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 31, 2015

OR

 

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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-16483

 

Mondelēz International, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Virginia		52-2284372
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Three Parkway North, Deerfield, Illinois		60015
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 847-943-4000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class		Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock, no par value		The NASDAQ Global Select Market
1.125% Notes due 2017		New York Stock Exchange LLC
2.375% Notes due 2021		New York Stock Exchange LLC
1.000% Notes due 2022		New York Stock Exchange LLC
1.625% Notes due 2023		New York Stock Exchange LLC
1.625% Notes due 2027		New York Stock Exchange LLC
2.375% Notes due 2035		New York Stock Exchange LLC
4.500% Notes due 2035		New York Stock Exchange LLC
3.875% Notes due 2045		New York Stock Exchange LLC

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  ¨

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  ¨    No  x

Note: Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from their obligations under those Sections.

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  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

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, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer  x		Accelerated filer  ¨		Non-accelerated filer  ¨		Smaller reporting company  ¨
		(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The aggregate market value of the shares of Class A Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, computed by reference to the closing price of such stock on June 30, 2015, was $66 billion. At February 12, 2016, there were 1,568,858,264 shares of the registrant’s Class A Common Stock outstanding.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with its annual meeting of shareholders expected to be held on May 18, 2016 are incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.

 

 

 

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Mondelēz International, Inc.

 

				Page No.
Part I  –
Item 1.		Business			1
Item 1A.		Risk Factors			10
Item 1B.		Unresolved Staff Comments			18
Item 2.		Properties			19
Item 3.		Legal Proceedings			19
Item 4.		Mine Safety Disclosures			19
Part II  –
Item 5.		Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities			20
Item 6.		Selected Financial Data			22
Item 7.		Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations:			23
		Summary of Results			25
		Financial Outlook			25
		Discussion and Analysis of Historical Results			27
		Critical Accounting Estimates			44
		Commodity Trends			47
		Liquidity and Capital Resources			47
		Equity and Dividends			48
		Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations			49
		Non-GAAP Financial Measures			50
Item 7A.		Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk			57
Item 8.		Financial Statements and Supplementary Data:			59
		Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm			59
		Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013			60
		Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings for the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013			61
		Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014			62
		Consolidated Statements of Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013			63
		Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013			64
		Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements			65
Item 9.		Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure			119
Item 9A.		Controls and Procedures			119
Item 9B.		Other Information			120
Part III  –
Item 10.		Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance			121
Item 11.		Executive Compensation			121
Item 12.		Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters			121
Item 13.		Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence			121
Item 14.		Principal Accountant Fees and Services			121
Part IV  –
Item 15.		Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules			122
		Signatures			127
		Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Financial Statement Schedule			S-1
		Valuation and Qualifying Accounts			S-2

In this report, for all periods presented, “we,” “us,” “our,” “the Company” and “Mondelēz International” refer to Mondelēz International, Inc. and subsidiaries. References to “Common Stock” refer to our Class A Common Stock.

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Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains a number of forward-looking statements. Words, and variations of words, such as “will,” “may,” “expect,” “would,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “likely,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “project,” “potential,” “might,” “outlook” and similar expressions are intended to identify our forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements about: our future performance, including our future revenue growth and margins; our strategy, including our goals to deliver top-tier financial performance and be a great place to work; price volatility and pricing actions; the cost environment and measures to address increased costs; our transformation agenda; the costs of, cost savings generated by, timing of expenditures under and completion of our restructuring programs; our market-leading positions; snack food consumption trends; growth in our snacks business, Power Brands, categories and markets; actions to improve our revenue mix; volatility in global markets; commodity prices and supply; economic conditions; currency exchange rates, controls and restrictions; our expansion plans; our operations in Venezuela and Argentina; pension liabilities related to the coffee business transactions; the significance of the coffee category to our future results; our investment in Keurig, the completion of the transaction, and our ownership interests and governance rights in JDE and Keurig following the transaction; completion of our biscuit operation acquisition; legal matters; changes in laws and regulations and regulatory compliance; environmental compliance and remediation actions; our properties; the estimated value of goodwill and intangible assets; impairment of goodwill and intangible assets and our projections of operating results and other factors that may affect our impairment testing; our accounting estimates and judgments; remediation of the material weakness; pension expenses, contributions and assumptions; employee benefit plan expenses, obligations and assumptions; relationships with employees and representatives; our sustainability initiatives; tax positions; our liquidity, funding sources and uses of funding; reinvestment of earnings; our risk management program, including the use of financial instruments and the effectiveness of our for hedging activities; capital expenditures and funding; share repurchases; dividends; compliance with financial and long-term debt covenants; guarantees and our contractual obligations.

These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks from operating globally including in emerging markets; changes in currency exchange rates, controls and restrictions; continued volatility of commodity and other input costs; weakness in economic conditions; weakness in consumer spending; pricing actions; unanticipated disruptions to our business; competition; acquisitions and divestitures, the restructuring program and our other transformation initiatives not yielding the anticipated benefits; changes in the assumptions on which the restructuring program is based; protection of our reputation and brand image; management of our workforce; consolidation of retail customers and competition with retailer and other economy brands; changes in our relationships with suppliers or customers; legal, regulatory, tax or benefit law changes, claims or actions; strategic transactions; our ability to innovate and differentiate our products; significant changes in valuation factors that may adversely affect our impairment testing of goodwill and intangible assets; perceived or actual product quality issues or product recalls; failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; volatility of capital or other markets; pension costs; use of information technology and third party service providers; our ability to protect our intellectual property and intangible assets; a shift in our pre-tax income among jurisdictions, including the United States; and tax law changes. We disclaim and do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this report except as required by applicable law or regulation.

PART  I

Item 1. Business.

General

We are one of the world’s largest snack companies with global net revenues of $29.6 billion and earnings from continuing operations of $7.3 billion in 2015. We manufacture and market delicious snack food and beverage products for consumers in 165 countries around the world. Our portfolio includes seven billion dollar brands—Nabisco, Oreo and LU biscuits; Cadbury, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Milka chocolates; and Trident gum, as well as 51 brands that each generated annual revenues of $100 million or more in 2015.

We are proud members of the NASDAQ 100 and Standard & Poor’s 500. Our Common Stock trades on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “MDLZ.” We have been incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia since 2000.

 

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We have been recognized for our ongoing economic, environmental and social contributions and this year were listed again on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (“DJSI”) – World and North American Indices. The DJSI selects the top 10% of global companies and top 20% of North American companies based on an extensive review of financial and sustainability programs within each industry. We also participate in the Carbon Disclosure Project Climate and Water forums and continue to disclose and work to reduce our carbon and water footprints. We are committed to continue this and other related work in the areas of sustainable resources and agriculture, mindful snacking, community partnerships and safety of our products and people.

Strategy

We intend to leverage our core strengths, including our advantaged geographic footprint, market leadership positions and portfolio of iconic brands and innovation platforms, to achieve two primary goals: deliver top-tier financial performance and be a great place to work. Top-tier financial performance aims to achieve sustainable top- and bottom-line growth, driven by our transformation agenda, which includes focusing our portfolio, reducing costs and investing for growth. We plan to achieve these goals by executing five long-term strategies:

 

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Unleash the Power of Our People. We believe that our two primary goals of delivering top-tier financial performance and being a great place to work are interdependent and that one is not fully achievable without the other. Being a great place to work enables us to recruit, retain and unleash the talents of great people. We remain focused on evolving our ways of working, our standards of leadership and the development opportunities available to our colleagues.

 

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Transform Snacking. Driving growth is at the forefront of our long-term business strategies. By meeting the needs of consumers through innovation of our portfolio of products, we expect to grow and maintain our Power Brands and market-leading positions.

Our global Power Brands continue to be a significant competitive advantage. Our Power Brands include global brands such as Oreo, LU and belVita biscuits; Milka, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Lacta chocolate; Halls candy; Trident gum; and Tang powdered beverages. Our brands enable us to fulfill consumer needs with a full range of snacking choices. Along with leveraging our global innovation platforms, we offer a full range of snacking choices that address the different needs of our consumers and quickly adapt successful products from one market to others. For example, in early 2015 we acquired Enjoy Life Foods, which creates allergen-free and better for you snacks such as Plentils gluten-free chips and Enjoy Life nut-free chocolate and seed & fruit products. We are developing plans to expand this business within and outside of the North America region.

In 2015, we also transformed our business portfolio following the deconsolidation of our coffee businesses. On July 2, 2015, we combined our global coffee business with D.E Master Blenders 1753 B.V. (“DEMB”) to form Jacobs Douwe Egberts (“JDE”), a new coffee venture in which we maintain a noncontrolling interest. Following the transactions, our snacks net revenues from biscuits, chocolate, gum and candy were approximately 85% of our 2015 net revenues excluding coffee net revenues. We will continue to have a significant stake in the coffee category, but holding our interest in the coffee venture as an investment will allow us to focus to a greater degree on our snacks portfolio and make operating and sales decisions that will help us to grow the snacks business.

To strengthen how we support and leverage our snacks portfolio, we created a Chief Growth Officer role in 2014 to focus on top-line revenue growth opportunities. Beginning in January 2016, we also have a new Chief Commercial Officer. The Chief Commercial Officer is responsible for the execution of the Company’s commercial plan with oversight over the global sales function and delivery of growth plans by the five regions. This structure will focus us further on pursuing and executing on opportunities through which we can drive the most attractive returns.

 

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Revolutionize Selling. As part of our focus on growth around the world and particularly in emerging markets, we continue to invest heavily in our routes to market and sales capabilities across key markets, and we have made significant improvements in our marketing effectiveness and spending. In 2015, we acquired an 80% interest in a biscuit operation in Vietnam that expanded our routes to market in the Asia Pacific region. In recent years, we have also invested in expanding our brand presence across digital media and have placed increased focus on e-commerce. Effective spending on advertising and marketing fuels our brands and strengthens our growth strategies for the business.

 

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Drive Efficiency to Fuel Growth. We manage our business through a virtuous cycle. To drive sales and earnings growth, we focus first on delivering high quality products that meet consumer needs. We expand our margins through leveraging lean and simple cost management programs within our integrated supply chain and through overhead discipline. We reinvest a portion of these savings to pursue additional targeted growth opportunities within our portfolio.

 

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Protect the Well-being of Our Planet. We are committed to growing our business while protecting our planet and its people. We strive to enhance the well-being of the people who enjoy and make our products and to nurture communities where we live, work and grow the ingredients that go into our products. To accomplish these objectives, we focus on delivering safe, high-quality foods and maintaining a safe work environment for our employees. We work to protect resources, focusing on where we can have the greatest impact. We also make food that fits the way people eat today and provides balanced snacking choices.

Our “Call For Well-Being” initiative focuses on four areas that we believe will have the greatest impact: sustainability, mindful snacking, safety and community partnerships. In each of these areas, we set clear goals and metrics. In 2015, we announced our “Sustainability 2020” goals, including reducing absolute carbon dioxide emissions; reducing deforestation within our agricultural supply chain; focusing water-reduction efforts in high-priority locations; reducing packaging material; and reducing total manufacturing waste.

Reportable Segments

Our operations and management structure are organized into five reportable operating segments:

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Latin America

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Asia Pacific

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Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (“EEMEA”)

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Europe

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North America

We manage our operations by region to leverage regional operating scale, manage different and changing business environments more effectively and pursue growth opportunities as they arise in our key markets. Our regional management teams have responsibility for the business, product categories and financial results in the regions.

Historically, we have recorded income from equity method investments within our operating income as these investments operated as extensions of our base business. Beginning in the third quarter of 2015, to align with the accounting for our deconsolidated coffee business and related investment in JDE, we began to record the earnings from our equity method investments in after-tax equity method investment earnings outside of segment operating income. For the six months ended December 31, 2015, after-tax equity method investment net earnings were less than $1 million on a combined basis. Earnings from equity method investments through July 2, 2015 recorded within segment operating income were $49 million in Asia Pacific, $3 million in EEMEA and $4 million in North America. For the year ended December 31, 2014 these earnings were $98 million in Asia Pacific, $6 million in EEMEA and $9 million in North America. For the year ended December 31, 2013 these earnings were $99 million in Asia Pacific, $7 million in EEMEA and $1 million in North America. See Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Principles of Consolidation, for additional information.

In 2015, we also began to report stock-based compensation for our corporate employees, which was previously reported within our North America region, within general corporate expenses. We reclassified $32 million of corporate stock-based compensation expense out of the North America segment in 2015.

Our segment net revenues for each of the last three years were:

 

 

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Currency, the deconsolidation of our global coffee business and other items significantly affect the comparability of our consolidated and segment operating results from year to year. Please see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for a review of our operating results.

Our brands span five product categories:

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Biscuits (including cookies, crackers and salted snacks)

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Chocolate

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Gum & candy

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Beverages (including coffee through July 2, 2015 and powdered beverages)

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Cheese & grocery

During 2015, our segments contributed to our net revenues in these product categories as follows:

 

 

(1)

On July 2, 2015, as part of the JDE coffee transactions, we deconsolidated our global coffee businesses primarily from our Europe, EEMEA and Asia Pacific segment beverage categories. Our 2015 net revenues reflect our coffee business through July 2, 2015. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions – Coffee Business Transactions, for more information.

Within our product categories, the classes of products that contributed 10% or more to consolidated net revenues were:

 

 

(1)

During 2014, we realigned some of our products across product categories and as such, we reclassified the product category net revenues on a basis consistent with the 2015 presentation.

We use segment operating income to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources. We believe it is appropriate to disclose this measure to help investors analyze segment performance and trends. For a definition and reconciliation of segment operating income to consolidated pre-tax earnings as well as other information on our segments, see Note 17, Segment Reporting.

Our segment operating income for each of the last three years was:

 

 

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During the last three fiscal years, our segments contributed to segment operating income as reflected below.

 

Significant Divestitures and Acquisitions

For information on our significant divestitures and acquisitions, please refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, and specifically, in connection with our global coffee business deconsolidation, see our discussion under Coffee Business Transactions.

Customers

No single customer accounted for 10% or more of our net revenues from continuing operations in 2015. Our five largest customers accounted for 17% and our ten largest customers accounted for 24% of net revenues from continuing operations in 2015.

Seasonality

Demand for our products is generally balanced over the first three quarters of the year and increases in the fourth quarter primarily because of holidays and other seasonal events.

Competition

We face competition in all aspects of our business. Competitors include large multi-national as well as numerous local and regional companies. Some competitors have different profit objectives than we do and therefore approach pricing and promotional decisions differently. We compete based on product quality, brand recognition and loyalty, service, product innovation, taste, convenience, the ability to identify and satisfy consumer preferences, effectiveness of sales and marketing, routes to market and distribution networks, promotional activity and price. Improving our market position or introducing a new product requires substantial research, development, advertising and promotional expenditures. We believe these investments lead to better products for the consumer and support our growth and market position.

Distribution and Marketing

Across our segments, we generally sell our products to supermarket chains, wholesalers, supercenters, club stores, mass merchandisers, distributors, convenience stores, gasoline stations, drug stores, value stores and other retail food outlets. We distribute our products through direct store delivery, company-owned and satellite warehouses, distribution centers and other facilities. We also use the services of independent sales offices and agents in some of our international locations.

We also sell our products on a growing number of e-commerce platforms as consumer consumption patterns change (reflecting greater consumer time compression and technology use) and retail increasingly expands online. Within our digital and social marketing, we also create opportunities for consumers to easily find and buy our products online. We have built relationships with several retailers to develop customized programs that fit their and our formats and provide consumers additional personalized offerings from our snacks portfolio.

We conduct marketing efforts through three principal sets of activities: (i) consumer marketing and advertising including on-air, print, outdoor, digital and social media and other product promotions; (ii) consumer sales incentives such as coupons and rebates; and (iii) trade promotions to support price features, displays and other merchandising of our products by our customers.

 

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Raw Materials and Packaging

We purchase and use large quantities of commodities, including cocoa, dairy, wheat, corn products, soybean and vegetable oils, sugar and other sweeteners and nuts. In addition, we purchase and use significant quantities of packaging materials to package our products and natural gas, fuels and electricity for our factories and warehouses. We regularly monitor worldwide supply, cost and currency trends related to these commodities so we can cost-effectively secure ingredients, packaging and energy sources required for production.

A number of external factors such as weather conditions, commodity market conditions, currency fluctuations and governmental agricultural programs affect the cost and availability of raw materials and agricultural materials used in our products. We use hedging techniques to limit the impact of fluctuations in the cost of our principal raw materials. However, we cannot fully hedge against changes in commodity costs, and our hedging strategies may not protect us from increases in specific raw material costs.

While the costs of our principal raw materials fluctuate, we believe there will continue to be an adequate supply of the raw materials we use and that they will generally remain available from numerous sources. For additional information on our commodity costs, refer to the Commodity Trends section within Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Intellectual Property

Our intellectual property rights (including trademarks, patents, copyrights, registered designs, proprietary trade secrets, technology and know-how) are material to our business.

We own numerous trademarks and patents in many countries around the world. Depending on the country, trademarks remain valid for as long as they are in use or their registration status is maintained. Trademark registrations generally are for renewable, fixed terms. We also have patents for a number of current and potential products. Our patents cover inventions ranging from basic packaging techniques to processes relating to specific products and to the products themselves. Our issued patents extend for varying periods according to the date of patent application filing or grant and the legal term of patents in the various countries where patent protection is obtained. The actual protection afforded by a patent, which can vary from country to country, depends upon the type of patent, the scope of its coverage as determined by the patent office or courts in the country, and the availability of legal remedies in the country. While our patent portfolio is material to our business, the loss of one patent or a group of related patents would not have a material adverse effect on our business.

From time to time, we grant third parties licenses to use one or more of our trademarks in connection with the manufacture, sale or distribution of third party products. Similarly, we sell some products under brands we license from third parties. In our agreement with Kraft Foods Group, Inc. (“Kraft Foods Group”; which is now part of The Kraft Heinz Company), we each granted the other party various licenses to use certain of our and their respective intellectual property rights in named jurisdictions following the spin-off of our North American grocery business.

Research and Development

We pursue four objectives in research and development: product safety and quality, growth through new products, superior consumer satisfaction and reduced costs. Our innovation efforts focus on anticipating consumer demands and adapting quickly to changing market trends. Wellness products and healthy snacking are a significant focus of our current research and development initiatives. These initiatives aim to accelerate our growth and margins by addressing consumer needs and market trends and leveraging our global innovation platforms, Power Brands and breakthrough technologies.

At December 31, 2015, we had approximately 2,450 scientists and engineers, of which approximately 1,900 are primarily focused on research and development and the remainder are primarily focused on quality assurance and regulatory affairs. Our major technology centers are located in: East Hanover, New Jersey; Whippany, New Jersey; Bournville, United Kingdom; Curitiba, Brazil; Paris, France; Melbourne, Australia; Mexico City, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Reading, United Kingdom; Thane, India; and Suzhou, China. Our research and development expense was $409 million in 2015, $455 million in 2014 and $471 million in 2013. Our total research and development expense was lower in 2015 primarily due to the deconsolidation of our global coffee business, currency and cost optimization initiatives.

 

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Regulation

Our food products and ingredients are subject to local, national and multi-national regulations related to labeling, packaging, pricing, marketing and advertising, privacy and related areas. In addition, various jurisdictions regulate our operations by licensing and inspecting our manufacturing plants and facilities, enforcing standards for selected food products, grading food products, and regulating trade practices related to the sale and pricing of our food products. Many of the food commodities we use in our operations are subject to government agricultural policy and intervention. These policies have substantial effects on prices and supplies and are subject to periodic governmental and administrative review.

Examples of laws and regulations that affect our business include selective food taxes, nutritional labeling requirements and marketing restrictions in markets such as Europe and Latin America; Russian sanctions on the sourcing of raw materials from the European Union and potential labeling disclosure requirements for genetically modified ingredients in the United States. We will continue to monitor developments in laws and regulations. At this time, we do not expect the cost of complying with new laws and regulations will be material. Also refer to Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Currency Translation and Highly Inflationary Accounting, for additional information on government regulations and currency-related impacts on our operations in Argentina, Russia and other countries.

Environmental Regulation

Throughout the countries in which we do business, we are subject to local, national and multi-national environmental laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. We have programs across our business units designed to meet applicable environmental compliance requirements. In the United States, the laws and regulations include the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”). CERCLA imposes joint and several liability on each potentially responsible party. As of December 31, 2015, we had resolved the one active proceeding in the United States under a state equivalent of CERCLA related to our current operations. As of December 31, 2015, we accrued an immaterial amount for the remaining payments related to this resolution. Based on information currently available, we believe that our compliance with environmental laws and regulations will not have a material effect on our financial results.

Employees

We employed approximately 99,000 people worldwide at December 31, 2015 and approximately 104,000 at December 31, 2014. Approximately 5,000 employees transferred to JDE in connection with the global coffee business transactions, and we also added approximately 6,000 employees due to acquisitions in 2015. Employees represented by labor unions or workers’ councils represent approximately 65% of our 87,000 employees outside the United States and approximately 30% of our 12,000 U.S. employees. Our business units are subject to various local, national and multi-national laws and regulations relating to their relationships with their employees. In accordance with European Union requirements, we also have established a European Workers Council composed of management and elected members of our workforce. We believe we generally have good relationships with our employees and their representative organizations.

Foreign Operations

We generated 78.7% of our 2015 net revenues, 82.1% of our 2014 net revenues and 83.1% of our 2013 net revenues from continuing operations outside the United States. We sell our products to consumers in 165 countries. At December 31, 2015, we had operations in more than 80 countries and made our products at 156 manufacturing and processing facilities in 57 countries. Refer to Note 17, Segment Reporting, for additional information on our U.S. and non-U.S. operations. Refer to Item 2, Properties, for more information on our manufacturing and other facilities. Also, for a discussion of risks related to our operations outside the United States, see “Risk Factors” in Item 1A.

 

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Executive Officers of the Registrant

The following are our executive officers as of February 19, 2016:

 

Ms. Rosenfeld became Chief Executive Officer and Director in June 2006 and became Chairman of the Board in March 2007. Prior to that, she served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo, Inc., a food and beverage company, from September 2004 to June 2006. Ms. Rosenfeld was employed continuously by Mondelēz International and its predecessor, General Foods Corporation, in various capacities from 1981 until 2003, including President of Kraft Foods North America and President of Operations, Technology, Information Systems and Kraft Foods, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Mr. Gladden became Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in December 2014. He joined Mondelēz International in October 2014. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Dell Inc., a provider of technology products and services, from June 2008 until February 2014, and as President and Chief Executive Officer of SABIC Innovative Plastics, a manufacturer of industrial plastics, from August 2007 to May 2008. Mr. Gladden spent 19 years at the General Electric Company, a multinational conglomerate, in a variety of key leadership positions, including Vice President and General Manager, Resin Business and Chief Financial Officer, GE Plastics.

Mr. Abelenda became Executive Vice President and President, Latin America in January 2013. Prior to that, he served as Group Vice President and President, Latin America from August 2003 to December 2012, Vice President and Managing Director, Brazil from October 2000 to August 2003, Food Vice President, Mercosur Area from April 1998 to October 2000 and General Manager, Brazilian Beverages and Sugar Confectionery Business from February 1997 to April 1998. Mr. Abelenda joined Mondelēz International in 1984.

Mr. Brusadelli became Executive Vice President and President, Asia Pacific in January 2016. He previously served as President Biscuits Business, South East Asia, Japan and Sales Asia Pacific from September 2015 to December 2015, President Markets and Sales Asia Pacific from September 2014 to September 2015, President United Kingdom and Ireland from September 2012 to August 2014 and President Gum & Candy Europe from December 2010 until August 2012. Prior to that, Mr. Brusadelli held various positions of increasing responsibility around the world. Mr. Brusadelli joined Mondelēz International in 1993.

Mr. Clouse became Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer in January 2016. He previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer from July 2014 until December 2015 and Executive Vice President and President, North America from October 2012 to March 2015. He was President of the Snacks and Confectionery business in North America from June 2011 to October 2012, Senior Vice President of the Biscuits Global Category Team from October 2010 to June 2011, Managing Director of Kraft Foods Brazil from January 2008 to September 2010 and President of Kraft Foods Greater China from January 2006 to January 2008. Prior to that, Mr. Clouse held various positions of increasing responsibility around the world. Before joining Mondelēz International in 1996, Mr. Clouse served in the United States Army for seven years, obtaining the rank of Captain.

 

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Mr. Cofer became Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer in January 2016. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President and President, Asia Pacific and EEMEA from September 2013 until December 2015, Executive Vice President and President, Europe from August 2011 until September 2013, Senior Vice President, Global Chocolate Category from June 2010 to August 2011, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Integration from January 2010 to June 2010, President of Pizza from January 2008 to January 2010, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Oscar Mayer from January 2007 to January 2008 and Vice President and General Manager of EU Chocolate from June 2003 to January 2007. Mr. Cofer joined Mondelēz International in 1992.

Mr. de Oliveira Marques became Executive Vice President and President, North America in March 2015. Prior to joining Mondelēz International, Mr. de Oliveira Marques worked at Johnson & Johnson, a global manufacturer of human health and well-being related products, for 27 years in a variety of leadership positions, most recently as Company Group Chairman, Consumer North America from January 2011 to February 2015 and as Company Group Chairman, Consumer Health Care, Global Design Unit from April 2007 to December 2010.

Mr. Hargrove became Executive Vice President, Research, Development & Quality in April 2015. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President, Research, Development & Quality for Mondelēz Europe from January 2013 to March 2015. Before joining Mondelēz International, Mr. Hargrove worked at PepsiCo, Inc., a global food and beverage company, for 19 years in a variety of leadership positions, most recently as Senior Vice President, Research and Development, Europe from December 2006 to December 2012.

Mr. MacDougall became Executive Vice President and President, EEMEA in July 2014. Prior to that, he served as President, EEMEA from November 2012 to July 2014 and as President, Middle East and Africa from March 2010 to October 2012. Prior to its acquisition by Mondelēz International, Mr. MacDougall was continuously employed by Cadbury Pty Ltd, a confectionery company, for 28 years in various leadership positions, most recently serving as President, Middle East and Africa from February 2007 to February 2010.

Ms. May became Executive Vice President, Human Resources in October 2005. Prior to that, she was Corporate Vice President, Human Resources for Baxter International Inc., a healthcare company, from February 2001 to September 2005.

Mr. Myers became Executive Vice President, Integrated Supply Chain in September 2011. Prior to that, he worked for Procter & Gamble, a consumer products company, for 33 years in a variety of leadership positions, most recently serving as Vice President, Product Supply for P&G’s Global Hair Care business from September 2007 to August 2011.

Mr. Pleuhs became Executive Vice President and General Counsel in April 2012. In this role, Mr. Pleuhs oversees the legal, compliance, security, corporate and governance affairs functions within Mondelēz International. Previously, Mr. Pleuhs served as Senior Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, Business Units from November 2007 to March 2012 and Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, International for Kraft Foods Global, Inc. from July 2004 to November 2007. Before joining Mondelēz International in 1990, Mr. Pleuhs held a number of senior positions within the German Law Department of Jacobs Kaffee Deutschland GmbH, an international beverage and confectionery company, prior to and after its acquisition by Altria Group, the former parent company of Mondelēz International. Mr. Pleuhs has a law degree from the University of Kiel, Germany and is licensed to practice law in Germany.

Mr. Weber became Executive Vice President and President Europe in September 2013. Prior to that, he served as President of the European and Global Coffee category from September 2010 until September 2013, President of the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) from February 2009 to August 2010, Managing Director, Spain from August 2007 to January 2009, Vice President of Global Tassimo Venture Team from July 2004 to July 2007 and Senior Director, International Sales, Kraft Foods International from January 2000 to June 2004. Mr. Weber joined Mondelēz International in 1988.

 

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Ethics and Governance

We adopted the Mondelēz International Code of Conduct, which qualifies as a code of ethics under Item 406 of Regulation S-K. The code applies to all of our employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, and persons performing similar functions. Our code of ethics is available free of charge on our web site at www.mondelezinternational.com and will be provided free of charge to any shareholder submitting a written request to: Corporate Secretary, Mondelēz International, Inc., Three Parkway North, Deerfield, IL 60015. We will disclose any waiver we grant to an executive officer or director under our code of ethics, or certain amendments to the code of ethics, on our web site at www.mondelezinternational.com.

In addition, we adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, charters for each of the Board’s four standing committees and the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Non-Employee Directors. All of these materials are available on our web site at www.mondelezinternational.com and will be provided free of charge to any shareholder requesting a copy by writing to: Corporate Secretary, Mondelēz International, Inc., Three Parkway North, Deerfield, IL 60015.

Available Information

Our Internet address is www.mondelezinternational.com. Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are available free of charge as soon as possible after we electronically file them with, or furnish them to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). You can access our filings with the SEC by visiting www.mondelezinternational.com. The information on our web site is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or incorporated into any other filings we make with the SEC.

Item 1A.   Risk Factors.

You should read the following risk factors carefully when evaluating our business and the forward-looking information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any of the following risks could materially and adversely affect our business, operating results, financial condition and the actual outcome of matters described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. While we believe we have identified and discussed below the key risk factors affecting our business, there may be additional risks and uncertainties that we do not presently know or that we do not currently believe to be significant that may adversely affect our business, performance or financial condition in the future.

We operate in a highly competitive industry.

The food and snacking industry is highly competitive. Our principal competitors include major international food, snack and beverage companies that, like us, operate in multiple geographic areas as well as numerous local and regional companies. We compete based on product quality, brand recognition and loyalty, service, product innovation, taste, convenience, the ability to identify and satisfy consumer preferences, effectiveness of sales and marketing, routes to market and distribution networks, promotional activity and price. If we do not effectively respond to challenges from our competitors, our business could be adversely affected.

Competitor and customer pressures may require that we reduce our prices. These pressures may also restrict our ability to increase prices in response to commodity and other cost increases. Failure to effectively assess, change and set proper pricing may negatively impact the achievement of our strategic and financial goals. The emergence of new distribution channels, such as Internet sales directly to consumers, may affect customer and consumer preferences, cost structures or margins, and we might not achieve our goal of developing and building an industry-leading e-commerce snacks business on our planned timeframe. We may also need to increase or reallocate spending on marketing, advertising and new product innovation to protect or increase market share. These expenditures might not result in trade and consumer acceptance of our efforts. If we reduce prices or our costs increase but we cannot increase sales volumes to offset those changes, then our financial condition and results of operations will suffer.

In addition, companies in our industry are under increasing pressure to improve the efficiency of their overall cost structures. We have announced a transformation agenda with the goals of focusing our portfolio, improving our cost structure and operating model, and accelerating our growth. If we do not achieve these objectives and do so in a way that minimizes disruptions to our business, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

 

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Maintaining, extending and expanding our reputation and brand image is essential to our business success.

Our success depends on our ability to maintain brand image for our existing products, extend our brands into new geographies and to new distribution platforms, including online, and expand our brand image with new product offerings.

We seek to maintain, extend and expand our brand image through marketing investments, including advertising and consumer promotions, and product innovation. Continuing global focus on health and wellness, including weight management, and increasing attention from the media, shareholders, consumers, activists and other stakeholders on the role of food marketing could adversely affect our brand image. Undue caution on our part in addressing these challenges could weaken our competitive position. Such pressures could also lead to stricter regulations and increased focus on food and snacking marketing practices. Increased legal or regulatory restrictions on our advertising, consumer promotions and marketing, or our response to those restrictions, could limit our efforts to maintain, extend and expand our brands. Moreover, adverse publicity about regulatory or legal action against us, product quality and safety, or environmental and human rights risks in our supply chain could damage our reputation and brand image, undermine our customers’ confidence and reduce demand for our products, even if the regulatory or legal action is unfounded or these matters are immaterial to our operations.

In addition, our success in maintaining, extending and expanding our brand image depends on our ability to adapt to a rapidly changing marketing and media environment, including our increasing reliance on social media and online dissemination of marketing and advertising campaigns. We are subject to a variety of legal and regulatory restrictions on how and to whom we market our products. These restrictions may limit our ability to maintain, extend and expand our brand image, particularly as social media and the communications environment continue to evolve. Negative posts or comments about us on social networking web sites (whether factual or not) or security breaches related to use of our social media and failure to respond effectively to these posts, comments or activities could seriously damage our reputation and brand image across the various regions in which we operate. In addition, we might fail to invest sufficiently in maintaining, extending and expanding our brand image. As a result, we might be required to recognize impairment charges on our intangible assets or goodwill. If we do not successfully maintain, extend and expand our reputation and brand image, then our brands, product sales, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

We are subject to risks from operating globally.

We are a global company and generated 78.7% of our 2015 net revenues, 82.1% of our 2014 net revenues and 83.1% of our 2013 net revenues outside the United States. We manufacture and market our products in 165 countries and have operations in more than 80 countries. Therefore, we are subject to risks inherent in global operations. Those risks include:

 

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compliance with U.S. laws affecting operations outside of the United States, including anti-bribery laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”);

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compliance with antitrust and competition laws, data privacy laws, and a variety of other local, national and multi-national regulations and laws in multiple regimes;

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changes in tax laws, interpretation of tax laws and tax audit outcomes;

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currency devaluations or fluctuations in currency values, including in developing markets such as Argentina, Brazil, China, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine as well as in developed markets such as countries within the European Union;

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changes in capital controls, including currency exchange controls, government currency policies or other limits on our ability to import raw materials or finished product into various countries or repatriate cash from outside the United States;

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discriminatory or conflicting fiscal policies;

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increased sovereign risk, such as default by or deterioration in the economies and credit ratings of governments, particularly in our Latin America and EEMEA regions;

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changes in local regulations and laws, the uncertainty of enforcement of remedies in foreign jurisdictions, and foreign ownership restrictions and the potential for nationalization or expropriation of property or other resources;

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varying abilities to enforce intellectual property and contractual rights;

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greater risk of uncollectible accounts and longer collection cycles;

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design, implementation and use of effective control environment processes across our diverse operations and employee base; and

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the imposition of increased or new tariffs, quotas, trade barriers or similar restrictions on our sales or regulations, taxes or policies that might negatively affect our sales.

 

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In addition, political and economic changes or volatility, geopolitical regional conflicts, terrorist activity, political unrest, civil strife, acts of war, public corruption, expropriation and other economic or political uncertainties could interrupt and negatively affect our business operations or customer demand. The slowdown in economic growth or high unemployment in some emerging markets could constrain consumer spending, and declining consumer purchasing power could adversely impact our profitability. Continued instability in the banking and governmental sectors of certain countries or the dynamics associated with the federal and state debt and budget challenges in the United States could adversely affect us. All of these factors could result in increased costs or decreased revenues, and could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition and results of operations.

Our operations in certain emerging markets expose us to political, economic and regulatory risks.

Our growth strategy depends in part on our ability to expand our operations in emerging markets, including Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Russia, Argentina, Ukraine, the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia. However, some emerging markets have greater political, economic and currency volatility and greater vulnerability to infrastructure and labor disruptions than more established markets. In many countries, particularly those with emerging economies, it may be common for others to engage in business practices prohibited by laws and regulations with extraterritorial reach, such as the FCPA and the U.K. Bribery Act, or local anti-bribery laws. These laws generally prohibit companies and their employees, contractors or agents from making improper payments to government officials, including in connection with obtaining permits or engaging in other actions necessary to do business. Failure to comply with these laws could subject us to civil and criminal penalties that could materially and adversely affect our reputation, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, competition in emerging markets is increasing as our competitors grow their global operations and low cost local manufacturers expand and improve their production capacities. Our success in emerging markets is critical to our growth strategy. If we cannot successfully increase our business in emerging markets and manage associated political, economic and regulatory risks, our product sales, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected, such as the current year impact of deconsolidating and changing to the cost method of accounting for our Venezuelan operations as discussed in this Form 10-K or any potential impact on our business in Venezuela from future economic or political developments.

Unanticipated business disruptions could adversely affect our ability to provide our products to our customers.

We manufacture and source products and materials on a global scale. We have a complex network of suppliers and materials needs, owned manufacturing locations, co-manufacturing locations, distribution networks and information systems that support our ability to provide our products to our customers consistently. Factors that are hard to predict or beyond our control, like weather, natural disasters, supply and commodity shortages, fire, explosions, terrorism, political unrest, generalized labor unrest or health pandemics could damage or disrupt our operations or our suppliers’ or co-manufacturers’ operations. If we do not effectively respond to disruptions in our operations, for example, by finding alternative suppliers or replacing capacity at key manufacturing or distribution locations, or cannot quickly repair damage to our information, production or supply systems, we may be late in delivering or unable to deliver products to our customers. If that occurs, we may lose our customers’ confidence, and long-term consumer demand for our products could decline. In addition, we might not have the functions, processes or organizational capability necessary to achieve on our anticipated timeframes our strategic ambition to reconfigure our supply chain and drive efficiencies to fuel growth. Further, changes to regulatory restrictions within the markets in which we operate may impact our ability to supply multiple markets with a streamlined manufacturing footprint. These events could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to currency exchange rate fluctuations.

At December 31, 2015, we sold our products in 165 countries and had operations in more than 80 countries. A significant portion of our business is exposed to currency exchange rate fluctuations. Our financial results and capital ratios are sensitive to movements in currency exchange rates because a large portion of our assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses must be translated into U.S. dollars for reporting purposes or converted into U.S. dollars to service obligations such as our U.S. dollar-denominated indebtedness and dividends. In addition, movements in currency exchange rates can affect transaction costs because we source product ingredients from various countries. We seek to mitigate our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations, primarily on cross-currency transactions, but our efforts may not be successful. Accordingly, changes in the currency exchange rates that we use to translate our results into U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes or for transactions involving multiple currencies could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Commodity and other input prices are volatile and may increase or decrease significantly or availability of commodities may become constrained.

We purchase and use large quantities of commodities, including cocoa, dairy, wheat, corn products, soybean and vegetable oils, sugar and other sweeteners, and nuts. In addition, we purchase and use significant quantities of packaging materials to package our products and natural gas, fuels and electricity for our factories and warehouses. Prices for these raw materials, other supplies and energy are volatile and can fluctuate due to conditions that are difficult to predict. These conditions include global competition for resources, currency fluctuations, political conditions, severe weather, the potential longer-term consequences of climate change on agricultural productivity, crop disease or pests, water risk, health pandemics, consumer or industrial demand, and changes in governmental trade, alternative energy and agricultural programs. Many of the commodities we purchase are grown by smallholder farmers, who might lack the capacity to invest to increase productivity or adapt to changing conditions. Although we monitor our exposure to commodity prices and hedge against input price increases, we cannot fully hedge against changes in commodity costs, and our hedging strategies may not protect us from increases in specific raw material costs. Continued volatility in the prices of commodities and other supplies we purchase could increase or decrease the costs of our products, and our profitability could suffer as a result. Moreover, increases in the price of our products, including increases to cover higher input costs may result in lower sales volumes, while decreases in input costs could require us to lower our prices and thereby affect our revenues, profits or margins. Likewise, constraints in the supply of key commodities may limit our ability to grow our net revenues and earnings. If our mitigation activities are not effective, if we are unable to price to cover increased costs or must reduce our prices, or if we are limited by supply constraints, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Changes in and inconsistencies among laws and regulations in many countries in which we operate could increase our costs.

Our activities throughout the world are highly regulated and subject to government oversight. Various laws and regulations govern food production, storage, distribution, sales, advertising and marketing, as well as licensing, trade, labor, tax and environmental matters, and health and safety practices. Government authorities regularly change laws and regulations and their interpretations. Our compliance with new or revised laws and regulations or the interpretation and application of existing laws and regulations could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition and results of operations.

We may be unable to hire or retain and develop key personnel or a highly skilled and diverse global workforce or manage changes in our workforce.

We must hire, retain and develop effective leaders and a highly skilled and diverse global workforce. We compete to hire new personnel in the many countries in which we manufacture and market our products and then to develop and retain their skills and competencies. Unplanned turnover or failure to develop adequate succession plans for leadership positions or hire and retain a diverse global workforce with the skills and in the locations we need to operate and grow our business could deplete our institutional knowledge base and erode our competitiveness.

We also face increased personnel-related risks in connection with implementing the changes in our transformation agenda related to our operating model and business processes, including building a global shared services capability. These risks could lead to operational challenges, including increased competition for employees with the skills we require to achieve our business goals, higher employee turnover, including of employees with key capabilities, and challenges in developing the capabilities necessary to build a shared services function and transform our business processes. Furthermore, we might be unable to manage changes in, or that affect, our workforce appropriately or satisfy the legal requirements associated with how we manage and compensate our employees. This includes our management of employees represented by labor unions or workers’ councils, who represent approximately 65% of our 87,000 employees outside the United States and approximately 30% of our 12,000 U.S. employees.

These risks could materially and adversely affect our reputation, ability to meet the needs of our customers, product sales, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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We must address risks related to consolidation of retail customers and leverage our value proposition in order to compete against retailer and other economy brands.

Retail customers, such as supermarkets, warehouse clubs and food distributors in the European Union, the United States and our other major markets, continue to consolidate or form buying alliances, resulting in fewer but larger customers with whom we can conduct business. Larger, more sophisticated retail customers and alliances among customers can resist price increases, delist or reduce the shelf space allotted to our products, and demand lower pricing, increased promotional programs, longer payment terms or specifically tailored products. Retail customers might also adopt these tactics in their dealings with us in response to the significant growth in online retailing for consumer products, which is outpacing the growth of traditional retail channels. In addition, larger retail customers have the scale to develop supply chains that permit them to operate with reduced inventories or to develop and market their own retailer and other economy brands that compete with some of our products. Our products must provide higher quality or value to our consumers than the less expensive alternatives, particularly during periods of economic uncertainty. Consumers may not buy our products if consumers perceive the difference in the quality or value between our products and the retailer or other economy brands has narrowed. If consumers switch to purchasing or otherwise prefer the retailer or other economy brands, then we could lose market share or sales volumes or need to shift our product mix to lower margin offerings.

Retail consolidation also increases the risk that adverse changes in our customers’ business operations or financial performance will have a corresponding material adverse effect on us. For example, if our customers cannot access sufficient funds or financing, then they may delay, decrease or cancel purchases of our products, or delay or fail to pay us for previous purchases.

If we do not effectively respond to retail consolidation, increasing retail power and competition from retailer and other economy brands, our reputation, brands, product sales, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

We are subject to and may fail to manage changes in our relationships with significant customers or suppliers.

During 2015, our five largest customers accounted for 17.0% of our net revenues. There can be no assurance that our customers will continue to purchase our products in the same mix or quantities or on the same terms as in the past, particularly as increasingly powerful retailers continue to demand lower pricing and develop their own brands. The loss of or disruptions related to significant customers, such as the disruptions we experienced in 2014 with customers in France, could result in a material reduction in sales or change in the mix of products we sell to a significant customer. This could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition and results of operations.

Additionally, disputes with significant suppliers, including those related to pricing or performance, could adversely affect our ability to supply products to our customers or operate our business and could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition and results of operations.

We may decide or be required to recall products or be subjected to product liability claims.

We could decide, or laws or regulations could require us, to recall products due to suspected or confirmed and deliberate or unintentional product contamination, spoilage or other adulteration, product misbranding or product tampering. In addition, if another company recalls or experiences negative publicity related to a product in a category in which we compete, consumers might reduce their overall consumption of products in this category. Any of these events could materially and adversely affect our reputation, brands, product sales, financial condition and results of operations.

We may also suffer losses if our products or operations violate applicable laws or regulations, or if our products cause injury, illness or death. In addition, our marketing could face claims of false or deceptive advertising or other criticism. A significant product liability or other legal judgment against us, a related regulatory enforcement action or a widespread product recall could materially and adversely affect our reputation and profitability. Moreover, even if a product liability or consumer fraud claim is unsuccessful, has no merit or is not pursued, the negative publicity surrounding assertions against our products or processes could materially and adversely affect our reputation, brands, product sales, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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We could be subject to legal or tax claims or other regulatory enforcement actions.

We are a large snack food company operating in highly regulated environments and constantly evolving legal, tax and regulatory frameworks around the world. Consequently, we are subject to greater risk of litigation, legal or tax claims or other regulatory enforcement actions. There can be no assurance that our employees, contractors or agents will not violate policies and procedures we have implemented to promote compliance with existing laws and regulations. Moreover, our failure to maintain effective control environment processes could lead to violations, unintentional or otherwise, of laws and regulations. Litigation, legal or tax claims or regulatory enforcement actions arising out of our failure or alleged failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations or controls could subject us to civil and criminal penalties that could materially and adversely affect our reputation, product sales, financial condition and results of operations.

We may not successfully identify, complete or manage strategic transactions.

We regularly evaluate a variety of potential strategic transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, minority investments and other strategic alliances that could further our strategic business objectives. We may not successfully identify, complete or manage the risks presented by these strategic transactions. Our success depends, in part, upon our ability to identify suitable transactions; negotiate favorable contractual terms; comply with applicable regulations and receive necessary consents, clearances and approvals (including regulatory and antitrust clearances and approvals); integrate or separate businesses; realize the full extent of the benefits, cost savings or synergies presented by strategic transactions; effectively implement control environment processes with employees joining us as a result of a transaction; minimize adverse effects on existing business relationships with suppliers and customers; achieve accurate estimates of fair value; minimize potential loss of customers or key employees; and minimize indemnities and potential disputes with buyers, sellers and strategic partners. In addition, execution or oversight of strategic transactions may result in the diversion of management attention from our existing business and may present financial, managerial and operational risks.

With respect to acquisitions and joint ventures in particular, we are also exposed to potential risks based on our ability to conform standards, controls, policies and procedures, and business cultures; consolidate and streamline operations and infrastructures; identify and eliminate redundant and underperforming operations and assets; manage inefficiencies associated with the integration of operations; and coordinate antitrust and competition laws in the United States, the European Union and other jurisdictions. Joint ventures and strategic alliances pose additional risks, as we share ownership and management responsibilities with one or more other parties who may not have the same objectives, priorities, strategies or resources as we do. In July 2015, we completed transactions to combine our wholly owned coffee businesses with those of DEMB to create a new company, Jacobs Douwe Egberts, and we acquired an 80% interest in a biscuit operation in Vietnam. In December 2015, we announced that we intend to exchange a portion of our equity ownership in JDE for equity in the new holding company of Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. (“Keurig”) in the event of a successful closing of the acquisition of Keurig by an investor group led by JAB Holding Co. Transactions or ventures into which we enter might not meet our financial and non-financial control and compliance expectations or yield the anticipated benefits. Depending on the nature of the business ventures, including whether they operate globally, these ventures could also be subject to many of the same risks we are, including political, economic and regulatory risks, currency exchange rate fluctuations, and volatility of commodity and other input prices. Either partner might fail to recognize alliance relationships that could expose the business to higher risk or make the venture not as productive as expected. Furthermore, we may not be able to complete, on terms favorable to us, desired or proposed divestitures of businesses that do not meet our strategic objectives or our growth or profitability targets. Our divestiture activities, or related activities such as reorganizations, restructuring programs and transformation initiatives, may require us to recognize impairment charges or to take action to reduce costs that remain after we complete a divestiture. Gains or losses on the sales of, or lost operating income from, those businesses may also affect our profitability.

Any of these risks and challenges could materially and adversely affect our business, product sales, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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We must correctly predict, identify and interpret changes in consumer preferences and demand and offer new products to meet those changes.

Consumer preferences for food and snacking products change continually. Our success depends on our ability to predict, identify and interpret the tastes, dietary habits, packaging and other preferences of consumers around the world and to offer products that appeal to these preferences. Moreover, weak economic conditions, recession, equity market volatility or other factors could affect consumer preferences and demand. If we do not offer products that appeal to consumers or if we misjudge consumer demand for our products, our sales and market share will decrease and our profitability could suffer.

We must distinguish among short-term fads, mid-term trends and long-term changes in consumer preferences. If we do not accurately predict which shifts in consumer preferences will be long-term, or if we fail to introduce new and improved products to satisfy those changing preferences, our sales could decline. In addition, because of our varied consumer base, including by geography, we must offer an array of products that satisfy the broad spectrum of consumer preferences. If we fail to expand our product offerings successfully across product categories, or if we do not rapidly develop products in faster growing and more profitable categories, demand for our products could decrease and our profitability could suffer.

Prolonged negative perceptions concerning the health implications of certain food products could influence consumer preferences and acceptance of some of our products and marketing programs. For example, consumers have increasingly focused on health and wellness, including weight management and reducing sodium and added sugar consumption. In addition, consumer preferences differ by region, and we must monitor and adjust our use of ingredients to respond to these regional preferences. We might be unsuccessful in our efforts to effectively respond to changing consumer preferences and social expectations. Continued negative perceptions and failure to satisfy consumer preferences could materially and adversely affect our reputation, product sales, financial condition and results of operations.

Failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could adversely affect us.

The accuracy of our financial reporting depends on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements and may not prevent or detect misstatements because of its inherent limitations. These limitations include, among others, the possibility of human error, inadequacy or circumvention of controls and fraud. If we do not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting or design and implement controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance with respect to the preparation and fair presentation of our financial statements, including in connection with controls executed for us by third parties, we might fail to timely detect any misappropriation of corporate assets or inappropriate allocation or use of funds and could be unable to file accurate financial reports on a timely basis. As a result, our reputation, results of operations and stock price could be materially adversely affected.

In connection with management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, we determined that we did not maintain effective monitoring and oversight of controls over the completeness, accuracy and presentation of our accounting for income taxes, including the income tax provision and related tax assets and liabilities. We determined that the ineffective monitoring and oversight of controls over income tax accounting constituted a material weakness. As of December 31, 2015, we remediated this material weakness. See Item 9A, Controls and Procedures, for a discussion of the material weakness and the remediation. If the new controls we implemented to strengthen our overall internal control over accounting for income taxes were not designed or do not continue to operate effectively or if we are unsuccessful in continuing to follow these new processes, we may not timely or accurately report our financial condition or results of operations. This could adversely affect our stock price and the confidence of investors, business partners and others in our financial reports.

 

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We are increasingly dependent on information technology and third party service providers.

We rely on information technology and third party service providers to process, transmit and store company information via business applications, internal networks and the Internet. We use these technologies to support our global business processes and activities, including communicating with our employees, customers and suppliers; running critical business operations; meeting regulatory, legal and tax requirements; and executing various digital marketing and consumer promotion activities.

These technologies and related information are subject to risks related to confidentiality, integrity and continuity, many of which are beyond our control. Confidentiality and integrity of information may be jeopardized by deliberate or unintentional misuse, manipulation or disclosure of information; physical theft; or cybersecurity data breaches. We might face increased risk if our goal of increasing our revenues through new initiatives, including e-commerce, leads to an increase in the amount of confidential information that we process and maintain. Continuity of business applications and services may be disrupted by errors in systems’ maintenance, migration of applications to the cloud, power outages, hardware or software failures, viruses or malware, cyber security attacks, telecommunication failures, natural disasters, terrorist attacks and other catastrophic events.

Should any of these risks materialize, the need to coordinate with various third party service providers might complicate our efforts to resolve the related issues. If our controls, disaster recovery and business continuity plans do not effectively resolve the issues in a timely manner, our product sales, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected, and we may experience delays in reporting our financial results.

In addition, should confidential information belonging to us or our employees, customers, consumers, partners or suppliers be misused or breached, we may suffer financial losses relating to remediation, damage to our reputation or brands, loss of intellectual property or penalties or litigation related to violation of data privacy laws and regulations.

Weak financial performance, downgrades in our credit ratings, illiquid global capital markets and volatile global economic conditions could limit our access to the global capital markets, reduce our liquidity and increase our borrowing costs.

We access the long-term and short-term global capital markets to obtain financing. Our financial performance, our short- and long-term debt credit ratings, interest rates, the stability of financial institutions with which we partner, the liquidity of the overall global capital markets and the state of the global economy, including the food industry, could affect our access to, and the availability or cost of, financing on acceptable terms and conditions and our ability to pay dividends in the future. There can be no assurance that we will have access to the global capital markets on terms we find acceptable.

We regularly access the commercial paper markets in the United States and Europe for ongoing funding requirements. A downgrade in our credit ratings by a credit rating agency could increase our borrowing costs and adversely affect our ability to issue commercial paper. Disruptions in the global commercial paper market or other effects of volatile economic conditions on the global credit markets also could reduce the amount of commercial paper that we could issue and raise our borrowing costs for both short- and long-term debt offerings.

Limitations on our ability to access the global capital markets, a reduction in our liquidity or an increase in our borrowing costs could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Volatility in the equity markets, interest rates, our participation in multiemployer pension plans or other factors could substantially increase our pension costs.

We sponsor a number of defined benefit pension plans for our employees throughout the world. At the end of 2015, the projected benefit obligation of our defined benefit pension plans was $11.1 billion and plan assets were $9.0 billion. The difference between plan obligations and assets, or the funded status of the plans, significantly affects the net periodic benefit costs of our pension plans and the ongoing funding requirements of those plans. Our major defined benefit pension plans are funded with trust assets invested in a globally diversified portfolio of investments, including equities and corporate debt. Among other factors, changes in interest rates, mortality rates, early retirement rates, investment returns, minimum funding requirements in the jurisdictions in which the plans operate, the viability of other employers in the multiemployer pension plans in which we participate and the market value of plan assets can affect the level of plan funding, cause volatility in the net periodic pension cost and increase our future funding requirements. Legislative and other governmental regulatory actions may also increase funding requirements for our pension plans’ benefits obligation.

Volatility in the global capital markets may increase the risk that we are required to make additional cash contributions to the pension plans and recognize further increases in our net periodic pension cost.

Due to our participation in multi-employer pension plans, we may have exposure under those plans that extends beyond what our obligation would be with respect to our employees. Our contributions to a multi-employer plan may increase beyond our bargaining obligations depending on the financial condition of the multi-employer plan. We may be required to participate in funding the unfunded obligations of the plan allocable to a withdrawing employer, and our costs might increase as a result. Further, if we partially or completely withdraw from a multi-employer pension plan, we may be required to pay a partial or complete withdrawal liability. This withdrawal liability will generally increase if there is also a mass withdrawal of other participating employers or if the plan terminates. (See Note 10, Benefit Plans, to the consolidated financial statements for more information on our multiemployer pension plans.)

A significant increase in our pension benefit obligations or funding requirements could have a negative impact on our ability to invest in the business and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Our intellectual property rights are valuable, and our failure to protect them could reduce the value of our products and brands.

We consider our intellectual property rights, particularly and most notably our trademarks, but also our patents, trade secrets, copyrights and licensing agreements, to be a significant and valuable part of our business. We attempt to protect our intellectual property rights by taking advantage of a combination of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws in various countries, as well as licensing agreements, third party nondisclosure and assignment agreements and policing of third party misuses of our intellectual property. Our failure to obtain or adequately protect our intellectual property rights, or any change in law or other changes that serve to lessen or remove the current legal protections of our intellectual property, may diminish our competitiveness and could materially harm our business.

We may be unaware of third party claims of intellectual property infringement relating to our technology, brands or products. Any litigation regarding patents or other intellectual property could be costly and time-consuming and could divert management’s and other key personnel’s attention from our business operations. Third party claims of intellectual property infringement might require us to pay monetary damages or enter into costly license agreements. We also may be subject to injunctions against development and sale of certain of our products. Any of these occurrences could materially and adversely affect our reputation, product sales, financial condition and results of operations.

Item 1B.   Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

 

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Item 2.   Properties.

On December 31, 2015, we had 156 manufacturing and processing facilities in 57 countries and 187 distribution centers and depots worldwide. During 2015, we opened 3 new manufacturing facilities and disposed of or ceased operations in 17 manufacturing facilities, primarily related to the coffee business transactions. We also opened 8 new distribution facilities and no longer own or lease 13 distribution facilities. In addition, a decrease of 24 distribution facilities in our Asia Pacific segment primarily reflects distribution facilities that are owned or leased by third party logistics partners. It is our practice to maintain all of our plants and other facilities in good condition. We believe we have or will add sufficient capacity to meet our planned operating needs.

 

Item 3.   Legal Proceedings.

Information regarding legal proceedings is available in Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies, to the consolidated financial statements in this report.

Item 4.   Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

 

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PART II

Item 5.   Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Our Common Stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “MDLZ.” At January 31, 2016, there were 59,102 holders of record of our Common Stock. Information regarding the market price of our Common Stock and dividends declared during the last two fiscal years is included in Note 18, Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited), to the consolidated financial statements.

Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total Return

The following graph compares the cumulative total return on our Common Stock with the cumulative total return of the S&P 500 Index and the Mondelēz International performance peer group index. The graph assumes, in each case, that an initial investment of $100 is made at the beginning of the five-year period. The cumulative total return reflects market prices at the end of each year and the reinvestment of dividends each year (and takes into account the value of Kraft Foods Group shares distributed in the Spin-Off). The vertical line below indicates the October 1, 2012 Spin-Off date and is intended to facilitate comparisons of performance against peers listed below and the stock market before and following the Spin-Off.

 

 

The Mondelēz International performance peer group consists of the following companies considered our market competitors or that have been selected on the basis of industry, global focus or industry leadership: Campbell Soup Company, The Coca-Cola Company, Colgate-Palmolive Company, Danone S.A., General Mills, Inc., The Hershey Company, Kellogg Company, Nestlé S.A., PepsiCo, Inc., The Procter & Gamble Company and Unilever PLC.

This performance graph and other information furnished under this Part II Item 5(a) of this Form 10-K shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act.

 

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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Our stock repurchase activity for each of the three months in the quarter ended December 31, 2015 was:

 

 

(1)

The total number of shares purchased includes: (i) shares purchased pursuant to the repurchase program described in (2) below; and (ii) shares tendered to us by employees who used shares to exercise options and to pay the related taxes for grants of restricted and deferred stock that vested, totaling 12,074 shares, 1,597 shares and 174,350 shares for the fiscal months of October, November and December 2015, respectively.

 

(2)

Our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $13.7 billion of our Common Stock through December 31, 2018. Specifically, on March 12, 2013, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to the lesser of 40 million shares or $1.2 billion of our Common Stock through March 12, 2016. On August 6, 2013, our Audit Committee, with authorization delegated from our Board of Directors, increased the repurchase program capacity to $6.0 billion of Common Stock repurchases and extended the expiration date to December 31, 2016. On December 3, 2013, our Board of Directors approved an increase of $1.7 billion to the program related to a new accelerated share repurchase program, which concluded in May 2014. On July 29, 2015, our Finance Committee, with authorization delegated from our Board of Directors, approved a $6.0 billion increase that raised the repurchase program capacity to $13.7 billion and extended the program through December 31, 2018. See Note 12, Capital Stock, for additional information.

 

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Item 6.   Selected Financial Data

Mondelēz International, Inc.

Selected Financial Data – Five Year Review ⁽¹⁾

 

		2015				2014				2013				2012				2011
		(in millions, except per share and employee data)
Continuing Operations (2)
Net revenues		$	29,636			$	34,244			$	35,299			$	35,015			$	35,810
Earnings from continuing operations, net of taxes			7,291				2,201				2,332				1,606				1,764
Net earnings attributable to Mondelēz International:
Per share, basic			4.49				1.29				1.30				0.90				0.99
Per share, diluted			4.44				1.28				1.29				0.88				0.99
Cash Flow and Financial Position (3)
Net cash provided by operating activities			3,728				3,562				6,410				3,923				4,520
Capital expenditures			1,514				1,642				1,622				1,610				1,771
Property, plant and equipment, net			8,362				9,827				10,247				10,010				13,813
Total assets			62,843				66,771				72,464				75,421				93,701
Long-term debt			14,557				13,821				14,431				15,519				23,013
Total Mondelēz International shareholders’ equity			28,012				27,750				32,373				32,276				35,271
Shares outstanding at year end (4)			1,580				1,664				1,705				1,778				1,768
Per Share and Other Data (5)
Book value per shares outstanding			17.73				16.68				18.99				18.15				19.95
Dividends declared per share (6)			0.64				0.58				0.54				1.00				1.16
Common Stock closing price at year end (7)			44.84				36.33				35.30				25.45				37.36
Number of employees			99,000				104,000				107,000				110,000				126,000

 

(1)

The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and Annual Reports on Form 10-K for earlier periods. A significant portion of our business is exposed to currency exchange rate fluctuation as a large portion of our assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses must be translated into U.S. dollars for reporting purposes. Refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for a discussion of operating results on a constant currency basis where noted.

(2)

Significant items impacting the comparability of our results from continuing operations include: Spin-Off Costs in 2012-2014; Restructuring Programs in 2012-2015; Cost Savings Initiatives in 2011-2013; the contribution of our global coffee businesses and investment in JDE and related gain in 2015; other divestitures and sales of property in 2015, 2013 and 2012; acquisitions in 2015 and 2013; the Cadbury acquisition-related Integration Program in 2011-2014; the benefit from the Cadbury acquisition-related indemnification resolution in 2013; losses on debt extinguishment in 2013-2015; unrealized gains on the coffee business transaction currency hedges in 2014 and 2015; debt tender offers completed in 2013-2015; loss on deconsolidation of Venezuela in 2015; the remeasurement of net monetary assets in Venezuela in 2013-2015; accounting calendar changes in 2015, 2013 and 2011 (including a 53rd week of operating results in 2011); impairment charges related to intangible assets in 2015, 2014 and 2012; and our provision for income taxes in all years. Please refer to Notes 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies; 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions; 5, Goodwill and Intangible Assets; 6, Restructuring Programs; 7, Integration Program and Cost Savings Initiatives; 8, Debt and Borrowing Arrangements; 9, Financial Instruments; 13, Commitments and Contingencies; 15, Income Taxes; and 17, Segment Reporting, for additional information regarding items affecting comparability of our results from continuing operations.

(3)

Our Cash Flow and Financial Position information includes Kraft Foods Group data for periods prior to the October 1, 2012 Spin-Off date. Refer to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 for information on the divested net assets and items impacting cash flow. Other items impacting comparability primarily relate to the coffee business transactions in 2014 and 2015, the loss on deconsolidation of Venezuela in 2015 and the receipt of net cash proceeds from the resolution of the Starbucks arbitration in 2013. As of December 31, 2015, we had debt issuance costs related to recognized debt liabilities of $46 million, which have been reclassified from long-term other assets to a deduction from the related debt obligations on the consolidated balance sheet. We have also made this reclassification in the prior years presented to be consistent with the current year presentation.

(4)	Refer to Note 12, Capital Stock, for additional information on our share repurchase program in 2013-2015.

(5)

Per Share and Other Data includes Kraft Foods Group data for periods prior to the October 1, 2012 Spin-Off date. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, related to the resolution of the Starbucks arbitration in 2013 and the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, for additional information on the Cadbury acquisition in 2010.

(6)	Refer to the Equity and Dividends section within Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for additional information on our dividends following the October 1, 2012 Spin-Off.

(7)	Closing prices reflect historical market prices and have not been adjusted for periods prior to October 1, 2012 to reflect the Spin-Off of Kraft Foods Group on that date.

 

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Item 7.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements. It should be read in conjunction with the other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in Item 8, “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” contained in Item 1A.

Description of the Company

We manufacture and market primarily snack food products, including biscuits (cookies, crackers and salted snacks), chocolate, gum & candy and various cheese & grocery products, as well as powdered beverage products. We have operations in more than 80 countries and sell our products in 165 countries.

Over the last several years, we have built a presence in the snacking category. We have expanded geographically and continue to invest in product quality, marketing and innovation behind our iconic brands while also implementing a series of cost saving initiatives. Our goals are to achieve industry-leading revenue growth over time driven by the higher expected growth rates of advantaged snack categories; leverage our cost structure through supply chain reinvention, productivity programs, overhead streamlining, volume growth and improved product mix to drive margin gains; and grow earnings per share in the top-tier of our peer group.

Coffee Business Transactions

On July 2, 2015, we completed transactions to combine our wholly owned coffee businesses (including our coffee portfolio in France) with those of D.E Master Blenders 1753 B.V. (“DEMB”) to create a new company, Jacobs Douwe Egberts or JDE. We currently hold a 43.5% equity interest in JDE and Acorn Holdings B.V. (“AHBV”), owner of DEMB, holds the remaining 56.5% equity interest.

In connection with the contribution of our global coffee businesses to JDE, we recorded a pre-tax gain of $6.8 billion (or $6.6 billion after taxes) in 2015. We also recorded approximately $1.0 billion of pre-tax net gains related to hedging the expected cash proceeds from the transactions as described further below.

The consideration we have received to date consists of €3.8 billion of cash ($4.2 billion U.S. dollars as of July 2, 2015), a 43.5% equity interest in JDE and $794 million in receivables (related to sales price adjustments and tax formation cost payments). During the third quarter of 2015, we also recorded $283 million of cash and receivables from JDE related to reimbursement of costs that we incurred in separating our coffee businesses. The cash and equity consideration we received at closing reflects that we retained our interest in a Korea-based joint venture, Dongsuh Foods Corporation. During the second quarter of 2015, we also completed the sale of our interest in a Japanese coffee joint venture, Ajinomoto General Foods, Inc. (“AGF”). In lieu of contributing our interest in the AGF joint venture to JDE, we contributed the net cash proceeds from the sale, and the transaction did not change the consideration received for our global coffee businesses. Please see Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions – Other Divestitures, Acquisitions and Sales of Property, for discussion of the divestiture of AGF.

During the fourth quarter, we and JDE concluded negotiations of a sales price adjustment and completed the valuation of our investment in JDE. Primarily related to the negotiated resolution of the sales price adjustment in the fourth quarter, we recorded a $313 million reduction in the pre-tax gain on the coffee transaction, reducing the $7.1 billion estimated gain in the third quarter to the $6.8 billion final gain for 2015. As part of our sales price negotiations, we retained the right to collect future cash payments if certain estimated pension liabilities come in over an agreed amount in the future. As such, we may recognize additional income related to this negotiated term in the future.

The final value of our investment in JDE on July 2, 2015 was €4.1 billion, or $4.5 billion. The fair value of the JDE investment was determined using both income-based and market-based valuation techniques. The discounted cash flow analysis reflected growth, discount and tax rates and other assumptions reflecting the underlying combined businesses and countries in which the combined coffee businesses operate.

In connection with the expected receipt of cash in euros at the time of closing, we entered into a number of consecutive currency exchange forward contracts in 2014 and 2015 to lock in an equivalent expected value in U.S. dollars as of the date the coffee business transactions were first announced in May 2014. Cumulatively, we realized aggregate net gains

 

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and received cash of approximately $1.0 billion on these hedging contracts that increased the cash we received in connection with the coffee business transactions from $4.2 billion in cash consideration received to $5.2 billion. In connection with these currency contracts and the transfer of the sale proceeds to our subsidiaries that deconsolidated net assets and shares, we recognized a net gain of $628 million in 2014 and a net gain of $436 million in 2015 within interest and other expense, net. For additional information on the JDE coffee transactions, see Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions.

On December 18, 2015, AHBV and we agreed to provide JDE additional capital to pay down some of its debt with lenders. Our pro rata share of the capital increase was €499 million ($544 million U.S. dollars as of December 18, 2015) and was made in return for additional shares in JDE such that we retained our 43.5% interest in JDE following the capital increase. To fund our share of the capital increase, we contributed €460 million ($501 million) of JDE receivables and made a €39 million ($43 million) cash payment.

On December 6, 2015, we agreed to make an investment in Keurig Green Mountain Inc. (“Keurig”), which is contingent upon the successful completion of a planned acquisition of Keurig by JAB Holding Co. (“JAB” and parent company of AHBV). Following the close of JAB’s planned acquisition of Keurig in early 2016, we intend to exchange a portion of our equity interest in JDE for an equity interest in Keurig. Following the exchange of shares, we expect our ownership in JDE to decrease to approximately 26.5% and our interest in Keurig to be somewhat lower. We expect to account for both investments under the equity method, resulting in our recognizing our share of their earnings within our earnings and our share of their dividends within our cash flows. Our governance rights in JDE will not change significantly and we will have similar governance rights in Keurig following the transaction. Our investment in Keurig will follow the acquisition of Keurig by JAB, which is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2016 or early in the second quarter. As our exchange of shares in JDE for the investment in Keurig is conditioned upon the actions of JAB and Keurig’s existing shareholders and is subject to further regulatory antitrust reviews, we have not reflected the portion of our investment in JDE that would be exchanged for the Keurig investment as assets held for sale as of December 31, 2015.

Venezuela Deconsolidation

Effective as of the close of the 2015 fiscal year, we concluded that we no longer met the accounting criteria for consolidation of our Venezuela subsidiaries due to a loss of control over our Venezuelan operations and an other-than-temporary lack of currency exchangeability. As of the close of the 2015 fiscal year, we deconsolidated and changed to the cost method of accounting for our Venezuelan operations. We recorded a $778 million pre-tax loss as we reduced the value of our cost method investment in Venezuela and all Venezuelan receivables held by our other subsidiaries to realizable fair value, resulting in full impairment. The recorded loss also included historical cumulative translation adjustments related to our Venezuelan operations that had previously been recorded in accumulated other comprehensive losses within equity.

Beginning in 2016, we will no longer include net revenues, earnings or net assets from our Venezuelan subsidiaries within our consolidated financial statements. Under the cost method of accounting, we will recognize earnings only to the extent cash is received from our Venezuelan subsidiaries. Given the current and ongoing difficult economic, regulatory and business environment in Venezuela, there continues to be significant uncertainty related to our operations in Venezuela and we expect these conditions will continue for the foreseeable future. We will monitor the extent of our ability to control our Venezuelan operations and the liquidity and availability of U.S. dollars at different rates as our current situation in Venezuela may change over time and lead to consolidation at a future date. See below Discussion and Analysis of Historical Results – Items Affecting Comparability of Financial Results, and Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Currency Translation and Highly Inflationary Accounting: Venezuela, for more information on our historical Venezuela operating results, including the remeasurement losses and loss on deconsolidation.

 

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Summary of Results

 

•

Net revenues decreased 13.5% to $29.6 billion in 2015 and decreased 3.0% to $34.2 billion in 2014. Net revenues in 2015 were significantly affected by unfavorable currency translation as the U.S. dollar strengthened against most currencies in which we operate compared to exchange rates in the prior year and the July 2, 2015 deconsolidation of our global coffee business.

 

•

Organic Net Revenue increased 3.7% to $31.6 billion in 2015 and increased 2.5% to $32.1 billion in 2014. Organic Net Revenue is a non-GAAP financial measure we use to evaluate our underlying results (see the definition of Organic Net Revenue and our reconciliation with net revenues within Non-GAAP Financial Measures appearing later in this section).

 

•

Diluted EPS attributable to Mondelēz International increased 246.9% to $4.44 in 2015 and decreased 41.6% to $1.28 in 2014. Excluding the results of discontinued operations in 2013, our diluted EPS attributable to Mondelēz International from continuing operations decreased 0.8% to $1.28 in 2014. A number of significant items also affected the comparability of our reported results, as further described in the Discussion and Analysis of Historical Results appearing later in this section and in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

•

Adjusted EPS remained flat at $1.75 in 2015 and increased 13.6% to $1.75 in 2014. On a constant currency basis, Adjusted EPS increased 18.9% to $2.08 in 2015 and increased 22.7% to $1.89 in 2014. Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP financial measure we use to evaluate our underlying results (see the definition of Adjusted EPS and our reconciliation with diluted EPS within Non-GAAP Financial Measures appearing later in this section).

Financial Outlook

We seek to achieve top-tier financial performance. We manage our business to achieve this goal using three key operating metrics: Organic Net Revenue, Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted EPS. (Refer to Non-GAAP Financial Measures appearing later in this section for more information on these measures.) Additional metrics that we use or monitor include product quality measures, category growth, market share performance, margins, pricing net of commodity costs, net commodity inflation, volume growth, Power Brand Organic Net Revenue growth, gross and net productivity savings, brand support and related investments, capital spending, cash conversion cycle, free cash flow, return on invested capital and shareholder returns. We also monitor a number of factors and trends that we expect may impact our revenues and profitability objectives:

Long-Term Demographics and Consumer Trends – Snack food consumption is highly correlated to GDP growth, urbanization of the population and rising discretionary income levels associated with a growing middle class, particularly in emerging markets. Over the long-term, we expect these trends to continue leading to growth in key consumer behaviors, including increased snacking occasions, greater use of convenience food and migration to more frequent, smaller meals. In the near term, low GDP growth, high unemployment and weak consumer confidence in Europe and emerging markets have slowed category and our growth.

Demand – We monitor consumer spending and our market share within the food and beverage categories in which we sell our products. Growth in the global categories increased from approximately 3.6% in 2014 to 5.5% in 2015, and our Organic Net Revenue growth also increased from 2.5% in 2014 to 3.7% in 2015. Our Organic Net Revenue included a 90 basis point headwind from strategic decisions to improve revenue mix. In 2015, we began to improve our revenue mix by discontinuing certain low margin, customer-specific product lines, discontinuing certain low-margin licensed products and continuing to simplify our portfolio. We anticipate taking similar actions to optimize our portfolio in 2016. The improvement in global category growth was largely driven by price relating to higher commodity costs and currency-related inflationary impacts. Over the long-term, we expect category growth to return to levels more in line with historical growth rates when the macroeconomic environment in emerging markets recovers to a better balance between price and volume/mix. We continue to make investments in our brands and build strong routes to market to address the needs of consumers in emerging and developed markets. In doing so, we anticipate stimulating demand in our categories and growing our position in these markets.

Volatility of Global Markets – Our growth strategy depends in part on our ability to expand our operations, particularly in emerging markets. Some of these markets have greater political and economic volatility and vulnerability to infrastructure and labor disruptions, as we experienced this past year in markets including Argentina, Brazil, Russia, Ukraine and

 

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Venezuela. Volatility in these markets affects demand for and the costs of our products and requires frequent changes in how we operate our business. There will likely be continued volatility across these and other markets in which we sell. As such, we are focused on continuing to manage our costs and adjusting prices as needed to recover changing costs while we continue to invest in our global Power Brands and routes to market.

Competition – We operate in highly competitive markets that include global, regional and local competitors. Our advantaged geographic footprint, operating scale and portfolio of brands have all significantly contributed to building our market-leading positions across most of the product categories in which we sell. To grow and maintain our market positions, we focus on product quality, bringing new products and innovations to market and effectively meeting consumer needs and preferences. We pursue growth opportunities such as expanding our global operations and growing our portfolio of Power Brands and innovative products. We continue to optimize our manufacturing and other operations and invest in our brands through ongoing research and development, advertising, marketing and consumer promotions.

Pricing – We adjust our product prices based on a number of variables including demand, the competitive environment and changes in our product input costs. Our net revenue growth and profitability may be affected as we adjust prices to address new conditions. In 2015, we generally increased prices in response to higher commodity costs, currency and other market factors. In 2016, we anticipate that we will adjust our prices in response to changing market conditions. Price competition or delayed price increases by competitors or customers may continue to affect net revenues or market share in the near term as the market adjusts to the changes in input costs and other market conditions.

Operating Costs – Our operating costs include raw materials, labor, selling, general and administrative expenses, taxes, currency impacts and financing costs. We manage these costs through cost saving and productivity initiatives, sourcing and hedging programs, pricing actions, refinancing and tax planning. We also continue to work on programs to expand our profitability and margins, such as our 2014-2018 Restructuring Program, which is designed to bring about significant reductions in our operating cost structure in both our supply chain and overhead costs.

Currency – As a global company with nearly 80% of our net revenues generated outside the United States, we are exposed to changes in global economic conditions and currency movements. In the last three years, the U.S. dollar strengthened relative to other currencies in which we operate, and several countries experienced significant declines in or devaluations of their currency. These currency movements had a significant negative effect on our reported results of operations. Our 2015 net revenues were $29.6 billion, down 13.5% from 2014, including a negative 12.6 percentage point impact from currency translation. Our 2014 net revenues were $34.2 billion, down 3.0% from 2013, including a negative 5.2 percentage point impact from currency translation. In 2013, net revenues were $35.3 billion, up 0.8%, including a negative 2.4 percentage point impact from currency translation. While we have net investment hedges in the form of local currency denominated debt to offset the translation of certain of our overseas operations, we generally do not hedge against currency translation. We primarily seek to hedge against economic losses on cross-currency transactions. Due to limited markets for hedging currency transactions and other factors, we may not be able to effectively hedge all of our cross-currency transaction risks. We have historically also been exposed to currency devaluation risks impacting earnings particularly in connection with our Venezuela operations, which as of December 31, 2015 has been deconsolidated. See Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Currency Translation and Highly Inflationary Accounting: Venezuela, for more information. The economy, monetary policies and other business restrictions in Venezuela, as well as in other developing countries, have created a challenging business environment in which to operate, and our ability to hedge against currency-related economic losses may be limited. While we work to mitigate our exposure to these currency risks, factors such as continued global market volatility, actions by foreign governments, political uncertainty and other external developments could lead to further unfavorable currency impacts in the future.

Financing Costs – We regularly evaluate our variable and fixed-rate debt. We continue to use lower cost short- and long-term debt to finance our ongoing working capital, capital expenditures and other investments, dividends and share repurchases. In 2015, 2014 and 2013, we repaid $15.6 billion of our long-term debt and issued lower-cost long-term euro, British pound sterling, Swiss franc and U.S. dollar-denominated debt. Our weighted-average interest rate on our total debt as of December 31, 2015 was 3.7%, down from 4.3% as of December 31, 2014 and down from 4.8% as of December 31, 2013. Refer to Note 8, Debt and Borrowing Arrangements, for additional debt activity in 2016.

 

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Discussion and Analysis of Historical Results

Items Affecting Comparability of Financial Results

The following table includes significant income or (expense) items that affected the comparability of our pre-tax results of operations and our effective tax rates. Please refer to the notes to the consolidated financial statements indicated below for more information. Refer also to the Consolidated Results of Operations – Net Earnings and Earnings per Share Attributable to Mondelēz International table for the per share impacts of these items.

 

 

(1)

To lock in an expected U.S. dollar value of approximately $5 billion related to the estimated €4 billion cash receipt upon closing, we entered into currency exchange forward contracts beginning in May 2014, when the transaction was announced. We recognized net gains of $405 million on these contracts during 2015 and net gains of $628 million in 2014. We also monetized additional hedges during July 2015 and realized net pre-tax gains of $17 million. In connection with transferring the funds to our subsidiaries that deconsolidated net assets and shares, we incurred additional currency gains of $14 million in 2015.

(2)

Includes the 2015 divestiture of AGF and the 2013 divestures of a salty snacks business in Turkey, a confectionary business in South Africa and a chocolate business in Spain and does not include the deconsolidation of our coffee businesses, which is presented separately in the table above.

 

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Consolidated Results of Operations

The following discussion compares our consolidated results of operations for 2015 with 2014 and 2014 with 2013.

2015 compared with 2014

 

 

Net Revenues – Net revenues decreased $4,608 million (13.5%) to $29,636 million in 2015, and Organic Net Revenue ⁽¹⁾ increased $1,131 million (3.7%) to $31,599 million. Organic Net Revenue growth from Power Brands was 5.4% and from emerging markets was 10.6%. The underlying changes in net revenues and Organic Net Revenue are detailed below:

 

 

(1)

Please see the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.

(2)

Includes our historical global coffee business prior to the July 2, 2015 coffee business transactions. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, and Non-GAAP Financial Measures appearing later in this section for more information.

Organic Net Revenue growth was driven by higher net pricing, partially offset by unfavorable volume/mix. Net pricing was up as we realized the effects of input cost-driven pricing actions taken during the year. Higher net pricing was reflected across all segments. Unfavorable volume/mix was largely due to price elasticity as well as strategic decisions to exit certain low-margin product lines. Unfavorable volume/mix was reflected in all segments except North America. Unfavorable currency impacts decreased net revenues by $3,833 million, due primarily to the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to several currencies, including the euro, Brazilian real, Russian ruble, Venezuelan bolivar, Australian dollar and British pound sterling. The adjustment for deconsolidating our historical coffee business resulted in a year-over-year decrease in net revenues of $2,149 million for the year. The July 15, 2015 acquisition of a biscuit operation in Vietnam added $128 million in incremental net revenues (constant currency basis) for the year. The North America segment accounting calendar change resulted in a year-over-year increase in net revenues of $78 million for the year. The February 16, 2015 acquisition of the Enjoy Life Foods snack food business in North America added $37 million in incremental net revenues for the year.

 

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Operating Income – Operating income increased $5,655 million (174.4%) to $8,897 million in 2015, Adjusted Operating Income ⁽¹⁾ increased $172 million (4.7%) to $3,830 million and Adjusted Operating Income on a constant currency basis ⁽¹⁾ increased $694 million (19.0%) to $4,352 million due to the following:

 

 

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(1)

Refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.

(2)

Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for more information on Spin-Off Costs incurred in 2014 following the 2012 Kraft Foods Group divestiture.

(3)

Refer to Note 6, Restructuring Programs, for more information on our 2014-2018 Restructuring Program and our 2012-2014 Restructuring Program.

(4)

Refer to Note 7, Integration Program and Cost Savings Initiatives, for more information on our integration costs in 2015 and 2014.

(5)

Refer to Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, for more information on the loss on deconsolidation of Venezuela in 2015, remeasurements of net monetary assets in Venezuela in 2015 and 2014 and the accounting calendar change in 2015.

(6)

Refer to Note 5, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, for more information on the impairment charges recorded in 2015 and 2014 related to trademarks.

(7)

Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for more information on the coffee business transactions.

(8)

Includes our historical global coffee business prior to the July 2, 2015 divestiture. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, and Non-GAAP Financial Measures appearing later in this section for more information.

(9)

Historically, we have recorded income from equity method investments within our operating income as these investments operated as extensions of our base business. Beginning in the third quarter of 2015, to align with the accounting for JDE earnings, we began to record the earnings from our equity method investments in after-tax equity method investment earnings outside of operating income. In periods prior to July 2, 2015, we have reclassified the equity method earnings from Adjusted Operating Income to evaluate our operating results on a consistent basis.

(10)

Includes the divestiture of AGF that closed on April 23, 2015 and does not include the deconsolidation of our coffee businesses. The divestiture of AGF generated a pre-tax gain of $13 million and after-tax loss of $9 million in the second quarter. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, and Non-GAAP Financial Measures appearing later in this section for more information.

(11)

Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for more information on the acquisitions of a biscuit operation in Vietnam and Enjoy Life Foods.

During 2015, higher net pricing outpaced increased input costs. Higher net pricing, due to input-cost driven pricing actions taken during the year, was reflected across all segments. The increase in input costs was driven by higher raw material costs, in part due to higher currency exchange transaction costs on imported materials, partially offset by lower manufacturing costs. Unfavorable volume/mix was reflected across all segments.

Total selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $880 million from 2014, due to a number of factors noted in the table above, including in part, a favorable currency impact, the adjustment for deconsolidating our historical coffee business, lower devaluation charges related to our net monetary assets in Venezuela and the absence of 2012-2014 Restructuring Program costs. The decreases were partially offset by increases from higher costs incurred for the 2014-2018 Restructuring Program, costs associated with the coffee business transactions, lower value-added tax (“VAT”)-related settlements, the reclassification of equity method investment earnings, the impact of acquisitions and a gain on a sale of property in 2014.

Excluding the factors noted above, selling, general and administrative expenses increased $327 million from 2014. The increase was driven primarily by higher advertising and consumer promotions support, particularly behind our Power Brands.

Excluding the portion related to deconsolidating our historical coffee business, the change in unrealized gains / (losses) increased operating income by $129 million in 2015. In 2015, the net unrealized gains on currency and commodity hedging activity were $56 million ($96 million including coffee related activity), as compared to net unrealized losses of $73 million ($112 million including coffee related activity) in 2014 related to currency and commodity hedging activity. We recorded a benefit of $30 million in 2015 from VAT-related settlements in Latin America as compared to $84 million in 2014.

Unfavorable currency impacts decreased operating income by $522 million, due primarily to the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to most currencies, including the euro, Brazilian real, Venezuelan bolivar, British pound sterling, Australian dollar and Russian ruble.

Operating income margin increased from 9.5% in 2014 to 30.0% in 2015. The increase in operating income margin was driven primarily by the pre-tax gain on the coffee business transactions, an increase in our Adjusted Operating Income margin, the absence of 2012-2014 Restructuring Program costs and lower devaluation charges related to our net monetary assets in Venezuela. The items that increased operating income margin were partially offset by the loss on deconsolidation of Venezuela, higher costs incurred for the 2014-2018 Restructuring Program and costs associated with the coffee business transactions. Adjusted Operating Income margin increased from 12.0% in 2014 to 13.7% in 2015. The increase in Adjusted Operating Income margin was driven primarily by improved gross margin, reflecting productivity efforts and the year-over-year favorable impact of unrealized gains / (losses) on currency and commodity hedging activities, and improved overhead leverage from cost reduction programs, partially offset by increased advertising and consumer promotions support.

 

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Net Earnings and Earnings per Share Attributable to Mondelēz International – Net earnings attributable to Mondelēz International of $7,267 million increased by $5,083 million (232.7%) in 2015. Diluted EPS attributable to Mondelēz International was $4.44 in 2015, up $3.16 (246.9%) from 2014. Adjusted EPS ⁽¹⁾ was $1.75 in 2015, flat to 2014. Adjusted EPS on a constant currency basis ⁽¹⁾ was $2.08 in 2015, up $0.33 (18.9%) from 2014.

 

 

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(1)

Refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.

(2)

Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for more information on Spin-Off Costs incurred in 2014 following the 2012 Kraft Foods Group divestiture.

(3)

Refer to Note 6, Restructuring Programs, for more information on our 2014-2018 Restructuring Program and our 2012-2014 Restructuring Program.

(4)

Refer to Note 7, Integration Program and Cost Savings Initiatives, for more information on our integration costs in 2015 and 2014.

(5)

Refer to Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, for more information on the loss on deconsolidation of Venezuela in 2015, remeasurements of net monetary assets in Venezuela in 2015 and 2014 and the accounting calendar change in 2015.

(6)

Refer to Note 5, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, for more information on the impairment charges recorded in 2015 and 2014 related to trademarks.

(7)

Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for more information on the coffee business transactions. Net gains of $436 million in 2015 and $628 million in 2014 on the currency hedges related to the coffee business transactions were recorded in interest and other expense, net and are included in the income / (costs) associated with the coffee business transactions of $0.01 in 2015 and $(0.19) in 2014 above.

(8)

Includes the divestiture of AGF that closed on April 23, 2015 and does not include deconsolidation of our coffee businesses. The divestiture of AGF generated a pre-tax gain of $13 million and after-tax loss of $9 million in the second quarter. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, and Non-GAAP Financial Measures appearing later in this section for more information.

(9)

Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for more information on the acquisitions of a biscuit operation in Vietnam and Enjoy Life Foods.

(10)

Refer to Note 8, Debt and Borrowing Arrangements, for more information on our loss on debt extinguishment and related expenses in connection with our debt tender offers in March 2015 and February 2014.

(11)

Includes our historical coffee business results and equity earnings from JDE and our other equity method investees. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, and Non-GAAP Financial Measures appearing later in this section for more information.

(12)

Excludes the favorable currency impact on interest expense related to our non-U.S. dollar-denominated debt which is included in currency translation.

(13)

Refer to Note 11, Stock Plans, for more information on our equity compensation programs and share repurchase program and Note 16, Earnings Per Share, for earnings per share weighted-average share information.

(14)

Refer to Note 15, Income Taxes, for more information on the change in our income taxes and effective tax rate.

(15)

Refer to Note 9, Financial Instruments, for more information on our interest rate swaps, which we no longer designate as cash flow hedges during the three months ended March 31, 2015 due to a change in financing and hedging plans.

(16)

Includes our proportionate share of unusual or infrequent items, such as acquisition and divestiture-related costs and restructuring program costs, recorded by our JDE equity method investee.

 

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2014 compared with 2013

 

Net Revenues – Net revenues decreased $1,055 million (3.0%) to $34,244 million in 2014, and Organic Net Revenue ⁽¹⁾ increased $785 million (2.5%) to $32,080 million. Organic Net Revenue growth from Power Brands was 4.4% and from emerging markets was 7.3%. The underlying changes in net revenues and Organic Net Revenue are detailed below:

 

 

(1)

Please see the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.

(2)

Includes our historical global coffee business prior to the July 2, 2015 coffee business transactions. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, and Non-GAAP Financial Measures appearing later in this section for more information.

(3)

Includes the 2013 divestures of a salty snacks business in Turkey, a confectionary business in South Africa and a chocolate business in Spain and does not include the deconsolidation of our coffee businesses. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, and Non-GAAP Financial Measures appearing later in this section for more information.

Organic Net Revenue growth was driven by higher net pricing, partially offset by unfavorable volume/mix. Overall, net pricing was up as we realized the effects of input cost-driven pricing actions implemented over the course of the year. Higher net pricing was reflected primarily in Latin America, EEMEA, Europe and Asia Pacific. Unfavorable volume/mix was driven primarily by Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. In addition to price elasticity, the decline was largely due to a slow response by competitors to higher input costs as well as the impact of price-related customer disruptions in Europe. Unfavorable currency impacts decreased net revenues by $1,626 million, due primarily to the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar and the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to several currencies, including the Argentinean peso, Brazilian real, Russian ruble, Australian dollar and Ukrainian hryvnya, partially offset by the strength of the British pound sterling relative to the U.S. dollar. Our historical coffee business recorded a year-over-year decrease in net revenues of $128 million for the year. The impact of divestitures completed in 2013, including a salty snacks business in Turkey, a confectionery business in South Africa and a chocolate business in Spain, resulted in a year-over-year decrease in net revenues of $70 million. The accounting calendar change made in Europe in 2013 resulted in a year-over-year decrease in net revenues of $30 million. The acquisition of a biscuit operation in Morocco on February 22, 2013 added $14 million in incremental net revenues in 2014 for the period prior to the anniversary date of the acquisition.

 

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Operating Income – Operating income decreased $729 million (18.4%) to $3,242 million in 2014, Adjusted Operating Income ⁽¹⁾ increased $198 million (5.7%) to $3,658 million and Adjusted Operating Income on a constant currency basis ⁽¹⁾ increased $446 million (12.9%) to $3,906 million due to the following:

 

 

(1)

Refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.

(2)

Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for more information on Spin-Off Costs incurred in 2014 and 2013 following the 2012 Kraft Foods Group divestiture, divestitures and an acquisition in 2013 and other property sales in 2014 and 2013.

(3)

Refer to Note 6, Restructuring Programs, for more information on our 2014-2018 Restructuring Program and our 2012-2014 Restructuring Program.

 

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(4)

Refer to Note 7, Integration Program and Cost Savings Initiatives, for more information on our integration costs in 2014 and 2013.

(5)

See Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies, for information on the resolution of the Cadbury acquisition-related indemnification.

(6)

Refer to Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, for more information on the remeasurements of net monetary assets in Venezuela in 2014 and 2013.

(7)

Includes our historical global coffee business prior to the July 2, 2015 coffee business transactions. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, and Non-GAAP Financial Measures appearing later in this section for more information.

(8)

Historically, we have recorded income from equity method investments within our operating income as these investments operated as extensions of our base business. Beginning in the third quarter of 2015, to align with the accounting for JDE earnings, we began to record the earnings from our equity method investments in after-tax equity method investment earnings outside of operating income. In periods prior to July 2, 2015, we have reclassified the equity method earnings from Adjusted Operating Income to evaluate our operating results on a consistent basis.

(9)

Includes the 2013 divestures of a salty snacks business in Turkey, a confectionary business in South Africa and a chocolate business in Spain and the 2013 acquisition of a biscuit operation in Morocco and does not include the deconsolidation of our coffee businesses. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, and Non-GAAP Financial Measures appearing later in this section for more information.

(10)

Refer to Note 5, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, for information on the impairment charges in 2014 recorded related to two trademarks.

(11)

Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for more information on the coffee business transactions.

During 2014, higher net pricing outpaced increased input costs. Higher net pricing was reflected across all segments. The increase in input costs was driven by higher raw material costs, in part due to higher currency exchange transaction costs on imported materials, partially offset by lower manufacturing costs. Unfavorable volume/mix was driven by Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe and EEMEA, partially offset by gains in North America.

Total selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $222 million from 2013, due to a number of factors noted in the table above, including in part, a favorable currency impact, lower Integration Program costs, VAT-related settlements in 2014, lower costs associated with our historical coffee business, lower Spin-Off Costs, 2013 business divestitures and a gain on a sale of property in 2014. These decreases were more than offset by increases from a 2013 benefit received related to the resolution of a Cadbury acquisition indemnification, increased devaluation charges related to our net monetary assets in Venezuela, costs incurred for the 2014-2018 Restructuring Program, costs related to the coffee business transactions, gains on property sales in 2013 and higher 2012-2014 Restructuring Program costs.

Excluding the factors noted above, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $306 million from 2013, driven primarily by lower overhead costs and lower advertising and consumer promotion costs. Overhead costs fell as a result of continued cost reduction efforts. Advertising and consumer promotion costs were lower due primarily to savings from consolidating media providers, reductions in non-working media costs and efficiencies gained by shifting spending to lower-cost, digital media outlets, while we increased our spending on our Power Brands and maintained working media spending.

Excluding the portion related to deconsolidating our historical coffee business, the change in unrealized gains / (losses) decreased operating income by $116 million in 2014. In 2014, the net unrealized losses on primarily commodity hedging activity were $73 million ($112 million including coffee-related activity), as compared to net unrealized gains of $43 million in 2013 ($62 million including coffee-related activity) related to currency and commodity hedging activity. In 2013, we recorded pre-tax gains of $68 million related to sales of properties in India and Europe. In 2014, we recorded a benefit of $84 million related to VAT-related settlements in Latin America. In 2014, we recorded a pre-tax gain of $7 million related to the sale of a property in Europe. The acquisition of a biscuit operation in Morocco on February 22, 2013 added $3 million in incremental operating income in 2014 for the period prior to the anniversary of the acquisition.

Unfavorable currency impacts decreased operating income by $248 million, due primarily to the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar in 2013 and 2014 and the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to several currencies, including the Argentinean peso, Brazilian real, Australian dollar, Russian ruble and Canadian dollar, partially offset by the strength of the British pound sterling relative to the U.S. dollar.

Operating income margin decreased from 11.2% in 2013 to 9.5% in 2014. The decrease in operating income margin was driven primarily by costs incurred for the 2014-2018 Restructuring Program, the year-over-year negative impact of the benefit from the resolution of the Cadbury acquisition-related indemnification recorded in 2013, higher costs for the 2012-2014 Restructuring Program, the impact from the devaluation of our net monetary assets in Venezuela and costs incurred associated with the coffee business transactions, partially offset by an increase in our Adjusted Operating Income margin and lower Integration Program costs. Adjusted Operating Income margin increased from 11.0% in 2013 to 12.0% in 2014. The increase in Adjusted Operating Income margin was driven primarily by lower overhead costs from continued cost reduction efforts and lower advertising and consumer promotion costs due primarily to productivity initiatives, partially offset by a decline in gross profit margin due entirely to the unfavorable impact of unrealized gains / (losses) on currency and commodity hedging activities.

 

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Net Earnings and Earnings per Share Attributable to Mondelēz International – Net earnings attributable to Mondelēz International of $2,184 million in 2014 decreased by $1,731 million (44.2%) due primarily to the results of the discontinued operations in the prior year. Diluted EPS from continuing operations attributable to Mondelēz International was $1.28 in 2014, down $0.01 (0.8%) from $1.29 in 2013. Adjusted EPS ⁽¹⁾ was $1.75 in 2014, up $0.21 (13.6%) from $1.54 in 2013. Adjusted EPS on a constant currency basis ⁽¹⁾ was $1.89 in 2014, up $0.35 (22.7%) from $1.54 in 2013.

 

 

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(1)

Refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.

(2)

Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for more information on Spin-Off Costs following the 2012 Kraft Foods Group divestiture, the resolution of the Starbucks arbitration, the Coffee Business Transactions, other divestitures, an acquisition and other property sales. Note the $628 million unrealized gain on the currency hedges related to the JDE coffee transactions was recorded in interest and other expense, net and is included in the income /(costs) associated with the JDE coffee transactions of $0.19 above.

(3)

Refer to Note 6, Restructuring Programs, for more information on our 2014-2018 Restructuring Program and our 2012-2014 Restructuring Program.

(4)

Refer to Note 7, Integration Program and Cost Savings Initiatives, for information on our Cadbury acquisition integration program and other acquisition integration charges.

(5)

Refer to Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies, for more information on the benefit related to the resolution of a Cadbury acquisition indemnification in 2013.

(6)

Refer to Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Currency Translation and Highly Inflationary Accounting, for more information on the remeasurements of net monetary assets in Venezuela in 2014 and 2013.

(7)

Refer to Note 8, Debt and Borrowing Arrangements, for more information on our loss on debt extinguishment and related expenses in connection with our debt tender offers in February 2014 and December 2013.

(8)

Excludes the favorable currency impact on interest expense related to our non-U.S. dollar denominated debt which is included in currency translation.

(9)

Refer to Note 11, Stock Plans, and Note 12, Capital Stock, for more information on our equity compensation programs and share repurchase program and Note 16, Earnings Per Share, for earnings per share weighted-average share information.

(10)

Refer to Note 15, Income Taxes, for more information on the change in our income taxes and effective tax rate.

(11)

Refer to Note 5, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, for more information on the impairment charges in 2014 recorded related to two trademarks.

Results of Operations by Reportable Segment

Our operations and management structure are organized into five reportable operating segments:

 

•

Latin America

•

Asia Pacific

•

EEMEA

•

Europe

•

North America

We manage our operations by region to leverage regional operating scale, manage different and changing business environments more effectively and pursue growth opportunities as they arise in our key markets. Our regional management teams have responsibility for the business, product categories and financial results in the regions.

Historically, we have recorded income from equity method investments within our operating income as these investments operated as extensions of our base business. Beginning in the third quarter of 2015, to align with the accounting for our deconsolidated coffee business and related investment in JDE, we began to record the earnings from our equity method investments in after-tax equity method investment earnings outside of segment operating income. For the six months ended December 31, 2015, after-tax equity method investment net earnings were less than $1 million on a combined basis. Earnings from equity method investments through July 2, 2015 recorded within segment operating income were $49 million in Asia Pacific, $3 million in EEMEA and $4 million in North America. For the year ended December 31, 2014 these earnings were $98 million in Asia Pacific, $6 million in EEMEA and $9 million in North America. For the year ended December 31, 2013 these earnings were $99 million in Asia Pacific, $7 million in EEMEA and $1 million in North America. See Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Principles of Consolidation, for additional information.

In 2015, we also began to report stock-based compensation for our corporate employees, which was previously reported within our North America region, within general corporate expenses. We reclassified $32 million of corporate stock-based compensation expense out of the North America segment in 2015.

We use segment operating income to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources. We believe it is appropriate to disclose this measure to help investors analyze segment performance and trends. See Note 17, Segment Reporting, for additional information on our segments and Items Affecting Comparability of Financial Results earlier in this section for items affecting our segment operating results.

 

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Our segment net revenues and earnings for the following historical periods were:

 

 

(1)

On July 2, 2015, as part of the JDE coffee transactions, we deconsolidated our global coffee businesses primarily from our Europe, EEMEA and Asia Pacific segments. The impact of deconsolidating our coffee businesses on July 2, 2015 was $1,699 million in Europe, $413 million in EEMEA, $32 million in Asia Pacific and $5 million in Latin America on a year-over-year basis. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions – Coffee Business Transactions, for more information.

 

 

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Latin America

 

2015 compared with 2014:

Net revenues decreased $165 million (3.2%), due to unfavorable currency (23.0 pp), unfavorable volume/mix (8.2 pp) and the adjustment for deconsolidating our historical coffee business (0.1 pp), partially offset by higher net pricing (28.1 pp). Unfavorable currency impacts were due primarily to the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to most currencies in the region, including the Brazilian real, Venezuelan bolivar, Mexican peso and Argentinean peso. Unfavorable volume/mix was largely due to the impact of pricing-related elasticity as well as strategic decisions to exit certain low-margin product lines. Unfavorable volume/mix was driven by declines in refreshment beverages, cheese & grocery, chocolate and biscuits, partially offset by gains in gum & candy. The adjustment for deconsolidating our historical coffee business resulted in a year-over-year decrease in net revenues of $5 million. Higher net pricing was reflected across all categories. Both the unfavorable volume/mix and higher net pricing were driven primarily by the higher inflationary countries of Venezuela and Argentina, as well as Brazil.

Segment operating income increased $10 million (2.1%), primarily due to higher net pricing, higher remeasurement losses in 2014 related to our net monetary assets in Venezuela, lower manufacturing costs and the absence of 2012-2014 Restructuring Program costs. These favorable items were partially offset by higher raw material costs, unfavorable currency, unfavorable volume/mix, higher other selling, general and administrative expenses (including lower year-over-year VAT-related settlements), higher advertising and consumer promotion costs and higher costs incurred for the 2014-2018 Restructuring Program and an intangible asset impairment charge in 2015 related to a biscuit trademark.

2014 compared with 2013:

Net revenues decreased $229 million (4.3%), due to unfavorable currency (19.4 pp) and unfavorable volume/mix (4.2 pp), partially offset by higher net pricing (19.3 pp). Unfavorable currency impacts were due primarily to the Venezuelan bolivar devaluation and the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to the Argentinean peso and Brazilian real. Unfavorable volume/mix was driven by declines in all categories except biscuits. In addition, unfavorable volume/mix was driven primarily by Mexico, Venezuela and Argentina, partially offset by gains in Brazil and the Western Andean countries. Higher net pricing was reflected primarily in the higher inflationary countries of Venezuela and Argentina, as well as in Brazil and Mexico.

Segment operating income decreased $95 million (16.7%), primarily due to higher raw material costs, unfavorable currency, unfavorable volume/mix, the year-over-year net impact from the remeasurement of net monetary assets in Venezuela, costs incurred for the 2014-2018 Restructuring Program and higher advertising and consumer promotion costs. These unfavorable items were partially offset by higher net pricing, lower manufacturing costs, the absence of Integration Program costs in 2014, lower other selling, general and administrative expenses (including $84 million related primarily to VAT-related settlements) and lower 2012-2014 Restructuring Program costs.

 

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Asia Pacific

 

2015 compared with 2014:

Net revenues decreased $245 million (5.3%), due to unfavorable currency (9.2 pp), unfavorable volume/mix (2.2 pp) and the adjustment for deconsolidating our historical coffee business (0.6 pp), partially offset by higher net pricing (3.9 pp) and the impact of an acquisition (2.8 pp). Unfavorable currency impacts were due primarily to the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to most currencies in the region, including the Australian dollar, Indian rupee and Japanese yen. Unfavorable volume/mix was due largely to the impact of pricing-related elasticity as well as strategic decisions to exit certain low-margin product lines. Unfavorable volume/mix was driven by declines in all categories except gum and biscuits. The adjustment for deconsolidating our historical coffee business resulted in a year-over-year decrease in net revenues of $32 million. Higher net pricing was reflected across all categories except refreshment beverages. The acquisition of a biscuit operation in Vietnam in July 2015 added net revenues of $128 million (constant currency basis).

Segment operating income decreased $117 million (30.4%), primarily due to higher costs incurred for the 2014-2018 Restructuring Program, higher raw material costs, higher advertising and consumer promotion costs, unfavorable currency, the reclassification of equity method investment earnings, unfavorable volume/mix, higher other selling, general and administrative expenses (including a phase-out of a local tax incentive program), the adjustment for deconsolidating our historical coffee business and other divestiture, other acquisition-related integration costs and costs associated with the coffee business transactions. These unfavorable items were partially offset by higher net pricing, lower manufacturing costs, the absence of 2012-2014 Restructuring Program costs, the impact of the Vietnam acquisition and lower intangible asset impairment charges (related to candy and biscuit trademarks in 2015 and a biscuit trademark in 2014).

2014 compared with 2013:

Net revenues decreased $347 million (7.0%), due to unfavorable volume/mix (5.7 pp), unfavorable currency (4.3 pp) and a decrease in our historical coffee business (0.4 pp), partially offset by higher net pricing (3.4 pp). Unfavorable volume/mix was driven by declines in all categories except gum. Unfavorable currency impacts were due primarily to the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to the Australian dollar, Indian rupee, Indonesian rupiah and Japanese yen. A decline in our historical coffee business resulted in a $28 million decrease in net revenues. Higher net pricing was reflected across all categories except gum and candy.

Segment operating income decreased $127 million (24.8%), primarily due to higher raw material costs, unfavorable volume/mix, an intangible asset impairment charge related to a biscuit trademark, higher 2012-2014 Restructuring Program costs, costs incurred for the 2014-2018 Restructuring Program, the impact of our historical coffee business and unfavorable currency. These unfavorable items were partially offset by higher net pricing, lower manufacturing costs, lower advertising and consumer promotion costs, the absence of Integration Program costs in 2014 and lower other selling, general and administrative expenses (including an unfavorable year-over-year impact from the 2013 gain on a sale of property in India).

 

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EEMEA

 

2015 compared with 2014:

Net revenues decreased $852 million (23.4%), due to unfavorable currency (20.7 pp), the adjustment for deconsolidating our historical coffee business (8.7 pp) and unfavorable volume/mix (5.4 pp), partially offset by higher net pricing (11.4 pp). Unfavorable currency impacts were due to the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to most currencies in the region, primarily the Russian ruble, Ukrainian hryvnya and South African rand. The adjustment for deconsolidating our historical coffee business resulted in a year-over-year decrease in net revenues of $413 million. Unfavorable volume/mix was driven by declines in all categories except biscuits. Higher net pricing was reflected across all categories.

Segment operating income decreased $133 million (40.7%), primarily due to higher raw material costs, the adjustment for deconsolidating our historical coffee business, higher costs incurred for the 2014-2018 Restructuring Program, unfavorable currency, higher advertising and consumer promotion costs, unfavorable volume/mix, higher other selling, general and administrative expenses and costs associated with the coffee business transactions. These unfavorable items were partially offset by higher net pricing, lower manufacturing costs and the absence of 2012-2014 Restructuring Program costs.

2014 compared with 2013:

Net revenues decreased $277 million (7.1%), due to unfavorable currency (11.2 pp), unfavorable mix (0.7 pp), a decrease in our historical coffee business (0.6 pp) and the impact of divestitures (0.6 pp), partially offset by higher net pricing (5.6 pp) and the impact of the February 2013 acquisition of a biscuit operation in Morocco (0.4 pp). Unfavorable currency impacts were due to the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to most currencies in the region, primarily the Russian ruble, Ukrainian hryvnya, South African rand and Turkish lira. Unfavorable volume/mix was driven by declines in chocolate and refreshment beverages, partially offset by gains in biscuits, gum & candy and cheese & grocery. A decline in our historical coffee business resulted in a $71 million decrease in net revenues. Divestitures completed in 2013 resulted in a $20 million decline in net revenues. Higher net pricing was reflected across all categories except refreshment beverages. The acquisition of a biscuit operation in Morocco in February 2013 added $14 million in incremental net revenues for 2014 for the period prior to the anniversary date of the acquisition.

Segment operating income decreased $52 million (13.7%), primarily due to higher raw material costs, higher 2012-2014 Restructuring Program costs, unfavorable currency, costs incurred for the 2014-2018 Restructuring Program, the impact of our historical coffee business, unfavorable volume/mix and costs associated with the JDE coffee transactions. These unfavorable items were partially offset by higher net pricing, lower manufacturing costs, lower Integration Program and other acquisition integration costs, lower advertising and consumer promotion costs and the impact of 2013 divestitures.

 

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Europe

 

2015 compared with 2014:

Net revenues decreased $3,384 million (24.3%), due to unfavorable currency (13.6 pp), the adjustment for deconsolidating our historical coffee business (8.8 pp) and unfavorable volume/mix (2.7 pp), partially offset by higher net pricing (0.8 pp). Unfavorable currency impacts primarily reflected the strength of the U.S. dollar against most currencies in the region, including the euro and British pound sterling. The adjustment for deconsolidating our historical coffee business resulted in a year-over-year decrease in net revenues of $1,699 million. Unfavorable volume/mix was largely due to the impact of pricing-related elasticity as well as strategic decisions to exit certain low-margin product lines. Unfavorable volume/mix was driven by declines in chocolate, gum, refreshment beverages and cheese & grocery, partially offset by gains in biscuits and candy. Higher net pricing was driven by chocolate, partially offset by lower net pricing in biscuits, cheese & grocery, gum & candy and refreshment beverages.

Segment operating income decreased $493 million (27.9%), primarily due to unfavorable currency, the adjustment for deconsolidating our historical coffee business, higher costs incurred for the 2014-2018 Restructuring Program, costs associated with the coffee business transactions, unfavorable volume/mix, higher raw material costs, higher advertising and consumer promotion costs and higher intangible asset impairment charges related to a candy trademark. These unfavorable items were partially offset by the lower manufacturing costs, absence of 2012-2014 Restructuring Program costs, higher net pricing and lower other selling, general and administrative expenses (net of the unfavorable year-over-year impact from the 2014 gain on a sale of property in the United Kingdom).

2014 compared with 2013:

Net revenues decreased $147 million (1.0%), due to unfavorable volume/mix (2.8 pp), the impact of the prior year’s accounting calendar change (0.3 pp) and the impact of divestitures (0.1 pp), partially offset by higher net pricing (1.7 pp), favorable currency (0.4 pp) and the impact of our historical coffee business (0.1 pp). Unfavorable volume/mix was due to pricing-related elasticity across the region and certain pricing-related customer disruptions. Unfavorable volume/mix was driven by declines in all categories. The accounting calendar change made in 2013 resulted in a year-over-year decrease in net revenues of $30 million. In addition, divestitures completed in 2013 resulted in an $11 million decline in net revenues. Higher net pricing was driven by chocolate and cheese & grocery, partially offset by lower net pricing in all other categories. Favorable currency impacts primarily reflected the strength of the British pound sterling relative to the U.S. dollar, partially offset by the strength of the U.S. dollar against the Swedish krona, the euro and Norwegian krone. In addition, a decline in our historical coffee business, though at a lower rate than the rest of our European segment, resulted in a $29 million decrease in net revenues.

Segment operating income increased $71 million (4.2%), primarily due to lower manufacturing costs, higher net pricing, lower other selling, general and administrative expenses (net of the unfavorable year-over-year impact from the 2013 gains on the sales of property in the United Kingdom, Norway and Italy, and the benefit from a 2014 gain on a sale of property in the United Kingdom) lower advertising and consumer promotion costs, lower Integration Program costs (including the reversal of a prior-year accrual) and the impact of our historical coffee business. These favorable items were partially offset by higher raw material costs (primarily higher cocoa costs), costs incurred for the 2014-2018 Restructuring Program, unfavorable volume mix, higher 2012-2014 Restructuring Program costs, costs associated with the coffee business transactions, an intangible asset impairment charge related to a candy trademark and the year-over-year impact from the accounting calendar change made in 2013.

 

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North America

 

2015 compared with 2014:

Net revenues increased $38 million (0.5%), due to an accounting calendar change (1.2 pp), an acquisition (0.5 pp), favorable volume/mix (0.5 pp) and higher net pricing (0.3 pp), partially offset by unfavorable currency (2.0 pp). The change in North America’s accounting calendar added net revenues of $78 million. The acquisition of the Enjoy Life Foods snack food business in February 2015 added net revenues of $37 million. Favorable volume/mix was driven by gains in biscuits and candy, partially offset by declines in gum and chocolate. Higher net pricing was reflected in gum and chocolate, partially offset by lower net pricing in biscuits and candy. Unfavorable currency impact was due to the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar.

Segment operating income increased $183 million (19.8%), primarily due to the absence of 2012-2014 Restructuring Program costs, lower manufacturing costs, lower other selling, general and administrative expenses (including the reclassification of corporate stock-based compensation), the impact of an accounting calendar change, higher net pricing and lower raw material costs. These favorable items were partially offset by higher costs incurred for the 2014-2018 Restructuring Program, unfavorable currency, higher advertising and consumer promotion costs, unfavorable volume/mix and the reclassification of equity method investment earnings.

2014 compared with 2013:

Net revenues decreased $55 million (0.8%), due to unfavorable currency (1.0 pp) and the impact of divestitures (0.6 pp), partially offset by favorable volume/mix (0.7 pp) and higher net pricing (0.1 pp). Unfavorable currency impact was due to the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar. Divestitures completed in 2013 resulted in a $39 million decline in net revenues. Favorable volume/mix was driven primarily by gains in all categories except gum. Higher net pricing was reflected primarily in biscuits and gum, partially offset by lower net pricing in chocolate and candy.

Segment operating income increased $33 million (3.7%), primarily due to lower raw material costs, lower other selling, general and administrative expenses (including higher equity method investment earnings), favorable volume/mix, lower 2012-2014 Restructuring Program costs, lower advertising and consumer promotion costs and higher net pricing. These favorable items were partially offset by costs incurred for the 2014-2018 Restructuring Program, higher manufacturing costs and the impact of divestitures.

 

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Critical Accounting Estimates

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires the use of estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions. Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to the consolidated financial statements includes a summary of the significant accounting policies we used to prepare our consolidated financial statements. We have discussed the selection and disclosure of our critical accounting policies and estimates with our Audit Committee. The following is a review of our most significant assumptions and estimates.

Goodwill and Non-Amortizable Intangible Assets:

We test goodwill and non-amortizable intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis on October 1. We assess goodwill impairment risk throughout the year by performing a qualitative review of entity-specific, industry, market and general economic factors affecting our goodwill reporting units. We review our operating segment and reporting unit structure for goodwill testing annually or as significant changes in the organization occur. Annually, we may perform qualitative testing, or depending on factors such as prior-year test results, current year developments, current risk evaluations and other practical considerations, we may elect to do quantitative testing instead. Quantitative impairment testing consists of a two-step evaluation. The first step compares a reporting unit’s estimated fair value with its carrying value. We estimate a reporting unit’s fair value using a discounted cash flow method which incorporates planned growth rates, market-based discount rates and estimates of residual value. This year, for our Europe and North America reporting units, we used a market-based, weighted-average cost of capital of 6.8% to discount the projected cash flows of those operations. For our Latin America, Asia Pacific and EEMEA reporting units, we used a risk-rated discount rate of 9.8%. Estimating the fair value of individual reporting units requires us to make assumptions and estimates regarding our future plans and industry and economic conditions, and our actual results and conditions may differ over time. If the carrying value of a reporting unit’s net assets exceeds its fair value, we would apply a second step to measure the difference between the carrying value and implied fair value of goodwill. If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, the goodwill is impaired and its carrying value is reduced to the implied fair value of the goodwill.

On July 2, 2015, we deconsolidated our global coffee businesses from our Europe, EEMEA and Asia Pacific segments. Goodwill was deconsolidated from the impacted reporting units based on relative fair values of the coffee and remaining businesses. Intangible assets contributed with the coffee business transactions were specifically identified. We deconsolidated total goodwill of $1,664 million and intangible assets of less than $1 million during the third quarter of 2015. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions – Coffee Business Transactions, for more information.

In 2015, 2014 and 2013, there were no impairments of goodwill. In connection with our 2015 annual impairment testing, each of our reporting units had sufficient fair value in excess of carrying value. In connection with the deconsolidation of our Venezuelan operations on December 31, 2015, we tested our Latin America reporting unit and determined the remaining businesses excluding Venezuela had sufficient fair value in excess of carrying value, such that there were no impairments of goodwill. While all reporting units passed our annual impairment testing, if expectations are not met or specific valuation factors outside of our control, such as discount rates, change significantly, then the estimated fair values of a reporting unit or reporting units might decline and lead to a goodwill impairment in the future.

Annually, we assess non-amortizable intangible assets for impairment by performing a qualitative review and assessing events and circumstances that could affect the fair value or carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets. If significant potential impairment risk exists for a specific asset, we quantitatively test it for impairment by comparing its estimated fair value with its carrying value. Estimated fair value is determined using planned growth rates, market-based discount rates and estimates of royalty rates. If the carrying value of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value, the asset is impaired and its carrying value is reduced to the estimated fair value.

During our 2015 annual testing of non-amortizable intangible assets, we recorded $71 million of impairment charges related to four trademarks. The impairments arose due to lower than expected product growth partly driven by decisions made in the fourth quarter to redirect support for the products to other regional and global brands and slowdowns in local economies. We recorded charges related to candy and biscuit trademarks of $44 million in Asia Pacific, $22 million in Europe and $5 million in Latin America. The impairment charges were calculated as the excess of the carrying value over the estimated fair value of the intangible assets on a global basis and were recorded within asset impairment and exit costs. We primarily use a relief of royalty valuation method, which utilizes estimates of future sales, growth rates, royalty

 

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rates and discount rates in determining a brand’s global fair value. During our 2015 intangible asset impairment review, we noted seven brands, including the four impaired trademarks, with $598 million of aggregate book value as of December 31, 2015 that each had a fair value in excess of book value of 10% or less. While these intangible assets passed our annual impairment testing and we believe our current plans for each of these brands will allow them to continue to not be impaired, if expectations are not met or specific valuation factors outside of our control, such as discount rates, change significantly, then a brand or brands could become impaired in the future. In 2014, we recorded a $48 million charge related to a biscuit trademark in our Asia Pacific segment and a $9 million charge related to a candy trademark in our Europe segment. Additionally, in connection with the deconsolidation of our Venezuelan operations on December 31, 2015, we recorded $12 million of impairment charges within the loss on deconsolidation of Venezuela related to a biscuit trademark.

Refer also to Note 5, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, for additional information.

Trade and marketing programs:

We promote our products with advertising, marketing, sales incentives and trade promotions. These programs include, but are not limited to, cooperative advertising, in-store displays, consumer promotions, new product introduction fees, discounts, coupons, rebates and volume-based incentives. We expense advertising costs either in the period the advertising first takes place or as incurred. Sales incentive and trade promotion activities are recorded as a reduction to revenues based on amounts estimated due to customers and consumers at the end of a period. We base these estimates principally on historical utilization and redemption rates. For interim reporting purposes, advertising expenses and sales incentives are charged to operations as a percentage of volume, based on estimated volume and estimated program spending. We do not defer costs on our year-end consolidated balance sheet and all marketing costs are recorded as an expense in the year incurred.

Employee Benefit Plans:

We sponsor various employee benefit plans throughout the world. These include primarily pension plans and postretirement healthcare benefits. For accounting purposes, we estimate the pension and post-retirement healthcare benefit obligations utilizing assumptions and estimates for discount rates; expected returns on plan assets; expected compensation increases; employee-related factors such as turnover, retirement age and mortality; and health care cost trends. We review our actuarial assumptions on an annual basis and make modifications to the assumptions based on current rates and trends when appropriate. Our assumptions also reflect our historical experiences and management’s best judgment regarding future expectations. These and other assumptions affect the annual expense and obligations recognized for the underlying plans.

In 2016, we expect pension and postretirement medical costs to decrease by approximately $135 million to $185 million due to a combination of factors, including a decreased number of plan participants, changes in discount rates, company contributions to the plans and a change in our approach to measuring service and interest costs. For 2015, we measured service and interest costs utilizing a single weighted-average discount rate derived from the yield curve used to measure the plan obligations. For 2016, we elected to measure service and interest costs by applying the specific spot rates along that yield curve to the plans’ liability cash flows. We believe the new approach provides a more precise measurement of service and interest costs by aligning the timing of the plans’ liability cash flows to the corresponding spot rates on the yield curve. This change does not affect the measurement of our plan obligations nor the funded status of our plans.

As permitted by U.S. GAAP, we generally amortize the effect of changes in the assumptions over future periods. The cost or benefit of plan changes, such as increasing or decreasing benefits for prior employee service (prior service cost), is deferred and included in expense on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of the employees expected to receive benefits.

Since pension and post-retirement liabilities are measured on a discounted basis, the discount rate significantly affects our plan obligations and expenses. The expected return on plan assets assumption affects our pension plan expenses, since many of our pension plans are partially funded. The assumptions for discount rates and expected rates of return and our process for setting these assumptions are described in Note 10, Benefit Plans, to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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While we do not anticipate further changes in the 2016 assumptions for our U.S. and non-U.S. pension and postretirement health care plans, as a sensitivity measure, a fifty-basis point change in our discount rates or the expected rate of return on plan assets would have the following effects, increase / (decrease), on our annual benefit plan costs:

 

Income Taxes:

As a global company, we calculate and provide for income taxes in each tax jurisdiction in which we operate. The provision for income taxes includes the amounts payable or refundable for the current year, the effect of deferred taxes and impacts from uncertain tax positions. Our provision for income taxes is significantly affected by shifts in the geographic mix of our pre-tax earnings across tax jurisdictions, changes in tax laws and regulations, tax planning opportunities available in each tax jurisdiction and the ultimate outcome of various tax audits.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of our assets and liabilities and for operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates that will apply to taxable income in the years in which those differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Valuation allowances are established for deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized.

We recognize tax benefits in our financial statements from uncertain tax positions only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by tax authorities based on the technical merits of the position. The amount we recognize is measured as the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon settlement. We evaluate uncertain tax positions on an ongoing basis and adjust the related tax liabilities or assets in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as the progress of a tax audit or expiration of a statute of limitations. We believe the estimates and assumptions used to support our evaluation of uncertain tax positions are reasonable. However, final determination of historical tax liabilities, either by settlement with tax authorities or expiration of statutes of limitations, could be materially different from estimates reflected on our consolidated balance sheet and historical income tax provisions. The outcome of these final determinations could have a material effect on our provision for income taxes, net earnings or cash flows in the period in which the determination is made. We believe our tax positions comply with applicable tax laws and that we have properly accounted for uncertain tax positions.

No taxes have been provided on undistributed foreign earnings that are planned to be indefinitely reinvested. If future events, such as material changes in long-term investment requirements, necessitate that these earnings be distributed, an additional provision for taxes may apply, which could materially affect our future effective tax rate.

See Note 15, Income Taxes, for additional information on our effective tax rate, current and deferred taxes, valuation allowances and unrecognized tax benefits.

Contingencies:

See Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies, to the consolidated financial statements.

New Accounting Guidance:

See Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of new accounting standards.

 

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Commodity Trends

We regularly monitor worldwide supply, commodity cost and currency trends so we can cost-effectively secure ingredients, packaging and fuel required for production. Prior to the July 2, 2015 coffee business transactions, increased costs for coffee beans were the highest driver of increased commodity costs for the first half of 2015. During 2015, the primary drivers of the increase in our aggregate commodity costs, excluding coffee, were increased costs for packaging, nuts, cocoa, energy, grains and oils and higher currency-related costs on our commodity purchases, partially offset by lower costs for dairy and sugar.

A number of external factors such as weather conditions, commodity market conditions, currency fluctuations and the effects of governmental agricultural or other programs affect the cost and availability of raw materials and agricultural materials used in our products. We address higher commodity costs and currency impacts primarily through hedging, higher pricing and manufacturing and overhead cost control. We use hedging techniques to limit the impact of fluctuations in the cost of our principal raw materials; however, we may not be able to fully hedge against commodity cost changes, and our hedging strategies may not protect us from increases in specific raw material costs. Due to competitive or market conditions, planned trade or promotional incentives, fluctuations in currency exchange rates or other factors, our pricing actions may also lag commodity cost changes temporarily.

We expect price volatility and a slightly higher aggregate cost environment to continue in 2016. While the costs of our principal raw materials fluctuate, we believe there will continue to be an adequate supply of the raw materials we use and that they will generally remain available from numerous sources.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We believe that cash from operations, our $4.5 billion revolving credit facility and our authorized long-term financing will provide sufficient liquidity for our working capital needs, planned capital expenditures, future contractual obligations, share repurchases and payment of our anticipated quarterly dividends. We continue to utilize our commercial paper program, international credit lines and long-term debt issuances for regular funding requirements. We also use intercompany loans with our international subsidiaries to improve financial flexibility. Overall, we do not expect any negative effects to our funding sources that would have a material effect on our liquidity, including the indefinite reinvestment of our earnings outside of the United States.

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:

Operating activities provided net cash of $3,728 million in 2015, $3,562 million in 2014 and $6,410 million in 2013. Cash flows from operating activities in all years were impacted by our working capital improvements, primarily due to continually decreasing our cash conversion cycle (a metric that measures working capital efficiency and utilizes days sales outstanding, days inventory on hand and days payables outstanding) to negative 12 days in 2015, positive 10 days in 2014 and positive 20 days in 2013. Cash flows from operating activities were favorable in 2015 relative to 2014 primarily due to higher relative working capital cash improvements than in 2014 and significant tax payments in 2014 related to the $2.6 billion Starbucks arbitration award we received in late 2013, partially offset by higher contributions related to our pensions benefit plans. Cash flows from operating activities were unfavorable in 2014 relative to 2013 primarily related to our receipt of $2.6 billion of net cash from the resolution of the Starbucks arbitration in 2013 and higher related income taxes paid in 2014 and lower relative working capital cash improvements than in 2013, partially offset by lower interest payments in 2014 following the debt refinancing in the first quarter of 2014 and the fourth quarter of 2013.

Net Cash Provided by / (Used in) Investing Activities:

Net cash provided by investing activities was $2,649 million in 2015 and net cash used in investing activities was $1,642 million in 2014 and $1,483 million in 2013. The increase in net cash provided by investing activities in 2015 relative to 2014 primarily relates to $4.7 billion of proceeds, net of divested cash and transaction costs, from the contribution of our global coffee businesses and the divestiture of AGF, the cash receipt of $1.0 billion due to the settlement of currency exchange forward contracts related to our coffee business transactions and lower capital expenditures in 2015 of $128 million, partially offset by the $611 million reduction of cash due to the Venezuela deconsolidation, $501 million of contributed JDE receivables and a $43 million cash payment to fund a capital increase in JDE and $527 million of payments to acquire a biscuit operation in Vietnam and the Enjoy Life Foods snack food business in 2015. The increase in net cash used in investing activities in 2014 relative to 2013 relates to lower cash inflows to offset higher capital expenditures in 2014. In 2013, we received higher cash proceeds from property sales, net proceeds of $60 million from divestitures and $55 million in cash from Kraft Foods Group in connection with the Spin-Off, partially offset by $119 million of payments to acquire a biscuit operation in Morocco in 2013.

 

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Capital expenditures were $1,514 million in 2015, $1,642 million in 2014 and $1,622 million in 2013. The 2015 capital expenditures were made primarily to modernize manufacturing facilities and support new product and productivity initiatives. We expect 2016 capital expenditures to be up to $1.5 billion, including capital expenditures required for investments in systems and the 2014-2018 Restructuring Program. We expect to continue to fund these expenditures from operations.

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities:

Net cash used in financing activities was $5,883 million in 2015, $2,688 million in 2014 and $6,687 million in 2013. The increase in net cash used in financing activities in 2015 relative to 2014 was primarily due to higher repayments of long-term debt in 2015 (including the tender offers and euro notes maturities), $1.9 billion of higher share repurchases and higher net short-term debt repayments, partially offset by higher proceeds received from long-term note issuances. The decrease in net cash used in financing activities in 2014 relative to 2013 was primarily due to significantly lower long-term debt repayments and lower share repurchases in 2014, offset in part by decreased proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt and other short-term borrowings and higher dividend payments in 2014.

Debt:

From time to time we refinance long-term and short-term debt. Refer to Note 8, Debt and Borrowing Arrangements, for details of our tender offers and debt issuances during 2015, 2014 and 2013. The nature and amount of our long-term and short-term debt and the proportionate amount of each varies as a result of current and expected business requirements, market conditions and other factors. Generally, in the first and second quarters of the year, our working capital requirements grow, increasing the need for short-term financing. The third and fourth quarters of the year typically generate higher cash flows. As such, we may issue commercial paper or secure other forms of financing throughout the year to meet short-term working capital needs.

In July 2015, our Board of Directors approved a $5 billion long-term financing authority to replace the prior authority. As of December 31, 2015, we had $4 billion of long-term financing authority remaining.

During 2016, $1,750 million of long-term debt matured in February. We funded this repayment with net proceeds from debt issuances in January 2016, cash from operations and the issuance of commercial paper. There are no other scheduled maturities of long-term debt within the 12 months following December 31, 2015.

Our total debt was $15.4 billion at December 31, 2015 and $16.7 billion at December 31, 2014. Our debt-to-capitalization ratio was 0.35 at December 31, 2015 and 0.38 at December 31, 2014. At December 31, 2015, the weighted-average term of our outstanding long-term debt was 8.6 years. Our average daily commercial borrowings were $2.2 billion in 2015, $1.9 billion in 2014 and $1.0 billion in 2013. We expect to continue to comply with our long-term debt covenants. Refer to Note 8, Debt and Borrowing Arrangements, for more information on our debt and debt covenants.

Equity and Dividends

Stock Plans:

See Note 11, Stock Plans, to the consolidated financial statements for more information on our stock plans and grant activity during 2015, 2014 and 2013.

Share Repurchases:

See Note 12, Capital Stock, to the consolidated financial statements for more information on our share repurchase and accelerated share repurchase programs.

We intend to continue to use a portion of our cash for share repurchases. On July 29, 2015, our Finance Committee, with authorization delegated from our Board of Directors, approved an increase of $6.0 billion in the share repurchase program, raising the authorization to $13.7 billion of Common Stock repurchases, and extended the program through December 31, 2018. We repurchased $8.3 billion of shares ($3.6 billion in 2015, $1.9 billion in 2014 and $2.7 billion in 2013) through December 31, 2015. The number of shares that we ultimately repurchase under our share repurchase program may vary depending on numerous factors, including share price and other market conditions, our ongoing capital allocation planning, levels of cash and debt balances, other demands for cash, such as acquisition activity, general economic or business conditions and board and management discretion. Additionally, our share repurchase activity during any particular period may fluctuate. We may accelerate, suspend, delay or discontinue our share repurchase program at any time, without notice.

 

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Dividends:

We paid dividends of $1,008 million in 2015, $964 million in 2014 and $943 million in 2013. Immediately following the Spin-Off of Kraft Foods Group on October 1, 2012, our annual dividend rate changed to $0.52 per common share. On August 6, 2013, our Audit Committee, with authorization from our Board of Directors, approved an 8% increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.14 per common share or $0.56 per common share on an annual basis. On August 5, 2014, our Audit Committee, with authorization from our Board of Directors, approved a 7% increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.15 per common share or $0.60 per common share on an annual basis. On July 23, 2015, our Board of Directors approved a 13% increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.17 per common share or $0.68 per common share on an annual basis. The declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors and depends on various factors, including our net earnings, financial condition, cash requirements, future prospects and other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant to its analysis and decision making.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations

We have no significant off-balance sheet arrangements other than the contractual obligations discussed below.

Guarantees:

As discussed in Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies, we enter into third-party guarantees primarily to cover the long-term obligations of our vendors. As part of these transactions, we guarantee that third parties will make contractual payments or achieve performance measures. At December 31, 2015, we had no material third-party guarantees recorded on our consolidated balance sheet.

In addition, at December 31, 2015, we were contingently liable for $842 million of guarantees related to our own performance. These include letters of credit, surety bonds and guarantees related to the payment of custom duties and taxes.

Guarantees do not have, and we do not expect them to have, a material effect on our liquidity.

Aggregate Contractual Obligations:

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations at December 31, 2015.

 

 

(1)

Amounts include the expected cash payments of our long-term debt excluding capital leases, which are presented separately in the table above. The amounts also exclude $(70) million of net unamortized non-cash bond premiums and discounts and mark-to-market adjustments related to our interest rate swaps recorded in total debt.

(2)

Amounts represent the expected cash payments of our interest expense on our long-term debt. Interest calculated on our euro, British pound sterling and Swiss franc notes was forecasted using currency exchange rates as of December 31, 2015. An insignificant amount of interest expense was excluded from the table for a portion of our other non-U.S. debt obligations due to the complexities involved in forecasting expected interest payments.

(3)

Operating lease payments represent the minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating leases.

 

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(4)

Purchase obligations for inventory and production costs (such as raw materials, indirect materials and supplies, packaging, co-manufacturing arrangements, storage and distribution) are commitments for projected needs to be utilized in the normal course of business. Other purchase obligations include commitments for marketing, advertising, capital expenditures, information technology and professional services. Arrangements are considered purchase obligations if a contract specifies all significant terms, including fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased, a pricing structure and approximate timing of the transaction. Most arrangements are cancelable without a significant penalty and with short notice (usually 30 days). Any amounts reflected on the consolidated balance sheet as accounts payable and accrued liabilities are excluded from the table above.

(5)

Other long-term liabilities include estimated future benefit payments for our postretirement health care plans through December 31, 2025 of $197 million. We are unable to reliably estimate the timing of the payments beyond 2025; as such, they are excluded from the above table. There are also another $300 million of various other long-term liabilities that are expected to be paid over the next 5 years. In addition, the following long-term liabilities included on the consolidated balance sheet are excluded from the table above: accrued pension costs, income taxes, insurance accruals and other accruals. We are unable to reliably estimate the timing of the payments (or contributions beyond 2016, in the case of accrued pension costs) for these items. We currently expect to make approximately $449 million in contributions to our pension plans in 2016. As of December 31, 2015, our total liability for income taxes, including uncertain tax positions and associated accrued interest and penalties, was $1,046 million. We currently estimate payments of approximately $316 million related to these positions over the next 12 months.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We use non-GAAP financial information and believe it is useful to investors as it provides additional information to facilitate comparisons of historical operating results, identify trends in our underlying operating results and provide additional transparency on how we evaluate our business. We use certain non-GAAP financial measures to budget, make operating and strategic decisions and evaluate our performance. We disclose non-GAAP financial measures so that you have the same financial data that we use to assist you in making comparisons to our historical operating results and analyzing our underlying performance.

Our primary non-GAAP financial measures reflect how we evaluate our current and prior-year operating results. As new events or circumstances arise, these definitions could change over time.

 

•

“Organic Net Revenue” is defined as net revenues excluding the impacts of acquisitions, divestitures (1), our historical global coffee business (2), Integration Program costs, accounting calendar changes and currency rate fluctuations. We also evaluate Organic Net Revenue growth from emerging markets and our Power Brands.

•

Our emerging markets include our Latin America and EEMEA regions in their entirety; the Asia Pacific region, excluding Australia, New Zealand and Japan; and the following countries from the Europe region: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, the Baltics and the East Adriatic countries.

•

Our Power Brands include some of our largest global and regional brands such as Oreo, Chips Ahoy!, Ritz, TUC/Club Social and belVita biscuits; Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Lacta chocolate; Trident gum; Hall’s candy; and Tang powdered beverages.

 

•

“Adjusted Operating Income” is defined as operating income excluding the impacts of Spin-Off Costs, pension costs related to the obligations transferred in the Spin-Off, the 2012-2014 Restructuring Program, the 2014-2018 Restructuring Program, the Integration Program and other acquisition integration costs, the remeasurement of net monetary assets in Venezuela, loss on deconsolidation of Venezuela, the benefit from the Cadbury acquisition-related indemnification resolution, incremental costs associated with the coffee business transactions, impairment charges related to goodwill and intangible assets, gains or losses on divestitures (1) or acquisitions, gain on the coffee business transactions (2), divestiture-related costs, acquisition-related costs, the operating results of divestitures (1), our historical global coffee business operating results (2) and equity method investment earnings historically reported within operating income (3). We also evaluate growth in our Adjusted Operating Income on a constant currency basis.

 

•

“Adjusted EPS” is defined as diluted EPS attributable to Mondelēz International from continuing operations excluding the impacts of Spin-Off Costs, pension costs related to the obligations transferred in the Spin-Off, the 2012-2014 Restructuring Program, the 2014-2018 Restructuring Program, the Integration Program and other acquisition integration costs, the remeasurement of net monetary assets in Venezuela, loss on deconsolidation of Venezuela, the net benefit from the Cadbury acquisition-related indemnification resolution, losses on debt extinguishment and related expenses, the residual tax benefit impact from the resolution of the Starbucks arbitration, hedging gains or losses and incremental costs associated with the coffee business transactions, impairment charges related to goodwill and intangible assets, gains or losses on interest rate swaps no longer designated as accounting cash flow hedges due to changed financing and hedging plans, gains or losses on divestitures (1) or acquisitions, gain on the coffee business transactions (2), divestiture-related costs, acquisition-related costs and net earnings from divestitures(1), and including an interest expense adjustment related to the

 

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Spin-Off transaction. In addition, we have adjusted our equity method investment earnings for our proportionate share of their unusual or infrequent items, such as acquisition and divestiture-related costs and restructuring program costs, recorded by our JDE equity method investee. We also evaluate growth in our Adjusted EPS on a constant currency basis.

 

(1)

Divestitures include businesses under sale agreements for which we have cleared significant sale-related conditions such that the pending sale is probable as of the end of the reporting period and exits of major product lines under a sale or licensing agreement. See (2) below.

(2)

In connection with the global coffee business transactions that closed on July 2, 2015, because we exchanged our coffee interests for similarly-sized coffee interests in JDE (which, following the July 2, 2015 closing, is 43.5% of our historical and DEMB’s combined global coffee businesses), we have deconsolidated and not included our historical global coffee business results within divestitures in our non-GAAP financial measures and in the related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. We continue to have an ongoing interest in the coffee business. Beginning in the third quarter of 2015, we have included the after-tax earnings of JDE and of our historical coffee business results within continuing results of operations. For Adjusted EPS, we have included these earnings in equity method investment earnings and have deconsolidated our historical coffee business results from Organic Net Revenue and Adjusted Operating Income to facilitate comparisons of past and future coffee operating results.

(3)

Historically, we have recorded income from equity method investments within our operating income as these investments operated as extensions of our base business. Beginning in the third quarter of 2015, we began to record the earnings from our equity method investments in after-tax equity method investment earnings outside of operating income following the deconsolidation of our coffee business. See Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Principles of Consolidation, for more information. In periods prior to July 2, 2015, we have reclassified the equity method earnings from our Adjusted Operating Income to after-tax equity method investment earnings within Adjusted EPS to be consistent with the deconsolidation of our coffee business results on July 2 and in order to evaluate our operating results on a consistent basis.

We believe that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered together with our U.S. GAAP financial measures and the reconciliations to the corresponding U.S. GAAP financial measures, provides you with a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting our business than could be obtained absent these disclosures. Because non-GAAP financial measures may vary among other companies, the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this report may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Our use of these non-GAAP financial measures is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for any U.S. GAAP financial measure. A limitation of these non-GAAP financial measures is they exclude items detailed below that have an impact on our U.S. GAAP reported results. The best way this limitation can be addressed is by evaluating our non-GAAP financial measures in combination with our U.S. GAAP reported results and carefully evaluating the following tables that reconcile U.S. GAAP reported figures to the non-GAAP financial measures in this Form 10-K.

 

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Organic Net Revenue

Applying the definition of “Organic Net Revenue”, the adjustments made to “net revenues” (the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure) were to exclude the impact of currency, the adjustment for deconsolidating our historical coffee business, divestitures, acquisitions and accounting calendar changes. We believe that Organic Net Revenue better reflects the underlying growth from the ongoing activities of our business and provides improved comparability of results. We also evaluate our Organic Net Revenue growth from emerging markets and Power Brands, and these underlying measures are also reconciled to U.S. GAAP below.

 

		For the Years Ended December 31,												For the Years Ended December 31,
		Power Brands				Non-Power Brands				Total				Emerging Markets				Developed Markets				Total
		(in millions)												(in millions)
2015
Organic Net Revenue		$	21,532			$	10,067			$	31,599			$	13,109			$	18,490			$	31,599
Impact of currency			(2,577	)			(1,256	)			(3,833	)			(2,094	)			(1,739	)			(3,833	)
Historical coffee business (1)			1,179				448				1,627				442				1,185				1,627
Impact of acquisitions			–				165				165				128				37				165
Impact of accounting calendar change			60				18				78				–				78				78
Net revenues		$	20,194			$	9,442			$	29,636			$	11,585			$	18,051			$	29,636
2014
Organic Net Revenue		$	20,437			$	10,031			$	30,468			$	11,855			$	18,613			$	30,468
Historical coffee business (1)			2,726				1,050				3,776				1,106				2,670				3,776
Net revenues		$	23,163			$	11,081			$	34,244			$	12,961			$	21,283			$	34,244
% Change
Organic Net Revenue			5.4%				0.4%				3.7%				10.6%				(0.7)%				3.7%
Net Revenues			(12.8)%				(14.8)%				(13.5)%				(10.6)%				(15.2)%				(13.5)%
		For the Years Ended December 31,												For the Years Ended December 31,
		Power Brands				Non-Power Brands				Total				Emerging Markets				Developed Markets				Total
		(in millions)												(in millions)
2014
Organic Net Revenue		$	21,496			$	10,584			$	32,080			$	13,350			$	18,730			$	32,080
Impact of currency			(1,059	)			(567	)			(1,626	)			(1,509	)			(117	)			(1,626	)
Historical coffee business (1)			2,726				1,050				3,776				1,106				2,670				3,776
Impact of acquisition			–				14				14				14				–				14
Net revenues		$	23,163			$	11,081			$	34,244			$	12,961			$	21,283			$	34,244
2013
Organic Net Revenue		$	20,593			$	10,702			$	31,295			$	12,443			$	18,852			$	31,295
Historical coffee business (1)			2,758				1,146				3,904				1,265				2,639				3,904
Impact of divestitures (2)			–				70				70				20				50				70
Impact of accounting calendar change			19				11				30				–				30				30
Net revenues		$	23,370			$	11,929			$	35,299			$	13,728			$	21,571			$	35,299
% Change
Organic Net Revenue			4.4%				(1.1)%				2.5%				7.3%				(0.6)%				2.5%
Net Revenues			(0.9)%				(7.1)%				(3.0)%				(5.6)%				(1.3)%				(3.0)%

 

(1)	Includes our historical global coffee business prior to the July 2, 2015 coffee business transactions. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, and our non-GAAP definitions appearing earlier in this section for more information.

(2)

Includes the 2013 divestures of a salty snacks business in Turkey, a confectionary business in South Africa and a chocolate business in Spain and does not include the deconsolidation of our coffee businesses. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, and our non-GAAP definitions appearing earlier in this section for more information.

 

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Adjusted Operating Income

Applying the definition of “Adjusted Operating Income”, the adjustments made to “operating income” (the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure) were to exclude Spin-Off Costs, 2012-2014 Restructuring Program costs, 2014-2018 Restructuring Program costs, the Integration Program and other acquisition integration costs, the benefit from the Cadbury acquisition-related indemnification resolution, loss on deconsolidation of Venezuela, the remeasurement of net monetary assets in Venezuela, impairment charges related to intangible assets, incremental costs associated with the coffee business transactions, operating income from our historical coffee business, gain on the coffee business transactions, operating results of divestitures, gains on acquisitions and divestitures, acquisition-related costs and an adjustment for equity method investment earnings historically reported within operating income that were reclassified to after-tax earnings. We also evaluate Adjusted Operating Income on a constant currency basis. We believe these measures provide improved comparability of operating results.

 

 

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(1)	Includes our historical global coffee business prior to the July 2, 2015 coffee business transactions. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, and our non-GAAP definitions appearing earlier in this section for more information.

(2)

Historically, we have recorded income from equity method investments within our operating income as these investments operated as extensions of our base business. Beginning in the third quarter of 2015, to align with the accounting for JDE earnings, we began to record the earnings from our equity method investments in after-tax equity method investment earnings outside of operating income. In periods prior to July 2, 2015, we have reclassified the equity method earnings from Adjusted Operating Income to evaluate our operating results on a consistent basis.

(3)

Includes the divestiture of AGF on April 23, 2015 and does not include the deconsolidation of our global coffee businesses or the gain on the coffee business transactions. The divestiture of AGF generated a pre-tax gain of $13 million and an after-tax loss of $9 million in the second quarter. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, and our non-GAAP definitions appearing earlier in this section for more information.

(4)

Includes the 2013 divestures of a salty snacks business in Turkey, a confectionary business in South Africa and a chocolate business in Spain and does not include the deconsolidation of our coffee businesses. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, and our non-GAAP definitions appearing earlier in this section for more information.

 

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Adjusted EPS

Applying the definition of “Adjusted EPS”, the adjustments made to “diluted EPS attributable to Mondelēz International” (the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure) were to exclude Spin-Off Costs, 2012-2014 Restructuring Program costs, 2014-2018 Restructuring Program costs, the Integration Program and other acquisition integration costs, the net benefit from the Cadbury acquisition-related indemnification resolution, the residual tax benefit impact from the resolution of the Starbucks arbitration, losses on debt extinguishment and related expenses, loss on deconsolidation of Venezuela, the remeasurement of net monetary assets in Venezuela, impairment charges related to intangible assets, hedging gains and incremental costs associated with the coffee business transactions, gain on the coffee business transactions, losses on interest rate swaps no longer designated as accounting cash flow hedges due to changed financing and hedging plans, net earnings from divestitures, after-tax gain/loss on divestitures, our proportionate share of unusual or infrequent items recorded by our JDE equity method investee and acquisition-related costs. We also evaluate Adjusted EPS on a constant currency basis. We believe Adjusted EPS provides improved comparability of operating results.

 

 

(1)

Includes the divestiture of AGF on April 23, 2015 and does not include the deconsolidation of our global coffee businesses or the gain on the coffee business transactions. The divestiture of AGF generated a pre-tax gain of $13 million and an after-tax loss of $9 million in the second quarter. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, and our non-GAAP definitions appearing earlier in this section for more information.

 

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(1)

Includes the 2013 divestures of a salty snacks business in Turkey, a confectionary business in South Africa and a chocolate business in Spain and does not include the deconsolidation of our coffee businesses. Refer to Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, and our non-GAAP definitions appearing earlier in this section for more information.

 

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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

As we operate globally, we are primarily exposed to currency exchange rate, commodity price and interest rate market risks. We monitor and manage these exposures as part of our overall risk management program. Our risk management program focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effects that the volatility of these markets may have on our operating results. We principally utilize derivative instruments to reduce significant, unanticipated earnings fluctuations that may arise from volatility in currency exchange rates, commodity prices and interest rates. For additional information on our derivative activity and the types of derivative instruments we use to hedge our currency exchange, commodity price and interest rate exposures, see Note 9, Financial Instruments.

Many of our non-U.S. subsidiaries operate in functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Fluctuations in currency exchange rates create volatility in our reported results as we translate the balance sheets, operating results and cash flows of these subsidiaries into the U.S. dollar for consolidated reporting purposes. The translation of non-U.S. dollar denominated balance sheets and statements of earnings of our subsidiaries into the U.S. dollar for consolidated reporting generally results in a cumulative translation adjustment to other comprehensive income within equity. A stronger U.S. dollar relative to other functional currencies adversely affects our consolidated earnings and net assets while a weaker U.S. dollar benefits our consolidated earnings and net assets. While we hedge significant forecasted currency exchange transactions as well as certain net assets of non-U.S. operations and other currency impacts, we cannot fully predict or eliminate volatility arising from changes in currency exchange rates on our consolidated financial results. See Consolidated Results of Operations and Results of Operations by Reportable Segment under Discussion and Analysis of Historical Results for currency exchange effects on our financial results during 2015. For additional information on the impact of currency policies, the deconsolidation of our Venezuelan operation and the historical remeasurement of our Venezuelan net monetary assets on our financial condition and results of operations, also see Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Currency Translation and Highly Inflationary Accounting.

We also continually monitor the market for commodities that we use in our products. Input costs may fluctuate widely due to international demand, weather conditions, government policy and regulation and unforeseen conditions. To manage the input cost volatility, we enter into forward purchase agreements and other derivative financial instruments. We also pursue productivity and cost saving measures and take pricing actions when necessary to mitigate the impact of higher input costs on earnings.

We regularly evaluate our variable and fixed-rate debt as well as current and expected interest rates in the markets in which we raise capital. Our primary exposures include movements in U.S. Treasury rates, corporate credit spreads, London Interbank Offered Rates (“LIBOR”), Euro Interbank Offered Rate (“EURIBOR”) and commercial paper rates. We periodically use interest rate swaps and forward interest rate contracts to achieve a desired proportion of variable versus fixed rate debt based on current and projected market conditions. In addition to using interest rate derivatives to manage future interest payments, during 2015, we retired $4.2 billion of our long-term debt and issued $4.5 billion of lower borrowing cost debt. Our weighted-average interest rate on our total debt as of December 31, 2015 was 3.7%, down from 4.3% as of December 31, 2014.

Value at Risk:

We use a value at risk (“VAR”) computation to estimate: 1) the potential one-day loss in the fair value of our interest rate-sensitive financial instruments; and 2) the potential one-day loss in pre-tax earnings of our currency and commodity price-sensitive derivative financial instruments. The VAR analysis was done separately for our currency exchange, fixed income and commodity risk portfolios as of each quarter end during 2015. The instruments included in the VAR computation were currency exchange forwards and options for currency exchange risk, debt and swaps for interest rate risk, and commodity forwards, futures and options for commodity risk. Excluded from the computation were anticipated transactions, currency trade payables and receivables, and net investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries, which the abovementioned instruments are intended to hedge.

 

57

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The VAR model assumes normal market conditions, a 95% confidence interval and a one-day holding period. A parametric delta-gamma approximation technique was used to determine the expected return distribution in interest rates, currencies and commodity prices for the purpose of calculating the fixed income, currency exchange and commodity VAR, respectively. The parameters used for estimating the expected return distributions were determined by observing interest rate, currency exchange, and commodity price movements over the prior quarter for the calculation of VAR amounts at December 31, 2015 and 2014, and over each of the four prior quarters for the calculation of average VAR amounts during each year. The values of currency and commodity options do not change on a one-to-one basis with the underlying currency or commodity and were valued accordingly in the VAR computation.

As of December 31, 2015, the estimated potential one-day loss in fair value of our interest rate-sensitive instruments, primarily debt, and the estimated potential one-day loss in pre-tax earnings from our currency and commodity instruments, as calculated in the VAR model, were:

 

		Pre-Tax Earnings Impact																Fair Value Impact
		At 12/31/15				Average				High				Low				At 12/31/15				Average				High				Low
		(in millions)
Instruments sensitive to:
Interest rates																			$    56				$    60				$    78				$    50
Foreign currency rates			$    16				$    55				$    103				$    16
Commodity prices			15				23				31				15
		Pre-Tax Earnings Impact																Fair Value Impact
		At 12/31/14				Average				High				Low				At 12/31/14				Average				High				Low
		(in millions)
Instruments sensitive to:
Interest rates																			$    50				$    41				$    50				$    30
Foreign currency rates			$    51				$    42				$    58				$    25
Commodity prices			26				28				38				19

This VAR computation is a risk analysis tool designed to statistically estimate the maximum expected daily loss, under the specified confidence interval and assuming normal market conditions, from adverse movements in interest rates, currency exchange rates and commodity prices. The computation does not represent actual losses in fair value or earnings we will incur, nor does it consider the effect of favorable changes in market rates. We cannot predict actual future movements in market rates and do not present these VAR results to be indicative of future movements in market rates or to be representative of any actual impact that future changes in market rates may have on our future financial results.

 

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Mondelēz International, Inc.:

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive earnings, equity and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Mondelēz International, Inc. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it classifies deferred income taxes in 2015.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

Chicago, Illinois

February 19, 2016

 

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Mondelēz International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

For the Years Ended December 31

(in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data)

 

		2015				2014				2013
Net revenues		$	29,636			$	34,244			$	35,299
Cost of sales			18,124				21,647				22,189
Gross profit			11,512				12,597				13,110
Selling, general and administrative expenses			7,577				8,457				8,679
Asset impairment and exit costs			901				692				273
Gains on coffee business transactions and divestitures			(6,822	)			–				(30	)
Loss on deconsolidation of Venezuela			778				–				–
Amortization of intangibles			181				206				217
Operating income			8,897				3,242				3,971
Interest and other expense, net			1,013				688				1,579
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes			7,884				2,554				2,392
Provision for income taxes			593				353				60
Earnings from continuing operations			7,291				2,201				2,332
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of income taxes			–				–				1,603
Net earnings			7,291				2,201				3,935
Noncontrolling interest			24				17				20
Net earnings attributable to Mondelēz International		$	7,267			$	2,184			$	3,915
Per share data:
Basic earnings per share attributable to Mondelēz International:
Continuing operations		$	4.49			$	1.29			$	1.30
Discontinued operations			–				–				0.91
Net earnings attributable to Mondelēz International		$	4.49			$	1.29			$	2.21
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Mondelēz International:
Continuing operations		$	4.44			$	1.28			$	1.29
Discontinued operations			–				–				0.90
Net earnings attributable to Mondelēz International		$	4.44			$	1.28			$	2.19
Dividends declared		$	0.64			$	0.58			$	0.54

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Mondelēz International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings

For the Years Ended December 31

(in millions of U.S. dollars)

 

		2015				2014				2013
Net earnings		$	7,291			$	2,201			$	3,935
Other comprehensive earnings / (losses):
Currency translation adjustment:
Translation adjustment			(2,759	)			(3,287	)			(1,080	)
Reclassification to earnings related to Venezuela deconsolidation			99				–				–
Tax (expense) / benefit			(184	)			(228	)			36
Pension and other benefits:
Net actuarial gain / (loss) arising during period			(60	)			(1,388	)			713
Reclassification of (gains) / losses into net earnings:
Amortization of experience losses and prior service costs			207				132				193
Settlement losses			111				42				4
Venezuela deconsolidation			2				–				–
Tax (expense) / benefit			(66	)			386				(244	)
Derivatives accounted for as hedges:
Net derivative gains / (losses)			(74	)			(166	)			169
Reclassification of (gains) / losses into net earnings			21				(45	)			72
Tax (expense) / benefit			9				92				(86	)
Total other comprehensive earnings / (losses)			(2,694	)			(4,462	)			(223	)
Comprehensive earnings / (losses)			4,597				(2,261	)			3,712
less: Comprehensive earnings / (losses) attributable to noncontrolling interests			(2	)			(16	)			20
Comprehensive earnings / (losses) attributable to Mondelēz International		$	4,599			$	(2,245	)		$	3,692

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Mondelēz International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets, as of December 31

(in millions of U.S. dollars, except share data)

 

		2015				2014
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		$	1,870			$	1,631
Trade receivables (net of allowances of $54 at December 31, 2015 and $66 at December 31, 2014)			2,634				3,802
Other receivables (net of allowances of $109 at December 31, 2015 and $91 at December 31, 2014)			1,212				949
Inventories, net			2,609				3,480
Deferred income taxes			–				480
Other current assets			633				1,408
Total current assets			8,958				11,750
Property, plant and equipment, net			8,362				9,827
Goodwill			20,664				23,389
Intangible assets, net			18,768				20,335
Prepaid pension assets			69				53
Equity method investments			5,387				662
Other assets			635				755
TOTAL ASSETS		$	62,843			$	66,771
LIABILITIES
Short-term borrowings		$	236			$	1,305
Current portion of long-term debt			605				1,530
Accounts payable			4,890				5,299
Accrued marketing			1,634				2,047
Accrued employment costs			844				946
Other current liabilities			2,713				2,880
Total current liabilities			10,922				14,007
Long-term debt			14,557				13,821
Deferred income taxes			4,750				5,512
Accrued pension costs			2,183				2,912
Accrued postretirement health care costs			499				526
Other liabilities			1,832				2,140
TOTAL LIABILITIES			34,743				38,918
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 13)
EQUITY
Common Stock, no par value (5,000,000,000 shares authorized and 1,996,537,778 shares issued at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014)			–				–
Additional paid-in capital			31,760				31,651
Retained earnings			20,700				14,529
Accumulated other comprehensive losses			(9,986	)			(7,318	)
Treasury stock, at cost (416,504,624 shares at December 31, 2015 and 332,896,779 shares at December 31, 2014)			(14,462	)			(11,112	)
Total Mondelēz International Shareholders’ Equity			28,012				27,750
Noncontrolling interest			88				103
TOTAL EQUITY			28,100				27,853
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY		$	62,843			$	66,771

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Mondelēz International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Equity

(in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data)

 

		Mondelēz International Shareholders’ Equity
														Accumulated
														Other
						Additional								Comprehensive
		Common				Paid-in				Retained				Earnings /				Treasury				Noncontrolling				Total
		Stock				Capital				Earnings				(Losses)				Stock				Interest				Equity
Balances at January 1, 2013		$	–			$	31,548			$	10,551			$	(2,666	)		$	(7,157	)		$	140			$	32,416
Comprehensive earnings / (losses):
Net earnings			–				–				3,915				–				–				20				3,935
Other comprehensive losses, net of income taxes			–				–				–				(223	)			–				–				(223	)
Exercise of stock options and issuance of other stock awards			–				10				(97	)			–				343				–				256
Common Stock repurchased			–				(161	)			–				–				(2,739	)			–				(2,900	)
Cash dividends declared ($0.54 per share)			–				–				(950	)			–				–				–				(950	)
Dividends paid on noncontrolling interest and other activities			–				(1	)			–				–				–				(1	)			(2	)
Balances at December 31, 2013		$	–			$	31,396			$	13,419			$	(2,889	)		$	(9,553	)		$	159			$	32,532
Comprehensive earnings / (losses):
Net earnings			–				–				2,184				–				–				17				2,201
Other comprehensive losses, net of income taxes			–				–				–				(4,429	)			–				(33	)			(4,462	)
Exercise of stock options and issuance of other stock awards			–				271				(98	)			–				332				–				505
Common Stock repurchased			–				–				–				–				(1,891	)			–				(1,891	)
Cash dividends declared ($0.58 per share)			–				–				(976	)			–				–				–				(976	)
Dividends paid on noncontrolling interest and other activities			–				(16	)			–				–				–				(40	)			(56	)
Balances at December 31, 2014		$	–			$	31,651			$	14,529			$	(7,318	)		$	(11,112	)		$	103			$	27,853
Comprehensive earnings / (losses):
Net earnings			–				–				7,267				–				–				24				7,291
Other comprehensive losses, net of income taxes			–				–				–				(2,668	)			–				(26	)			(2,694	)
Exercise of stock options and issuance of other stock awards			–				109				(70	)			–				272				–				311
Common Stock repurchased			–				–				–				–				(3,622	)			–				(3,622	)
Cash dividends declared ($0.64 per share)			–				–				(1,026	)			–				–				–				(1,026	)
Dividends paid on noncontrolling interest and other activities			–				–				–				–				–				(13	)			(13	)
Balances at December 31, 2015		$	–			$	31,760			$	20,700			$	(9,986	)		$	(14,462	)		$	88			$	28,100

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Mondelēz International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Years Ended December 31

(in millions of U.S. dollars)

 

		2015				2014				2013
CASH PROVIDED BY / (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net earnings		$	7,291			$	2,201			$	3,935
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to operating cash flows:
Depreciation and amortization			894				1,059				1,077
Stock-based compensation expense			136				141				128
Deferred income tax benefit			(30	)			(186	)			(64	)
Asset impairments			345				240				97
Benefit from indemnification resolution			–				–				(385	)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			748				493				608
Gains on coffee business transactions, divestitures and acquisition, net			(6,822	)			–				(30	)
Loss on deconsolidation of Venezuela			778				–				–
Coffee business transactions currency-related net gains			(436	)			(628	)			–
Income from equity method investments			(56	)			(113	)			(107	)
Distributions from equity method investments			58				63				66
Other non-cash items, net			199				(134	)			22
Change in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and divestitures:
Receivables, net			44				184				492
Inventories, net			(49	)			(188	)			(116	)
Accounts payable			659				387				793
Other current assets			28				(86	)			(42	)
Other current liabilities			152				135				62
Change in pension and postretirement assets and liabilities, net			(211	)			(6	)			(126	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			3,728				3,562				6,410
CASH PROVIDED BY / (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures			(1,514	)			(1,642	)			(1,622	)
Proceeds from coffee business transactions and divestiture, net of disbursements			4,735				–				60
Proceeds from coffee business transactions currency hedge settlements			1,050				–				–
Acquisitions, net of cash received			(527	)			(7	)			(119	)
Reduction of cash due to Venezuela deconsolidation			(611	)			–				–
Capital contribution to JDE			(544	)			–				–
Cash received from Kraft Foods Group related to the Spin-Off			–				–				55
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and other			60				7				143
Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities			2,649				(1,642	)			(1,483	)
CASH PROVIDED BY / (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuances of commercial paper, maturities greater than 90 days			613				2,082				1,329
Repayments of commercial paper, maturities greater than 90 days			(710	)			(2,713	)			(607	)
Net (repayments) / issuances of other short-term borrowings			(931	)			398				613
Long-term debt proceeds			4,624				3,032				3,248
Long-term debt repaid			(4,975	)			(3,017	)			(7,559	)
Repurchase of Common Stock			(3,622	)			(1,700	)			(2,900	)
Dividends paid			(1,008	)			(964	)			(943	)
Other			126				194				132
Net cash used in financing activities			(5,883	)			(2,688	)			(6,687	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(255	)			(223	)			(93	)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Increase / (decrease)			239				(991	)			(1,853	)
Balance at beginning of period			1,631				2,622				4,475
Balance at end of period		$	1,870			$	1,631			$	2,622
Cash paid:
Interest		$	747			$	827			$	1,150
Income taxes		$	745			$	1,238			$	760

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Mondelēz International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1.   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business:

Mondelēz International, Inc. (formerly Kraft Foods Inc.) was incorporated in 2000 in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Mondelēz International, Inc., through its subsidiaries (collectively “Mondelēz International,” “we,” “us” and “our”), sells food and beverage products to consumers in 165 countries.

Principles of Consolidation:

The consolidated financial statements include Mondelēz International, Inc. as well as our wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries. For all periods presented through December 31, 2015, the operating results of our Venezuelan subsidiaries are included in our consolidated financial statements. As of the close of the fourth quarter of 2015, we deconsolidated our Venezuelan operations from our consolidated financial statements and recognized a loss on deconsolidation. See Currency Translation and Highly Inflationary Accounting: Venezuela below for more information.

We account for investments in which we exercise significant influence (20%-50% ownership interest) under the equity method of accounting. On July 2, 2015, we contributed our global coffee businesses to a new company, Jacobs Douwe Egberts (“JDE”), in which we now hold a 43.5% equity interest (collectively, the “coffee business transactions”). Historically, our coffee businesses and the income from primarily coffee-related and smaller equity method investments were recorded within our operating income as these businesses operated as direct extensions of our base business. Following the coffee business transactions, while we retain an ongoing interest in coffee through significant equity method investments, and we have significant influence with JDE and other equity method investments, we do not have control over these operations directly. As such, beginning in the third quarter of 2015, we began to recognize the investment earnings in after-tax equity method investment earnings outside of operating income and segment income. For the six months ended December 31, 2015, after-tax equity method investment net earnings were less than $1 million on a combined basis and thus is not shown on our consolidated statement of earnings for this period. For periods prior to the July 2, 2015 closing, the coffee and other equity method investment earnings were included within our operating income and segment income. Please see Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions – Coffee Business Transactions, and Note 17, Segment Reporting, for more information on these transactions.

We use the cost method of accounting for investments in which we have an ownership interest of less than 20% and in which we do not exercise significant influence. The noncontrolling interest represents the noncontrolling investors’ interests in the results of subsidiaries that we control and consolidate. All intercompany transactions are eliminated.

Discontinued Operation:

On October 1, 2012 (the “Distribution Date”), we completed the spin-off of our former North American grocery business, Kraft Foods Group, Inc. (“Kraft Foods Group”; which is now part of The Kraft Heinz Company), by distributing 100% of the outstanding shares of common stock of Kraft Foods Group to holders of our Common Stock (the “Spin-Off”). We retained our global snacks business along with other food and beverage categories. The divested Kraft Foods Group business is presented as a discontinued operation on the consolidated statements of earnings in 2013. See Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for additional information.

Accounting Calendar Change:

In connection with moving toward a common consolidation date across the Company, in the first quarter of 2015, we changed the consolidation date for our North America segment from the last Saturday of each period to the last calendar day of each period. The change had a favorable impact of $78 million on net revenues and $37 million on operating income in 2015. In the first quarter of 2013, we changed the consolidation date for our Europe segment, from predominantly the last Saturday of each period to the last calendar day of each period. The change had a favorable impact of $37 million on net revenues and $6 million on operating income in 2013.

As a result of these changes, each of our operating subsidiaries now reports results as of the last calendar day of the period. We believe the change will improve business planning and financial reporting by better matching the close dates of the operating subsidiaries and bringing the reporting dates to the period-end date. As the effect to prior-period results was not material, we have not revised prior-period results.

 

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Use of Estimates:

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), which require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect a number of amounts in our consolidated financial statements. Significant accounting policy elections, estimates and assumptions include, among others, pension and benefit plan assumptions, valuation assumptions of goodwill and intangible assets, useful lives of long-lived assets, restructuring program liabilities, marketing program accruals, insurance and self-insurance reserves and income taxes. We base our estimates on historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable. If actual amounts differ from estimates, we include the revisions in our consolidated results of operations in the period the actual amounts become known. Historically, the aggregate differences, if any, between our estimates and actual amounts in any year have not had a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Currency Translation and Highly Inflationary Accounting:

We translate the results of operations of our subsidiaries from multiple currencies using average exchange rates during each period and translate balance sheet accounts using exchange rates at the end of each period. We record currency translation adjustments as a component of equity (except for highly inflationary currencies such as in Venezuela) and realized exchange gains and losses on transactions in earnings.

Venezuela. From January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2015, we accounted for the results of our Venezuelan subsidiaries using the U.S. dollar as the functional currency as prescribed by U.S. GAAP for highly inflationary economies.

Effective as of the close of the 2015 fiscal year, we concluded that we no longer met the accounting criteria for consolidation of our Venezuela subsidiaries due to a loss of control over our Venezuelan operations and an other-than-temporary lack of currency exchangeability. During the fourth quarter of 2015, representatives of the Venezuelan government arbitrarily imposed pricing restrictions on our local operations that resulted in our inability to recover operating costs. We immediately began an appeal process with the Venezuelan authorities to demonstrate that our pricing was in line with the regulatory requirements. In January 2016, local officials verbally lifted some of the pricing restrictions; however, it is uncertain when the legally required administrative order will be issued. The legal and regulatory environment has become more unreliable. While we had been complying with the Venezuelan law governing pricing and profitability controls and had followed the legal process for appeal, the appeal process was not available to us as outlined under law. Additionally, we have been increasingly facing issues procuring raw materials and packaging. Taken together, these actions, the economic environment in Venezuela and the progressively limited access to dollars to import goods through the use of any of the available currency mechanisms have impaired our ability to operate and control our Venezuelan businesses. We therefore concluded that we no longer met the criteria for the consolidation of our Venezuelan subsidiaries.

As of the close of the 2015 fiscal year, we deconsolidated and changed to the cost method of accounting for our Venezuelan operations. We recorded a $778 million pre-tax loss as we reduced the value of our cost method investment in Venezuela and all Venezuelan receivables held by our other subsidiaries to realizable fair value, resulting in full impairment. The recorded loss also included historical cumulative translation adjustments related to our Venezuelan operations that had previously been recorded in accumulated other comprehensive losses within equity. The fair value of our investments in our Venezuelan subsidiaries was estimated based on discounted cash flow projections of current and expected operating losses in the foreseeable future and our ability to operate the business on a sustainable basis. Our fair value estimate reflects U.S. dollar exchange and discount rate assumptions that reflect the inflation and economic uncertainty in Venezuela.

Beginning in 2016, we will no longer include net revenues, earnings or net assets of our Venezuelan subsidiaries within our consolidated financial statements. Under the cost method of accounting, we will recognize earnings only to the extent cash is received from our Venezuelan subsidiaries. Given the current and ongoing difficult economic, regulatory and business environment in Venezuela, there continues to be significant uncertainty related to our operations in Venezuela, and we expect these conditions will continue for the foreseeable future. We will monitor the extent of our ability to control our Venezuelan operations and the liquidity and availability of U.S. dollars at different rates as our current situation in Venezuela may change over time and lead to consolidation at a future date.

For 2015 and prior periods presented, the operating results of our Venezuela operations were included in our consolidated statements of earnings. During this time, we recognized a number of currency-related remeasurement losses resulting from devaluations of the Venezuela bolivar exchange rates we historically used to source U.S. dollars for purchases of imported raw materials, packaging and other goods and services. The following table sets forth a history of the remeasurement losses, the deconsolidation loss and historical operating results and financial position of our Venezuelan subsidiaries for the periods presented:

 

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(1)

Represents the financial position of our Venezuelan subsidiaries prior to the accounting change on December 31, 2015.

Argentina. On December 16, 2015, the new Argentinean government fiscal authority announced the lifting of strict currency controls and reduced restrictions of exports and imports. The next day, the value of the Argentine peso relative to the U.S. dollar fell by 36% and remained relatively stable at this level through December 31, 2015. Further volatility in the exchange rate is expected. While the business operating environment remains challenging, we continue to monitor and actively manage our investment and exposures in Argentina. Although our ability to effectively hedge against currency fluctuations was reduced during the presidential transition in December, the hedging markets have returned to normal operating levels, allowing us to continue executing our hedging programs. We continue refining our product portfolio to improve our product offerings, mix and profitability. We also continue to implement additional cost initiatives to protect the business. While further currency declines could have an adverse impact on our ongoing results of operations, we believe the actions by the new government to reduce economic controls and business restrictions will provide favorable opportunities for our Argentinean subsidiaries. Our Argentinian operations contributed approximately $755 million, or 2.5% of consolidated net revenues and approximately $45 million, or 0.5% of consolidated operating income for the year ended December 31, 2015. As of December 31, 2015, the net monetary liabilities of our Argentina operations were not material. Argentina is not designated as a highly-inflationary economy for accounting purposes, so we record currency translation adjustments within equity and realized exchange gains and losses on transactions in earnings.

Other Countries. Since we have operations in over 80 countries and sell in 165 countries, we regularly monitor economic and currency-related risks and seek to take protective measures in response to these exposures. Some of the countries in which we do business have had significant economic uncertainty recently. These include Brazil, China, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine, most of which have had either currency devaluation or volatility. We continue to monitor operations, currencies and net monetary exposures in these countries. At this time, we do not have material net monetary asset exposures or risk to our operating results from changing to highly inflationary accounting in these countries.

Cash and Cash Equivalents:

Cash and cash equivalents include demand deposits with banks and all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Transfers of Financial Assets:

We account for transfers of financial assets as sales when we have surrendered control over the related assets. Whether control has been relinquished requires, among other things, an evaluation of relevant legal considerations and an assessment of the nature and extent of our continuing involvement with the assets transferred. We use these programs periodically when circumstances are favorable to manage liquidity. Gains and losses stemming from transfers reported as sales are included as an offset to net revenue in the consolidated statements of earnings. Assets obtained and liabilities incurred in connection with transfers reported as sales are initially recognized on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value.

 

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On December 19, 2013 in Europe and on December 22, 2015 in the United States, we entered into uncommitted revolving non-recourse accounts receivable factoring arrangements with a major global bank. The facilities, whose maximum combined capacity is $820 million, will remain available unless terminated by either party.

Under the arrangements, we may sell eligible short-term trade receivables to the bank in exchange for cash. The transfers are reported as sales of trade receivables within our consolidated financial statements. We continue to service the receivables sold, acting solely as a collecting agent on behalf of the bank. We recorded losses on these sales of $3 million in 2015 and $2 million in 2014. The outstanding principal amount of receivables sold under the combined facilities amounted to $570 million in 2015 and $211 million in 2014.

Inventories:

We value our inventory using the average cost method. We also record inventory allowances for overstock and obsolete inventories due to ingredient and packaging changes.

Long-Lived Assets:

Property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost and depreciated by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Machinery and equipment are depreciated over periods ranging from 3 to 20 years and buildings and building improvements over periods up to 40 years.

We review long-lived assets, including amortizable intangible assets, for realizability on an ongoing basis. Changes in depreciation, generally accelerated depreciation, are determined and recorded when estimates of the remaining useful lives or residual values of long-term assets change. We also review for impairment when conditions exist that indicate the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. In those circumstances, we perform undiscounted operating cash flow analyses to determine if an impairment exists. When testing for asset impairment, we group assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which cash flows are separately identifiable. Any impairment loss is calculated as the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its estimated fair value. Fair value is estimated based on the undiscounted cash flows for the asset group over the remaining useful life or based on the expected cash proceeds for the asset less costs of disposal. Any significant impairment losses would be recorded within asset impairment and exit costs in the consolidated statements of earnings.

Software Costs:

We capitalize certain computer software and software development costs incurred in connection with developing or obtaining computer software for internal use. Capitalized software costs are included in property, plant and equipment and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the software, which do not exceed seven years.

Goodwill and Non-Amortizable Intangible Assets:

We test goodwill and non-amortizable intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis on October 1. We assess goodwill impairment risk throughout the year by performing a qualitative review of entity-specific, industry, market and general economic factors affecting our goodwill reporting units. We review our operating segment and reporting unit structure for goodwill testing annually or as significant changes in the organization occur. Annually, we may perform qualitative testing or elect to do quantitative testing instead, depending on prior test results, current year developments, current risk evaluations and other practical considerations. In the event that significant potential goodwill impairment risk exists for a specific reporting unit, we apply a two-step quantitative test. The first step compares the reporting unit’s estimated fair value with its carrying value. We estimate a reporting unit’s fair value using a discounted cash flow method which incorporates planned growth rates, market-based discount rates and estimates of residual value. This year, for our Europe and North America reporting units, we used a market-based, weighted-average cost of capital of 6.8% to discount the projected cash flows of those operations. For our Latin America, Asia Pacific and EEMEA reporting units, we used a risk-rated discount rate of 9.8%. Estimating the fair value of individual reporting units requires us to make assumptions and estimates regarding our future plans, industry and economic conditions, and our actual results and conditions may differ over time. If the carrying value of a reporting unit’s net assets exceeds its fair value, we would apply a second step to measure the difference between the carrying value and implied fair value of goodwill. If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, the goodwill is impaired and its carrying value is reduced to the implied fair value of the goodwill.

Annually we assess non-amortizable intangible assets for impairment by performing a qualitative review and assessing events and circumstances that could affect the fair value or carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets. If significant potential impairment risk exists for a specific asset, we quantitatively test it for impairment by comparing its estimated fair value with its carrying value. We determine estimated fair value using planned growth rates, market-based discount rates and estimates of royalty rates. If the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value, we consider the asset impaired and reduce its carrying value to the estimated fair value. We amortize definite-lived intangible assets over their estimated useful lives and evaluate them for impairment as we do other long-lived assets.

 

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Insurance and Self-Insurance:

We use a combination of insurance and self-insurance for a number of risks, including workers’ compensation, general liability, automobile liability, product liability and our obligation for employee healthcare benefits. We estimate the liabilities associated with these risks on an undiscounted basis by evaluating and making judgments about historical claims experience and other actuarial assumptions and the estimated impact on future results.

Revenue Recognition:

We recognize revenues when title and risk of loss pass to customers, which generally occurs upon delivery or shipment of goods. Revenues are recorded net of sales incentives and trade promotions and include all shipping and handling charges billed to customers. Our shipping and handling costs are classified as part of cost of sales. Provisions for product returns and other trade allowances are also recorded as reductions to revenues within the same period that the revenue is recognized.

Marketing and Research and Development:

We promote our products with advertising, marketing, sales incentives and trade promotions. These programs include, but are not limited to, cooperative advertising, in-store displays, consumer promotions, new product introduction fees, discounts, coupons, rebates and volume-based incentives. We expense advertising costs either in the period the advertising first takes place or as incurred. Sales incentive and trade promotion activities are recorded as a reduction to revenues based on amounts estimated due to customers and consumers at the end of a period. We base these estimates principally on historical utilization and redemption rates. For interim reporting purposes, advertising expenses and sales incentives are charged to operations as a percentage of volume, based on estimated volume and estimated program spending. We do not defer costs on our year-end consolidated balance sheet and all marketing costs are recorded as an expense in the year incurred. Advertising expense was $1,542 million in 2015, $1,552 million in 2014 and $1,721 million in 2013. We expense product research and development costs as incurred. Research and development expense was $409 million in 2015, $455 million in 2014 and $471 million in 2013. We record marketing and research and development expenses within selling, general and administrative expenses.

Employee Benefit Plans:

We provide a range of benefits to our current and retired employees. These include pension benefits, postretirement health care benefits and postemployment benefits depending upon jurisdiction, tenure, job level and other factors. Local statutory requirements govern many of the benefit plans we provide around the world. Local government plans generally cover health care benefits for retirees outside the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. Our U.S., Canadian and U.K. subsidiaries provide health care and other benefits to most retired employees. Our postemployment benefit plans provide primarily severance benefits for eligible salaried and certain hourly employees. The cost for these plans is recognized in earnings primarily over the working life of the covered employee.

Financial Instruments:

We use financial instruments to manage our currency exchange rate, commodity price and interest rate risks. We monitor and manage these exposures as part of our overall risk management program, which focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effects that the volatility of these markets may have on our operating results. A principal objective of our risk management strategies is to reduce significant, unanticipated earnings fluctuations that may arise from volatility in currency exchange rates, commodity prices and interest rates, principally through the use of derivative instruments.

We use a combination of primarily currency forward contracts, futures, options and swaps; commodity forward contracts, futures and options; and interest rate swaps to manage our exposure to cash flow variability, protect the value of our existing currency assets and liabilities and protect the value of our debt. See Note 9, Financial Instruments, to the consolidated financial statements for more information on the types of derivative instruments we use.

We record derivative financial instruments on a gross basis and at fair value in our consolidated balance sheets within other current assets or other current liabilities due to their relatively short-term duration. Cash flows from derivative instruments are classified in the consolidated statements of cash flows based on the nature of the derivative instrument. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is designated as a cash flow hedge, to the extent that the hedge is effective, are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive earnings / (losses) and reclassified to earnings when the hedged item affects earnings. Changes in fair value of economic hedges and the ineffective portion of all hedges are recognized in current period earnings. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is designated as a fair value hedge, along with the changes in the fair value of the related hedged asset or liability, are recorded in earnings in the same period. We use

 

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non-U.S. dollar denominated debt to hedge a portion of our net investment in non-U.S. operations against adverse movements in exchange rates, with currency movements related to the debt and net investment and the related deferred taxes recorded within currency translation adjustment in accumulated other comprehensive earnings / (losses).

In order to qualify for hedge accounting, a specified level of hedging effectiveness between the derivative instrument and the item being hedged must exist at inception and throughout the hedged period. We must also formally document the nature of and relationship between the derivative and the hedged item, as well as our risk management objectives, strategies for undertaking the hedge transaction and method of assessing hedge effectiveness. Additionally, for a hedge of a forecasted transaction, the significant characteristics and expected term of the forecasted transaction must be specifically identified, and it must be probable that the forecasted transaction will occur. If it is no longer probable that the hedged forecasted transaction will occur, we would recognize the gain or loss related to the derivative in earnings.

When we use derivatives, we are exposed to credit and market risks. Credit risk exists when a counterparty to a derivative contract might fail to fulfill its performance obligations under the contract. We reduce our credit risk by entering into transactions with counterparties with high quality, investment grade credit ratings, limiting the amount of exposure with each counterparty and monitoring the financial condition of our counterparties. We also maintain a policy of requiring that all significant, non-exchange traded derivative contracts with a duration of one year or longer are governed by an International Swaps and Derivatives Association master agreement. Market risk exists when the value of a derivative or other financial instrument might be adversely affected by changes in market conditions and commodity prices, currency exchange rates or interest rates. We manage derivative market risk by limiting the types of derivative instruments and derivative strategies we use and the degree of market risk that we plan to hedge through the use of derivative instruments.

Commodity cash flow hedges. We are exposed to price risk related to forecasted purchases of certain commodities that we primarily use as raw materials. We enter into commodity forward contracts primarily for wheat, sugar and other sweeteners, soybean and vegetable oils and cocoa. Commodity forward contracts generally are not subject to the accounting requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities under the normal purchases exception. We also use commodity futures and options to hedge the price of certain input costs, including cocoa, energy costs, wheat, sugar and other sweeteners, soybean and vegetable oils and dairy. Some of these derivative instruments are highly effective and qualify for hedge accounting treatment. We also sell commodity futures to unprice future purchase commitments, and we occasionally use related futures to cross-hedge a commodity exposure. We are not a party to leveraged derivatives and, by policy, do not use financial instruments for speculative purposes.

Currency exchange cash flow hedges. We use various financial instruments to mitigate our exposure to changes in exchange rates from third-party and intercompany current and forecasted transactions. These instruments may include currency exchange forward contracts, futures, options and swaps. Based on the size and location of our businesses, we use these instruments to hedge our exposure to certain currencies, including the euro, pound sterling, Swiss franc and Canadian dollar.

Interest rate cash flow and fair value hedges. We manage interest rate volatility by modifying the pricing or maturity characteristics of certain liabilities so that the net impact on expense is not, on a material basis, adversely affected by movements in interest rates. As a result of interest rate fluctuations, hedged fixed-rate liabilities appreciate or depreciate in market value. We expect the effect of this unrealized appreciation or depreciation to be substantially offset by our gains or losses on the derivative instruments that are linked to these hedged liabilities. We use derivative instruments, including interest rate swaps that have indices related to the pricing of specific liabilities as part of our interest rate risk management strategy. As a matter of policy, we do not use highly leveraged derivative instruments for interest rate risk management. We use interest rate swaps to economically convert a portion of our fixed-rate debt into variable-rate debt. Under the interest rate swap contracts, we agree with other parties to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed-rate and floating-rate interest amounts, which is calculated based on an agreed-upon notional amount. We also use interest rate swaps to hedge the variability of interest payment cash flows on a portion of our future debt obligations. Substantially all of these derivative instruments are highly effective and qualify for hedge accounting treatment.

Hedges of net investments in non-U.S. operations. We have numerous investments outside the United States. The net assets of these subsidiaries are exposed to changes and volatility in currency exchange rates. We use local currency denominated debt to hedge our non-U.S. net investments against adverse movements in exchange rates. We designated our euro, pound sterling and Swiss franc denominated borrowings as a net investment hedge of a portion of our overall European operations. The gains and losses on our net investment in these designated European operations are economically offset by losses and gains on our euro, pound sterling and Swiss franc denominated borrowings. The change in the debt’s value, net of deferred taxes, is recorded in the currency translation adjustment component of accumulated other comprehensive earnings / (losses).

 

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Income Taxes:

We recognize tax benefits in our financial statements when uncertain tax positions are assessed more likely than not to be sustained upon audit. The amount we recognize is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.

We recognize deferred tax assets for deductible temporary differences, operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

New Accounting Pronouncements:

In January 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) which provides updated guidance for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial assets and liabilities. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. We are currently assessing the impact across our operations and on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued an ASU that requires all deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in the balance sheet. The new standard did not change the current requirement to offset deferred tax liabilities and assets within a tax-paying component of an entity. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. It can also be applied either prospectively or retrospectively to all periods presented. We early adopted the new standard on December 31, 2015 on a prospective basis. We classified deferred taxes as non-current on our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2015. No prior periods were retrospectively adjusted.

In September 2015, the FASB issued an ASU that eliminates the requirement for an acquirer in a business combination to account for measurement-period adjustments retrospectively. Under the new guidance, measurement-period adjustments should be accounted for during the period in which the entity determines the amount of the adjustment. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted, and should be applied prospectively to open measurement periods after the effective date, regardless of the acquisition date. We elected to early adopt and will apply the standard in our accounting for the acquisitions that we closed during the third quarter of 2015. See Note 2, Divestitures and Acquisitions, for more information.

In July 2015, the FASB issued an ASU that simplifies the guidance on the subsequent measurement of inventory. U.S. GAAP currently requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. Previously, market could be replacement cost, net realizable value or net realizable value less an approximate normal profit margin. Under the new standard, inventory should be valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. We early adopted the new standard on January 1, 2016 on a prospective basis. The adoption of the standard is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2015, the FASB issued an ASU that applies to reporting entities that elect to measure the fair value of an investment using the net asset value (“NAV”) per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient. This ASU removes the requirement to include investments measured using the practical expedient within fair value hierarchy disclosures. Also, practical expedient disclosures previously required for all eligible investments are now only required for investments for which the practical expedient has been elected. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. As we measure certain defined benefit plan assets using the NAV practical expedient, we adopted the new standard on January 1, 2016. The new standard will impact our future pension disclosures and is not expected to otherwise have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued an ASU that provides guidance on evaluating whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If there is a software license component, software licensing accounting should be applied; otherwise, service contract accounting should be applied. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. We adopted