Skip to main content

SunOpta Announces Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2019 Financial Results

SunOpta Inc. (“SunOpta” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:STKL) (TSX:SOY), a leading global company focused on plant-based foods and beverages, fruit-based foods and beverages, and organic ingredient sourcing and production, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 28, 2019.

“I am pleased to report that SunOpta doubled adjusted EBITDA, excluding disposed operations, in the fourth quarter versus the prior year. The adjusted EBITDA results were primarily driven by strong revenue growth and margin expansion in our plant-based beverages business unit, supported by sequential improvement in frozen fruit profitability. We are confident in the outlook for continued EBITDA growth in 2020 as we expect to benefit from strong industry tailwinds and further capitalize on our industry-leading capabilities in key product categories,” said Joe Ennen, Chief Executive Officer at SunOpta.

“Within our plant-based food and beverage business unit, we grew revenue 25%, reflecting strong growth in both existing and new customers. We also saw improved gross margins as a result of higher plant utilization and significant contributions from our productivity initiatives. Our capital investments to expand our extraction capabilities are well timed, given the growing consumer demand for plant-based foods and beverages and the scarcity of capacity capable of meeting this demand. Within our fruit-based food and beverage platform, results were consistent with our expectations. Encouragingly, we had both sequential and year-over-year gross margin improvement in all product segments of our fruit business and we were able to make pricing changes with key customers to reflect higher costs and in some cases move to indexed based pricing. As we gear up for the 2020 fruit season, we remain focused on executing our fruit margin optimization activities, which include further automation to lower variable labor costs; more direct bagging; shifting to customer pricing structures that reduce risk, and completing our enhancements to business planning and leadership. We still have considerable work to do to achieve acceptable margin levels in this business, but we are tracking in line with our turnaround plan. Within Tradin Organic, which is part of our Global Ingredients segment, our margin rate remains relatively consistent in spite of the inherent volatility in a commodity-based business and production inefficiencies in our cocoa business.”

Mr. Ennen continued, “As we look ahead to 2020, we expect to see continued improvement in adjusted EBITDA performance as we capitalize on our strong plant-based food and beverage momentum, execute our margin optimization strategy in our fruit business, and leverage Tradin’s unique positioning in the organic ingredient supply chain. The recent extension of our $360 million revolving asset-based credit facility reflects the support and confidence of our banking partners as we execute our turnaround plan, while providing enhanced flexibility and liquidity to support our growth plans.”

All amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars and results are reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP, except where specifically noted.

Fourth Quarter 2019 Highlights:

  • Revenues of $295.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to $320.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, a decrease of 7.7%. Adjusted for disposed operations, foreign exchange, commodity prices, a new contract manufacturing arrangement and the acquisition of Sanmark, revenues grew 0.8% during the fourth quarter.
  • Loss attributable to common shareholders of $7.6 million or $0.09 per common share in the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to a loss attributable to common shareholders of $99.0 million or $1.13 per common share in the fourth quarter of 2018.
  • Adjusted loss¹ of $5.6 million or $0.06 per common share during the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to an adjusted loss of $9.3 million or $0.11 per common share during the fourth quarter of 2018.
  • Adjusted EBITDA¹ excluding disposed operations of $16.4 million or 5.5% of revenues for the fourth quarter of 2019, versus $8.2 million or 2.5% of adjusted revenues in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Fourth Quarter 2019 Results

Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2019 were $295.8 million, a decrease of 7.7% compared to $320.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Excluding the impact on reported revenues of disposed business, including the soy and corn business sold in February 2019, changes in commodity-related pricing and foreign exchange rates, a profit-neutral change to a co-manufacturing agreement, and excluding the impact of the acquisition of Sanmark in April 2019, revenues in the fourth quarter of 2019 increased by 0.8% compared with the fourth quarter of 2018.

As a result of the Company’s restructuring efforts in 2019, the Company has realigned its reporting structure to better align with its operational and strategic objectives. As a result, the Company established two new segments: a Plant-Based Foods and Beverages segment and a Fruit-Based Foods and Beverages segment, based on the synergistic nature of the underlying principal product ingredients and the reporting structure within each segment. The Plant-Based Foods and Beverages segment includes aseptic beverages, ingredient extraction and sunflower operations. The Fruit-Based Foods and Beverages segment includes: Sunrise frozen fruit, fruit ingredients and fruit snacks. In addition, the Company realigned the Global Ingredients segment to combine its Tradin Organic operations and its premium juice program, based on shared raw material sourcing.

The Global Ingredients segment generated revenues of $109.7 million, a decrease of 24.4% compared to $145.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Excluding the impact of the disposed soy and corn business, and changes in commodity-related pricing and foreign exchange rates, Global Ingredients revenue in the fourth quarter decreased 5.7% compared to the prior year period, which reflected lower volumes in certain organic ingredient product categories. The Plant-Based Foods and Beverages segment generated revenues of $106.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2019, an increase of 25.0% compared to $85.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Excluding sunflower price variances and a profit-neutral change to a co-manufacturing agreement, Plant-Based segment revenues in the fourth quarter increased 26.8% compared to the prior year period, reflecting higher volumes of aseptic beverages, broth offerings, and ingredient extraction. This growth came on top of a very strong prior year which was up 18.7% from 2017. The Fruit-Based Foods and Beverages segment generated revenues of $79.7 million during the fourth quarter of 2019, a decrease of 11.7% compared to $90.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Excluding the impact of commodity price fluctuations, Fruit-Based segment revenues in the fourth quarter decreased 14.9% compared to the prior year period, primarily reflecting lower volumes with one large food service customer, partially offset by higher pricing.

Gross profit was $33.4 million for the quarter ended December 28, 2019, an increase of $12.1 million compared to $21.3 million for the quarter ended December 29, 2018. The Plant-Based Foods and Beverages segment accounted for $10.5 million of the increase in gross profit primarily due to revenue growth, increased gross margin as a result of increased capacity utilization and productivity programs, and strong margin performance in extraction operations. The Fruit-Based Foods and Beverages segment increased gross profit by $4.1 million in the quarter due to increased gross margin, reflecting pricing actions and efficiency efforts to optimize margins across the segment. These favorable impacts were partially offset by a $2.5 million decline in gross profit in the Global Ingredients segment primarily due to the sale of the soy and corn business, along with lower volumes and pricing spreads for certain organic ingredients.

As a percentage of revenues, gross profit for the quarter ended December 28, 2019 was 11.3% compared to 6.6% for the quarter ended December 29, 2018, an increase of 4.7%. On an adjusted basis, the gross profit percentage in the fourth quarter of 2019 would have been 11.4% excluding start-up costs of $0.3 million related to the Company’s new organic avocado oil facility in Ethiopia. The gross profit percentage for the fourth quarter of 2018 would have been approximately 8.5%, excluding inventory write-downs in frozen fruit, costs related to the commercialization of new beverage products, and equipment start-up costs.

Segment operating income¹ was $3.0 million, or 1.0% of revenues in the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to an operating loss of $6.9 million, or 2.2% of revenues in the fourth quarter of 2018. The increase in operating income year-over-year was primarily attributable to the $12.1 million increase in gross profit, offset by an increase in SG&A due to higher employee-related variable and stock-based compensation costs, non-structural costs in SG&A related to the Value Creation Plan, and an increase in foreign exchange losses within our Tradin Organic international operations. Excluding the impact of non-structural SG&A and items above impacting gross profit, segment operating income would have been $4.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2019, compared with an operating loss of $0.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2018.

Other income for the fourth quarter of 2019 reflected legal settlement gains of $1.2 million, offset by employee termination costs and post-closing adjustments related to the sale of the soy and corn business.

In the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company recognized a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $81.2 million to write-off the remaining goodwill balance related to the Sunrise frozen fruit business.

Adjusted EBITDA¹ was $16.4 million or 5.5% of revenues in the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to $9.1 million or 2.8% of revenues in the fourth quarter of 2018. Excluding disposed operations, adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended December 29, 2018 was $8.2 million.

The Company reported a loss attributable to common shareholders for the fourth quarter of 2019 of $7.6 million, or $0.09 per diluted common share, compared to a loss of $99.0 million, or $1.13 per diluted common share during the fourth quarter of 2018. Adjusted loss¹ in the fourth quarter of 2019 was $5.6 million or $0.06 per common share, compared to $9.3 million or $0.11 per common share in the fourth quarter of 2018. Please refer to the discussion and table below under “Non-GAAP Measures - Adjusted Earnings/Loss”.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

At December 28, 2019, SunOpta’s balance sheet reflected total assets of $923.4 million and total debt of $490.7 million. During the fourth quarter of 2019, cash provided by operating activities was $36.2 million, compared to $5.1 million during the fourth quarter of 2018. The $31.1 million increase in cash provided by operating activities primarily reflects the improved year-over-year operating results, along with more efficient working capital management. Cash used in investing activities was $9.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, compared with $6.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, an increase in cash used of $2.5 million, including a higher level of capital expenditures related to the expansion of our ingredient extraction capabilities.

Conference Call

SunOpta plans to host a conference call at 9:00 A.M. Eastern time on Thursday, February 27, 2020, to discuss the fourth quarter financial results. After opening remarks, there will be a question and answer period. This conference call can be accessed via a link on SunOpta’s website at www.sunopta.com under the “Investors” section. To listen to the live call over the Internet, please go to SunOpta’s website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. Additionally, the call may be accessed with the toll-free dial-in number 1 (877) 312-9198 or International dial-in number 1 (631) 291-4622. If you are unable to listen live, the conference call will be archived and can be accessed for approximately 90 days on the Company’s website.

¹ See discussion of non-GAAP measures

About SunOpta Inc.
SunOpta Inc. is a leading global company focused on plant-based foods and beverages, fruit-based foods and beverages, and organic ingredient sourcing and production. SunOpta specializes in the sourcing, processing and packaging of organic, natural and non-GMO food products, integrated from seed through packaged products; with a focus on strategic vertically integrated business models.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this press release may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our expectation that we will benefit from strong industry tailwinds and see continued improvement in adjusted EBITDA performance, our ability to execute our margin optimization strategy in our fruit business and leverage Tradin’s unique positioning in the organic ingredient supply chain. Generally, forward-looking statements do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and are typically accompanied by words such as “expect”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimates”, “can”, “will”, “targeting”, "should", "would", "plans", "becoming", "intend", "confident", "may", "project", "potential", "intention", "might", "predict", “budget”, “forecast” or other similar terms and phrases intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on information available to the Company on the date of this release and are based on estimates and assumptions made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments including, but not limited to, unexpected issues or delays with the Company’s structural improvements and automation investments, portfolio optimization and productivity efforts, the sustainability of the Company’s sales pipeline, the Company’s expectations regarding commodity pricing, margins and hedging results, improved availability and field prices for fruit, procurement and logistics savings, freight lane cost reductions, yield and throughput enhancements, and labor cost reductions, as well as other factors the Company believes are appropriate in the circumstances including, but not limited to, general economic conditions, continued consumer interest in health and wellness, ability to maintain product pricing levels, current customer demand, planned facility and operational expansions, closures and divestitures, competitive intensity, cost rationalization, product development initiatives, and alternative potential uses for the Company’s capital resources. Whether actual timing and results will agree with expectations and predications of the Company is subject to many risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, failure or inability to implement portfolio changes, process improvements, go-to-market improvements and process sustainability strategies in a timely manner; changes in the level of capital investment; local and global political and economic conditions; consumer spending patterns and changes in market trends; decreases in customer demand; delayed or unsuccessful product development efforts; potential product recalls; working capital management; availability and pricing of raw materials and supplies; potential covenant breaches under the Company’s credit facilities; and other risks described from time to time under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q (available at www.sec.gov). Consequently, all forward-looking statements made herein are qualified by these cautionary statements and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by the Company will be realized. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly correct or update the forward-looking statements in this document, in other documents, or on its website to reflect future events or circumstances, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

SunOpta Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the quarters and years ended December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018

(Unaudited)

(All dollar amounts expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter ended

Year ended

 

December 28,

December 29,

December 28,

December 29,

2019

2018

2019

2018

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

295,802

 

320,521

 

1,190,022

 

1,260,852

 

 

 

 

Cost of goods sold

 

262,407

 

299,209

 

1,074,769

 

1,137,382

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

33,395

 

21,312

 

115,253

 

123,470

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

27,156

 

25,792

 

108,340

 

108,248

Intangible asset amortization

 

2,769

 

2,745

 

10,971

 

11,038

Other expense (income), net

 

(304

)

 

1,508

 

(40,048

)

 

2,825

Goodwill impairment

 

-

 

81,222

 

-

 

81,222

Foreign exchange loss (gain)

 

480

 

(331

)

 

(1,304

)

 

252

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) before the following

 

3,294

 

(89,624

)

 

37,294

 

(80,115

)

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

8,820

 

8,920

 

34,677

 

34,406

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

 

(5,526

)

 

(98,544

)

 

2,617

 

(114,521

)

 

 

 

 

Provision for (recovery of) income taxes

 

(18

)

 

(1,525

)

 

3,221

 

(5,378

)

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

(5,508

)

 

(97,019

)

 

(604

)

 

(109,143

)

 

 

 

 

Earnings attributable to non-controlling interests

 

95

 

43

 

154

 

62

 

 

 

 

Loss attributable to SunOpta Inc.

 

(5,603

)

 

(97,062

)

 

(758

)

 

(109,205

)

 

 

 

 

Dividends and accretion on Series A Preferred Stock

 

(2,017

)

 

(1,987

)

 

(8,022

)

 

(7,909

)

 

 

 

 

Loss attributable to common shareholders

 

(7,620

)

 

(99,049

)

 

(8,780

)

 

(117,114

)

 

 

 

 

Loss per share

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

(0.09

)

 

(1.13

)

 

(0.10

)

 

(1.34

)

Diluted

 

(0.09

)

 

(1.13

)

 

(0.10

)

 

(1.34

)

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding (000s)

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

88,017

 

87,351

 

87,787

 

87,082

Diluted

 

88,017

 

87,351

 

87,787

 

87,082

SunOpta Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

As at December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018

(Unaudited)

(All dollar amounts expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

 

 

December 28, 2019

 

December 29, 2018

 

$

 

$

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

Current assets

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

1,498

 

3,280

Accounts receivable

 

121,445

 

132,131

Inventories

 

323,546

 

361,957

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

35,985

 

29,024

Income taxes recoverable

 

7,480

 

7,029

Total current assets

 

489,954

 

533,421

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

184,550

 

171,032

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

68,433

 

-

Goodwill

 

28,422

 

27,959

Intangible assets

 

150,009

 

160,975

Deferred income taxes

 

-

 

182

Other assets

 

1,991

 

3,169

 

 

Total assets

 

923,359

 

896,738

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

Bank indebtedness

 

245,536

 

280,334

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

133,529

 

155,371

Customer and other deposits

 

37

 

1,445

Income taxes payable

 

1,272

 

2,208

Other current liabilities

 

802

 

862

Current portion of long-term debt

 

2,987

 

1,840

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

 

17,215

 

-

Current portion of long-term liabilities

 

4,286

 

4,286

Total current liabilities

 

405,664

 

446,346

 

 

Long-term debt

 

242,204

 

227,023

Operating lease liabilities

 

52,020

 

-

Long-term liabilities

 

2,011

 

2,079

Deferred income taxes

 

9,027

 

8,149

Total liabilities

 

710,926

 

683,597

 

 

Series A Preferred Stock

 

82,524

 

81,302

 

 

EQUITY

 

 

SunOpta Inc. shareholders’ equity

 

 

Common shares

 

318,456

 

314,357

Additional paid-in capital

 

35,767

 

31,796

Accumulated deficit

 

(214,931

)

 

(206,151

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(11,271

)

 

(9,667

)

 

128,021

 

130,335

Non-controlling interests

 

1,888

 

1,504

Total equity

 

129,909

 

131,839

 

 

Total equity and liabilities

 

923,359

 

896,738

SunOpta Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the quarters and years ended December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018

(Unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter ended

 

Year ended

 

December 28,

 

December 29,

 

December 28,

 

December 29,

2019

2018

2019

2018

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

(5,508

)

 

(97,019

)

 

(604

)

 

(109,143

)

Items not affecting cash:

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

8,947

 

8,287

 

33,952

 

32,788

Amortization of debt issuance costs

 

699

 

730

 

2,721

 

2,536

Deferred income taxes

 

(1,179

)

 

(3,533

)

 

1,060

 

(7,390

)

Stock-based compensation

 

2,092

 

1,544

 

7,485

 

7,939

Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative contracts

 

(987

)

 

(402

)

 

(410

)

 

465

Loss (gain) on sale of business

 

242

 

-

 

(44,027

)

 

-

Fair value of contingent consideration

 

-

 

(287

)

 

-

 

(2,635

)

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

409

Goodwill impairment

 

-

 

81,222

 

-

 

81,222

Reserve for notes receivable

 

-

 

2,232

 

-

 

2,232

Other

 

(155

)

 

(86

)

 

(263

)

 

(197

)

Changes in non-cash working capital, net of businesses acquired or sold

 

32,041

 

12,404

 

9,895

 

(19,367

)

Net cash flows from operating activities

 

36,192

 

5,092

 

9,809

 

(11,141

)

 

 

 

 

Investing activities

 

 

 

 

Net proceeds from sale of businesses

 

(1,348

)

 

-

 

63,324

 

1,236

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

 

(7,857

)

 

(6,682

)

 

(32,764

)

 

(31,603

)

Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired

 

-

 

-

 

(3,341

)

 

-

Proceeds from sale of assets

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

1,437

Other

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

159

Net cash flows from investing activities

 

(9,205

)

 

(6,682

)

 

27,219

 

(28,771

)

 

 

 

 

Financing activities

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) under line of credit facilities

 

(26,104

)

 

2,797

 

(32,795

)

 

50,275

Borrowings under long-term debt

 

789

 

2,029

 

3,230

 

2,029

Repayment of long-term debt

 

(833

)

 

(316

)

 

(2,746

)

 

(1,810

)

Payment of cash dividends on Series A Preferred Stock

 

(1,700

)

 

(1,700

)

 

(6,800

)

 

(6,800

)

Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and employee share purchases

 

156

 

710

 

585

 

1,309

Payment of debt issuance costs

 

(17

)

 

-

 

(412

)

 

-

Dividend paid by subsidiary to non-controlling interest

 

-

 

(278

)

 

(31

)

 

(278

)

Payment of contingent consideration

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(4,399

)

Other

 

(5

)

 

(203

)

 

206

 

(292

)

Net cash flows from financing activities

 

(27,714

)

 

3,039

 

(38,763

)

 

40,034

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange gain (loss) on cash held in a foreign currency

 

16

 

(26

)

 

(47

)

 

(70

)

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents in the period

 

(711

)

 

1,423

 

(1,782

)

 

52

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of the period

 

2,209

 

1,857

 

3,280

 

3,228

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents - end of the period

 

1,498

 

3,280

 

1,498

 

3,280

SunOpta Inc.

Segmented Information

For the quarters and years ended December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018

Unaudited

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter ended

 

Year ended

 

December 28,

 

December 29,

 

December 28,

 

December 29,

2019

2018

2019

2018

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

Segment revenues from external customers:

 

 

 

 

Global Ingredients

 

109,682

 

145,062

 

478,772

 

581,307

Plant-Based Foods and Beverages

 

106,371

 

85,110

 

361,398

 

314,076

Fruit-Based Foods and Beverages

 

79,749

 

90,349

 

349,852

 

365,469

Total segment revenues from external customers

 

295,802

 

320,521

 

1,190,022

 

1,260,852

 

 

 

 

Segment gross profit (loss):

 

 

 

 

Global Ingredients

 

11,198

 

13,742

 

49,942

 

61,249

Plant-Based Foods and Beverages

 

19,881

 

9,385

 

58,812

 

40,477

Fruit-Based Foods and Beverages

 

2,316

 

(1,815

)

 

6,499

 

21,744

Total segment gross profit

 

33,395

 

21,312

 

115,253

 

123,470

 

 

 

 

Segment operating income (loss):

 

 

 

 

Global Ingredients

 

2,355

 

5,272

 

15,965

 

23,266

Plant-Based Foods and Beverages

 

13,745

 

931

 

29,476

 

10,766

Fruit-Based Foods and Beverages

 

(4,669

)

 

(11,215

)

 

(26,873

)

 

(16,029

)

Corporate Services

 

(8,441

)

 

(1,882

)

 

(21,322

)

 

(14,071

)

Total segment operating income (loss)

 

2,990

 

(6,894

)

 

(2,754

)

 

3,932

 

 

 

 

Segment gross profit (loss) percentage:

 

 

 

 

Global Ingredients

 

10.2

%

 

9.5

%

 

10.4

%

 

10.5

%

Plant-Based Foods and Beverages

 

18.7

%

 

11.0

%

 

16.3

%

 

12.9

%

Fruit-Based Foods and Beverages

 

2.9

%

 

-2.0

%

 

1.9

%

 

5.9

%

Total segment gross profit percentage

 

11.3

%

 

6.6

%

 

9.7

%

 

9.8

%

 

 

 

 

Segment operating income (loss) percentage:

 

 

 

 

Global Ingredients

 

2.1

%

 

3.6

%

 

3.3

%

 

4.0

%

Plant-Based Foods and Beverages

 

12.9

%

 

1.1

%

 

8.2

%

 

3.4

%

Fruit-Based Foods and Beverages

 

-5.9

%

 

-12.4

%

 

-7.7

%

 

-4.4

%

Total segment operating income (loss)

 

1.0

%

 

-2.2

%

 

-0.2

%

 

0.3

%

Non-GAAP Measures

In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company provides additional information about its operating results regarding segment operating income, adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”), which are not measures in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Company believes that segment operating income, adjusted earnings and adjusted EBITDA assist investors in comparing performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that are not indicative of its operating performance. The non-GAAP measures of segment operating income, adjusted earnings and adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for performance measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

In order to evaluate its results of operations, the Company uses certain other non-GAAP measures that it believes enhance an investor’s ability to derive meaningful period-over-period comparisons and trends from the results of operations. In particular, the Company evaluates its revenues on a basis that excludes the effects of fluctuations in commodity pricing and foreign exchange rates, and the impacts of acquired or disposed operations and changes in contractual relationships with customers. In addition, the Company excludes specific items from its reported results that due to their nature or size, it does not expect to occur as part of its normal business on a regular basis. These items are identified in the tables below. These non-GAAP measures are presented solely to allow investors to more fully assess the Company’s results of operations and should not be considered in isolation of, or as substitutes for an analysis of the Company’s results as reported under U.S. GAAP.

Adjusted Earnings/Loss

When assessing its financial performance, the Company uses an internal measure that excludes charges and gains that it believes are not reflective of normal operations. This information is provided to allow investors to make meaningful comparisons of the Company’s operating performance between periods and to view the Company’s business from the same perspective as the Company’s management. Adjusted earnings/loss and adjusted earnings/loss per diluted share should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for performance measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The following is a tabular presentation of adjusted earnings/loss and adjusted earnings/loss per diluted share, including a reconciliation from net earnings/loss, which the Company believes to be the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure. In addition, in recognition of the sale of the soy and corn business in the first quarter of 2019, and the previous exit from flexible resealable pouch and nutrition bar product lines and operations, the Company has prepared these tables in a columnar format to present the effect of the disposal of these operations on the Company’s consolidated results for the current and comparative periods. The Company believes this presentation assists investors in assessing the results of the operations the Company has disposed and the effect of those operations on its financial performance.

 

Excluding

 

 

 

 

disposed operations

 

Disposed operations

 

Consolidated

 

 

Per Diluted

 

 

Per Diluted

 

 

Per Diluted

  

Share

  

Share

  

Share

For the quarters ended

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

December 28, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

(5,332

)

 

 

(176

)

 

 

(5,508

)

 

Earnings attributable to non-controlling interests

 

(95

)

 

 

-

 

 

(95

)

 

Dividends and accretion of Series A Preferred Stock

 

(2,017

)

 

 

-

 

 

(2,017

)

 

Loss attributable to common shareholders

 

(7,444

)

 

(0.08

)

 

(176

)

 

-

 

(7,620

)

 

(0.09

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs related to the Value Creation Plan(a)

 

1,279

 

 

-

 

 

1,279

 

Plant expansion costs(b)

 

298

 

 

-

 

 

298

 

Post-closing adjustments related to sale of soy and corn business(c)

 

-

 

 

242

 

 

242

 

Other(d)

 

(1,042

)

 

 

-

 

 

(1,042

)

 

Net income tax effect(e)

 

1,312

 

 

(66

)

 

 

1,246

 

Adjusted loss

 

(5,597

)

 

(0.06

)

 

-

 

-

 

(5,597

)

 

(0.06

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 29, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

(97,920

)

 

 

901

 

 

(97,019

)

 

Earnings attributable to non-controlling interests

 

(43

)

 

 

-

 

 

(43

)

 

Dividends and accretion of Series A Preferred Stock

 

(1,987

)

 

 

-

 

 

(1,987

)

 

Earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders

 

(99,950

)

 

(1.15

)

 

901

 

0.01

 

(99,049

)

 

(1.13

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill impairment(f)

 

81,222

 

 

-

 

 

81,222

 

Inventory write-downs(g)

 

3,101

 

 

-

 

 

3,101

 

New product commercialization costs(h)

 

2,369

 

 

-

 

 

2,369

 

Reserve for notes receivable(i)

 

2,232

 

 

-

 

 

2,232

 

Equipment start-up costs(j)

 

683

 

 

-

 

 

683

 

Other(k)

 

98

 

 

-

 

 

98

 

Costs related to Value Creation Plan(l)

 

-

 

 

(503

)

 

 

(503

)

 

Reversal of stock-based compensation(m)

 

(182

)

 

 

-

 

 

(182

)

 

Fair value adjustment on contingent consideration(n)

 

(321

)

 

 

-

 

 

(321

)

 

Net income tax effect(e)

 

961

 

 

131

 

 

1,092

 

Adjusted earnings (loss)

 

(9,787

)

 

(0.11

)

 

529

 

0.01

 

(9,258

)

 

(0.11

)

(a)

 

Reflects employee retention and relocation costs of $0.4 million, and professional fees of $0.4 million recorded in SG&A expenses; and employee termination costs of $1.7 million (net of the reversal of $1.3 million of previously recognized stock-based compensation related to forfeited awards previously granted to terminated employees).

(b)

 

Reflects costs related to the start-up of our new organic avocado oil facility in Ethiopia, which were recorded in cost of goods sold.

(c)

 

Reflects post-closing adjustments related to the sale of the soy and corn business, which reduced the gain on sale recorded in other income.

(d)

 

Other includes gains on the settlement of certain legal matters, offset by losses on disposal of assets, which were recorded in other income/expense.

(e)

 

Reflects the tax effect of the preceding adjustments to earnings and reflects an overall estimated annual effective tax rate of approximately 27% for 2019 (2018 – 27%) on adjusted earnings/loss before tax.

(f)

 

Reflects the impairment of goodwill that arose from the acquisition of Sunrise in 2015.

(g)

 

Reflects the write-down of certain frozen fruit inventory, due to a change in expected use of aged stocks, and reduced sales pricing and high production costs, which was recorded in cost of goods sold.

(h)

 

Reflects costs for development, production trials and start-up costs, incremental freight charges, and employee training related to the commercialization of new consumer products, which were recorded in cost of goods sold ($2.0 million) and SG&A expenses ($0.4 million).

(i)

 

Reflects a bad debt reserve for notes receivable associated with a previously sold business, which was recorded in other expense.

(j)

 

Reflects mainly costs related to the start-up of new roasting equipment for grains, seeds and legumes at our Crookston, Minnesota, facility, as well as a second processing line at our cocoa facility in the Netherlands, which were recorded in cost of goods sold.

(k)

 

Other included the accretion of contingent consideration obligations, gain/loss on the sale of assets, severance costs unrelated to the Value Creation Plan, and settlement of a legal matter, which were recorded in other expense/income.

(l)

 

Reflects sublease rental related to vacated nutritional bar facility, which was recorded in other income.

(m)

 

Reflects the reversal to SG&A expenses of previously recognized stock-based compensation related to performance share units granted to certain employees as the performance conditions were not achieved.

(n)

 

Reflects a fair value adjustment to reduce the contingent consideration obligation related to a prior business acquisition, based on the results for the business in fiscal 2018, which was recorded in other income.

 

Excluding

 

 

 

 

disposed operations

 

Disposed operations

 

Consolidated

 

 

Per Diluted

 

 

Per Diluted

 

 

Per Diluted

Share

Share

Share

For the years ended

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

December 28, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

(32,273

)

 

 

31,669

 

 

(604

)

 

Earnings attributable to non-controlling interests

 

(154

)

 

 

-

 

 

(154

)

 

Dividends and accretion of Series A Preferred Stock

 

(8,022

)

 

 

-

 

 

(8,022

)

 

Earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders

 

(40,449

)

 

(0.46

)

 

31,669

 

0.36

 

(8,780

)

 

(0.10

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain on sale of soy and corn business(a)

 

-

 

 

(44,027

)

 

 

(44,027

)

 

Costs related to the Value Creation Plan(b)

 

9,649

 

 

-

 

 

9,649

 

Plant expansion costs(c)

 

609

 

 

-

 

 

609

 

Contract manufacturer transition costs(d)

 

448

 

 

-

 

 

448

 

Product withdrawal and recall costs(e)

 

260

 

 

-

 

 

260

 

Other(f)

 

(2,533

)

 

 

-

 

 

(2,533

)

 

Net income tax effect(g)

 

(67

)

 

 

12,064

 

 

11,997

 

Adjusted loss

 

(32,083

)

 

(0.37

)

 

(294

)

 

-

 

(32,377

)

 

(0.37

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 29, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

(111,477

)

 

 

2,334

 

 

(109,143

)

 

Earnings attributable to non-controlling interests

 

(62

)

 

 

-

 

 

(62

)

 

Dividends and accretion of Series A Preferred Stock

 

(7,909

)

 

 

-

 

 

(7,909

)

 

Earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders

 

(119,448

)

 

(1.37

)

 

2,334

 

0.03

 

(117,114

)

 

(1.34

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill impairment(h)

 

81,222

 

 

-

 

 

81,222

 

Inventory write-downs(i)

 

3,101

 

 

-

 

 

3,101

 

Equipment start-up costs(j)

 

2,913

 

 

-

 

 

2,913

 

New product commercialization costs(k)

 

2,729

 

 

-

 

 

2,729

 

Costs related to Value Creation Plan(l)

 

1,696

 

 

678

 

 

2,374

 

Reserve for notes receivable(m)

 

2,232

 

 

-

 

 

2,232

 

Product withdrawal and recall costs(n)

 

1,456

 

 

-

 

 

1,456

 

Other(o)

 

296

 

 

-

 

 

296

 

Fair value adjustment on contingent consideration(p)

 

(2,821

)

 

 

-

 

 

(2,821

)

 

Recovery of product withdrawal costs(q)

 

(1,200

)

 

 

-

 

 

(1,200

)

 

Reversal of stock-based compensation(r)

 

(182

)

 

 

-

 

 

(182

)

 

Net income tax effect(g)

 

681

 

 

(176

)

 

 

505

 

Adjusted earnings (loss)

 

(27,325

)

 

(0.31

)

 

2,836

 

0.03

 

(24,489

)

 

(0.28

)

(a)

 

Reflects the gain on sale of the soy and corn business, net of transaction costs and post-closing adjustments, which was recorded in other income.

(b)

 

Reflects employee retention and relocation costs of $2.2 million, and professional fees of $1.4 million recorded in SG&A expenses; and employee termination costs of $8.6 million (net of the reversal of $4.1 million of previously recognized stock-based compensation related to forfeited awards previously granted to terminated employees), CEO and CFO recruitment costs of $1.3 million, and facility closure costs of $0.3 million, all recorded in other expense.

(c)

 

Reflects costs related to the expansion of our Allentown, Pennsylvania, plant-based beverage facility and start-up of our new organic avocado oil facility in Ethiopia, which were recorded in cost of goods sold.

(d)

 

Reflects costs to transition premium juice production activities to new contract manufacturers, which were recorded in cost of goods sold and other expense.

(e)

 

Reflects product withdrawal and recall costs that were not eligible for reimbursement under insurance policies or exceeded the limits of those policies, including costs related to the recall of certain sunflower kernel products initiated in 2016, which were recorded in other expense.

(f)

 

Other includes gains on the settlement of certain legal matters and a project cancellation, partially offset by losses on disposal of assets, insurance deductibles, and business development costs, which were recorded in other income/expense.

(g)

 

Reflects the tax effect of the preceding adjustments to earnings and reflects an overall estimated annual effective tax rate of approximately 27% for 2019 (2018 – 27%) on adjusted earnings/loss before tax.

(h)

 

Reflects the impairment of goodwill that arose from the acquisition of Sunrise in 2015.

(i)

 

Reflects the write-down of certain frozen fruit inventory items in the fourth quarter of 2018, due to a change in expected use of aged stocks, and reduced sales pricing and high production costs, which was recorded in cost of goods sold.

(j)

 

Reflects costs related to the start-up of new roasting equipment for grains, seeds and legumes at our Crookston, Minnesota, facility, as well as the start-up of a second processing line at our cocoa facility in the Netherlands, which were recorded in cost of goods sold.

(k)

 

Reflects costs for development, production trials and start-up costs, incremental freight charges, and employee training related to the commercialization of new consumer products, which were recorded in cost of goods sold ($2.3 million) and SG&A expenses ($0.4 million).

(l)

 

Reflects the write-down of inventories of $0.1 million recorded in cost of goods sold; professional and consulting fees, and employee recruitment and relocation costs of $0.6 million recorded in SG&A expenses; and asset impairment, facility closure and employee termination costs of $1.7 million recorded in other expense, all related to the Value Creation Plan.

(m)

 

Reflects a bad debt reserve for notes receivable associated with a previously sold business, which was recorded in other expense.

(n)

 

Reflects product withdrawal and recall costs that were not eligible for reimbursement under insurance policies or exceeded the limits of those policies, including costs related to the sunflower recall, which were recorded in other expense.

(o)

 

Other included the accretion of contingent consideration obligations, gain/loss on the sale of assets, severance costs unrelated to the Value Creation Plan, and settlement of a legal matter, which were recorded in other expense/income.

(p)

 

Reflects a fair value adjustment to reduce the contingent consideration obligation related to a prior business acquisition, based on the results for the business in fiscal 2018, which was recorded in other income.

(q)

 

Reflects the recovery from a third-party supplier of $1.2 million of costs incurred relating to the withdrawal of certain consumer-packaged products due to quality-related issues, which was recorded in cost of goods sold.  Costs incurred related to this withdrawal were recognized in cost of goods sold in 2016.

 (r)

 

Reflects the reversal to SG&A expenses of previously recognized stock-based compensation related to performance share units granted to certain employees as the performance conditions were not achieved.

Segment Operating Income/Loss and Adjusted EBITDA

The Company defines segment operating income/loss as net earnings/loss before income taxes, interest expense and other income/expense items, and adjusted EBITDA as segment operating income/loss plus depreciation, amortization, non-cash stock-based compensation, and other unusual items that affect the comparability of operating performance as identified above in the determination of adjusted earnings/loss. The following is a tabular presentation of segment operating income/loss and adjusted EBITDA, including a reconciliation to net earnings/loss, which the Company believes to be the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure. In addition, as with adjusted earnings/loss presented above, the Company has prepared these tables in a columnar format to present the effect of the disposals of the soy and corn business, and flexible resealable pouch and nutrition bar operations on the Company’s consolidated results for the current and comparative periods. The Company believes this presentation assists investors in assessing the results of the operations the Company has disposed and the effect of those operations on its financial performance.

Excluding

 

 

disposed operations

 

Disposed operations

 

Consolidated

For the quarters ended

$

 

$

 

$

December 28, 2019

 

 

Net loss

(5,332

)

 

(176

)

 

(5,508

)

Provision for (recovery of) income taxes

48

 

(66

)

 

(18

)

Interest expense, net

8,820

 

-

 

8,820

Other expense (income), net

(546

)

 

242

 

(304

)

Total segment operating loss

2,990

 

-

 

2,990

Depreciation and amortization

8,947

 

-

 

8,947

Stock-based compensation(a)

3,351

 

-

 

3,351

Costs related to Value Creation Plan(b)

784

 

-

 

784

Plant expansion costs(c)

298

 

-

 

298

Adjusted EBITDA

16,370

 

-

 

16,370

 

 

December 29, 2018

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

(97,920

)

 

901

 

(97,019

)

Provision for (recovery of) income taxes

(1,856

)

 

331

 

(1,525

)

Interest expense (income), net

8,936

 

(16

)

 

8,920

Other expense (income), net

2,009

 

(501

)

 

1,508

Goodwill impairment

81,222

 

-

 

81,222

Total segment operating income

(7,609

)

 

715

 

(6,894

)

Depreciation and amortization

8,082

 

205

 

8,287

Stock-based compensation

1,544

 

-

 

1,544

Inventory write-downs(d)

3,101

 

 

3,101

Equipment start-up costs(e)

683

 

-

 

683

New product commercialization costs(f)

2,369

 

-

 

2,369

Adjusted EBITDA

8,170

 

920

 

9,090

(a)

 

Stock-based compensation of $3.4 million was recorded in SG&A expenses, and the reversal of $1.3 million of previously recognized stock-based compensation related to forfeited awards previously granted to terminated employees was recognized in other income.

(b)

 

Reflects employee retention costs of $0.4 million, and professional fees of $0.4 million recorded in SG&A expenses.

(c)

 

Reflects costs related to the start-up of our new organic avocado oil facility in Ethiopia, which was recorded in cost of goods sold.

(d)

 

Reflects the write-down of certain frozen fruit inventory, due to a change in expected use of aged stocks, and reduced sales pricing and high production costs, which was recorded in cost of goods sold.

(e)

 

Reflects mainly costs related to the start-up of new roasting equipment for grains, seeds and legumes at our Crookston, Minnesota, facility, as well as a second processing line at our cocoa facility in the Netherlands, which were recorded in cost of goods sold.

(f)

 

Reflects costs for development, production trials and start-up costs, incremental freight charges, and employee training related to the commercialization of new consumer products, which were recorded in cost of goods sold ($2.0 million) and SG&A expenses ($0.4 million).

Excluding

 

 

disposed operations

 

Disposed operations

 

Consolidated

For the years ended

$

 

$

 

$

December 28, 2019

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

(32,273

)

 

31,669

 

(604

)

Provision for (recovery of) income taxes

(8,731

)

 

11,952

 

3,221

Interest expense, net

34,677

 

-

 

34,677

Other expense (income), net

3,979

 

(44,027

)

 

(40,048

)

Total segment operating loss

(2,348

)

 

(406

)

 

(2,754

)

Depreciation and amortization

33,823

 

129

 

33,952

Stock-based compensation(a)

11,616

 

-

 

11,616

Costs related to Value Creation Plan(b)

3,556

 

-

 

3,556

Plant expansion costs(c)

609

 

-

 

609

Contract manufacturer transition costs(d)

289

 

-

 

289

Adjusted EBITDA

47,545

 

(277

)

 

47,268

 

 

December 29, 2018

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

(111,477

)

 

2,334

 

(109,143

)

Provision for (recovery of) income taxes

(6,269

)

 

891

 

(5,378

)

Interest expense (income), net

34,503

 

(97

)

 

34,406

Other expense (income), net

2,056

 

769

 

2,825

Goodwill impairment

81,222

 

-

 

81,222

Total segment operating income

35

 

3,897

 

3,932

Depreciation and amortization

31,941

 

847

 

32,788

Stock-based compensation

7,939

 

-

 

7,939

Inventory write-downs(e)

3,101

 

-

 

3,101

Equipment start-up costs(f)

2,913

 

-

 

2,913

New product commercialization costs(g)

2,729

 

-

 

2,729

Costs related to Value Creation Plan(b)

713

 

-

 

713

Recovery of product withdrawal costs(h)

(1,200

)

 

-

 

(1,200

)

Adjusted EBITDA

48,171

 

4,744

 

52,915

(a)

 

Stock-based compensation of $11.6 million was recorded in SG&A expenses, and the reversal of $4.1 million of previously recognized stock-based compensation related to forfeited awards previously granted to terminated employees was recognized in other income.

(b)

 

For 2019, reflects employee retention and relocation costs of $2.2 million, and professional fees of $1.4 million recorded in SG&A expenses.  For 2018, reflects the write-down of remaining flexible resealable pouch and nutrition bar inventories of $0.1 million recorded in cost of goods sold; and professional and consulting fees, and employee recruitment and relocation costs of $0.6 million recorded in SG&A expenses. 

(c)

 

Reflects costs related to the expansion of our Allentown, Pennsylvania, plant-based beverage facility and start-up of our new organic avocado oil facility in Ethiopia, which were recorded in cost of goods sold.

(d)

 

Reflects costs to transition premium juice production activities to new contract manufacturers, which were recorded in cost of goods sold.

(e)

 

Reflects the write-down of certain frozen fruit inventory items in the fourth quarter of 2018, due to a change in expected use of aged stocks, and reduced sales pricing and high production costs, which was recorded in cost of goods sold.

(f)

 

Reflects costs related to the start-up of new roasting equipment for grains, seeds and legumes at our Crookston, Minnesota, facility, as well as the start-up of a second processing line at our cocoa facility in the Netherlands, which were recorded in cost of goods sold.

(g)

 

Reflects costs for development, production trials and start-up costs, incremental freight charges, and employee training related to the commercialization of new consumer products, which were recorded in cost of goods sold ($2.3 million) and SG&A expenses ($0.4 million).

(h)

 

Reflects the recovery from a third-party supplier of $1.2 million of costs incurred relating to the withdrawal of certain consumer-packaged products due to quality-related issues, which was recorded in cost of goods sold. Costs incurred related to this withdrawal were recognized in cost of goods sold in 2016.

Sale of Specialty and Organic Soy and Corn Business - Selected Financial Information

The following table presents for period ended February 22, 2019, and for the quarter and year ended December 29, 2018, a summary of the results of operations of the soy and corn business, consisting of revenues, gross profit, segment operating income/loss and earnings/loss before income taxes. These results exclude management fees charged by Corporate Services. The following table also presents a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA in connection with this transaction from earnings/loss before income taxes of the soy and corn business, which we consider in this case to be the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure.

 

Period ended

Quarter ended

 

Year ended

 

February 22, 2019

December 29, 2018

 

December 29, 2018

 

$

$

 

$

Revenues

 

10,346

26,483

 

104,427

Gross profit

 

192

1,623

 

8,310

Segment operating income (loss)

 

(187

)

1,239

 

6,777

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

 

(187

)

1,252

 

6,783

Depreciation

 

129

205

 

847

Interest income

 

-

(16

)

 

(97

)

Other expense

 

-

2

 

91

Less rationalized costs and expenses

 

(169

)

(490

)

 

(3,038

)

Adjusted EBITDA

 

(227

)

953

 

4,586

Segment operating income/loss and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. See discussion above under the heading “Segment Operating Income/Loss and Adjusted EBITDA” on the use of these non-GAAP measures.

Contacts:

Scott Van Winkle
ICR
617-956-6736
scott.vanwinkle@icrinc.com

Data & News supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Stock quotes supplied by Barchart
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.