age 52 | Vice President and Controller since August 2007. | |
Thomas M. Roehlk, age 63 | Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer & Secretary since August 2005. | |
Christian E. Skroeder, age 65 | Executive Vice President since January 2014 after serving as Group President, Asia Pacific since January 2009. | |
Elinor Steele, age 60 | Vice President, Global Communications & Women’s Initiatives since 2009, and prior thereto as Vice President, Global Public Relations. | |
Patricia A. Stitzel, age 48 | Group President, Americas since January 2014 after serving as Senior Area Vice President, Central Europe since 2012 and prior thereto in various leaderships position in Europe. | |
Jose R. Timmerman, age 65 | 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 53 | Vice President and Chief Technology Officer since August 2002. | |
William J. Wright, age 51 | Senior Vice President, Global Product Development, Tupperware since March 2013, after serving as Senior Vice President, Global Product Marketing since October 2010, and 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.
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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.
The Company derived 91 percent of its net sales from operations outside the United States in 2013. 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 2013 included Brazil, Tupperware France, Fuller Mexico, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia/Singapore, Tupperware Mexico and Tupperware United States and Canada. Of these units, sales by Fuller Mexico and Indonesia exceeded $200 million. 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 and currency convertibility, 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 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.
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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 in products for each of its business units 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.
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, Australia, Belgium, Mexico and Singapore. 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 220 acres have been sold and about 280 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.
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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.
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 2011 through 2013 that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933. As of February 20, 2014, the Registrant had 108,026 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 27, 2008 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 | |||||
12/27/2008 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | |||||
12/26/2009 | 235.60 | 146.21 | 163.02 | |||||
12/25/2010 | 246.67 | 182.62 | 215.41 | |||||
12/31/2011 | 292.33 | 178.82 | 216.97 | |||||
12/29/2012 | 335.36 | 207.46 | 262.25 | |||||
12/28/2013 | 523.13 | 279.93 | 376.69 | |||||
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) | ||||||||||
9/29/13-11/2/13 | 440,124 | $88.17 | 440,124 | $ | 833,519,452 | ||||||||
11/3/13-11/30/13 | 178,600 | 90.59 | 178,600 | 817,340,275 | |||||||||
12/1/13-12/28/13 | 213,600 | 93.14 | 213,600 | 797,444,755 | |||||||||
832,324 | $89.97 | 832,324 | $ | 797,444,755 | |||||||||
____________________
(a) | Open market repurchases are being made under an authorization that runs until February 1, 2017 and allows up to $2 billion to be spent. |
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 2013 and 2012 and for some data presented for 2011, 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.
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(in millions, except per share amounts) | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||||||
Operating results | |||||||||||||||||||
Net sales: | |||||||||||||||||||
Europe | $ | 782.7 | $ | 791.4 | $ | 848.9 | $ | 796.0 | $ | 768.9 | |||||||||
Asia Pacific | 836.9 | 780.7 | 714.0 | 584.0 | 494.0 | ||||||||||||||
Tupperware North America | 358.0 | 344.8 | 352.0 | 331.5 | 296.9 | ||||||||||||||
Beauty North America | 320.1 | 348.3 | 395.5 | 406.0 | 391.6 | ||||||||||||||
South America | 373.9 | 318.6 | 274.6 | 182.9 | 176.1 | ||||||||||||||
Total net sales | $ | 2,671.6 | $ | 2,583.8 | $ | 2,585.0 | $ | 2,300.4 | $ | 2,127.5 | |||||||||
Segment profit: | |||||||||||||||||||
Europe | $ | 130.0 | $ | 131.6 | $ | 148.3 | $ | 147.1 | $ | 141.8 | |||||||||
Asia Pacific | 188.1 | 172.7 | 147.0 | 111.8 | 84.9 | ||||||||||||||
Tupperware North America | 65.9 | 63.7 | 58.4 | 52.8 | 40.3 | ||||||||||||||
Beauty North America | 16.1 | 30.2 | 37.9 | 58.9 | 52.2 | ||||||||||||||
South America | 68.9 | 61.0 | 48.6 | 24.4 | 12.7 | ||||||||||||||
Unallocated expenses | (62.4 | ) | (62.6 | ) | (58.9 | ) | (56.8 | ) | (51.9 | ) | |||||||||
Gain on disposal of assets including insurance recoveries, net (a),(b) | 0.7 | 7.9 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 21.9 | ||||||||||||||
Re-engineering and impairment charges | (9.3 | ) | (22.4 | ) | (7.9 | ) | (7.6 | ) | (8.0 | ) | |||||||||
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets (c) | — | (76.9 | ) | (36.1 | ) | (4.3 | ) | (28.1 | ) | ||||||||||
Interest expense, net (d) | (37.6 | ) | (32.4 | ) | (45.8 | ) | (26.8 | ) | (28.7 | ) | |||||||||
Income before income taxes | 360.4 | 272.8 | 295.3 | 299.7 | 237.1 | ||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 86.2 | 79.8 | 77.0 | 74.1 | 62.0 | ||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 274.2 | $ | 193.0 | $ | 218.3 | $ | 225.6 | $ | 175.1 | |||||||||
Basic earnings per common share (e) | $ | 5.28 | $ | 3.49 | $ | 3.63 | $ | 3.60 | $ | 2.80 | |||||||||
Diluted earnings per common share (e) | $ | 5.17 | $ | 3.42 | $ | 3.55 | $ | 3.53 | $ | 2.75 | |||||||||
Profitability ratios | |||||||||||||||||||
Segment profit as a percent of sales: | |||||||||||||||||||
Europe | 17 | % | 17 | % | 17 | % | 18 | % | 18 | % | |||||||||
Asia Pacific | 22 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 17 | ||||||||||||||
Tupperware North America | 18 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 14 | ||||||||||||||
Beauty North America | 5 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 13 | ||||||||||||||
South America | 18 | 19 | 18 | 13 | 7 | ||||||||||||||
Return on average equity (f) | 76.1 | 37.4 | 30.0 | 31.7 | 31.6 | ||||||||||||||
Return on average invested capital (g) | 26.0 | 18.7 | 20.5 | 21.4 | 18.1 | ||||||||||||||
See footnotes beginning on the following page.
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(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||||||
Financial Condition | |||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 127.3 | $ | 119.8 | $ | 138.2 | $ | 248.7 | $ | 112.4 | |||||||||
Net working capital | 41.5 | 72.0 | 96.0 | 348.8 | 236.3 | ||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 300.9 | 298.8 | 273.1 | 258.0 | 254.6 | ||||||||||||||
Total assets | 1,843.9 | 1,821.8 | 1,822.6 | 1,991.7 | 1,818.8 | ||||||||||||||
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term obligations | 235.4 | 203.4 | 195.7 | 1.9 | 1.9 | ||||||||||||||
Long-term obligations | 619.9 | 414.4 | 415.2 | 426.8 | 426.2 | ||||||||||||||
Shareholders’ equity | 252.9 | 479.1 | 500.8 | 789.8 | 637.7 | ||||||||||||||
Current ratio | 1.06 | 1.10 | 1.14 | 1.70 | 1.51 | ||||||||||||||
Other Data | |||||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 323.5 | $ | 298.7 | $ | 274.7 | $ | 299.5 | $ | 250.9 | |||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (60.1 | ) | (64.8 | ) | (68.9 | ) | (46.1 | ) | (26.9 | ) | |||||||||
Net cash used in financing activities | (237.6 | ) | (252.5 | ) | (300.9 | ) | (103.9 | ) | (227.8 | ) | |||||||||
Capital expenditures | 69.0 | 75.6 | 73.9 | 56.1 | 46.4 | ||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 54.8 | 49.6 | 49.8 | 49.7 | 51.7 | ||||||||||||||
Common Stock Data | |||||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared per share | $ | 2.48 | $ | 1.44 | $ | 1.20 | $ | 1.05 | $ | 0.91 | |||||||||
Dividend payout ratio (h) | 47.0 | % | 41.3 | % | 33.1 | % | 29.2 | % | 32.5 | % | |||||||||
Average common shares outstanding (thousands): | |||||||||||||||||||
Basic | 51,892 | 55,271 | 60,046 | 62,550 | 62,374 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted | 53,079 | 56,413 | 61,432 | 63,845 | 63,403 | ||||||||||||||
Period-end book value per share (i) | $ | 4.76 | $ | 8.49 | $ | 8.15 | $ | 12.37 | $ | 10.10 | |||||||||
Period-end price/earnings ratio (j) | 18.4 | 18.3 | 15.8 | 13.7 | 17.1 | ||||||||||||||
Period-end market/book ratio (k) | 19.9 | 7.4 | 6.9 | 3.9 | 4.7 | ||||||||||||||
____________________
na - not applicable
a. | In 2002, the Company began to sell land held for development near its Orlando, Florida headquarters. During 2011, under this land sale program, a pretax gain of $0.7 million was included in gains on disposal of assets including insurance recoveries, net. There were no land sales under this program in any of the other years presented, although in 2013, $0.9 million was included in gains on disposal of assets related to proceeds received from land sold under this program in 2006. |
b. | Included in gain on disposal of assets including insurance recoveries, net are: |
• | Pretax gains of $0.2 million in 2012 and $3.0 million in 2011, as a result of respective insurance recoveries from flood damage in Venezuela in 2012 and Australia in 2011; |
• | Pretax gains of $7.5 million in 2012 from the sale of a facility in Belgium, and $0.2 million in 2013 and 2010 and $2.9 million in 2009, respectively, from the sale of property in Australia; |
• | Pretax gain of $19.0 million in 2009 as a result of insurance recoveries associated with a 2007 fire in South Carolina; and |
• | A pretax gain of $0.2 million of equipment sales in 2012. |
c. | 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 and $28.1 million in 2012, 2011 and 2009, 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. |
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d. | In 2011, the Company entered into certain 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. See Note 7 for further details on financing obligations. |
e. | In 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 Company had 0.2 million of unvested share-based payment awards outstanding for both 2010 and 2009, which were classified as participating securities under this guidance. The Company had no unvested share-based payment awards classified as participating securities in 2013, 2012 and 2011. |
f. | Return on average equity is calculated by dividing net income by the average monthly balance of shareholders’ equity. |
g. | 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 37%, by average shareholders’ equity plus debt, for the last five quarters. |
h. | The dividend payout ratio is dividends declared per share divided by basic earnings per share. |
i. | Period-end book value per share is calculated as year-end shareholders’ equity divided by full-year diluted shares. |
j. | 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. |
k. | 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. |
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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 2013 compared with 2012 and 2012 compared with 2011, and changes in financial condition during 2013. The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Saturday of December and, as a result, included 52 weeks during 2013 and 2012, 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 2013 vs. 2012
52 weeks ended | 52 weeks ended | Change | Change excluding the impact of foreign exchange | Foreign exchange impact | |||||||||||||
December 28, 2013 | December 29, 2012 | ||||||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 2,671.6 | $ | 2,583.8 | 3 | % | 6 | % | $ | (67.9 | ) | ||||||
Gross margin as a percent of sales | 66.7 | % | 66.9 | % | (0.2 | )pp | na | na | |||||||||
Delivery, sales & administrative expense as a percent of sales | 51.3 | % | 51.5 | % | (0.2 | )pp | na | na | |||||||||
Operating income | $ | 403.5 | $ | 306.5 | 32 | % | 39 | % | $ | (15.6 | ) | ||||||
Net income | 274.2 | 193.0 | 42 | 51 | (11.8 | ) | |||||||||||
Net income per diluted share | 5.17 | 3.42 | 51 | 61 | (0.21 | ) | |||||||||||
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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 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 | ) | ||||||||||
____________________
na not applicable
pp percentage points
Net Sales
Reported sales increased 3 percent in 2013 compared with 2012. Excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, sales increased 6 percent, reflecting strong growth in the Company’s emerging market economy businesses, while its sales in established market economy businesses decreased compared with 2012. Excluding the significant inflationary price increases in South America, the average price increase, including the impact of discounting, was 3 percent. The remainder of the increase was primarily due to the net change in volume of products sold. 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 65 and 61 percent of reported sales in 2013 and 2012, respectively. The 2013 reported sales in the emerging markets were up 9 percent compared with the prior year, including a negative $60.1 million impact on the comparison from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, these markets’ had strong growth of 13 percent. The strong results in the emerging markets were led by Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia/Singapore, Tupperware Mexico, Turkey and Venezuela. This primarily reflected larger and more productive sales forces, including strong growth in the number of outlets and outlet productivity in China, as well as significant inflation related price increases in Argentina and Venezuela. Among the emerging markets, those with notable declines in local currency sales were Fuller Mexico, due to a smaller sales force resulting from lower recruiting of sales force members, primarily due to a low field manager count, as well as in Russia as the unit works through structural changes in the business model of its distributorships implemented in 2012, along with the impact on the sales force of changes in certain tax laws. The Company’s established market businesses' sales were down 5 percent in U.S. dollars, including a negative $7.9 million impact on the comparison from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, sales in these markets decreased 4 percent. Among these units, there were larger local currency decreases in BeautiControl, reflecting a smaller and less active sales force from ineffective recruiting, and Germany, due to a less active and productive sales force.
Reported sales decreased slightly in 2012 compared with 2011. This included an estimated 1 percentage point negative impact on the comparison from a 53rd week in 2011 under the Company's fiscal calendar. 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’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
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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' reported sales were down 6 percent, 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 larger 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 strength in sales force recruiting.
Specific segment impacts are further discussed in the Segment Results section.
Gross Margin
Gross margin as a percentage of sales was 66.7 percent in 2013 and 66.9 percent in 2012. The decrease of 0.2 percentage points ("pp") was primarily due to higher resin costs (0.3 pp), higher manufacturing costs (0.2 pp), mainly in Asia and South America, and the impact on cost of goods sold from a currency devaluation in Venezuela (0.1 pp). These were partially offset by favorable product mix and pricing over certain product categories, particularly in South America (0.5pp).
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 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 less efficient manufacturing operations from lower sales volume by certain units, mainly in Europe and Tupperware North America (0.8 pp), and a less favorable mix as lower sales were generated in units with higher than average gross margins (0.2 pp).
Operating Expenses
Delivery, sales and administrative expense (DS&A) as a percentage of sales was 51.3 percent in 2013, compared with 51.5 percent in 2012. The lower DS&A percentage in 2013 was mainly due to the leverage on the fixed cost components included in selling expenses (0.2 pp), lower marketing (0.3 pp), lower commissions due to the mix of sales performances in countries that pay commissions versus those that do not (0.1 pp), and other operating expenses (0.3 pp). These were partially offset by higher promotion costs (0.3 pp), mainly in Asia to execute growth strategies in those units, warehousing costs in South America (0.2 pp), amortization of the Company's definite lived intangible assets (0.1 pp) and the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates (0.1 pp).
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).
The Company segregates corporate operating expenses into allocated and unallocated components based upon the time spent managing segment operations. The allocated costs are then apportioned to each segment based primarily 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 in 2013 were even with 2012, as lower incentive and equity compensation costs were offset by higher global marketing expenses.
Total unallocated expenses for 2012 increased $3.7 million compared with 2011, reflecting higher incentive and equity compensation due to improved operating results in 2012, as well as impacts from variations in 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.
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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 or losses upon disposal of closed facilities or other activities directly related to its re-engineering efforts. Included in 2013 net income were pretax charges of $9.3 million for re-engineering and impairment charges, compared with $22.4 million and $7.9 million in 2012 and 2011, respectively.
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):
2013 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||
Re-engineering and impairment charges | $ | 9.3 | $ | 22.4 | $ | 7.9 | |||||
Cost of products sold | — | 0.2 | 1.7 | ||||||||
Total pretax re-engineering costs | $ | 9.3 | $ | 22.6 | $ | 9.6 | |||||
The Company recorded re-engineering and impairment charges of $7.3 million, $5.3 million and $5.9 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, related to severance costs incurred to reduce headcount in several of the Company's operations in connection with changes in its management and organizational structures. These charges primarily related to such changes in the Company's European operations in 2013, exiting the Nutrimetics businesses in Greece and the United Kingdom in 2012 and the decision to merge the Nutrimetics and Tupperware businesses in Malaysia in 2011. In 2012, re-engineering and impairment charges included $0.9 million in non-severance 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 loss into operating income, as well as a $0.2 million charge in 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.
See also Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, regarding the Company's re-engineering actions.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The Company’s goodwill and intangible assets relate primarily to the December 2005 acquisition of the direct-to-consumer businesses of Sara Lee Corporation. The Company does not amortize its goodwill or indefinite lived tradename intangible assets. Instead, the Company performs an assessment to test these assets for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate they may be impaired. Refer to Note 6 of the Consolidated Statements.
In the third quarter of 2013, the Company completed the annual impairment assessments for all of its reporting units and indefinite lived intangible assets, concluding there were no impairments. The Company considers only the year-end 2013 goodwill balances of $115.5 million and $27.3 million associated with the Fuller Mexico and NaturCare reporting units, respectively, to be significant relative to total equity. In 2013, the Company performed a step 1 impairment test for the goodwill associated with the Fuller Mexico reporting unit. At the time the step 1 test was performed, in light of year-to-date results and then current expectations for future results of Fuller Mexico being below previous expectations, the amount by which the estimated fair value of the Fuller Mexico reporting unit exceeded its carrying value, at 24 percent, was smaller in 2013 than in previous assessments. This decrease was primarily due to ineffective recruiting and retention of sales force members in light of the competitive environment in that market, as well as the design of certain promotional programs that did not result in the benefits expected. Despite the amount by which the estimated fair value of the reporting unit exceeded its carrying value as of the September 2013 annual assessment date, ineffective recruiting and retention; operating performance below current
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expectations, including changes in projected future revenue, profitability and cash flow; as well as higher interest rates or cost of capital, could have a further negative effect on the fair value of the reporting unit and therefore reduce the fair value below the carrying value. This would result in an impairment to the goodwill of Fuller Mexico. Also in 2013, the Company performed a qualitative assessment for the goodwill associated with the NaturCare reporting unit and concluded it was more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit was greater than its carrying amount. The estimated fair value of the NaturCare reporting unit exceeded the carrying value by 29 percent as of June 2012, the date of its most recent step 1 analysis. Based on the Company's evaluation of the assumptions and sensitivities associated with the step 1 analysis for NaturCare, the Company concluded that the fair value substantially exceeded its carrying value as of June 2012.
Other than for the Fuller Mexico reporting unit, management has concluded there is no significant foreseeable risk of failing a future step 1 impairment test, nor is there significant foreseeable risk of the fair value of the indefinite lived intangible assets falling below their respective carrying values. Given the sensitivity of fair value valuations to changes in cash flow or market multiples, the Company may be required to recognize an impairment of goodwill or indefinite lived 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, royalty rates 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.
In August of 2013, the Company concluded it should reclassify its Fuller tradename from indefinite lived to definite lived. This conclusion was primarily reached in light of a long-term transition in the Fuller Mexico business to a new brand name. As a result of this transition, the Company has determined that the Fuller tradename has a 10 year useful life with amortization to be recorded on a straight-line basis. Amortization expense recorded in 2013 related to the Fuller tradename was $3.4 million. See Note 6 for details regarding the projected amortization expense over the remaining useful life of the Fuller tradename.
During the second quarter of 2012, the Company completed its annual impairment test of the goodwill associated with BeautiControl. As a result, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $38.9 million associated with its U.S. and Canadian operation, as the expected growth rates of sales, profit and cash flow at that time were below the Company's previous projections. In 2011, the Company estimated the fair value of this reporting unit at an amount that exceeded its carrying value by almost 45 percent. However, the estimated fair value was dependent, over the next 3 years, upon the reporting unit's ability to overcome a negative sales trend that began in 2008, and to begin increasing its sales force in a profitable manner. In 2007, this reporting unit had $160.0 million in sales. Since that time, as a result of the economic downturn in the United States, as well as increased competition in the retail sector for beauty and personal care products, and the results of strategies implemented and action taken in running the business, annual sales for the reporting unit decreased by approximately 11 percent per year, on average, until 2011 when annual sales were $98.2 million. This led to an operating loss of $2.1 million for the reporting unit in 2011, which was also the first annual period in which the reporting unit was unable to generate profit and positive cash flow. Also in 2011, significant investments were made in the reporting unit to build the sales force that were expected to begin reversing the negative sales trend in 2012. These investments did not lead to the increase in sales and profit that were anticipated, as the sales force size (-1 percent), its activity (-4 percent) and productivity (-8 percent) continued to decrease through the first half of 2012, when the reporting unit had year-to-date sales of $45.1 million, a 12 percent decrease compared with the 2011 year-to-date period, and a loss of $1.2 million. As part of the 2011 annual impairment test, in light of the strategic investments made in 2011, the Company projected 2012 sales would grow by 1 percent to $105 million, over projected 2011 sales of $104 million. In addition, the Company's 2011 annual impairment test assumed a 2012 operating profit of $1 million. As a result of the inability to capitalize on these investments and the resulting decrease in sales in the second quarter of 2012, the growth projections for this business going forward were lowered for the foreseeable future. The performance of the business, as well as other macroeconomic factors, added a risk component to the step 1 valuation performed in 2012 that did not exist in 2011. As a result, the discount rate used was 2.4 percentage points higher than in the 2011 annual valuation. The combination of these factors contributed equally to an estimated fair value that was below the carrying value. The Company then performed the second step in the goodwill impairment test, which resulted in an implied fair value of zero for the goodwill of the reporting unit.
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Also in the second quarter of 2012, as part of its on-going assessment of goodwill and intangible assets, the Company noted that the financial performance of the Nutrimetics Asia Pacific, Nutrimetics Europe and NaturCare reporting units had fallen below their previous trend lines and it concluded that they would fall significantly short of previous expectations. Although an impairment of the goodwill of the Nutrimetics reporting unit in Asia Pacific was recorded in the third quarter of 2011, due to an expectation of even sales and slow growth in profit over the subsequent 4 to 5 year period, the results of operations during the second quarter of 2012 represented a 25 percent decline in sales, which resulted in a year-to-date loss compared to a profit in the year-over-year comparison. This was deemed a triggering event. As the size and activity levels of the sales force were worse than previously expected, management concluded it would take 3 years in order to reverse the 2 year trend of decreasing sales, profit and cash flows. Similarly, the previously estimated 2011 fair value of the Nutrimetics reporting unit in Europe included an assumption of an ability to grow the business in France annually by an average of 10 percent over the next 4 years. With conditions worsening in Greece, and the determination that there was a lack of necessary infrastructure in the United Kingdom, the decision was made in the second quarter of 2012 to exit these business units. This was deemed a triggering event to evaluate Nutrimetics Europe for impairment. As part of the evaluation of Nutrimetics Europe, it was concluded that the previous growth expectations for the Nutrimetics business in France were not expected to be realized for at least 6 years and results were expected to decline for the next 3 years. As a result of the conditions in Greece, the United Kingdom and France, the projections for the Nutrimetics Europe reporting unit were lowered. The discount rates used in 2012 for the Nutrimetics Asia Pacific and Nutrimetics Europe reporting units were 14.0 percent and 13.7 percent, respectively, versus 13.8 percent and 13.3 percent used in 2011, respectively, based on macroeconomic factors. As a result of these impairment assessments, the Company wrote off the remaining $7.2 million and $7.7 million carrying value of the goodwill of Nutrimetics Asia Pacific and Nutrimetics Europe reporting units.
Due to profit results in and expectations for both Nutrimetics Asia Pacific and Nutrimetics Europe, management also determined it was appropriate to lower the royalty rate used to value the Nutrimetics tradename. In addition, since the 2009 impairment of the NaturCare tradename, the reporting unit had recorded slight decreases in sales and profit versus an average expected 8 percent annual sales increase, though the unit had never had an annual loss or negative cash flow. During a business review conducted during the second quarter of 2012, the reporting unit's management projected that the business would not grow in a significant way for the foreseeable future. This was deemed to be a triggering event and both the tradename and goodwill were tested for impairment. As a result of these interim impairment tests, the Company recorded tradename impairments of $13.8 million for Nutrimetics and $9.0 million for NaturCare, primarily due to the use of lower estimated royalty rates, 1.5 percent in 2012 versus 3 percent in 2011 for Nutrimetics and 3.75 percent in 2012 versus 4.75 percent in 2011 for NaturCare, in light of lower sales and profit forecasts for these units, as well as macroeconomic factors that resulted in increases in the discount rates, 15.2% in 2012 versus 14.9% in 2011 for Nutrimetics and 13.5% in 2012 versus 12.6% in 2011 for NaturCare, used in the valuations.
During the third quarter of 2011, the financial results of the Nutrimetics reporting units 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, as the strategies previously contemplated to expand the Nutrimetics sales force and leverage the party method of selling did not provide the expected benefits in light of a challenging consumer spending environment in Australia, the primary Nutrimetics market. 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. At that time, the reporting unit remained profitable and was expected to maintain the same profitability for several years as management stabilized the fundamentals of the business model as a basis of subsequent growth.
Gains on Disposal of Assets
The Company continues with 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 2013 or 2012. Included in this caption in 2013 was $0.9 million related to the collection of proceeds on land sold in 2006. 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 $68.5 million and currently are expected to be up to an additional $100 million when the program
20
is completed. The carrying value of the remaining land included in the Company's land sales program was $23.2 million as of December 28, 2013. 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 significant land sales will be completed within one year. The Company has concluded that the fair value of the land under this program sufficiently exceeded the carrying value as of the end of 2013 and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future.
In 2012, the Company recognized a $7.5 million pretax gain from the sale of its old manufacturing facility in Belgium.
Net Interest Expense
Net interest expense was $37.6 million in 2013, compared with $32.4 million in 2012. Interest expense increased in the year-over-year comparisons primarily as a result of higher borrowings with a higher interest rate, in connection with the issuance of $200 million of Notes near the end of the first quarter of 2013, as well as higher average borrowings under the Company's revolving credit agreement.
Net interest expense was $32.4 million in 2012, compared with $45.8 million in 2011. Excluding the impacts of the non-cash interest rate swap impairment charge of $18.9 million and the write-off of deferred debt issuance costs of $0.9 million recorded in 2011, interest expense increased due to higher borrowing levels and higher weighted average interest rates.
Tax Rate
The effective tax rates for 2013, 2012 and 2011 were 23.9, 29.3 and 26.1 percent, respectively. The comparatively higher 2012 tax rate was due to the impact of nondeductible goodwill impairment charges. In addition, during the fourth quarter of 2013, a change in Mexican tax law resulted in additional foreign tax costs that were offset by tax credit benefits that netted to a benefit of $6.8 million.
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 2013, 2012 and 2011 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 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, the Company had valuation allowances against certain deferred tax assets totaling $34.8 million and $103.1 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.
21
As of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, the Company's gross unrecognized tax benefit was $27.4 million and $24.9 million, respectively. The increase related primarily to uncertain positions being taken during the year in various foreign tax jurisdictions, partially offset by a $4.4 million decrease of accruals for uncertain tax positions due to the expiration of the statute of limitations in various jurisdictions. 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 28, 2013, 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.
Net Income
For 2013, operating income increased 32 percent compared with 2012, which included a 7 percent negative impact on the comparison from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Net income increased 42 percent on a reported basis. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates, net income was 51 percent higher than 2012. The substantial increase in net income primarily reflected the benefit of not having the non-cash charges in 2012 related to the $76.9 million pretax goodwill and intangible asset impairments and the $16.2 million 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, as well as the contribution margin on higher sales in the core businesses in Asia Pacific and South America. These increases were offset by the impact of lower sales in Beauty North America, higher interest expense related to the senior notes issued in the first quarter of 2013 that carry a higher fixed rate than the variable rate debt they replaced under the revolving credit agreement, as well as the $4 million impact on the net monetary position and inventory balance sheet amounts recorded in 2013 at the time of the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar, along with higher 2013 income tax expense, putting aside the impact of the non-deductibility of the 2012 non-cash charges. In 2012, the Company also recorded a larger gain on disposal of assets.
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 goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges in 2012 that were more than charges of this nature in 2011, 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 higher profit achieved in the businesses in Asia Pacific and South America from 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 2012 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.
International operations accounted for 91 percent in 2013 and 90 percent in 2012 and 2011of the Company's sales. They accounted for 100, 98 and 99 percent of the Company’s net segment profit in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
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Segment Results 2013 vs. 2012
(Dollars in millions) | 2013 | 2012 | Change | Change excluding the impact of foreign exchange | Foreign exchange impact | Percent of total | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dollar | Percent | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Europe | $ | 782.7 | $ | 791.4 | $ | (8.7 | ) | (1)% | — | $ | (5.8 | ) | 29 | % | 31 | % | |||||||||||
Asia Pacific | 836.9 | 780.7 | 56.2 | 7 | 14 | (48.5 | ) | 31 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||
Tupperware North America | 358.0 | 344.8 | 13.2 | 4 | 3 | 2.9 | 14 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||
Beauty North America | 320.1 | 348.3 | (28.2 | ) | (8 | ) | (10 | ) | 6.4 | 12 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||
South America | 373.9 | 318.6 | 55.3 | 17 | 26 | (22.9 | ) | 14 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total net sales | $ | 2,671.6 | $ | 2,583.8 | $ | 87.8 | 3% | 6% | $ | (67.9 | ) | 100 | % | 100 | % | ||||||||||||
Segment profit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Europe | $ | 130.0 | $ | 131.6 | $ | (1.6 | ) | (1)% | — | $ | (2.1 | ) | 28 | % | 29 | % | |||||||||||
Asia Pacific | 188.1 | 172.7 | 15.4 | 9 | 16 | (10.6 | ) | 40 | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||
Tupperware North America | 65.9 | 63.7 | 2.2 | 3 | 2 | 1.0 | 14 | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||
Beauty North America | 16.1 | 30.2 | (14.1 | ) | (47 | ) | (49 | ) | 1.1 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
South America | 68.9 | 61.0 | 7.9 | 13 | 21 | (4.1 | ) | 15 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||
Segment profit as a percent of sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Europe | 16.6 | % | 16.6 | % | na | — | 0.1 | pp | (0.1 | )pp | na | na | |||||||||||||||
Asia Pacific | 22.5 | 22.1 | na | 0.4 | 0.4 | — | na | na | |||||||||||||||||||
Tupperware North America | 18.4 | 18.5 | na | (0.1 | ) | (0.2 | ) | 0.1 | na | na | |||||||||||||||||
Beauty North America | 5.0 | 8.7 | na | (3.7 | ) | (3.8 | ) | 0.1 | na | na | |||||||||||||||||
South America | 18.4 | 19.1 | na | (0.7 | ) | (0.8 | ) | 0.1 | na | na | |||||||||||||||||
____________________
pp | Percentage points |
na | Not applicable |
Europe
Reported sales decreased 1 percent in 2013 compared with 2012. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, sales were slightly less than in 2012, reflecting reduced volume and the mix of products sold. This was offset by a 3 percent average increase in pricing for the segment, including discounting, compared with 2012.
Local currency sales in the Company’s established markets, which are composed of Western Europe, including Scandinavia, decreased by 4 percent. This decrease was primarily in Germany, the largest market in the segment, reflecting less sales force activity and lower productivity from low recruiting in late 2012 and early in 2013 and due to reactions to promotional offers, timing of holidays and unusually poor weather.
Emerging markets accounted for $268.6 and $271.7 million of reported net sales in this segment in 2013 and 2012, respectively, which represented 34 percent of reported net segment sales in each period. On a local currency basis, the emerging market units' sales increased by 7 percent, reflecting significant growth in Turkey due to a larger sales force from solid recruiting, as well as increased activity and productivity, resulting from attractive promotions and higher qualification levels for awards. This growth was offset by a decrease in Russia as the unit works through structural changes in the business model of its distributorships implemented in 2012, along with the impact on the sales force of changes in certain tax laws. These tax laws reverted to their previous provisions effective at the beginning of 2014.
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For 2013, compared with 2012, segment profit decreased $1.6 million, or 1 percent. Segment profit as a percentage of sales was 16.6 percent in both 2013 and 2012. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, segment profit was even with 2012. On a local currency basis, the decrease in segment profit primarily reflected the sales decline in Tupperware Germany and Russia. These impacts were partially offset by increased profit in Turkey due to higher sales that were at a higher gross margin from a better mix and leverage on the fixed costs of DS&A spending, along with significant profit improvement in Italy due to a mix shift benefit to non-promoted sales with higher gross margins, as well as in France, reflecting the contribution margin from modest sales growth.
The negative impact of foreign currency rates on the year-over-year comparison of sales and profit for the entire segment versus the U.S. dollar was primarily attributable to the weaker South African rand, partially offset by a stronger euro.
Asia Pacific
Reported sales in Asia Pacific increased 7 percent in 2013, reflecting strong growth by the emerging market businesses. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, the segment's sales increased 14 percent. Of the 14 percent increase in local currency sales, the company estimates that 3 percentage points of the increase was due to higher prices. The remaining increase was primarily due to higher volume and favorable product mix, mainly in China and Indonesia as detailed below.
Emerging markets include Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia/Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand, and accounted for $675.2 million and $593.1 million, or 81 and 76 percent, of the sales in this segment in 2013 and 2012, respectively. Total emerging market sales increased $82.1 million, or 14 percent, in 2013 compared with 2012. The comparison was negatively impacted by changes in foreign currency exchange rates totaling $27.5 million. Excluding the impact of foreign currencies, these markets' sales increased by 19 percent in 2013. The most significant contribution to the overall increase was in Indonesia, the Company's largest business unit, as a result of a larger and more productive sales force due to strong recruiting, attractive promotions and product offerings. Other significant increases in sales were in China, India and Malaysia/Singapore. In China, where the Company operates over 4,000 retail outlets through independent distributors, the increase related to a positive response to promotional offerings and new, water-related products with higher price points in conjunction with the growth in the total number and productivity of the outlets. India grew primarily due to a more active sales force with higher productivity in the first half of the year, as in the second half, sales increased only slightly in light of macroeconomic factors and the need for better training and motivation of the sales force in some geographies, while Malaysia/Singapore grew the size of its sales force through strong recruiting campaigns based on brand awareness and successful new product launches.
Reported sales in the established markets decreased 14 percent, primarily due to the impact of foreign currency exchange rates. Excluding the impact of foreign currencies, these markets' sales decreased 3 percent.
Total segment profit increased $15.4 million, or 9 percent, in 2013. Segment profit as a percentage of sales at 22.5 percent was higher than in 2012 by 0.4 percentage points. The segment profit comparison was negatively impacted by changes in foreign currency, and excluding this impact, segment profit increased 16 percent compared with 2012. The increase was mainly related to the contribution margin from the higher sales in Indonesia, as well as higher sales with improved gross margins in China and the leverage this had on the fixed components of DS&A spending. For the segment overall, these improvements were partially offset by higher costs related to pension settlements and management incentive costs.
The Australian dollar, Indian rupee, Indonesian rupiah and Japanese yen were the main currencies that led to the negative impact from foreign currencies on the 2013 with 2012 sales comparison and the Indian rupee and Indonesian rupiah on the profit comparison.
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Tupperware North America
Reported sales increased 4 percent in 2013 compared with 2012. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, sales increased 3 percent compared with the prior year. The increase in sales for the segment was primarily due to higher pricing in Tupperware Mexico, as well as a slightly larger and more productive sales force, reflecting attractive promotional offers to consumers in light of the disruption to the business from the hurricanes and flooding in September, along with higher business-to-business sales. While the Company actively pursues business-to-business opportunities, sales from this channel are based on reaching agreements with business partners and their product needs. Consequently, activity in one period is not necessarily indicative of future trends. The average price increase for the segment, including the impact of lower discounting, was 3 percent.
Segment profit increased $2.2 million, or 3 percent, in 2013 compared with 2012. Segment profit as a percentage of sales at 18.4 percent was 0.1 percentage points more in 2013 than in 2012 after excluding the impacts of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The increase in Mexico was primarily due to the contribution margin on the higher sales volume. This increase was partially offset by decreased profit in Tupperware United States and Canada due to higher distribution costs and higher costs related to sales force recruiting and promotions.
Beauty North America
Reported sales for this segment were down 8 percent in 2013. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, sales decreased 10 percent, primarily due to lower volume and unfavorable product mix. This volume and mix decrease was primarily a result of a smaller sales force in Fuller Mexico, due to ineffective recruiting from high field manager turnover, and a smaller and less active sales force in BeautiControl, reflecting ineffective recruiting and the inability to motivate the passive seller base. On average, prices in this segment decreased by 1 percent.
Segment profit decreased $14.1 million, or 47 percent, in 2013 compared with 2012. Foreign currency exchange rates positively impacted the comparison by $1.1 million, or 2 percent. Segment profit as a percentage of sales, at 5.0 percent, was 3.7 percentage points lower than 2012. The decrease in profit reflected the lower sales, along with concessions in gross margin and from increased spending in an effort to grow the sales force size and sales in both units, as well as increased inventory obsolescence charges and decreased manufacturing efficiency due to lower sales volume in BeautiControl.
South America
Reported sales for this segment increased 17 percent in 2013 compared with 2012. Excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, other than the Venezuelan bolivar, sales increased 26 percent. For the whole segment, the Company estimates that there was about a 17 percentage point benefit on the local currency sales comparison from higher pricing due to inflation. The first quarter devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar had a negative impact on the segment's annual local currency sales comparison of 5 percentage points.
The local currency sales increase was mainly in Brazil and Venezuela, reflecting larger sales forces due to strong recruiting, as well as increased activity in Venezuela due to the importation of products new to that market and higher prices in light of inflation. Argentina also had an increase, primarily reflecting higher pricing due to inflation, along with the mix benefit of selling a greater share of Tupperware® brand housewares products that carry higher price points than beauty and personal care items.
Segment profit increased $7.9 million, or 13 percent, in 2013 compared with 2012. Segment profit as a percentage of sales, at 18.4 percent, was 0.7 percentage points lower than in 2012. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, segment profit increased 21 percent. The increase in profit was primarily due to the contribution margin from the significantly higher sales in Brazil and Venezuela.
The Company used the "banded" exchange rate of 5.3 to translate the value of the Venezuelan bolivar versus the U.S. dollar, until February 2013, when the Venezuelan government set a new official exchange rate of 6.3 bolivars to the U.S. dollar and abolished the banded exchange rate. As a result of Venezuela being deemed hyper-inflationary, any gains or losses from translation of the financial statements are recorded in earnings. As a result of the change to the 6.3 exchange rate, the Company's 2013 earnings were reduced by $4.2 million related to items on the balance sheet.
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In March 2013, the Venezuelan government created the Complimentary System of Foreign Currency Acquirement ("SICAD"). SICAD is an auction system and allows entities in specific sectors to bid for U.S. dollars. As SICAD is controlled by the government with strict guidelines as to who can participate, SICAD is not considered to be a "free market system." The Company has not been invited to participate in a SICAD auction. Beginning in the first quarter of 2014, the Venezuelan government has restricted further the ability to obtain the 6.3 bolivars to U.S. dollar rate. As a result, the Company may need to rely in the future on the SICAD auction system, if permitted, in order to exchange its Venezuelan bolivars for U.S. dollars. The Company is not able to predict, at this time, what rate will be available in the future to exchange its Venezuelan bolivars into U.S. dollars. If further, material information comes to light, the Company will make a specific announcement about any changes in the exchange rate between the bolivar and the U.S. dollar used by the Company, including devaluation, as part of its monthly update regarding foreign exchange rates that is provided on the Company's website on or about the second business day of each of its fiscal months.
As of the end of 2013, the Company had $31 million in net monetary assets denominated in Venezuelan bolivars, including $36.5 million in cash and cash equivalents, which would be directly impacted by any additional changes in the exchange rate. To illustrate the sensitivity to potential future changes in the exchange rate, if the exchange rate in Venezuela were to further devalue to a rate of 63 bolivars to the U.S. dollar, the Company estimates the negative impact on 2014 pretax earnings would be $40 million related to items on the balance sheet as of the end 2013. The Company also estimates the impact of this rate on sales and operating income for the 12 months ending December 2014 would be $100 million and $25 million, 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. The increase in these markets was driven by Germany and Scandinavia, primarily reflecting larger and slightly more productive sales forces, and was partially offset by a decrease 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 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 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 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 percent. 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 and the leverage these higher sales had on the fixed cost components of the value chain.
Financial Condition
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Net working capital was $41.5 million as of December 28, 2013, compared with $72.0 million as of December 29, 2012 and $96.0 million as of December 31, 2011. The current ratio was 1.1 to 1 at the end of 2013, 2012 and 2011.
The most significant components in the Company’s $30.5 million reduction in net working capital in 2013 were a $32 million increase in short-term borrowings, in conjunction with the Company's early 2013 decision to increase its leverage ratio, and an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, reflecting growth in the business and certain longer running promotional programs that had not been paid for by the end of 2013, as well as a $13 million impact due to the weaker foreign currency exchange rates in relation to the U.S. dollar. There was also an impact from lower accounts receivable. Partially offsetting these decreases was an increase in non-trade receivables and an increase in cash.
The Company's net working capital was $24 million lower at the end of 2012 compared with the end of 2011. The most significant component of this reduction 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.
In June 2011, the Company completed the sale of $400 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.750% Senior Notes due June 1, 2021. On March 11, 2013, the Company issued and sold an additional $200.0 million in aggregate principal amount of these notes (both issuances together, the "Senior Notes"). The Senior Notes form a single series under the Indenture. The proceeds received from the March 2013 issuance were used to repay a 90-day $75 million promissory note entered into on February 1, 2013, as well as a portion of outstanding borrowings under the Company's multicurrency credit agreement in place at that time. The remaining net proceeds were used to fund share repurchases under the Company's common stock repurchase authorization. As a result of the 2013 issuance, the Company recorded a premium of $7.6 million to be amortized over the life of the Senior Notes.
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In September 2013, the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary Tupperware International Holdings B.V. (the “Subsidiary Borrower”), amended and restated its multicurrency Credit Agreement (the “New Credit Agreement”) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”), swingline lender and issuing bank, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., KeyBank National Association and the Royal Bank of Scotland, as syndication agents, joint book runners and joint lead arrangers. The New Credit Agreement replaced the Credit Agreement dated June 2, 2011 (the “Old Credit Facility”) and, other than an increased amount that may be borrowed and a more favorable interest rate spread, has terms and conditions similar to that of the Old Credit Facility. The New Credit Agreement makes available to the Company and the Subsidiary Borrower a committed five-year credit facility in an aggregate amount of $650 million (the “Facility Amount”). The New Credit Agreement provides (i) a revolving credit facility, available up to the full amount of the Facility Amount, (ii) a letter of credit facility, available up to $50 million of the Facility Amount, and (iii) a swingline facility, available up to $100 million of the Facility Amount. Each of such facilities is fully available to the Company and is available to the Subsidiary Borrower up to an aggregate amount not to exceed $325 million. With the agreement of its lenders, the Company is permitted to increase, on up to three occasions, the Facility Amount by a total of up to $200 million (for a maximum aggregate Facility Amount of $850 million), subject to certain conditions. As of December 28, 2013, the Company had total borrowings of $230.1 million outstanding under its New Credit Agreement, with $109.1 million of that amount denominated in euros. The Company routinely increases its revolver borrowings under the New Credit Agreement and uncommitted lines, as well as previously under the Old Credit Facility, during each quarter to fund operating, investing and other 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.
Loans taken under the New 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 28, 2013, the New Credit Agreement dictated a base rate spread of 150 basis points, which gave the Company a weighted average interest rate on LIBOR based borrowings of 1.73 percent on borrowings under the New Credit Agreement.
The New Credit Agreement contains customary covenants, including financial covenants requiring minimum interest coverage and allowing a maximum amount of leverage. As of December 28, 2013, and currently, the Company had considerable cushion under its financial covenants. However, economic conditions, adverse changes in foreign exchange rates, lower than foreseen sales, profit and/or cash flow generation, the ability to access cash generated internationally in Venezuela, Argentina or elsewhere, share repurchases or the occurrence of other events discussed under “Forward Looking Statements” and elsewhere could cause noncompliance.
See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details regarding the Company's debt.
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 2013 cash and cash equivalents balance of $127.3 million, cash flows from operating activities, and access to its $650 million New Credit Agreement. As of December 28, 2013, the Company had $417.8 million available under its New Credit Agreement and $107.6 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 10, 2014, the Company signed a $75 million uncommitted line of credit with Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, one of the participating banks in the Company's New Credit Agreement. This line of credit dictates an interest rate of LIBOR plus 125 basis points. The Company has and expects in the future to use proceeds from borrowings under this agreement to reduce what it would otherwise borrow under the New Credit Agreement.
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Cash and cash equivalents (“cash”) totaled $127.3 million as of December 28, 2013. Of this amount, $125 million was held by foreign subsidiaries. At December 28, 2013, this included $36.5 million held in Venezuelan bolivars where it is unlikely that the cash will be convertible into U.S. dollars and accessible outside of that country. Furthermore, even if it is ultimately accessible in U.S. dollars it is likely to be at a significantly worse exchange rate than the 6.3 bolivar to the dollar exchange rate at which it is included on the Company’s December 28, 2013 balance sheet. Of the $125 million of cash held by foreign subsidiaries as of December 28, 2013, approximately 64 percent 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 2013 included Brazil, Tupperware France, Fuller Mexico, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia/Singapore, Tupperware Mexico and Tupperware United States and Canada. Of these units, sales by Fuller Mexico and Indonesia exceeded $200 million. 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 2013 was $323.5 million, compared with $298.7 million in 2012. The favorable comparison reflected the liquidation of prepaid and other assets, the timing of distributions of accounts payables and accrued liabilities around the ending of each fiscal year and the duration of certain promotional programs, as well as cash received as a premium in connection with the issuance of $200 million of Senior Notes. These cash inflows were partially offset by a larger increase in inventory in 2013 compared with 2012 in order to support growth of the business.
Net cash provided by operating activities in 2012 was $298.7 million, compared with $274.7 million in 2011. Notwithstanding the impacts of non-cash charges for goodwill and intangible assets and gains on disposal of assets in both periods, the reclassification of cumulative translation adjustments into operating income in 2012 and non-cash interest swap impairments in 2011, net income was $8 million higher in 2012 than 2011. Other more significant factors impacting the year-over-year comparison of cash flow from operating activities included a smaller increase in inventory, due to success in managing to a lower number of days on hand, and the 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.
Investing Activities
In 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company spent $69.0 million, $75.6 million and $73.9 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. The other significant capital expenditures in all years generally relate to expansion of manufacturing capacity and investment in warehouses, sales offices and other facilities to support growing operations in certain markets, as well as vehicles for the sales force, mostly in South Africa. In 2013, capital expenditures included $16 million related to various projects to expand supply chain capability and $14 million for various offices to support expanding operations, including in Venezuela as a natural hedge against devaluation. There was also meaningful spending on a new information technology system in Asia Pacific. In 2012, $6 million in capital was also invested as part of the purchase of the new office in Venezuela, $8 million was spent for the expansion of warehouse and office space in Indonesia and $17 million was spent for manufacturing capacity in Brazil, India 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.
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Partially offsetting the capital spending were $8.9 million, $10.8 million and $5.0 million of proceeds related to the sale of certain property, plant and equipment and insurance recoveries in 2013, 2012 and 2011, 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 2013 was the sale of property in Australia for $6.2 million, and in 2012 was the sale of an old manufacturing facility in Belgium for $7.5 million.
Financing Activities
In 2013 and 2012, the Company made net payments on borrowings of $2.5 million and $2.3 million, respectively, mainly related to its scheduled lease payments. The Company also issued the $200 million of Senior Notes and had a net inflow of $27.8 million from increased borrowings under its revolving credit agreements. In 2012, the Company also had a net inflow of $6.0 million from increased borrowings under revolving credit agreement. In 2011, the Company made net payments on long-term borrowings of $14.1 million in connection with the issuance of $400 million of the Senior Notes and termination of the credit facility signed in 2007, as well as scheduled lease payments. The Company also had a net inflow of $193.5 million from borrowings under its revolving credit agreement.
Dividends
During 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company declared dividends of $2.48, $1.44, and $1.20 per share of common stock, respectively, and paid cash dividends totaling $116.8 million, $77.6 million and $73.8 million, respectively. The increase in dividends paid, resulting from the higher dividend per share, is partially offset by a reduction in the number of shares outstanding in connection with the Company's share repurchase program detailed below.
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 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Board increased the regular quarterly dividend per share by 10 percent, to $0.68 in 2014; 72 percent, to $0.62 in 2013 and 20 percent to $0.36 in 2012. 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, the ability to access internationally generated cash or other cash needs, as well as compliance with Delaware law regarding capital surplus. 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 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company received proceeds of $21.0 million, $12.9 million and $16.1 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
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 to $2.0 billion and extended the term of the authorization 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 New Credit Agreement).
During 2013, 2012 and 2011 the Company repurchased in the open market 4.6 million, 3.3 million and 7.1 million shares under this program at an aggregate cost of $374.9 million, $200.0 million and $426.1 million, respectively. Since inception of the program in May 2007, and through December 28, 2013, the Company repurchased 20.1 million shares at an aggregate cost of $1.20 billion.
Employees are also allowed to use shares to pay withholding taxes, up to the minimum statutory amount on all stock incentive plans. For 2013, 2012 and 2011, the value of shares used for withholding taxes was $4.5 million, $5.1 million and $2.5 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 28, 2013 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 | $ | 855.3 | $ | 235.4 | $ | 6.1 | $ | 4.8 | $ | 609.0 | |||||||||
Interest payments on long term obligations | 217.8 | 29.9 | 58.3 | 57.8 | 71.8 | ||||||||||||||
Pension benefits | 170.8 | 14.9 | 33.2 | 41.3 | 81.4 | ||||||||||||||
Post-employment medical benefits | 22.6 | 2.4 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 10.6 | ||||||||||||||
Income tax payments (a) | 1.8 | 1.8 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Capital commitments (b) | 2.1 | 2.1 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Operating lease obligations | 91.5 | 33.7 | 35.0 | 14.8 | 8.0 | ||||||||||||||
Total contractual obligations (c) | $ | 1,361.9 | $ | 320.2 | $ | 137.5 | $ | 123.4 | $ | 780.8 | |||||||||
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(a) | Other than the amount presented, 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 28, 2013 the Company’s total gross unrecognized tax positions were $27.4 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 28, 2013 on relatively minor capital projects in process the Company’s various units, mainly Indonesia and Tupperware South Africa. |
(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 doubtful 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 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, the Company had valuation allowances against certain deferred tax assets totaling $34.8 million and $103.1 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 2013, the Company had gross domestic deferred tax assets of approximately $376.5 million against which a valuation allowance of $4.2 million has been provided. Of these total assets, approximately $93.6 million relates to recurring type temporary differences which reverse regularly and are replaced by newly originated items. The balance included assets of $52.2 million related to advanced payment agreements, which are expected to reverse over the next three years, and other deferred tax assets. The balance also included approximately $197.1 million of net foreign tax credits most of which would expire in the years 2017 through 2023 if not utilized, $10.1 million of federal net operating losses which would expire in the years 2021 through 2033 if not utilized, and $0.7 million of federal tax credits and other assets that have no expiration date. The balance also included $2.9 million of net state operating losses and other book versus tax asset differences of approximately $15.7 million.
The Company expects to have sufficient capacity to utilize all of the foreign tax credits through the generation of significant foreign source taxable income generated by intercompany royalties, mold rentals and future foreign dividends from then current earnings and cash flows. During 2013, the Company utilized approximately $50 million of foreign tax credits, and the capacity to utilize existing foreign tax credits is expected to increase in the future. The actual utilization amount will be finalized once the U.S. tax return is filed. In order to utilize the existing net foreign tax credits, the Company would be required to generate approximately $563 million of U.S. taxable foreign source income over the next seven years. The Company is projecting to generate US taxable foreign source income in excess of the required amount to utilize existing and newly generated foreign tax credits associated with future foreign dividend repatriations. The Company expects to realize all of these assets in the normal course of business. In addition, certain tax planning transactions are available to the Company in order to facilitate realization of these benefits should they become necessary. The federal net operating losses are related to a subsidiary that is excluded from the federal consolidated tax return and is engaged in land sales and development near the Company's Orlando, Florida headquarters. As such, the federal net operating losses do not impact the utilization of foreign tax credits. The Company believes the anticipated gains related to future sales of land and other income will be sufficient to realize, before they expire, the $10.1 million net operating loss credits of this subsidiary. 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.
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As of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, the Company's gross unrecognized tax benefit was $27.4 million and $24.9 million, respectively. The increase related primarily to uncertain positions being taken during the year in various foreign tax jurisdictions, partially offset by a $4.4 million decrease of accruals for uncertain tax positions due to the expiration of the statute of limitations in various jurisdictions. 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 as of both December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012. Interest and penalties included in the provision for income taxes totaled $0.5 million, $0.3 million and $1.2 million for 2013, 2012 and 2011, 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 28, 2013, 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.
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 goodwill and intangible assets relate primarily to the December 2005 acquisition of the direct-to-consumer businesses of Sara Lee Corporation. The Company does not amortize its goodwill or indefinite lived tradename intangible assets. Instead, the Company performs an assessment to test these assets for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate they may be impaired. Refer to Note 6 of the Consolidated Statements.
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 1 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.
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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 annual process for assessing the carrying value of indefinite-lived tradename intangible assets begins with 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 indefinite-lived 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. In the third quarter of 2013, the Company completed the annual impairment assessments for all of its reporting units and indefinite lived intangible assets, concluding there were no impairments. The Company considers only the year-end 2013 goodwill balances of $115.5 million and $27.3 million associated with the Fuller Mexico and NaturCare reporting units, respectively, to be significant relative to total equity.
In 2013, the Company performed a step 1 impairment test for the goodwill associated with the Fuller Mexico reporting unit. At the time the step 1 test was performed, in light of year-to-date results and then current expectations for future results of Fuller Mexico being below previous expectations, the amount by which the estimated fair value of the Fuller Mexico reporting unit exceeded its carrying value, at 24 percent, was smaller in 2013 than in previous assessments. This decrease was primarily due to ineffective recruiting and retention of sales force members in light of the competitive environment in that market, as well as the design of certain promotional programs that did not result in the benefits expected.
The fair value analysis for Fuller Mexico was completed using a combination of the income and market approach with a 75 percent weighting on the income approach. The income approach, or discounted cash flow approach, requires significant assumptions to determine the fair value of each reporting unit. The significant assumptions used in the income approach include estimates regarding future operations and the ability to generate cash flows, including projections of revenue, costs, utilization of assets and capital requirements. It also requires estimates 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 used a forecast period of 10 years and a terminal value. The significant assumptions for the forecast included annual revenue growth rates ranging from zero to 5.0 percent with an average growth rate of 3.0 percent, including a 3.0 percent growth rate used in calculating the terminal value. The growth rates were determined by reviewing historical results of the operating unit and the historical results of the Company’s other similar business units, along with the expected contribution from growth strategies being implemented in the Fuller Mexico reporting unit. The discount rate used was 15.6 percent. 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 a direct-selling distribution method. The resulting multiples were then applied to the reporting unit to determine fair value.
Despite the amount by which the estimated fair value of the reporting unit exceeded its carrying value as of the end of the annual assessment date, ineffective recruiting and retention; operating performance below current expectations, including changes in projected future revenue, profitability and cash flow; as well as higher interest rates or cost of capital, could have a further negative effect on the fair value of the reporting unit and therefore reduce the fair value below the carrying value. This would result in an impairment to the goodwill of Fuller Mexico. As of the date of the last valuation, holding all other assumptions constant, a one percent increase to the discount rate would reduce the amount by which the estimated fair value of the Fuller Mexico reporting unit exceeded its carrying value to 17 percent. Similarly, if the growth rates were reduced so that the average growth rate were 2 percent, the amount by which the estimated fair value exceeded its carrying value would be 15 percent.
Also in 2013, the Company performed a qualitative assessment for the goodwill associated with the NaturCare reporting unit and concluded it was more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit was greater than its carrying amount. The estimated fair value of the NaturCare reporting unit exceeded the carrying value by 29 percent as of June 2012, the date of its most recent step 1 analysis. Based on the Company's evaluation of the assumptions and sensitivities associated with the step 1 analysis for NaturCare, the Company has concluded that the fair value substantially exceeded its carrying value as of June 2012.
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Other than for the Fuller Mexico reporting unit, management has concluded there is no significant foreseeable risk of failing a future step 1 impairment test, nor is there significant foreseeable risk of the fair value of the indefinite lived intangible assets falling below their respective carrying values. Given the sensitivity of fair value valuations to changes in cash flow or market multiples, the Company may be required to recognize an impairment of goodwill or indefinite lived 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, royalty rates 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.
In August of 2013, the Company concluded it should reclassify its Fuller tradename from indefinite lived to definite lived. This conclusion was primarily reached in light of a long-term transition in the Fuller Mexico business to a new brand name. As a result of this transition, the Company has determined that the Fuller tradename has a 10 year useful life with amortization to be recorded on a straight-line basis. Amortization expense recorded in 2013 related to the Fuller tradename was $3.4 million. See Note 6 for details regarding the projected amortization expense over the remaining useful life of the Fuller tradename.
The reclassification of the Fuller tradename from an indefinite-lived to definite-lived asset triggered an impairment review similar to that performed during an annual assessment, as described above. The results of the impairment test demonstrated that the current estimated fair value of the Fuller tradename exceeded its carrying value. The fair value of the Fuller tradename was determined using the relief from royalty method, which is a form of the income approach. In this method, the value of the asset is calculated using a royalty rate, which is an estimate of the amount a company would be willing to pay for the use of the asset. The Company used a 4.5 percent royalty rate, which was applied to the asset’s projected revenue, tax affected and discounted to present value. The royalty rate used was selected by reviewing comparable trademark licensing agreements in the market. In estimating the fair value of the tradename, the Company applied a discount rate of 16.9 percent, and revenue growth ranging from 3 to 7 percent, with an average growth rate of 6 percent, and a long-term terminal growth rate of 3 percent.
Additionally, as of December 28, 2013 the Company had $3.2 million and $100.7 million included on its Consolidated Balance Sheets as the value of acquired sales forces and the Fuller tradename, respectively. The estimated annual amortization expense associated with these intangibles for each of the five succeeding years is $12.1 million, $12.0 million, $10.4 million, $10.4 million and $10.4 million, respectively. As of December 28, 2013, a product formulation asset recorded as part of the acquisition was fully amortized.
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 were as follows:
Discount Rate | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||
U.S. Plans | 3.3 | % | 3.7 | % | 4.7 | % | ||
Foreign Plans | 3.5 | 3.3 | 3.9 | |||||
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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 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||
U.S. Plans | 8.3 | % | 8.3 | % | 8.3 | % | ||
Foreign Plans | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.1 | |||||
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 28, 2013:
50 basis points | |||||||
(In millions) | Increase | Decrease | |||||
Discount rate change by 50 basis points | $ | (1.5 | ) | $ | 1.6 | ||
Expected rate of return on plan assets change by 50 basis points | (0.5 | ) | 0.5 | ||||
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 3.5 percent, 4.0 percent, and 5.0 percent for the 2013, 2012 and 2011 fiscal years, respectively. A change in discount rate of 50 basis points would not be material.
The following are the assumed health-care cost trend rates used by the Company:
Health-care trend rates | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||
Initial health-care cost trend | 7.0 | % | 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 | 2.1 | (1.8 | ) | ||||
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized when the price is fixed, the title and 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. Depending on the contractual arrangements for each business, revenue is recognized upon either delivery or shipment, which is when title and risk and rewards of ownership have passed to the customer. 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.
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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 in South America, particularly in 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 New 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.
Loans taken under the New 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 28, 2013, the New Credit Agreement dictated a spread of 150 basis points, which gave the Company an interest rate of 1.73 percent on borrowings under the New Credit Agreement. In light of the Company's share repurchase program, the Company is targeting a debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 1.75 times consolidated funded indebtedness (as defined in the New Credit Agreement) as of and for the four quarters ending of each quarter.
Of the Company's short-term borrowings as of December 28, 2013, $109.1 million was denominated in euro and $121.0 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 New Credit Agreement and uncommitted lines, as well as previously under the Old Credit Facility, during each quarter to fund operating, investing and other 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, Indonesian rupiah and Mexican peso, with meaningful exposures as well to the Brazilian real and Malaysian ringgit.
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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 $3.2 million, $2.1 million and $6.1 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
The U.S. dollar equivalent of the Company's most significant net open foreign currency hedge positions as of December 28, 2013 were to buy euros $157.7 million; Mexican pesos $18.2 million and Philippine pesos $11.3 million, and to sell U.S dollars $ 54.7 million; Swiss francs $49.4 million; Russian rubles $22.9 million; Turkish lira $11.7 million; Canadian dollars $11.0 million and South African rand $10.4 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 notional amounts change based upon changes in the Company's outstanding currency exposures. Based on rates existing as of December 28, 2013, the Company was in a net receivable position of approximately $1.1 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.
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 2014 cost of sales will include about $175 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 $18 million compared with the prior year. For 2013, the Company estimates its cost of sales of the Tupperware® products it produced was negatively impacted by about $7 million in local currency due to resin cost changes, as compared with 2012. For the full year of 2014, 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 negative $10 million, as compared with 2013. 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
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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 was negatively impacted by the drivers and ramifications of the credit crisis and real estate market conditions in the United States, which 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, Company website postings, conference presentations 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; |
• | 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 ability to procure, and procure at reasonable economic cost, sufficient raw materials and/or finished goods to meet current and future consumer demands in certain markets, particularly Venezuela, due to government regulations and restrictions; |
• | 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 in the countries in which the Company operates, resulting in potential economic and operational challenges for the Company's supply chains, 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; |
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• | the impact of currency fluctuations (including devaluation actions by governments) on the value of foreign operations generally, and particularly in Venezuela and Argentina, 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 |
• | 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 and its monthly web site updates of the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates on its year-over-year sales and earnings per share comparisons, 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 28, 2013 | December 29, 2012 | December 31, 2011 | ||||||||
Net sales | $ | 2,671.6 | $ | 2,583.8 | $ | 2,585.0 | |||||
Cost of products sold | 889.8 | 856.4 | 862.5 | ||||||||
Gross margin | 1,781.8 | 1,727.4 | 1,722.5 | ||||||||
Delivery, sales and administrative expense | 1,369.7 | 1,329.5 | 1,340.0 | ||||||||
Re-engineering and impairment charges | 9.3 | 22.4 | 7.9 | ||||||||
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets | — | 76.9 | 36.1 | ||||||||
Gains on disposal of assets | 0.7 | 7.9 | 3.8 | ||||||||
Operating income | 403.5 | 306.5 | 342.3 | ||||||||
Interest income | 2.6 | 2.5 | 3.2 | ||||||||
Interest expense | 40.2 | 34.9 | 49.0 | ||||||||
Other expense | 5.5 | 1.3 | 1.2 | ||||||||
Income before income taxes | 360.4 | 272.8 | 295.3 | ||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 86.2 | 79.8 | 77.0 | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 274.2 | $ | 193.0 | $ | 218.3 | |||||
Basic earnings per common share | $ | 5.28 | $ | 3.49 | $ | 3.63 | |||||
Diluted earnings per common share | $ | 5.17 | $ | 3.42 | $ | 3.55 | |||||
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 28, 2013 | December 29, 2012 | December 31, 2011 | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 274.2 | $ | 193.0 | $ | 218.3 | |||||
Other comprehensive income (loss): | |||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | (64.9 | ) | 32.2 | (54.2 | ) | ||||||
Deferred gain (loss) on cash flow hedges, net of tax provision of $0.8, $0.1 and $8.7, respectively | 2.4 | (0.5 | ) | 14.5 | |||||||
Pension and other post-retirement income (costs), net of tax benefit (provision) of ($9.3), $2.9 and $2.9, respectively | 17.0 | (7.5 | ) | (9.3 | ) | ||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) | (45.5 | ) | 24.2 | (49.0 | ) | ||||||
Total comprehensive income | $ | 228.7 | $ | 217.2 | $ | 169.3 | |||||
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 28, 2013 | December 29, 2012 | |||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 127.3 | $ | 119.8 | |||
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $32.9 and $30.4, respectively | 168.8 | 173.4 | |||||
Inventories | 313.4 | 313.9 | |||||
Deferred income tax benefits, net | 96.4 | 94.9 | |||||
Non-trade amounts receivable, net | 50.1 | 39.0 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 23.0 | 25.5 | |||||
Total current assets | 779.0 | 766.5 | |||||
Deferred income tax benefits, net | 397.9 | 359.1 | |||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 300.9 | 298.8 | |||||
Long-term receivables, less allowances of $20.5 and $22.4, respectively | 23.1 | 24.8 | |||||
Trademarks and tradenames, net | 125.7 | 138.4 | |||||
Other intangible assets, net | 3.2 | 5.0 | |||||
Goodwill | 181.5 | 192.9 | |||||
Other assets, net | 32.6 | 36.3 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 1,843.9 | $ | 1,821.8 | |||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 149.7 | $ | 154.8 | |||
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations | 235.4 | 203.4 | |||||
Accrued liabilities | 352.4 | 336.3 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 737.5 | 694.5 | |||||
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations | 619.9 | 414.4 | |||||
Other liabilities | 233.6 | 233.8 | |||||
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 | 178.3 | ||||||