UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
________________________________________
FORM 10-K
(Mark One) | |
x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 29, 2018
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 every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files). Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) 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, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer", "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | x | Accelerated filer | o |
Non-accelerated filer | o | Smaller reporting company | o |
Emerging growth company | o | ||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 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 held by non-affiliates on the New York Stock Exchange-Composite Transaction Listing on June 29, 2018 (the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter) was $2,069,823,157. For the purposes of making this calculation only, the registrant included all of its directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than ten percent of its common stock.
As of February 21, 2019, 48,666,804 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 22, 2019 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 | ||
Item 16 | ||
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 3.0 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 Avroy Shlain®, 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”).
(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, Meg Crofton, E.V. Goings, Angel R. Martinez, Antonio Monteiro de Castro, Christopher D. O’Leary, David R. Parker, Richard T. Riley, Joyce M. Roché, Patricia A. Stitzel and M. Anne Szostak. Members of the Audit, Finance and Corporate Responsibility Committee of the Board of Directors are Mr. Monteiro de Castro (Chair), Mses. Bertini, Roché and Szostak and Messrs. O’Leary and Riley. The members of the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board of Directors are Mr. Cloninger (Chair), Mses. Cameron and Crofton and Messrs. Martinez and Parker. The members of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors are Ms. Cameron (Chair), Messrs. Cloninger, Martinez, Monteiro de Castro and Parker and Ms. Roché. The members of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors are Mr. Goings (Chair), Mses. Cameron and Stitzel and Messrs. Cloninger, Monteiro de Castro and Parker. The Executive Chairman is Mr. Goings, the President and Chief Executive Officer is Ms. Stitzel and the Presiding Director is Ms. Cameron. The Registrant's executive 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 Equiniti Trust Company, c/o EQ Shareowner Services, 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120. The number of the Registrant's shareholders is set forth below in Part II, Item 5 of this 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, clicking on the “Investors” tab and searching under “Financial Information,” “Corporate Governance” or “IR Resources.”
BUSINESS OF TUPPERWARE BRANDS CORPORATION
The Registrant is a worldwide direct-to-consumer company engaged in the manufacture and sale of Tupperware® brand products and cosmetics and personal care products under a variety of trade names, including Avroy Shlain®, Fuller®, NaturCare®, Nutrimetics® and Nuvo®. Each business manufactures and/or markets a broad line of high quality products.
I. PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS
Tupperware. The core of the Tupperware brand product line consists of design-centric preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home. The Company also has established lines of cookware, knives, microwave products, microfiber textiles, water-filtration related items and an array of products for on-the-go consumers. The Company has continued to refresh its traditional kitchen and home products with updated designs and incremental technological enhancements while evolving towards more lifestyle-oriented products. These lifestyle solutions are based on consumer insights from the Company's market and product leaders around the globe.
1
In 2018, key launches to contemporize the Tupperware brand product offering included the Aloha* range offering a stylish, though completely nestable, serving solution and an expansion of the classy Crystalline Collection, an elegant serving solution. Other key launches include the Time Keepers Containers under the food conservation category and an expansion of the successful Click-To-Go range to include a Beverage Dispenser. The kitchen prep Fusion Master* System was expanded to include a new Spiralizer Accessory. The silicone baking range was expanded to include Mini Football and Egg shaped baking forms. The Eco Bottle range was expanded to include additional sizes of the Generation II design in Asia Pacific and a Santa Claus shaped bottle for children.
The Company continues to introduce new materials, designs, colors and decoration in its product lines, to vary its offerings including 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 products will continue to be an important part of the Company's strategy going forward. See “Research and Development” in Part I, Item I of this Report for additional information on the Company’s recent research and development.
Beauty. In Beauty, the Company manufactures and distributes skin and hair care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, jewelry and nutritional products. There were a number of key product launches by brand in 2018:
Fuller Cosmetics expanded its celebrity fragrances franchise introducing Aire by Yuri, presenting a renowned Mexican singer, Por Siempre Bronco, featuring a popular Mexican music group. Other key launches included Armand Dupree Eau Sensuelle* for her and Armand Dupree Homme* for him in the fragrance category and introduction of new shades in the iconic Armand Dupree Perfect Stay* line and Charcoal Mask in the skin care category. To reinforce Fuller’s uniqueness proposition, new concepts were introduced in Fuller Beauty Derm*: Camphorated Gel Forte, a more concentrated version of the beloved Camphorated Gel and Camphorated Gel Femme, a thermic formula recommended to relieve period cramps.
Tupperware Brands Brazil expanded the Nutrimetics* brand offerings by adding Nutrimetics Or and Rosé, Nutrimetics Off-Road, Nutrimetics Cancun and Nutrimetics Snow to its fragrance line. Other key additions include the Deodorant body spray and roll-on deodorants categories, roller liquid eyeliner and limited editions Lip Gloss, Matte Liquid Lip Colour, Eyeshadow Trios and Co creation matte lipstick in makeup category.
Tupperware Brands Philippines continued to focus on its top two women’s fragrances: Ivana* and A Little Romance*. The fragrance category was expanded to add new scents and 250 ml body mist versions. The personal care line was expanded with additions under Family shampoos and toothpaste.
Nutrimetics Australia re-launched its Ultra-Care+ Micro-Dermabrasion Kit with an upgraded formula at a lower cost and re-formulated the Comfort Plus range for sensitive skin with a vegan formula offering anti-aging benefits. The color category was expanded by adding Nutrimetics Perfecting Oil-Free Foundation and a Professional Complexion Correction Kit to align with the contouring and concealing trends in the market. Limited edition gold theme products were launched across the Nutri-Rich* body & skincare range and color category.
Avroy Shlain re-launched its anti-aging skincare range with new packaging and a new line of moisturizer. Their fragrance category’s key launches included Redd* Pulse by Avroy Shlain and Safire*, a limited edition for ladies' fragrances and Fine Leather*, ID by Avroy Shlain and Supreme Musk for Men's fragrances. Other key launches included introduction of a new Fashion category focusing on bags and fragrance gift sets for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Christmas. Coppelia* Colour range was expanded to include Shape Shifting Mascara, Contour Kit and Multi-Palette.
(Words followed by * are registered or unregistered trademarks of the Registrant.)
II. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND MARKETS
The Company operates its business under four reportable segments in four broad geographic regions: (1) Europe (Europe, Africa and the Middle East), (2) Asia Pacific, (3) North America and (4) South America. Market penetration varies throughout the world. Several areas that have low penetration, such as Latin America, Asia, and Central and Eastern Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa, provide the Company significant growth potential. The Company's strategy continues to include greater penetration in markets throughout the world.
2
Tupperware Brands' products are sold around the world under six brands: Tupperware, Avroy Shlain, 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 70 percent of 2018 sales, while businesses operating in established markets accounted for the other 30 percent. For the past five fiscal years, 91 or 92 percent of total revenues from the sale of Tupperware Brands' products have been in international markets.
See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Report for further details regarding segments and geographic areas.
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 addition and training of new sales force members.
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, pursuant to certain limitations. The vast majority of the sales force members 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, managers and dealers add, train, and motivate a large number of dealers. Managers are developed from among the dealer group, and team leaders from among the manager group, and promoted to assist in adding, training and motivating dealers, while continuing to sell products.
As of December 29, 2018, the Company's distribution system had approximately 2,100 distributors, 110,600 managers (including directors and team leaders) and 3.0 million dealers worldwide.
Tupperware has traditionally relied upon the group demonstration method of sales, which is designed to enable purchasers to appreciate, through demonstration, the features and benefits of the Company's products. Group demonstrations are held in homes, offices, social clubs and other locations. Products are also promoted through brochures mailed or given to people invited to attend 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, television and magazine advertising, as well as various social media channels, 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 China, the Company operated at the end of 2018 through 6,600 independent retail outlets, with heavy emphasis on digital marketing to acquire and sell to members of the outlets and other end consumers.
In 2018, 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. Sales through the Internet to end consumers and business-to-business transactions do not constitute a significant portion of the Company's sales.
3
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
At December 29, 2018, the Registrant employed approximately 12,000 people, of whom approximately 700 were based in the United States.
VI. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The Registrant incurred $15.0 million, $16.7 million and $18.3 million for fiscal years 2018, 2017 and 2016, 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 in many of the Company's markets. As a result, the Company has not experienced difficulties in obtaining adequate supplies. Research and development relating to resins used in Tupperware® brand 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® trademark, Tupperware Brands is not dependent upon any single patent or trademark, or group of patents or trademarks. The Tupperware® trademark, as well as its other trademarks, is 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 country-by-country 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.
4
X. OTHER
Sales do not vary significantly on a quarterly basis; however, sales in the first and third quarter are generally lower than the other quarters due to holiday schedules, vacations by dealers and their customers, as well as reduced promotional activities during these periods. 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 does seek 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.
5
XI. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
The following is a list of the names and ages of all 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 22, 2019).
Name and Age | Positions and Offices Held and Principal Occupations of Employment- During Past Five Years | |
Stein Ove Fenne, age 46 | Group President, Tupperware Europe, Africa & Middle East (TEAM) since July 2018. Previously Senior Vice President & President, Tupperware U.S. & Canada since October 2016, after serving as President, U.S. & Canada since July 2012. | |
Lillian D. Garcia, age 62 | Executive Vice President and Chief Talent & Engagement Officer, formerly known as Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, since January 2013. | |
Luciano Garcia Rangel, age 53 | Group President, Latin America since September 2017, after serving as Senior Vice President and President, Latin America since October 2016. Prior thereto, he served as Area Vice President, Latin America since July 2012. | |
E.V. Goings, age 73 | Executive Chairman since May 2018, after serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since October 1997. | |
Asha Gupta, age 47 | Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer since August 2018, after serving as Group President, Asia Pacific since January 2014, and as Area Vice President, India, Philippines and Nutrimetics Australia since January 2012. | |
Justin Hewett, age 47 | Group President, Asia Pacific since August 2018. Previously Area Vice President with portfolio responsibility in the Company’s Europe, Africa and Middle East group since January 2016, and Area Vice President, Total Africa since September 2014. Prior thereto, he served as Managing Director, Tupperware Southern Africa since January 2014. | |
Madeline Otero, age 43 | Vice President and Controller since November 2018, after serving as Vice President, Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk Management since November 2015, and as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Beauticontrol business since January 2011. | |
Michael S. Poteshman, age 55 | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since August 2004. As previously announced, Mr. Poteshman will retire as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective March 31, 2019. | |
Karen M. Sheehan, age 45 | Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer & Secretary since January 2018, after serving as Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary since January 2017, and as Vice President & Deputy General Counsel since December 2014. Previously at Church & Dwight Co. Inc., a publicly-traded consumer goods manufacturer and marketer, she was Associate General Counsel, Corporate & Assistant Secretary from May 2012 to November 2014. | |
Patricia A. Stitzel, age 53 | President and Chief Executive Officer since May 2018, after serving as President and Chief Operating Officer since October 2016, and as Group President, Americas since January 2014. | |
William J. Wright, age 56 | Executive Vice President, Product Innovation and Supply Chain since February 2017, after serving as Executive Vice President, Supply Chain Worldwide since October 2015, Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain since October 2014, and Senior Vice President, Global Product Development, Tupperware since March 2013. | |
6
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
There are inherent risks and uncertainties associated with the Company that could adversely affect its business, financial condition or results of operations. Set forth below are descriptions of those risks and uncertainties that the Company currently believes to be material, but the risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones that could adversely affect the Company. Other events that the Company does not currently anticipate or that the Company currently deems immaterial also may affect its business, financial condition or results of operations. Before making an investment in the Company’s securities, investors should carefully consider the risk factors discussed below, together with the other information in this Report, including the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the other reports and materials filed by the Company with the SEC.
Sales Force Factors
The Company’s products are primarily marketed and sold through the "direct-to-consumer" method of distribution, in which products are 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 addition, activation and retention of a large force of sales personnel to grow and compensate for a high turnover rate. The addition 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, demographic and cultural changes in the workforce and the level of penetration of the Company's sales force in the geographies in which it operates. The activation of the sales force is dependent, in part, upon the effectiveness of compensation and promotional programs of the Company, the competitiveness of the same compared with other direct-to-consumer companies, the introduction of new products and the ability to advance through the sales force structure.
The Company’s sales are directly tied to the activity levels of its sales force, which is in large part a temporary working activity for many 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 group demonstrations 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 or change its cost base that may lead to the inaccurate perception that the independent sales force system is at risk of being phased out or that the Company intends to exit markets.
International Operations
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. Amongst others, these risks include local political and economic environments, adverse new tax regulations, potentially burdensome privacy protocols, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation, and relations between the U.S. and foreign governments.
7
The Company has derived for a number of years, over 90 percent of its net sales from operations outside the United States. An economic slowdown in any of the countries where the Company operates, particularly, in China, could materially affect the Company's revenues and operating results. Also, movement in exchange rates has had and may continue to have a significant impact on the Company’s earnings, cash flows and financial position. The Company’s most significant exposures are to the Brazilian real, Chinese renminbi, euro, Indonesian rupiah, Malaysian ringgit, Mexican peso and South African rand. Business units in which the Company generated at least $100 million of sales in 2018 included Brazil, China, Fuller Mexico, Germany, Indonesia, Tupperware Mexico and the United States and Canada. Of these units, sales by Brazil, China and the United States and Canada exceeded $200 million. Although the Company's currency risk is partially mitigated by the natural hedge arising from its 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 currency 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 and related hedging activities 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. As of the end of 2018, this was a particular issue in China. See Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for further discussion regarding this risk.
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 a 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 or requirements on where the products can or must be produced 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 and import quotas and restrictions on repatriation of foreign earnings and/or other methods of accessing cash generated internationally, may negatively affect the Company's local or corporate operations. Governments may seek either to impose taxes on independent sales force members, 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 Company's sales force and/or the direct-to-consumer companies, or to impose registration requirements that could impact prospects' willingness to join the sales force. Additionally, some governments prohibit or impose limitations on the requirement to purchase demonstration products upon joining a direct-to-consumer business and/or the types of activities for which a direct-to-consumer sales force can be compensated. Additionally, the U.S. government may impose restrictions on the Company's ability to engage in business in other countries in connection with the foreign policy of the United States.
Product Safety
Certain of the materials used in the Company’s product lines may give rise to concerns of consumers based upon scientific theories which are espoused from time to time, including the risk of certain materials leaching out of plastic containers used for their intended purposes or the ingredients used in cosmetics, personal care or nutritional products causing harm to human health. This includes polycarbonate, which contains the chemical Bisphenol A, and polyethersulfone, which contains the chemical Bisphenol S. It is the Company’s policy to market products in each of its business units containing 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.
8
Senior Leadership Team; Management Succession
The Company’s success depends in part on the efforts and abilities of qualified personnel at all levels, including its senior management team and other key employees. Their motivation, skills, experience, contacts and industry knowledge significantly benefit the Company’s operations and administration. The failure to attract, motivate and retain members of the senior management team could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. Any significant leadership change or senior management transition involves inherent risk and any failure to ensure a smooth transition could hinder the Company’s strategic planning, execution and future performance. A change in the senior management team may create uncertainty among investors, employees and others concerning the Company’s future direction and performance. Any disruption in the Company’s operations or uncertainty could have an adverse effect on its business, financial condition or results of operations. In particular, Mr. Poteshman will retire as Executive Vice president and Chief Financial Officer effective March 31, 2019.
Technology and Cyber-Security
The Company relies extensively on information technology systems to conduct its business, some of which are managed by third-party service providers. These systems include, but are not limited to, programs and processes relating to internal communications and communications with other parties, ordering and managing materials from suppliers, converting materials to finished products, receiving orders and shipping product to customers, billing customers and receiving and applying payments, processing transactions, summarizing and reporting results of operations, complying with regulatory, legal or tax requirements, collecting and storing certain customer, employee, investor, and other stakeholder information and personal data, and other processes necessary to manage the Company’s business. Current and increased information technology security threats, and current and more sophisticated computer crime, including advanced persistent threats, pose a potential risk to the security of the information technology systems, networks, and services of the Company, its customers and other business partners, as well as the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of the data of the Company, its customers and other business partners. As a result, the Company’s information technology systems, networks or service providers could be damaged or cease to function properly or the Company could suffer a loss or disclosure of business, personal or stakeholder information, due to any number of causes, including catastrophic events, power outages and security breaches. Although the Company has business continuity plans in place, if these plans do not provide effective alternative processes on a timely basis, the Company may suffer interruptions in its ability to manage or conduct its operations, which may adversely affect its business. The Company may need to expend additional resources in the future to continue to protect against, or to address problems caused by, any business interruptions or data security breaches. Any business interruptions or data security breaches, including cyber-security breaches resulting in private data disclosure, could result in lawsuits or regulatory proceedings, damage the Company’s reputation or adversely impact the Company’s results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. While the Company maintains insurance coverage that could cover some of these types of issues, the coverage has limitations and includes deductibles such that it may not be adequate to offset losses incurred.
The Company could also be adversely affected by system or network disruptions if new or upgraded information technology systems or software are defective, not installed properly or not properly integrated into its operations. Various measures have been implemented to manage the risks related to the implementation and modification of hardware and software, but any significant disruption or deficiency in the design and implementation of new or upgraded information technology systems or software could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position and results of operations and could, if not successfully implemented, adversely impact the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting. The Company is in the midst of a multi-year project to upgrade and standardize most of its systems on a worldwide basis.
9
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, terrorist activity, public scrutiny of the direct-to-consumer channel, and changing attitudes regarding plastic products 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 counterfeiting and other intellectual property infringement, which may be difficult to police and prevent, depending upon the ability to identify infringers and the availability and/or enforceability of intellectual property rights. Other risks, as discussed under the sub-heading “Forward-Looking Statements” contained in Part II, Item 7A of this Report, can be relevant to performance as well.
Global Growth Strategy Initiatives
In January 2019, the Company announced an acceleration of investment in its Global Growth Strategy initiatives. The Company expects to invest approximately $100 million through 2022, 90 percent of which will be in cash. The areas of strategic focus are driving innovation across products, sales force and consumer experiences; extending access to make it easier for sales force and consumers to connect; deploying technology to drive sales force engagement and consumer connections; contemporizing the service model to allow the sales force to focus on driving revenue; and simplifying and streamlining structures to create a more aligned and integrated organization. Once implemented, the transformation initiatives are expected to enable annual local currency sales growth of a mid-single digit percentage and to generate about $50 million in annualized savings.
As the Company works to complete the transformation initiatives, it may not realize anticipated savings or benefits from one or more of the various restructuring and cost-savings programs undertaken as part of these efforts in full or in part or within the time periods expected. It also may not realize the increase in sales intended to be enabled by the initiatives. Other events and circumstances, such as financial and strategic difficulties and delays or unexpected costs, including the impact of foreign currency and inflationary pressures, may occur which could result in not realizing targets or in offsetting the financial benefits of reaching those targets. Reaching those targets may also depend on the level of acceptance by the Company's sales force of its compensation initiatives. If the Company is unable to realize the anticipated savings or benefits, or otherwise fails to invest in the growth initiatives, the business may be adversely affected. In addition, any plans to invest these savings and benefits ahead of future growth means that such costs will be incurred whether or not these savings and benefits are realized. The Company is also subject to the risks of labor unrest, negative publicity and business disruption in connection with these initiatives, and the failure to realize anticipated savings or benefits from such initiatives could have a material adverse effect on business, prospects, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and cash flows.
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/or distribution facilities in Australia, Brazil, France, Greece, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa and the United States, and leases manufacturing and distribution facilities in Belgium, China, Germany, India, Japan and Venezuela. The Registrant owns and maintains the headquarters in India and leases the former Beauticontrol manufacturing and distribution facility in Texas. The Registrant is seeking to sub-lease the Beauticontrol facility and is endeavoring to dispose of its manufacturing and distribution facility in France in connection with the Company's restructuring plan announced in July 2017.
The Registrant conducts a continuing program of new product design and development at its facilities in Australia, Belgium and Mexico. None of the owned principal properties is subject to any encumbrance material to the consolidated operations of the Company. Notwithstanding the planned dispositions noted above the Registrant considers the condition and extent of utilization of its plants, warehouses and other properties to be good and the nature of the properties and the capacity of its plants and warehouses generally to be adequate for its needs.
10
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 390 acres have been sold and about 170 acres remain to be sold in connection with this project that is expected to continue for a number of years.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
A number of ordinary-course legal and administrative proceedings against the Registrant or its subsidiaries are pending. In addition to such proceedings, there are certain proceedings that involve the discharge of materials into, or otherwise relating to the protection of, the environment. Certain of such proceedings involve federal environmental laws such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as well as state and local laws. The Registrant has established reserves with respect to certain of such proceedings. Because of the involvement of other parties and the uncertainty of potential environmental impacts, the eventual outcomes of such actions and the cost and timing of expenditures cannot be determined with certainty. It is not expected that the outcome of such proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect upon the Registrant.
As part of the 1986 reorganization involving the formation of Premark, Premark was spun-off by Dart & Kraft, Inc., and Kraft Foods, Inc. assumed any liabilities arising out of any legal proceedings in connection with certain divested or discontinued former businesses of Dart Industries Inc., a subsidiary of the Registrant, including matters alleging product and environmental liability. The assumption of liabilities by Kraft Foods, Inc. (now Mondelez International, Inc.) remains effective subsequent to the distribution of the equity of the Registrant to Premark shareholders in 1996.
Item 4. Mine Safety Procedures.
Not applicable.
11
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 2016 through 2018 that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended. As of February 21, 2019, the Registrant had 46,113 shareholders of record and beneficial holders. The principal United States market on which the Registrant’s common stock is traded is the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TUP”.
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 Company's stock is included in both indices. The graph assumes that the value of the investment in the Company's common stock and each index was 100 at December 28, 2013 and that all dividends were reinvested.
12
Measurement Period (Fiscal Year Ended) | Tupperware Brands Corporation | S&P 400 Mid-Cap | S&P 400 Mid-Cap Consumer Discretionary Index | |||||
12/28/2013 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | |||||
12/27/2014 | 69.63 | 111.39 | 111.85 | |||||
12/26/2015 | 63.95 | 109.15 | 103.71 | |||||
12/31/2016 | 63.16 | 130.22 | 112.79 | |||||
12/30/2017 | 78.56 | 151.35 | 134.73 | |||||
12/29/2018 | 41.86 | 133.19 | 109.91 | |||||
Item 5c. | Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities. |
None.
13
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 consolidated financial statements which, for the data presented for fiscal years 2018 and 2017 and for some data presented for 2016, are included in Part II, 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 in Part II, Items 7 and 8, respectively, in this report. The Company's fiscal year ends on the last Saturday of December and, as a result, the 2016 fiscal year contained 53 weeks as compared with 52 weeks for the other fiscal years presented.
(In millions, except per share amounts) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||
Operating results | |||||||||||||||||||
Net sales: | |||||||||||||||||||
Europe | $ | 525.6 | $ | 550.4 | $ | 559.4 | $ | 612.9 | $ | 740.6 | |||||||||
Asia Pacific | 682.0 | 734.8 | 748.6 | 771.0 | 839.6 | ||||||||||||||
North America | 515.1 | 541.5 | 548.3 | 593.7 | 640.8 | ||||||||||||||
South America | 347.0 | 429.1 | 356.8 | 306.2 | 385.1 | ||||||||||||||
Total net sales | $ | 2,069.7 | $ | 2,255.8 | $ | 2,213.1 | $ | 2,283.8 | $ | 2,606.1 | |||||||||
Segment profit: | |||||||||||||||||||
Europe | $ | 46.3 | $ | 54.5 | $ | 65.3 | $ | 92.4 | $ | 117.5 | |||||||||
Asia Pacific | 172.5 | 189.3 | 181.0 | 175.9 | 191.7 | ||||||||||||||
North America | 76.3 | 69.7 | 66.1 | 69.7 | 69.6 | ||||||||||||||
South America | 68.3 | 98.7 | 82.2 | 46.5 | 27.1 | ||||||||||||||
Unallocated expenses | (46.3 | ) | (64.1 | ) | (67.6 | ) | (72.8 | ) | (55.9 | ) | |||||||||
Gain on disposal of assets including insurance recoveries, net (a),(b) | 18.7 | 9.1 | 27.3 | 13.7 | 2.7 | ||||||||||||||
Re-engineering and impairment charges | (15.9 | ) | (66.0 | ) | (7.6 | ) | (20.3 | ) | (11.0 | ) | |||||||||
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets (c) | — | (62.9 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Interest expense, net | (43.7 | ) | (43.2 | ) | (45.4 | ) | (45.2 | ) | (43.5 | ) | |||||||||
Income before income taxes | 276.2 | 185.1 | 301.3 | 259.9 | 298.2 | ||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes (d) | 120.3 | 450.5 | 77.7 | 74.1 | 83.8 | ||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) (d) | $ | 155.9 | $ | (265.4 | ) | $ | 223.6 | $ | 185.8 | $ | 214.4 | ||||||||
Basic earnings (loss) per common share | $ | 3.12 | $ | (5.22 | ) | $ | 4.43 | $ | 3.72 | $ | 4.28 | ||||||||
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share | $ | 3.11 | $ | (5.22 | ) | $ | 4.41 | $ | 3.69 | $ | 4.20 | ||||||||
See footnotes beginning on the following page.
14
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||
Profitability ratios | |||||||||||||||||||
Segment profit as a percent of sales: | |||||||||||||||||||
Europe | 9 | % | 10 | % | 12 | % | 15 | % | 16 | % | |||||||||
Asia Pacific | 25 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 23 | ||||||||||||||
North America | 15 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | ||||||||||||||
South America | 20 | 23 | 23 | 15 | 7 | ||||||||||||||
Financial Condition | |||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 149.0 | $ | 144.1 | $ | 93.2 | $ | 79.8 | $ | 77.0 | |||||||||
Net working capital | (138.5 | ) | (28.3 | ) | (2.3 | ) | (63.5 | ) | (105.0 | ) | |||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 276.0 | 278.2 | 259.8 | 253.6 | 290.3 | ||||||||||||||
Total assets | 1,308.8 | 1,388.0 | 1,587.8 | 1,598.2 | 1,769.8 | ||||||||||||||
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term obligations | 285.5 | 133.0 | 105.9 | 162.5 | 221.4 | ||||||||||||||
Long-term obligations | 603.4 | 605.1 | 606.0 | 608.2 | 612.1 | ||||||||||||||
Shareholders’ equity (deficit) | (235.2 | ) | (119.4 | ) | 212.8 | 161.0 | 185.8 | ||||||||||||
Current ratio | 0.82 | 0.96 | 1.00 | 0.90 | 0.86 | ||||||||||||||
Other Data | |||||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 132.0 | $ | 217.4 | $ | 237.0 | $ | 225.7 | $ | 284.1 | |||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (34.7 | ) | (57.6 | ) | (25.7 | ) | (43.1 | ) | (62.3 | ) | |||||||||
Net cash used in financing activities | (79.0 | ) | (116.6 | ) | (193.3 | ) | (157.1 | ) | (211.0 | ) | |||||||||
Capital expenditures | 75.4 | 72.3 | 61.6 | 61.1 | 69.4 | ||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 58.2 | 60.5 | 57.5 | 62.4 | 63.7 | ||||||||||||||
Common Stock Data | |||||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared per share | $ | 2.72 | $ | 2.72 | $ | 2.72 | $ | 2.72 | $ | 2.72 | |||||||||
Dividend payout ratio (e) | 87.2 | % | nm | 61.4 | % | 73.1 | % | 63.6 | % | ||||||||||
Average common shares outstanding (thousands): | |||||||||||||||||||
Basic | 49,877 | 50,818 | 50,521 | 49,947 | 50,131 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted (f) | 50,154 | 50,818 | 50,719 | 50,401 | 51,011 | ||||||||||||||
Period-end book value per share (g) | $ | (4.69 | ) | $ | (2.35 | ) | $ | 4.20 | $ | 3.19 | $ | 3.64 | |||||||
Period-end price/earnings ratio (h) | 10.0 | nm | 11.9 | 15.1 | 15.2 | ||||||||||||||
nm Not meaningful
(a) | In 2002, the Company began to sell land held for development near its Orlando, Florida headquarters. During 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014, in connection with this program, pretax gains of $7.1 million, $8.8 million, $26.5 million, $12.9 million and 1.3 million, respectively, were included in gains on disposal of assets including insurance recoveries, net. |
(b) | Included in gain on disposal of assets including insurance recoveries, net are pretax gains of $9.5 million from the sale and leaseback of a distribution facility in Japan and $2.1 million from the sale of the Beauticontrol property in Texas in 2018 and $1.1 million in 2014 from the sale of property in Australia. |
(c) | Valuations completed in 2017, on the Company’s intangible assets resulted in the conclusion that the goodwill value of the Fuller Mexico reporting unit was impaired. This resulted in non-cash charge of $62.9 million. |
(d) | In 2017, upon enactment of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "Tax Act"), the Company recorded $375 million of non-cash, income tax charges. In addition, in 2018 the Company recorded $46.6 million of income tax expense related to implementation of provisions of the Tax Act. |
(e) | The dividend payout ratio is dividends declared per share divided by basic earnings per share. In 2017, due to the Company's net loss position the dividend payout ratio is not meaningful. |
(f) | In 2017, due to the Company's net loss position diluted shares were the same as basic shares outstanding. |
15
(g) | Period-end book value per share is calculated as year-end shareholders’ equity (deficit) divided by full year diluted common shares outstanding. |
(h) | 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. In 2017, due to the Company's net loss position the Period-end price/earnings ratio is not meaningful. |
16
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 2018 compared with 2017 and 2017 compared with 2016, and changes in financial condition during 2018 and 2017. The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Saturday of December. As a result, the 2016 fiscal year included 53 weeks, as compared with 52 weeks for 2018 and 2017. This information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial information provided in Part II, 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 consumers 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, diversity and productivity of its independent sales organizations.
As the impacts of foreign currency translation 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 the Company's operating 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 used to translate results 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.
The Company defines established market economies as those in Western Europe (including Scandinavia), Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States. All other countries are classified as having emerging market economies.
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.
17
Overview
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
Total Company Results 2018 vs. 2017
52 weeks ended | Change | Change excluding the impact of foreign exchange | Foreign exchange impact | |||||||||||||
December 29, 2018 | December 30, 2017 | |||||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 2,069.7 | $ | 2,255.8 | (8)% | (5)% | $ | (82.2 | ) | |||||||
Gross margin as a percent of sales | 66.6 | % | 67.0 | % | (0.4 | ) pp | na | na | ||||||||
DS&A as a percent of sales | 51.2 | % | 51.4 | % | (0.2 | ) pp | na | na | ||||||||
Operating income | $ | 319.8 | $ | 232.5 | 38% | 54% | $ | (24.3 | ) | |||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 155.9 | $ | (265.4 | ) | - | - | $ | (15.5 | ) | ||||||
Net income (loss) per diluted share | $ | 3.11 | $ | (5.22 | ) | - | - | $ | (0.31 | ) | ||||||
Total Company Results 2017 vs. 2016
52 weeks ended | 53 weeks ended | Change | Change excluding the impact of foreign exchange | Foreign exchange impact | |||||||||||||
December 30, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 2,255.8 | $ | 2,213.1 | 2% | 1% | $ | 16.7 | |||||||||
Gross margin as a percent of sales | 67.0 | % | 67.7 | % | (0.7 | ) pp | na | na | |||||||||
DS&A as a percent of sales | 51.4 | % | 52.6 | % | (1.2 | ) pp | na | na | |||||||||
Operating income | $ | 232.5 | $ | 354.2 | (34)% | (35 | )% | $ | 4.4 | ||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | (265.4 | ) | $ | 223.6 | - | - | $ | 3.4 | ||||||||
Net income (loss) per diluted share | $ | (5.22 | ) | $ | 4.41 | - | - | $ | 0.06 | ||||||||
____________________
na not applicable
pp percentage points
–not applicable as amount positive in one year and negative in the other
Net Sales
Reported sales decreased 8 percent in 2018 compared with 2017. Excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, sales decreased 5 percent. This included a 1 percentage point positive impact from the benefit of business-to-business sales, mainly in France and Germany, and a 2 percentage point negative impact from the closure of Beauticontrol in 2017 and the combination of the NaturCare and Tupperware businesses in Japan as of the beginning of 2018. The average impact of higher prices on the sales comparison was about 2 percent.
The Company’s businesses operating in emerging market economies accounted for 70 percent and 69 percent of reported sales in 2018 and 2017, respectively. Reported sales in the emerging markets were down 6 percent in 2018 compared with 2017, including a negative translation impact of $95.2 million from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, these units were even in sales. The average impact of higher prices in these markets was 2 percent. The most significant increase in local currency sales in the Company's emerging market units was in China, due to the net addition of outlets. Other units with meaningful increases were Tupperware Mexico, due to higher sales force productivity and higher prices, and Tupperware South Africa from more active sellers in connection with higher sales force additions. These results were offset by a decrease in India due to a smaller, less productive sales force, and in Indonesia from a smaller, less active sales force.
18
Reported sales in the Company’s units operating in established market economies were down 12 percent compared with 2017. Excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, sales were down 14 percent, which included a negative 4 percent impact from the Beauticontrol closure and the combination of the businesses in Japan. The decrease was primarily in France, Germany and Italy, due to less active sellers from lower sales force additions. The average impact of higher prices in the established markets was 1 percent.
Reported sales increased 2 percent in 2017 compared with 2016. Excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, sales increased 1 percent. This included an estimated 1 percentage point negative impact on the comparison from the 53rd week in 2016, as well as 0.7 percentage point negative impact from Beauticontrol, reflecting lower sales in the first half of 2017, and the winding down of operations in the third quarter. The average impact of higher prices on the sales comparison was 2 percent.
The Company’s businesses operating in emerging market economies accounted for 69 percent and 66 percent of reported sales in 2017 and 2016, respectively. Net sales in the emerging markets were up 5 percent in 2017 compared with 2016 in both dollars and local currency. The average impact of higher prices in these markets was 4 percent. The increase in local currency sales in the Company's emerging market units was primarily in Brazil, the Company's largest business unit, reflecting a larger sales force, and in China, reflecting continued growth in the number of members, who are customers of the outlets and more outlets, along with higher productivity, including from improved leveraging of digital marketing. Also contributing to the local currency sales increase was inflation related pricing in Argentina and Venezuela, and the benefit of larger sales forces in Tupperware Mexico and Tupperware South Africa from strong sales force additions. These results were partially offset by decreases in India, from significantly fewer active sellers in light of requirements under the federal government's direct selling guidelines that were enacted in 2016 and constrained consumer spending due to implementation of a nationwide goods and services tax in July 2017, and in Indonesia from a smaller, less active and less productive sales force.
Reported sales in the Company’s units operating in established market economies were down 4 percent in 2017 compared with 2016. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, these units were down 6 percent, with the most significant decreases in France and Germany, from smaller sales force sizes, and Nutrimetics Australia and New Zealand, from a smaller, less active sales force, as well as the decision to wind-down Beauticontrol beginning in the third quarter of 2017. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in volume of products sold in the United States and Canada by a larger and more active sales force. The average impact of lower prices in the established markets was 1 percent, primarily related to more aggressive promotional pricing.
Specific segment impacts are further discussed in the Segment Results section in this Part I, Item 7.
Gross Margin
Gross margin as a percentage of sales was 66.6 percent in 2018 and 67.0 percent in 2017. The decrease of 0.4 percentage points ("pp") primarily reflected unfavorable resin costs (0.5 pp), higher manufacturing costs despite the closure of French supply chain facility early in the year, mainly in South America and Europe, in part due to lower volume (0.4 pp), and unfavorable mix of products sold and increased sales incentives, mainly in Brazil and Europe (0.2 pp). These were partially offset by a mix impact from relatively higher sales in certain units with higher than average gross margins (0.3 pp), lower obsolescence costs (0.3 pp) and a positive impact from the translation effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates in Venezuela (0.1 pp).
Gross margin as a percentage of sales was 67.0 percent in 2017 and 67.7 percent in 2016. The decrease of 0.7 percentage points primarily reflected an unfavorable mix of products sold and more aggressive promotional pricing, mainly at Beauticontrol and in Europe (1.2 pp), a negative impact from the translation effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates in Venezuela (0.2 pp), unfavorable resin costs (0.2 pp), and higher obsolescence costs, mainly in light of the winding down of Beauticontrol (0.1 pp). These were partially offset by a mix impact from relatively higher sales in certain units with higher than average gross margins (0.5 pp) and lower manufacturing costs, mainly in Europe (0.5 pp).
19
Operating Expenses
Delivery, sales and administrative expense ("DS&A") as a percentage of sales was 51.2 percent in 2018, compared with 51.4 percent in 2017. The comparison reflected more efficient promotional spending primarily in Brazil and Fuller Mexico (0.8 pp), lower administrative expenses, mainly in Brazil and Corporate, primarily due to lower expense for management incentives (0.7 pp), a favorable mix impact from relatively higher sales in certain units with lower than average DS&A (0.5 pp) and a favorable impact of the 2017 closure of Beauticontrol, which had higher than average DS&A as a percentage of sales (0.2 pp). This was partially offset by higher distribution costs, mainly in Brazil, Europe and Tupperware United States and Canada (0.8 pp), increased commissions, primarily in Brazil, Japan and Tupperware United States and Canada (0.4 pp), higher bad debt expense, mainly in France and Fuller Mexico (0.4 pp) and a negative impact from the translation effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates (0.4 pp).
DS&A as a percentage of sales was 51.4 percent in 2017, compared with 52.6 percent in 2016. The lower DS&A expense reflected more efficient promotional spending primarily in Asia Pacific and Europe (0.8 pp), relatively higher sales in certain units with lower than average operating expenses (0.6 pp), a positive impact from the translation effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates (0.2 pp) and lower marketing costs mainly in Europe (0.1 pp). Partially offsetting these decreases, was higher distribution costs in Tupperware North America (0.2 pp) and higher bad debt expense in Europe and South America (0.3 pp).
The Company segregates corporate operating expenses into allocated and unallocated components based upon the estimated time spent managing segment operations. The allocated costs are then apportioned on a local currency basis 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 2018 decreased $17.8 million compared with 2017, reflecting reduced management incentive costs and reduced expenses from corporate marketing initiatives.
Total unallocated expenses in 2017 decreased $3.5 million compared with 2016, reflecting reduced expenses from corporate marketing initiatives, and a higher allocation of costs to the segments, partially offset by increased management incentive costs.
As discussed in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Report, 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 this expense in cost of products sold.
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, improve operating efficiency and otherwise transform its business. These actions often result in re-engineering costs related to headcount reductions and 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 including structural changes impacting how its sales force operates. In addition, the Company may recognize gains or losses upon disposal of excess facilities or other activities directly related to its re-engineering efforts.
Over the past three years, the Company has incurred such costs as detailed below that were included in the following income statement captions:
(In millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||
Re-engineering and impairment charges | $ | 15.9 | $ | 63.7 | $ | 7.6 | |||||
Cost of products sold | 0.9 | 3.6 | — | ||||||||
Total pretax re-engineering costs | $ | 16.8 | $ | 67.3 | $ | 7.6 | |||||
In 2018 and 2017, the re-engineering and impairment charges incurred were primarily related to severance costs and restructuring actions taken in connection with the Company's plans, through 2019, to rationalize its supply chain and to adjust the cost base of several marketing units. The restructuring charges also relate to the Company's decision to wind-down the Beauticontrol reporting unit in 2017. In 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded $0.9 million and $3.6 million, respectively, in cost of sales for inventory obsolescence in connection with its re-engineering program.
20
Under the Company's re-engineering program announced in July 2017, it expects to incur a total of $84 million in pretax costs, of which $81 million has been recorded starting in the second quarter of 2017 through the end of 2018. In connection with this program the Company expects to incur an additional $3 million of pretax re-engineering costs in 2019, with about 65 percent of the total program cost related to severance and benefits, and the balance predominantly related to costs to exit leases and other contracts, mainly related to wind-down of Beauticontrol and closure of the French manufacturing facility, as well as the write-off of excess assets for which there were no disposal proceeds. Cash outflows associated with the overall program are expected to total about $80 million, including $52 million paid through 2018. Both the cost and cash flow are before related asset sales that could bring proceeds of up to $35 to $45 million over time, including $28 million received in connection with the sale of assets in the first half of 2018. The annualized benefit of these actions, once fully implemented, is estimated to be $35 million with a small amount realized in 2017 and about two-thirds realized in 2018, mainly in the second half, and an incremental $10 million to be realized in 2019. While the expected savings to date have been realized, other factors more than offset these amounts. The benefits realized in 2018 were reflected most significantly through lower cost of products sold than would otherwise be achieved, as well as through lower DS&A.
In January 2019, the Company announced a transformation program running through 2022 that is expected to cost approximately $100 million, with 90 percent in cash. Once fully implemented, the transformation projects are expected to enable annual local currency sales growth and to generate about $50 million in annualized savings.
In 2016, the re-engineering and impairment charges were primarily associated with headcount reductions in several of the Company's operations in connection with changes in its management and organizational structures.
See also Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Report, regarding the Company's re-engineering actions.
Fixed Asset Impairment - Venezuela
As of the end of December 2017, the Company evaluated the significant inflationary environment, the early 2018 devaluation of the currency in relation to the U.S. dollar and the actual exchange rates being used to conduct business, particularly procurement of resins to manufacture product in Venezuela. The Company concluded, it would use the parallel exchange rate in use in the country, which was approximately 99 percent lower than the official exchange rate that was used in 2017, to value sales and profit beginning of 2018. As a result of this evaluation, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $2.3 million dollars to reduce the carrying value of its long-term fixed assets to zero. This impairment charge was included in the re-engineering and impairment charge caption of the Company's Consolidated Income Statement, but is not a component of the program announced in July 2017.
There were no fixed asset impairments in 2018 and 2016.
See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Report for further details.
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. In the third quarters of 2018 and 2017, the Company completed the annual assessments for all of its reporting units and indefinite-lived intangible assets, concluding there were no impairments.
In the second quarter of 2017, as part of its on-going assessment of goodwill and intangible assets, the Company noted that the sales, profitability and cash flow of Fuller Mexico had fallen below its recent trend lines, and was expected to fall significantly short of previous expectations for the year. As a result, the Company performed an interim impairment test as of the end of May 2017, and recorded an impairment charge of $62.9 million. The remaining goodwill balance at Fuller Mexico as of December 29, 2018 was $17.1 million.
The estimated fair value of Fuller Mexico equaled its estimated carrying value as of May 2017, reflecting the impairment charge recorded at that time. Having the estimated carrying value equal to fair value results in an elevated risk of future impairment. Since May 2017, Fuller Mexico's local currency sales and cash flows have exceeded those projected in the May 2017 step 1 valuation, which has significantly reduced the risk of impairment at Fuller Mexico.
21
Management has concluded there is no significant foreseeable risk of failing a future goodwill impairment test, nor is there significant foreseeable risk of the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets falling materially 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 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. Impairment charges would have an adverse impact on the Company’s net income and shareholders' equity.
Refer to Note 6 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 for further information.
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, recognizing pretax gains of $7.1 million, $8.8 million and $26.5 million under this program in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Included in 2016 pretax gains under this program was $24.2 million in connection with the sale of two joint ventures the Company had with a real estate development partner to develop land near the Company's Orlando headquarters. Total cash proceeds from the sale were $30.2 million, including $0.9 million related to the operation of the joint ventures during development. The income from the joint venture operations was recorded in other income on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income in 2016. 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 $147 million with additional net proceeds of up to $90 million expected as the program is completed. The carrying value of the remaining land included in the Company's land sales program was $30 million as of the end of 2018, which was included in property, plant and equipment held for use within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company has concluded that the fair value of the land under this program significantly exceeded the carrying value as of the end of 2018, and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future.
In addition in 2018, the Company executed a sale and leaseback of its distribution facility in Japan. The lease has an initial term of 6 years and 5 months. The transaction resulted in cash proceeds of $22.4 million and a deferred gain of $7.9 million, which was recorded as a liability and will be amortized over the lease term. The Company recorded a gain of $9.5 million in connection with this transaction along with a pretax gain of $2.1 million from the sale of Beauticontrol property in Texas in 2018.
Net Interest Expense
Net interest expense was $43.7 million in 2018, compared with $43.2 million in 2017. Interest expense increased in the year-over-year comparison reflecting the impact of higher interest rates on short-term borrowings and higher average borrowings, partially offset by less expense related to forward points from the Company's hedging activity.
Net interest expense was $43.2 million in 2017, compared with $45.4 million in 2016. Interest expense decreased in the year-over-year comparison reflecting less expense related to forward points from the Company's hedging activity, partially offset by the impact of higher interest rates on short-term borrowings.
Tax Rate
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation, the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "Tax Act"). The Tax Act makes broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code. The effective tax rates for 2018, 2017 and 2016 were 43.6, 243.4 and 25.8 percent, respectively. The effective tax rate for 2018 and 2017 reflects the impact of the Tax Act.
22
The Tax Act also established new tax laws that affected 2018 and 2017 and will affect future years, including but not limited to (1) reducing the U.S. federal corporate rate from 35 percent to 21 percent; (2) elimination of the corporate alternative minimum tax (AMT); (3) the creation of the base erosion anti-abuse tax (BEAT); (4) a general elimination of U.S. federal income taxes on dividends from foreign subsidiaries; (5) a new provision designed to tax global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI); (6) a new limitation on deductible interest expense (IRC section 163(j)); (7) limitations on the deductibility of certain executive compensation ; (8) significant limitations on the use of foreign tax credits (FTCs) to reduce U.S. income tax liability; and (9) changing the rules related to the uses and limitations of net operating loss carryforwards created in tax years beginning after December 21, 2017.
ASC 740 requires a company to record the effect of a tax law change in the period of enactment. However, shortly after the enactment of the Tax Act, the SEC staff issued SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 (“SAB 118”), which allowed a company to record a provisional amount when it does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed in reasonable detail to complete its accounting for the change in tax law. The measurement period ends when the company has obtained, prepared and analyzed the information necessary to finalize its accounting, but cannot extend beyond one year from the enactment date.
In addition to, and in some cases interacting with the Tax Act, tax expense is affected by factors, including the global mix of earnings, changes in foreign 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 in accordance with the requirements of SAB 118. During fiscal 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded tax charges for the impact of the Tax Act effects using the current available information and technical guidance on the interpretations of the Tax Act. In 2017 and in accordance with SAB 118, provisional estimates were recorded. The Company has finalized the SAB 118 accounting analysis based on the guidance, interpretations, and data available as of December 22, 2018. Adjustments made in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 upon finalization of the accounting analysis were not material to the Consolidated Financial Statements except for the recording of $50.6 million expense for future withholding taxes relating to the future distribution of accumulated foreign earnings subject to the toll charge if that had been recorded as of December 30, 2017. The Company recorded a $4.0 million benefit related to foreign exchange rate on the withholding tax liability for the period ended December 29, 2018.
In the period ended December 30, 2017 all foreign earnings were subject to the toll charge under the Tax Act. In the year ended December 29, 2018 the Company recorded tax expense of $46.6 million relating to withholding tax associated with the future distribution of unrepatriated foreign earnings of which $39.1 million remained as a deferred tax liability at the end of 2018. These and other foreign earnings can be distributed to the United States without additional tax expense.
In accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company has made an accounting policy election to treat GILTI as a current period expense. Therefore, the Company has not provided any deferred tax impacts of GILTI in the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 29, 2018. The Company recognized $10.9 million tax cost associated with the GILTI for the current year. This expense could change significantly once the U.S. Treasury issues final regulations.
In the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company early adopted ASU 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The standard allows companies to reclassify from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/Loss to Retained Earnings the difference between the historical corporate income tax rate of 35 percent and the 21 percent rate enacted in the Tax Act in December 2017. This resulted in an increase of $24.2 million in Retained Earnings and a decrease of $24.2 million in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.
The Tax Act established new IRC Section 163(j), which imposes a new limitation on the deductibility of interest expense. Any current non-deductible amount is carried forward indefinitely. The U.S. Treasury has not issued final regulations regarding a number of the new Tax Act provisions. As such, the Company recorded a deferred tax asset of $15.6 million relating to the current non-deductible interest expense. The Company may re-evaluate its position once the final tax regulations are issued.
23
At December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, the Company had valuation allowances against certain deferred tax assets totaling $253.3 million and $235.5 million, respectively. The increase in valuation allowance was primarily associated with higher deferred tax assets for net operating losses. 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 in part upon expected future domestic results under the Tax Act, and available foreign source income, including rents and royalties available for credit usage under the Tax Act, as well as anticipated gains related to future sales of land held for development near the Company's Orlando, Florida headquarters. Certain tax planning transactions may be entered into to facilitate realization of these benefits once the final tax regulations are issued. 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 tax audit settlements on future periods. Refer to the critical accounting policies section and Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Report for additional discussions of the Company's methodology for evaluating deferred tax assets.
As of December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, the Company's accrual for uncertain tax positions was $15.1 million and $19.8 million, respectively. During the year ended December 29, 2018, the accrual for uncertain tax positions decreased by $4.7 million, including a $3.6 million decrease due to the expiration of the statute of limitations in various jurisdictions.
The Company estimates that it may settle one or more foreign and domestic audits in the next twelve months that may result in a decrease in the amount of accrual for uncertain tax positions of up to $2.5 million. For the remaining balance as of December 29, 2018, 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 and Operating Income
Operating income increased 38 percent in 2018 compared with 2017, which included a 16 point negative translation impact on the comparison from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Net income increased $421.3 million on a reported basis, including a $15.5 million negative translation impact from changes in foreign exchange rates. The increase in local currency net income was primarily due to the absence of $375.0 million of non-cash income tax charges related to the Tax Act that was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2017, the absence of the non-cash $62.9 million goodwill impairment related to Fuller Mexico that was recorded in 2017, lower pre-tax re-engineering costs in connection with the Company's restructuring plan announced in July 2017, lower corporate costs and higher pre-tax gains from real estate transactions. These local currency increases were partially offset by lower segment profit in Asia Pacific, primarily due to lower sales, South America, reflecting elevated costs in Brazil, Europe, primarily due to lower sales and higher selling expenses and $46.6 million of income tax expense related to implementation of provisions of the Tax Act that was recorded in 2018.
Operating income decreased 34 percent in 2017 compared with 2016, which included a 1 point positive translation impact on the comparison from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Net loss of $265.4 million represented a decrease of $489.0 million from 2016. The decrease in local currency net income was primarily due to the $375.0 million of non-cash income tax charges related to the Tax Act, the $62.9 million goodwill impairment related to Fuller Mexico, higher pre-tax re-engineering costs in connection with the Company's restructuring plan announced in July 2017, lower pre-tax gains from real estate transactions and lower segment profit in Europe primarily due to lower sales, along with higher bad debt expenses. These local currency decreases were partially offset by higher segment profit in South America, reflecting increased sales in Brazil and lower operating expenses in Asia Pacific, as well as sales growth and a mix shift toward China that has very good profitability, and higher sales in Tupperware Mexico, and the United States and Canada in North America.
International operations accounted for 92 percent of sales in 2018 and 91 percent in 2017 and 2016. They accounted for 97 percent of segment profit in 2018, 98 percent in 2017 and 99 percent in 2016.
24
Segment Results 2018 vs. 2017
(Dollars in millions) | 2018 | 2017 | Change | Change excluding the translation impact of foreign exchange | Translation foreign exchange impact | Percent of total | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dollar | Percent | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Europe | $ | 525.6 | $ | 550.4 | $ | (24.8 | ) | (5 | )% | (6 | )% | $ | 9.6 | 25 | % | 24 | % | ||||||||||
Asia Pacific | 682.0 | 734.8 | (52.8 | ) | (7 | ) | (6 | ) | (6.2 | ) | 33 | 33 | |||||||||||||||
North America | 515.1 | 541.5 | (26.4 | ) | (5 | ) | (4 | ) | (6.4 | ) | 25 | 24 | |||||||||||||||
South America | 347.0 | 429.1 | (82.1 | ) | (19 | ) | (1 | ) | (79.2 | ) | 17 | 19 | |||||||||||||||
Total net sales | $ | 2,069.7 | $ | 2,255.8 | $ | (186.1 | ) | (8 | )% | (5 | )% | $ | (82.2 | ) | 100 | % | 100 | % | |||||||||
Segment profit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Europe | $ | 46.3 | $ | 54.5 | $ | (8.2 | ) | (15 | )% | (19 | )% | $ | 2.5 | 13 | % | 13 | % | ||||||||||
Asia Pacific | 172.5 | 189.3 | (16.8 | ) | (9 | ) | (8 | ) | (0.8 | ) | 47 | 46 | |||||||||||||||
North America | 76.3 | 69.7 | 6.6 | 9 | 12 | (1.4 | ) | 21 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||
South America | 68.3 | 98.7 | (30.4 | ) | (31 | ) | (15 | ) | (18.8 | ) | 19 | 24 | |||||||||||||||
Segment profit as a percent of sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Europe | 8.8 | % | 9.9 | % | na | (1.1 | )pp | (1.4 | )pp | 0.3 | pp | na | na | ||||||||||||||
Asia Pacific | 25.3 | 25.8 | na | (0.5 | ) | (0.6 | ) | 0.1 | na | na | |||||||||||||||||
North America | 14.8 | 12.9 | na | 1.9 | 2.0 | (0.1 | ) | na | na | ||||||||||||||||||
South America | 19.7 | 23.0 | na | (3.3 | ) | (3.1 | ) | (0.2 | ) | na | na | ||||||||||||||||
____________________
pp Percentage points
na Not applicable
Europe
Reported sales decreased 5 percent in 2018 compared with 2017. Excluding the translation impact of foreign currency exchange rates, sales decreased by 6 percent, primarily reflecting reduced volume of products sold. This included a 5 percentage point positive impact from the benefit of business-to-business sales, mainly in France and Germany. On average, prices were even in 2018.
Emerging market units accounted for $215.2 million and $201.9 million of reported net sales in this segment in 2018 and 2017, respectively, which represented 41 percent and 37 percent of net sales, respectively. On a local currency basis, the emerging market units' sales increased by 9 percent, primarily reflecting more active sellers from higher additions in Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Tupperware South Africa, as well as higher productivity in CIS.
Local currency sales in the Company’s established market units decreased by 15 percent, reflecting lower core business sales due to less active sellers in France, Germany and Italy, as well as sales force response to service issues in connection with the closure of the French supply chain facility early in the year. This was partially offset by relatively large business-to-business sales in France and Germany.
Segment profit decreased $8.2 million, or 15 percent in 2018 compared with 2017. Segment profit as a percentage of sales was 8.8 percent in 2018 compared with 9.9 percent in 2017. Excluding the translation impact of foreign currency exchange rates, segment profit decreased 19 percent compared with 2017. The decreased segment profit was primarily due to lower sales, along with higher distribution costs and bad debt expense, most significantly in France and Germany, partially offset by lower promotional spending as a percentage of sales, associated with business-to-business sales.
25
The positive translation impact of foreign currency rates versus the U.S. dollar on the year-over-year comparison of sales was primarily attributable to a stronger euro, partially offset by a weaker Turkish lira, while only the euro had a meaningful impact on the profit comparison.
Asia Pacific
Reported sales in Asia Pacific in 2018 decreased 7 percent compared with 2017. Excluding the translation impact of foreign currency exchange rates, the segment's sales decreased 6 percent, reflecting lower volume in Tupperware Australia and New Zealand, India and Indonesia, partially offset by higher volume in China. On average, prices were even for the segment in 2018.
Emerging market units accounted for $586.5 million and $622.2 million in 2018 and 2017, respectively, or 86 percent and 85 percent of the sales in this segment in 2018 and 2017, respectively. Excluding the $4.7 million negative impact of foreign currencies on the comparison, these markets' sales decreased 5 percent. The most significant decrease was in Indonesia from a smaller, less active sales force from lower sales force additions and the response to the Company's product and promotional programs. In addition, India had lower sales due to a smaller, less productive sales force, as well as the impact from a nationwide goods and services tax that began in July 2017. These decreases were offset by China, primarily related to the net addition of outlets. China ended 2018 with 6,600 outlets, which was 9 percent more than at the end of 2017.
Reported sales in the established market units decreased 15 percent. Excluding the impact of foreign currencies, these markets' sales decreased 14 percent, primarily reflecting a smaller, less productive sales force in Tupperware Australia and New Zealand, and the impact from the combination of the Tupperware and NaturCare businesses in Japan as of the beginning of 2018.
Total segment profit decreased $16.8 million, or 9 percent, in 2018. Excluding the translation impact of foreign currency exchange rates, segment profit decreased 8 percent compared with 2017. Segment profit as a percentage of sales was 25.3 percent in 2018 compared with 25.8 percent in 2017. The decreased segment profit was primarily related to lower sales in India and Indonesia, along with increased spending in Indonesia. This was partially offset by higher sales in China, which has a high contribution margin and $5.6 million in provincial government awards in China in 2018.
The negative translation impact of foreign currency rates on the year-over-year comparison of sales versus the U.S. dollar was primarily attributable to a weaker Indonesian rupiah, Indian rupee and the Philippine peso, partially offset by a stronger Chinese renminbi and Malaysian ringgit. The Chinese renminbi and Indonesian rupiah generally carry the highest exposure to changes in foreign currency rates due to the share of the segment's sales and profit generated in those currencies.
North America
Reported sales decreased 5 percent in 2018 compared with 2017. Excluding the impact of foreign currencies, the segment's sales decreased 4 percent. This included a 6 percentage point negative impact from the closure of Beauticontrol in 2017. The average price increase in this segment was 4 percent.
Emerging markets accounted for $297.6 million and $292.4 million of reported net sales in this segment in 2018 and 2017, respectively, which represented 58 percent and 54 percent of the sales in this segment in 2018 and 2017, respectively. On a local currency basis, the emerging market units' sales increased 4 percent, primarily reflecting a more productive sales force and higher prices in Tupperware Mexico.
Reported sales in the established markets decreased 13 percent. Excluding the 13 percentage point negative impact from the closure of Beauticontrol in 2017, the segment's sales in 2018 were even with 2017.
Segment profit increased $6.6 million, or 9 percent, in 2018 compared with 2017. Segment profit as a percentage of sales at 14.8 percent was 1.9 percentage points higher than 2017, reflecting the absence of the 2017 loss by Beauticontrol, and higher sales by Fuller and Tupperware Mexico as well as a higher drop-through on incremental sales in Tupperware Mexico.
The Mexican peso was the main foreign currency that impacted the year-over-year comparisons.
26
South America
Reported sales for this segment decreased 19 percent in 2018 compared with 2017. Excluding the translation impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, sales decreased 1 percent, reflecting lower sales force activity and productivity in Brazil due to political and macro-economic instability that included a 10-day nationwide road blockade in May 2018, partially offset by Argentina from higher prices due to inflation. All of the businesses in this segment operate in emerging market economies. The average price increase in this segment was 4 percent.
Segment profit decreased $30.4 million, or 31 percent, in 2018 compared with 2017, including a negative $18.8 million impact from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Segment profit as a percentage of sales, at 19.7 percent, was 3.3 percentage points lower than in 2017. The most significant decrease in local currency segment profit was in Brazil, reflecting lower sales, the impact on product cost in Brazil of lower production volume and incremental resin costs and costs in addressing product availability in connection with a customs strike. This was partially offset by $5.3 million lower expenses in 2018 in connection with inflation related balance sheet adjustments in Argentina and Venezuela, including fixed asset impairments that were impacted by the weakening of the currency exchange rate. Argentina and Venezuela are accounted for as hyperinflationary. As a consequence, amounts related to the translation of monetary assets when the exchange rate to the U.S. dollar fluctuates are recorded in income, whereas for non-hyperinflationary units they are recorded as a cumulative translation adjustment on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
The Argentine peso, the Brazilian real and Venezuelan bolivar were the main currencies with significant negative translation impacts on the year-over-year comparisons.
Segment Results 2017 vs. 2016
(Dollars in millions) | 2017 | 2016 | Change | Change excluding the translation impact of foreign exchange | Translation foreign exchange impact | Percent of total | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dollar | Percent | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Europe | $ | 550.4 | $ | 559.4 | $ | (9.0 | ) | (2 | )% | (4 | )% | $ | 16.0 | 24 | % | 25 | % | ||||||||||
Asia Pacific | 734.8 | 748.6 | (13.8 | ) | (2 | ) | (1 | ) | (3.8 | ) | 33 | 34 | |||||||||||||||
North America | 541.5 | 548.3 | (6.8 | ) | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | (0.6 | ) | 24 | 25 | |||||||||||||||
South America | 429.1 | 356.8 | 72.3 | 20 | 19 | 5.1 | 19 | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total net sales | $ | 2,255.8 | $ | 2,213.1 | $ | 42.7 | 2 | % | 1 | % | $ | 16.7 | 100 | % | 100 | % | |||||||||||
Segment profit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Europe | $ | 54.5 | $ | 65.3 | $ | (10.8 | ) | (16 | )% | (21 | )% | $ | 3.7 | 13 | % | 16 | % | ||||||||||
Asia Pacific | 189.3 | 181.0 | 8.3 | 5 | 5 | (0.2 | ) | 46 | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||
North America | 69.7 | 66.1 | 3.6 | 6 | 6 | (0.3 | ) | 17 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||
South America | 98.7 | 82.2 | 16.5 | 20 | 19 | 1.2 | 24 | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||
Segment profit as a percent of sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Europe | 9.9 | % | 11.7 | % | na | (1.8 | )pp | (2.1 | )pp | 0.3 | pp | na | na | ||||||||||||||
Asia Pacific | 25.8 | 24.2 | na | 1.6 | 1.5 | 0.1 | na | na | |||||||||||||||||||
North America | 12.9 | 12.1 | na | 0.8 | 0.9 | (0.1 | ) | na | na | ||||||||||||||||||
South America | 23.0 | 23.0 | na | — | — | — | na | na | |||||||||||||||||||
____________________
pp Percentage points
na Not applicable
Europe
Reported sales decreased 2 percent in 2017 compared with 2016. Excluding the translation impact of foreign currency exchange rates, sales decreased 4 percent, primarily reflecting reduced volume of products sold, as well as more aggressive promotional pricing. On average, prices decreased by 1 percent in 2017.
27
Emerging market units accounted for $201.9 million and $189.6 million of reported net sales in this segment in 2017 and 2016, representing 37 percent and 34 percent of net sales, respectively. On a local currency basis, the emerging market units' sales increased by 4 percent, primarily reflecting a larger sales force from significantly higher additions in Tupperware South Africa during the first half of 2017.
Local currency sales in the Company’s established market units decreased by 9 percent, reflecting smaller sales forces from lower additions in France and Germany, as well as the negative impacts on several business units in continental Europe from service disruptions in connection with the Company's project that began in the fourth quarter of 2017 to close the French manufacturing and supply chain facility.
Segment profit decreased $10.8 million, or 16 percent in 2017 compared with 2016. Segment profit as a percentage of sales was 9.9 percent in 2017 compared with 11.7 percent in 2016. Excluding the translation impact of foreign currency exchange rates, segment profit decreased 21 percent compared with 2016. The decreased segment profit was primarily due to lower sales, along with higher bad debt expense, most significantly in France and Germany, partially offset by lower promotional spending.
The positive translation impact of foreign currency rates versus the U.S. dollar on the year-over-year comparison of sales was primarily attributable to a stronger euro and South African rand, partially offset by a weaker Turkish lira, while only the South African rand had a meaningful impact on the profit comparison.
Asia Pacific
Reported sales in Asia Pacific in 2017 decreased 2 percent compared with 2016. Excluding the translation impact of foreign currency exchange rates, the segment's sales decreased 1 percent, including a 1 percentage point negative impact from the 53rd week in 2016, as well as lower volume in India, Indonesia and Nutrimetics Australia and New Zealand, partially offset by higher volume in China. There was a 1 percent average price increase for the segment.
Emerging market units accounted for $622.2 million and $629.5 million of sales in 2017 and 2016, respectively, or 85 percent and 84 percent of the sales in this segment in 2017 and 2016, respectively. Excluding the $5.2 million negative impact of foreign currencies on the comparison, these units' sales in 2017 were even with 2016. The most significant decrease among the units was a decrease in Indonesia from a smaller, less active and less productive sales force in connection with the response to the Company's product and promotional programs, as well as lower sales force member additions. In addition, India had lower sales due to significantly fewer active sellers in light of requirements under the federal government's direct selling guidelines that were enacted in 2016 and a constrained consumer spending environment due to the implementation of a nationwide goods and services tax in July 2017. These decreases were offset by China, primarily related to the net addition of outlets with significantly higher productivity, including from digital marketing initiatives to its members, as well as some timing benefit from a shift in ordering patterns. China ended 2017 with 6,100 outlets, which was 11 percent more than at the end of 2016.
Reported sales in the established market units decreased 5 percent. Excluding the impact of foreign currencies, these markets' sales decreased 7 percent, primarily in Nutrimetics Australia and New Zealand due to a smaller, less active sales force from lower additions.
Total segment profit increased $8.3 million, or 5 percent, in 2017. The impact of foreign currency translation was not significant. Segment profit as a percentage of sales was 25.8 percent in 2017 compared with 24.2 percent in 2016. The improved profitability was primarily related to higher sales in China with its high contribution margin on incremental sales, and lower promotional spending, partially offset by lower sales in India and Indonesia.
The Philippine peso and Malaysian ringgit were the currencies that had the most contribution to the translation impact from foreign currencies on the year-over-year sales comparison.
North America
Reported sales decreased 1 percent in 2017 compared with 2016. The translation impact of foreign currency exchange rates was not significant. There was a 3-point negative impact on the comparison from Beauticontrol, reflecting lower sales in the first half of 2017 and the winding down of its operations in the third quarter. There was also an estimated 1-point negative impact from the 53rd week in 2016. The average price increase in this segment was 2 percent.
28
Emerging markets accounted for $292.4 million and $295.3 million of reported net sales in this segment in 2017 and 2016, respectively, which represented 54 percent of sales in both years. On a local currency basis, the emerging market units' sales were even, primarily reflecting a sales increase in Tupperware Mexico, due to a larger sales force, offset by Fuller Mexico from fewer active and less productive sellers.
Reported sales in the established markets decreased 2 percent, primarily due to Beauticontrol, partially offset by a sales increase in the United States and Canada, reflecting more active sellers and good response to programs to drive higher volumes of products sold.
Segment profit increased $3.6 million, or 6 percent, in 2017 compared with 2016. Segment profit as a percentage of sales at 12.9 percent was 0.8 percentage points higher than 2016, reflecting higher sales with lower operating expenses in Tupperware Mexico and the United States and Canada, partially offset by lower profit on lower sales in Fuller Mexico, as well as inventory write-offs and operating losses from winding down Beauticontrol in the second half of 2017.
The Mexican peso was the main foreign currency that impacted the year-over-year comparisons.
South America
Reported sales for this segment increased 20 percent in 2017 compared with 2016. Excluding the translation impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, sales increased 19 percent with approximately two-thirds of the increase reflecting the impact of higher prices throughout the segment, mainly due to high inflation in Argentina and Venezuela. The remaining increase was the result of higher volume of products sold with an estimated 2 point negative impact on the comparison from the 53rd week in 2016. All of the businesses in this segment operate in emerging market economies.
The most significant increase in local currency sales was in Brazil, the Company's largest business unit, mainly from higher volume of products sold, reflecting a larger sales force size, partially offset by lower productivity in the second half of 2017 in light of a tough consumer spending environment. Argentina and Venezuela's local currency sales also increased significantly, mainly due to the higher prices in light of significant inflation.
Segment profit increased $16.5 million, or 20 percent, in 2017 compared with 2016, including a positive $1.2 million impact from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Segment profit as a percentage of sales, at 23.0 percent, was even with 2016. The most significant increase in local currency segment profit was in Brazil from higher sales. Argentina and Venezuela also contributed to the increased local currency profit due to higher sales. In addition, there was $5.4 million more in expenses in 2017 in connection with items on the Venezuelan balance sheet, including fixed asset impairments that were impacted by the weakening of the currency exchange rate that occurred in 2017 and 2016.
The Brazilian real was the main currency with a significant positive translation impact on the year-over-year comparisons, partially offset by weaker Argentine peso and Venezuelan bolivar.
Financial Condition
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Net working capital was negative $138.5 million as of December 29, 2018, compared with negative $28.3 million as of December 30, 2017 and negative $2.3 million as of December 31, 2016. The current ratio was 0.8 to 1.0 at the end of 2018, and 1.0 to 1.0 at the end of 2017 and 2016.
The Company’s reported net working capital decreased $110.2 million in 2018 compared with 2017. Excluding the negative $14.5 million impact due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, working capital decreased $95.7 million, primarily reflecting a $138.0 million increase in short-term borrowings, net of cash and cash equivalents. This local currency decrease was partially offset by a $17 million decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities due to payments during the year under the Company's re-engineering program announced in 2017 and payment of management incentives earned in 2017 with much less accrued for incentives earned in 2018, a $16.6 million increase in inventory, related to a lower than expected sell through and an $11.0 million increase in accounts receivable due to the level and timing of sales around the end of each period as well as higher overdue amounts.
29
The Company’s reported net working capital decreased $26.0 million in 2017 compared with 2016. Excluding the negative $2.6 million impact due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, working capital decreased $23.4 million, primarily reflecting a $68.9 million net increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, excluding the liabilities related to hedging activities, which included $45.4 million under the re-engineering program announced in July 2017, a $15.6 million increase in short-term borrowings and a $6.9 million decrease related to amounts on the balance sheet for hedging activities. These local currency decreases were partially offset by a $42.8 million increase in cash and cash equivalents, a $13.5 million increase in inventory, related to a lower than expected sell through, a $11.5 million increase in accounts receivable due to the level and timing of sales around the end of each period as well as higher overdue amounts.
In June 2011, the Company completed the sale of $400 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.75% Senior Notes due June 1, 2021. On March 11, 2013, the Company issued and sold an additional $200 million in aggregate principal amount of these notes (both issuances together, the "Senior Notes"). The Senior Notes form a single series under the Indenture, dated as of June 2, 2011 (the “Indenture”).
On June 9, 2015, the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary Tupperware Nederland B.V. ( the “Subsidiary Borrower” ), formerly known as Tupperware International Holdings B.V. , entered into Amendment No. 2 (the "Amendment”) to their multicurrency Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated September 11, 2013, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated June 2, 2014 (as so amended, the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement makes available to the Company and the Subsidiary Borrower a committed five-year credit facility in an aggregate amount of $600 million (the “Facility Amount”). The 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. 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 $800 million), subject to certain conditions including the agreement of the lenders. As of December 29, 2018, the Company had total borrowings of $283.9 million outstanding under its Credit Agreement, with $186.8 million of that amount denominated in euros.
The Company routinely increases its revolver borrowings under the Credit Agreement during each quarter to fund operating, investing and financing activities and uses cash available at the end of each quarter to temporarily reduce borrowing levels. As a result, the Company incurs more interest expense and has higher foreign exchange exposure on the value of its cash and debt during each quarter than would relate solely to the quarter end balances.
Loans taken under the Credit Agreement bear interest under a formula that includes, at the Company's option, one of three different base rates, plus an applicable spread. The Company generally selects the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"). As of December 29, 2018, the 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 2.32 percent on borrowings under the Credit Agreement. The LIBOR rate used in determining the interest rate cannot be below zero, which it was throughout 2018 for euro based borrowings.
The Credit Agreement contains customary covenants, including financial covenants requiring minimum interest coverage and allowing a maximum amount of leverage. As of December 29, 2018, 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, including from restructuring actions, the payment of dividends, the ability to access cash generated internationally in Brazil, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa or elsewhere, share repurchases or the occurrence of other events discussed under “Forward Looking Statements” in this Part II, Item 7 and in the Company’s other reports filed with the SEC could impact the Company’s ability to comply with these covenants.
See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Report for further details regarding the Company's debt.
30
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, capital spending needs, current and anticipated restructuring actions and its current dividend. This liquidity includes its year-end 2018 cash and cash equivalents balance of $149.0 million, cash flows from operating activities, and access to its $600 million Credit Agreement and other uncommitted lines of credit. As of December 29, 2018, the Company had $396.8 million of unused lines of credit, including $314.6 million available under its Credit Agreement and $82.2 million available under other uncommitted lines of credit. The Company has not experienced any limitations on its ability to access its committed facility.
Cash and cash equivalents (“cash”) totaled $149.0 million as of December 29, 2018. The cash was held by foreign subsidiaries, and 7 percent was not currently 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. Other than expense of $46.6 million for the future distribution of unrepatriated foreign earnings, no U.S. federal income taxes or foreign withholding taxes have been recorded related to earnings for which there is an indefinite reinvestment assertion.
The Company’s most significant foreign currency exposures are the Brazilian real, Chinese renminbi, euro, Indonesian rupiah, Malaysian ringgit, Mexican peso and South African rand. Business units in which the Company generated at least $100 million of sales in 2018 included Brazil, China, Fuller Mexico, Germany, Indonesia, Tupperware Mexico and the United States and Canada. Of these units, sales by Brazil, China and the United States and Canada 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 additions, retention and activity of the Company’s independent sales force or the success of new products, promotional programs and/or possibly changes in sales force compensation programs.
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities in 2018 was $132.0 million, compared with $217.4 million in 2017. The unfavorable comparison was primarily due to lower profit by the segments and higher cash outflows related to accounts payable and accrued liabilities, most significantly related to amounts due at the beginning versus end of the periods for non-income taxes and amounts due for recurring costs in light of a lower level of business in certain units and higher amounts paid in connection with the Company's re-engineering program announced in 2017. Additionally, there was a higher cash outflow from inventory produced but not sold.
Net cash provided by operating activities in 2017 was $217.4 million, compared with $237.0 million in 2016. The unfavorable comparison was primarily due to a decrease in reported net income, notwithstanding the non-cash tax provision elements in connection with the enactment of the Tax Act and non-cash re-engineering and impairment charges. Additionally, there were cash outflows from an increase in accounts receivable, due to the level and timing of sales around the end of each period, as well as higher overdue amounts, and inventory, related to a lower than expected sell through. These outflows were partially offset by increases in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
Investing Activities
In 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company spent $75.4 million, $72.3 million and $61.6 million, respectively, on capital expenditures. In 2018, 2017 and 2016, capital expenditures included $19.9 million, $18.5 million, and $18.3 million, respectively, for molds for new products and $13.7 million, $23.1million, and $17.1 million, respectively, for the expansion of manufacturing capacity and supply chain capabilities, most significantly in Brazil and Mexico and $20.2 million, $10.7 million, and $8.2 million, respectively, on various global information technology projects. In addition, the Company also spent $9.2 million, $7.5 million and $3.8 million, in each respective year related to land development near its Orlando headquarters.
Partially offsetting the capital spending were proceeds from the sale of long-term assets of $40.7 million, $14.7 million and $35.9 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. In 2018, there was a transaction associated with a distribution facility in Japan, the Beauticontrol headquarters in Texas was sold, along with transactions associated with land near the Company's Orlando, Florida headquarters, which also occurred in 2017 and 2016. In all years, there were also proceeds related to the sale of vehicles that had been purchased for the sales force, primarily in South Africa.
31
Financing Activities
In 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company made net payments on long-term debt of $1.9 million, $2.0 million and $2.2 million, respectively, mainly related to its scheduled lease payments. In addition, the Company had net inflows of $162.1 million and $15.6 million and an outflow of $52.0 million for changes in borrowings under its revolving credit agreements in each of these respective periods.
Dividends
During 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company declared dividends of $2.72 per share of common stock totaling $137.8 million, $139.5 million and $138.8 million, respectively.
Going forward, the Company expects its Board of Directors to evaluate its dividend rate annually with its declaration in the first quarter of each year. In the first quarter of 2019, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.27 per share, versus $0.68 per share that had been declared each quarter in 2018, 2017 and 2016. 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 impacts of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, the ability to access internationally generated cash or other cash needs, as well as compliance with Delaware law regarding capital surplus. As well, 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 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company received proceeds of $0.3 million, $11.8 million and $0.8 million, respectively, related to the exercise of stock options. The corresponding shares were issued out of the Company’s balance held in treasury.
Stock Repurchases
In January 2017, the Company's Board of Directors extended its existing share repurchase authorization for open market share repurchases, which allows up to $2.0 billion to be spent, through February 1, 2020. Under this program, the Company repurchased 2.6 million shares for a total of $100 million in 2018. There were no share repurchases under this program in 2017 and 2016. Since inception of the program in May 2007, and through December 29, 2018, the Company has repurchased 23.8 million shares at an aggregate cost of $1.39 billion. In setting share repurchase amounts, the Company expects to target over time a debt-to-EBITDA ratio of below 2.0 times consolidated funded debt (as defined in the Company's Credit Agreement); however, it has indicated it may opportunistically repurchase in 2019 up to $100 million worth of shares, notwithstanding it expects its debt-to-EBITDA ratio to be above 2.0 times throughout the year.
Employees are also allowed to use shares to pay withholding taxes, up to the minimum statutory amount, related to activity under all of the Company's stock incentive plans. For 2018, 2017 and 2016, the value of shares used for withholding taxes was $1.5 million, $2.5 million and $1.7 million, respectively, which is included as stock repurchases in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
32
Contractual Obligations
The following summarizes the Company’s contractual obligations at December 29, 2018 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 | $ | 888.9 | $ | 285.5 | $ | 602.3 | $ | 1.1 | $ | — | |||||||||
Interest payments on long term obligations | 72.3 | 29.3 | 43.0 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Pension benefits | 135.4 | 25.6 | 21.4 | 28.5 | 59.9 | ||||||||||||||
Post-employment medical benefits | 12.6 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 6.5 | ||||||||||||||
Income tax payments (a) | 2.5 | 2.5 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Capital commitments (b) | 4.3 | 4.3 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Operating lease obligations | 103.2 | 28.3 | 35.0 | 14.6 | 25.3 | ||||||||||||||
Total contractual obligations (c) | $ | 1,219.2 | $ | 376.8 | $ | 704.2 | $ | 46.5 | $ | 91.7 | |||||||||
____________________
(a) | Other than the amount presented, the Company has not included in the table above, amounts related to its unrecognized tax positions, as it is unable to make a reliable estimate of the amount and period in which these items might lead to payments. As of December 29, 2018 the Company’s total accrual for uncertain tax positions were $15.1 million. It is reasonably possible that the accrual for uncertain tax positions could materially change within the next 12 months based on the results of tax examinations, expiration of statutes of limitations in various jurisdictions and additions due to ongoing transactions and activity. However, the Company is unable to estimate the impact of such events. |
(b) | Capital commitments represent signed agreements as of December 29, 2018 on several capital projects in process at the Company’s various units. |
(c) | The table excludes information on recurring purchases of inventory as these are made under non-binding purchase orders, 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 by business unit 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 as past due any receivable balance not collected within its contractual terms.
33
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 the availability of 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 value decreases, additional write-downs would be required.
Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets also are recognized for credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted rates applicable to taxable income in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse and the credits are expected to be used. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
At December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, the Company had valuation allowances against certain deferred tax assets totaling $253.3 million and $235.5 million, respectively. The increase in valuation allowance was primarily associated with higher deferred tax assets for net operating losses. 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 2018, the Company had gross domestic deferred tax assets of $291.7 million against which a valuation allowance of $187.3 million had been recorded. Of these total assets, $50.0 million relates to recurring type temporary differences which reverse regularly and are replaced by newly originated items. The balance included assets of $34.7 million related to advanced payment agreements, which are expected to reverse over the next three years, and other deferred tax assets. The gross balance also included $193.5 million of foreign tax credits. In addition, the Company has $1.6 million of federal net operating losses and $5.1 million of federal tax credits that have no expiration date and $39.1 million other liabilities associated with the future distribution of previously taxed foreign income. The balance also included $4.4 million of net state operating losses and other book versus tax asset differences of approximately $3.9 million.
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 that gains related to future sales of land and other income will be sufficient to realize the $1.6 million net operating loss 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 are reflected in the period in which the change occurs.
As of December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, the Company's accrual for uncertain tax positions was $15.1 million and $19.8 million, respectively. During the year ended December 29, 2018, the accrual for uncertain tax positions decreased by $4.7 million, including a $3.6 million decrease due to the expiration of the statute of limitations in various jurisdictions.
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 $5.5 million and $7.3 million as of December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, respectively. Interest and penalties included in the provision for income taxes totaled $1.8 million and $0.2 million for 2018 and 2017, respectively.
34
The Company estimates that it may settle one or more foreign and domestic audits in the next twelve months that may result in a decrease in the amount of accrual for uncertain tax positions of up to $2.5 million. For the remaining balance as of December 29, 2018, 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 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, addition of new sales force members or other business critical activities. The awards offered are in the form of 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 appropriate changes to the original estimates are made when known.
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 annual impairment assessment of these assets, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate they may be impaired.
The annual process for evaluating goodwill begins with an assessment for each entity of qualitative factors to determine whether a quantitative evaluation of the unit's fair value compared with its carrying value is necessary. 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 quantitative fair value evaluation ("fair value test").
Any fair value test necessary is done using either the income approach or a combination of the income and market approaches, with generally a greater weighting on the income approach (75 percent). The income approach, or discounted cash flow approach, requires significant assumptions to estimate the fair value of each reporting unit. These include assumptions regarding future operations and the ability to generate cash flows, including projections of revenue, costs, utilization of assets and capital requirements, along with an appropriate discount rate to be used. The most sensitive estimate in the fair value test is the projection of operating cash flows, as these provide the basis for the estimate of fair market value. The Company’s cash flow model uses a forecast period of 10 years and a terminal value. The growth rates are determined by reviewing historical results of the operating unit and the historical results of the Company’s similar business units, along with the expected contribution from growth strategies being implemented. The market approach relies on an analysis of publicly-traded companies similar to Tupperware Brands and deriving a range of revenue and profit multiples. The publicly-traded companies used in the market approach are selected based on their having similar product lines of consumer goods, beauty products and/or companies using a direct-to-consumer distribution method. The resulting multiples are then applied to the reporting unit to determine fair value.
The Company's indefinite-lived tradename intangible assets are evaluated for impairment annually similarly to goodwill. When the Company determines it is appropriate, the fair value of these assets is estimated using the relief from royalty method, which is a form of the income approach. Under this method, the value of the asset is calculated by selecting a royalty rate, which estimates the amount a company would be willing to pay for the use of the asset. This rate is applied to the reporting unit's projected revenue, tax affected and discounted to present value.
Refer to Note 1 and Note 6 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Report regarding the annual process for evaluating goodwill and intangible assets.
35
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 post-retirement 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 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||
U.S. Plans | 3.3 | % | 3.8 | % | 3.9 | % | ||
Foreign Plans | 2.6 | 2.2 | 2.3 | |||||
The Company has established strategic asset allocation percentage targets for significant asset classes with the aim of achieving an appropriate balance between risk and return. The Company periodically revises asset allocations, where appropriate, in an effort to improve return and manage risk. The estimated rate of return is based on long-term expectations given current investment objectives and historical results. The expected rate of return assumptions used by the Company for its U.S. and foreign plans were as follows:
Expected rate of return | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||
U.S. Plans | 7.0 | % | 7.3 | % | 8.3 | % | ||
Foreign Plans | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.2 | |||||
The following table highlights the potential impact on the Company’s annual pension expense due to changes in certain key assumptions with respect to the Company’s plans, based on assets and liabilities at December 29, 2018:
(In millions) | Increase | Decrease | |||||
Discount rate change by 50 basis points | $ | (1.1 | ) | $ | 1.4 | ||
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, 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 for 2018, and 4.0 percent for 2017 and 2016. A change in discount rate of 50 basis points would not materially change the annual expense associated with the plan.
36
Revenue Recognition
On December 31, 2017, the Company adopted new guidance on revenue from contracts with customers using the modified retrospective method. The new guidance was applied to all contracts at the date of initial application. There was no impact on beginning retained earnings from the adoption as of December 31, 2017. Results for reporting periods beginning December 31, 2017 are presented under the new guidance, while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previous guidance without revision.
Under the new guidance, the contract is defined as the order received from the Company's customer who, in most cases, is one of the Company's independent distributors or a member of its independent sales force. Revenue is recognized when control of the product passes to the customer, which is upon shipment, and is recognized at the amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive for the products sold, including various forms of discounts. The Company elected to account for shipping and handling activities that occur after the customer has obtained control of the product as an activity to fulfill the promise to transfer the product rather than as an additional promised service. Generally, payment is either received in advance or in a relatively short period of time following shipment. When revenue is recorded, estimates of returns are made and recorded as a reduction of revenue. Contracts with customers are evaluated to determine if there are separate performance obligations that are not yet met. These obligations generally relate to product awards to be subsequently fulfilled. When that is the case, revenue is deferred until each performance obligation is met.
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.
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. Refer to Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Report for a discussion of inflation.
New Pronouncements
Refer to Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Report for a discussion of new accounting pronouncements.
37
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 has elected to manage this risk through the maturity structure of its borrowings and the currencies in which it borrows.
Interest Rate Risk
Loans taken under the Credit Agreement are of a short duration and 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 LIBOR as its base rate. Although the Company’s euro LIBOR base rate was below zero throughout 2018, the base rate cannot be below zero under the Credit Agreement. As of December 29, 2018, the Credit Agreement dictated a spread of 150 basis points, which gave the Company a weighted average interest rate on its U.S. dollar and euro denominated LIBOR based borrowings under the Credit Agreement of 2.32 percent.
As of December 29, 2018, the Company had total borrowings of $283.9 million outstanding under its Credit Agreement, with $186.8 million denominated in euro. If short-term interest rates varied by 10 percent, which in the Company's case would mean short duration U.S. dollar and euro LIBOR, with all other variables remaining constant, the Company's annual interest expense would not be significantly impacted.
The Company routinely increases its revolver borrowings under the Credit Agreement during each quarter to fund operating, investing and financing activities and uses cash available at the end of each quarter to temporarily reduce borrowing levels. As a result, the Company incurs more interest expense and has higher foreign exchange exposure on the value of its cash and debt during each quarter than would relate solely to the quarter end balances.
Foreign Exchange Rate Risk
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 effect of these possible 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 income and cash flow exposures are to the Brazilian real, Chinese renminbi, Indonesian rupiah, Malaysian ringgit, Mexican peso and South African rand.
Although this currency risk is partially mitigated by the natural hedge arising from the Company's local product sourcing in many countries, 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 cash flow generated by those operations. The Company also hedges, with these instruments, certain other exposures to various currencies arising from amounts payable and receivable, non-permanent intercompany transactions and a portion of purchases forecasted for generally up to the following 15 months. The Company 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 derivatives that hedge a portion 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 net cash flow impact of these currency hedges was inflows of $2.9 million and $0.1 million and an outflow of $2.7 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
38
The U.S. dollar equivalent of the Company's most significant net open forward contracts as of December 29, 2018 were to buy U.S. dollars worth $176.5 million, and to sell euros worth $76.2 million and Mexican pesos worth $30.4 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 29, 2018, the Company was in a net receivable position of $4.1 million related to its currency hedges under forward contracts. Currency fluctuations could have a significant impact on the Company's cash flow upon the settlement of its forward contracts. Through the end of 2018, the Company recorded 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 expects to 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 non-performance 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.
Commodity Price 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, including the fact that in some cases resin prices are actually in, or are based on, currencies other than that of the unit buying the resin, which introduces a currency exposure that is incremental to the exposure to changing market prices. Resins are the primary material used in production of most Tupperware® products, and the Company estimates that 2019 cost of sales will include approximately $130 million for the cost of resin in the Tupperware® brand products it produces and has contract manufactured. The Company uses many different kinds of resins in its products. About 80 percent of its resins are “polyolefins” (simple chemical structure, easily refined from oil and natural gas). The remaining 20 percent of its resins is more highly engineered. The price of oil and natural gas plays some role in determining price, and that role is more direct in less highly engineered than more highly engineered resins. 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 approximately $13 million compared with the prior year. For 2018, the Company estimates there was a $10 million negative local currency impact on its gross margin related to sales of the Tupperware® products it produced and had contract manufactured due to resin cost changes, as compared with 2017. For full year 2019, the estimate is that there will be no significant impact of resin cost changes, on a local currency basis, on the Company's gross margin related to sales of the Tupperware® products it produces and has contract manufactured, as compared with 2018. In addition to the impact of the price of oil and natural gas, the price the Company pays for its resins is also impacted by the relative changes in supply and demand. 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 cash flow hedges in some cases when it purchases resin in currencies, or effectively in currencies, other than that of the purchasing unit, through the pricing of its products, with price increases on its product offerings generally in line with consumer inflation in each market, and its mix of sales through its promotional programs and promotionally priced offers. It also, on occasion, makes advance material purchases to take advantage of current favorable pricing.
Real Estate Risk
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 necessary government approvals, the success of attracting tenants for commercial or residential developments in the Orlando real estate market, obtaining financing and general economic conditions, such as interest rate increases. Based on the variety of factors that impact the Company's ability to close sales transactions, it cannot predict when the program will be completed.
39
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made or incorporated by reference in this report are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not based on historical facts or information are forward-looking statements. Statements that include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “projects,” “estimates,” “plans” and similar expressions or future tense or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may” and “could” are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. Where, in any forward-looking statement, the Company expresses an expectation or belief as to future results or events, such expectation or belief is based on the current plans and expectations at the time this report is filed with the SEC or, with respect to any documents or statements incorporated by reference, on the then current plans and expectations at the time such document was filed with the SEC, or statement was made. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, and as outlined below the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, new information or changes to future results over time or otherwise. 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 or revised distributor operating models or sales force compensation systems or allegations by equity analysts, former distributors or sales force members, government agencies or others as to the legality or viability of the Company's business model, particularly in India; |
• | disruptions caused by restructuring activities, including facility closure, and the combination and exit of business units, impacting business models, the supply chain, as well as not fully realizing expected savings or benefits related to increasing sales from actions taken; |
• | 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 and polyethersulfone), as well as beauty, personal care and nutritional products; |
• | governmental regulation and consumer tastes related to the use of plastic in products and/or packaging material; |
• | the ability to procure and pay for at reasonable economic cost, sufficient raw materials and/or finished goods to meet current and future consumer demands at reasonable suggested retail pricing levels in certain markets, particularly those with stringent 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 and definite-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, such as in Argentina, Brazil, China, France, India, Mexico, Russia and Turkey and other countries impacted by such events; |
• | issues arising out of the sovereign debt in the countries in which the Company operates, such as in Argentina and those in the Euro zone, 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 (such as in Argentina and Egypt) and translation risks due to potential impairments of investments in affected markets; |
40
• | disruptions resulting from either internal or external labor strikes, work stoppages, or similar difficulties, particularly in Brazil, France, India and South Africa; |
• | changes in cash flow resulting from changes in operating results, including from changes in foreign exchange rates, restructuring activities, working capital management, debt payments, share repurchases and hedge settlements; |
• | the impact of currency fluctuations on the value of the Company's operating results, assets, liabilities and commitments of foreign operations generally, including their cash balances during and at the end of quarterly reporting periods, 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, terrorist activities 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, particularly from Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico and South Africa; |
• | the ability to obtain all government approvals on, and to control the cost of infrastructure obligations associated with, property, plant and equipment; |
• | the ability to timely and effectively implement, transition, maintain and protect necessary information technology systems and infrastructure; |
• | cyberattacks and ransomware demands that could cause the Company to not be able to operate its systems and/or access or control its data, including private data; |
• | the ability to attract and retain certain executive officers and key management personnel and the success of transitions or changes in leadership or key management personnel; |
• | the success of land buyers in attracting tenants for commercial and residential development and obtaining financing; |
• | the Company's access to, and the costs of, financing and the potential for banks with which the Company maintains lines of credit to be unable to fulfill their commitments; the costs and covenant restrictions associated with the Company's credit arrangements and senior notes due in mid 2021; |
• | 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's operations or Company representatives by foreign governments, including changes in interpretation of employment status of the sales force by government authorities, 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 and actions taken by governments to set or restrict the freedom of the Company to set its own prices or its suggested retail prices for product sales by its sales force to end consumers and actions taken by governments to restrict the ability to convert local currency to other currencies in order to satisfy obligations outside the country generally, and in particular in Argentina and Egypt; |
• | 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 counterfeit and knocked-off products and programs in the markets in which the Company operates and the effect this can have on the confidence of, and competition for, the Company's sales force members; |
• | the impact of changes, changes in interpretation of or challenges to positions taken by the Company with respect to U.S. federal, state and foreign tax or other laws, including with respect to the Tax Act in the United States and non-income taxes issues in Brazil and India; |
• | other risks discussed in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, of this Report, as well as the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements, Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, other financial information appearing elsewhere in this Report and the Company's other filings with the SEC. |
41
Other than updating for changes in foreign currency exchange rates through its monthly website updates, the Company does not intend to update forward-looking information, except through its quarterly earnings releases, unless it expects diluted earnings per share for the current quarter, excluding items impacting comparability and changes versus its guidance of 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.
42
Item 8. | Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. |
Tupperware Brands Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Income
Year Ended | |||||||||||
(In millions, except per share amounts) | December 29, 2018 | December 30, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | ||||||||
Net sales | $ | 2,069.7 | $ | 2,255.8 | $ | 2,213.1 | |||||
Cost of products sold | 692.2 | 744.3 | 714.7 | ||||||||
Gross margin | 1,377.5 | 1,511.5 | 1,498.4 | ||||||||
Delivery, sales and administrative expense | 1,060.5 | 1,159.2 | 1,163.9 | ||||||||
Re-engineering and impairment charges | 15.9 | 66.0 | 7.6 | ||||||||
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets | — | 62.9 | — | ||||||||
Gains on disposal of assets | 18.7 | 9.1 | 27.3 | ||||||||
Operating income | 319.8 | 232.5 | 354.2 | ||||||||
Interest income | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.4 | ||||||||
Interest expense | 46.5 | 46.1 | 48.8 | ||||||||
Other expense (income) | (0.1 | ) | 4.2 | 7.5 | |||||||
Income before income taxes | 276.2 | 185.1 | 301.3 | ||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 120.3 | 450.5 | 77.7 | ||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 155.9 | $ | (265.4 | ) | $ | 223.6 | ||||
Basic earnings (loss) per common share | $ | 3.12 | $ | (5.22 | ) | $ | 4.43 | ||||
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share | $ | 3.11 | $ | (5.22 | ) | $ | 4.41 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
43
Tupperware Brands Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Year Ended | |||||||||||
(In millions) | December 29, 2018 | December 30, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | ||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 155.9 | $ | (265.4 | ) | $ | 223.6 | ||||
Other comprehensive income (loss): | |||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | (53.0 | ) | 42.4 | (53.7 | ) | ||||||
Deferred gain (loss) on cash flow hedges, net of tax benefit (provision) of $0.1, $0.8 and ($0.4), respectively | 0.1 | (3.3 | ) | 0.6 | |||||||
Pension and other post-retirement income, net of tax benefit (provision) of ($0.5), ($1.2) and $0.4, respectively | 4.4 | 3.0 | 3.6 | ||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) | (48.5 | ) | 42.1 | (49.5 | ) | ||||||
Total comprehensive income (loss) | $ | 107.4 | $ | (223.3 | ) | $ | 174.1 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
44
Tupperware Brands Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In millions, except share amounts) | December 29, 2018 | December 30, 2017 | |||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 149.0 | $ | 144.1 | |||
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $45.3 and $38.2, respectively | 144.7 | 144.4 | |||||
Inventories | 257.7 | 262.2 | |||||
Non-trade amounts receivable, net | 49.9 | 58.6 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 19.3 | 21.2 | |||||
Total current assets | 620.6 | 630.5 | |||||
Deferred income tax benefits, net | 217.0 | 278.0 | |||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 276.0 | 278.2 | |||||
Long-term receivables, less allowances of $16.0 and $16.5, respectively | 18.7 | 19.3 | |||||
Tradenames, net | 52.9 | 62.5 | |||||
Goodwill | 76.1 | 78.9 | |||||
Other assets, net | 47.5 | 40.6 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 1,308.8 | $ | 1,388.0 | |||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 129.2 | $ | 124.4 | |||
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations | 285.5 | 133.0 | |||||
Accrued liabilities | 344.4 | 401.4 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 759.1 | 658.8 | |||||
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations | 603.4 | 605.1 | |||||
Other liabilities | 181.5 | 243.5 | |||||
Shareholders' deficit: | |||||||
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 | 219.3 | 217.8 | |||||
Retained earnings | 1,086.8 | 1,043.1 | |||||
Treasury stock, 14,940,286 and 12,549,392 shares, respectively, at cost | (939.8 | ) | (851.5 | ) | |||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (602.1 | ) | (529.4 | ) | |||
Total shareholders' deficit | (235.2 | ) | (119.4 | ) | |||
Total liabilities and shareholders' deficit | $ | 1,308.8 | $ | 1,388.0 | |||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
45
Tupperware Brands Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
Common Stock | Treasury Stock | Paid-In Capital | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Total Shareholders' Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(In millions, except per share amounts) | Shares | Dollars | Shares | Dollars | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 26, 2015 | 63.6 | $ | 0.6 | 13.2 | $ | (894.3 | ) | $ | 205.5 | $ | 1,371.2 | $ | (522.0 | ) | $ | 161.0 | ||||||||||||
Net income | 223.6 | 223.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss | (49.5 | ) | (49.5 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash dividends declared ($2.72 per share) | (139.1 | ) | (139.1 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense from stock and option awards | (1.7 | ) | (1.7 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock and options issued for incentive plans | (0.2 | ) | 14.1 | 4.8 | (0.4 | ) | 18.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2016 | 63.6 | $ | 0.6 | 13.0 | $ | (880.2 | ) | $ | 208.6 | $ | 1,455.3 | $ | (571.5 | ) | $ | 212.8 | ||||||||||||
Net loss | (265.4 | ) | (265.4 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | 42.1 | 42.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash dividends declared ($2.72 per share) | (140.2 | ) | (140.2 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock and options issued for incentive plans | (0.4 | ) | 28.7 | 9.2 | (6.6 | ) | 31.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
December 30, 2017 | 63.6 | $ | 0.6 | 12.6 | $ | (851.5 | ) | $ | 217.8 | $ | 1,043.1 | $ | (529.4 | ) | $ | (119.4 | ) | |||||||||||
Net income | 155.9 | 155.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle | 24.2 | (24.2 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss | (48.5 | ) | (48.5 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash dividends declared ($2.72 per share) | (136.1 | ) | (136.1 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Repurchase of common stock | 2.6 | (100.2 | ) | (100.2 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock and options issued for incentive plans | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||