Fortune Brands Inc
Fortune Brands Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results
-- EPS Rises 20% in 4th Quarter on Double-Digit Sales Growth
-- Free Cash Flow Reaches $437 Million for 2003
-- Company Targeting to Comfortably Achieve Double-Digit EPS Growth Before
Charges/Gains in 2004
Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO) today reported record results for the fourth
quarter and full year 2003. The company's quarterly results benefited from
broad-based share gains, supply chain efficiencies, high-return acquisitions and
favorable foreign exchange.
"Fortune Brands finished another excellent year with strong momentum as each of
our businesses performed at or above our expectations in the fourth quarter,"
said Fortune Brands chairman & CEO Norm Wesley. "Robust demand in the quarter
for brands like Aristokraft, Omega, Moen, Master Lock, Titleist, Kensington and
our super-premium spirits drove Fortune Brands' strongest sales growth of the
year. In all, 2003 was a year of broad-based success that extended Fortune
Brands' track record of consistently strong performance and that significantly
surpassed the goals we set a year ago."
For the fourth quarter:
-- Net income increased 19% to $156 million, and diluted earnings per share
were $1.03, up 20% from $0.86 in the year-ago quarter.
-- Diluted EPS before charges/gains was $1.07, up 18% from $0.91, and 4
cents above the mean of Wall Street securities analysts' estimates.
-- Net sales were $1.66 billion, up 16%. Acquisitions benefited sales by
approximately 4% and favorable foreign exchange benefited sales by about
3%.
-- Operating income was $266 million, up 19%. Operating income benefited
from strong underlying performance, acquisitions and favorable foreign
exchange.
For the full year:
-- Net income grew 10% to $579 million, and diluted earnings per share were
$3.86, up 13% from $3.41 a year ago.
-- Diluted EPS before charges/gains was $3.79, up 19% from $3.19.
-- Net sales were $6.21 billion, up 9.5%. Acquisitions/divestitures
benefited sales by approximately 2.5% and favorable foreign exchange
benefited sales by about 2%.
-- Operating income was $918 million, up 17%.
-- Free cash flow was $437 million after dividends and capital
expenditures.
-- Return on equity was 24%.
-- Return on invested capital was 16.6%.
-- Share repurchases totaled 4.1 million shares.
"We achieved success by continuing to invest in our leading consumer brands to
grow faster than our markets," Wesley added. "We gained share with
industry-leading new products and expanded customer relationships. We
supplemented our growth initiatives with high-return acquisitions. Our operating
performance also generated substantial free cash flow that exceeded our targets
and enabled us to drive shareholder value even higher."
Outlook: Strong Momentum for 2004
"As we look to 2004, we are excited about our prospects to drive sustained
growth," Wesley said. "We're carrying strong momentum into a year in which we'll
continue to benefit from building our brands, innovative new products, the
acquisition of Therma-Tru, and share-gain initiatives like the roll-out of
cabinet lines at major home center chains.
"For the first quarter and for the full year 2004, we're targeting to
comfortably achieve our long-term goal of double-digit growth in diluted EPS
before charges/gains. We're also expecting continued improvement in returns."
Fortune Brands, Inc. is a $6 billion leading consumer brands company. Its
operating companies have premier brands and leading market positions in home and
hardware products, spirits and wine, golf equipment and office products. Home
and hardware brands include Moen faucets, Aristokraft, Schrock, Diamond and
Omega cabinets, Therma-Tru door systems, Master Lock padlocks and Waterloo tool
storage sold by units of Fortune Brands Home & Hardware, Inc. Major spirits and
wine brands sold by units of Jim Beam Brands Worldwide, Inc. include Jim Beam
and Knob Creek bourbons, DeKuyper cordials, The Dalmore single malt Scotch, Vox
vodka and Geyser Peak and Wild Horse wines. Acushnet Company's golf brands
include Titleist, Cobra and FootJoy. Office brands include Swingline, Wilson
Jones, Kensington and Day-Timer sold by units of ACCO World Corporation. Fortune
Brands, headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois, is traded on the New York Stock
Exchange under the ticker symbol FO and is included in the S&P 500 Index.
To receive company news releases by e-mail, please visit www.fortunebrands.com.
This press release contains statements relating to future results, which are
forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date hereof. Actual results may differ
materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties,
including but not limited to changes in general economic conditions, foreign
exchange rate fluctuations, changes in interest rates, returns on pension
assets, competitive product and pricing pressures, trade consolidations, the
impact of excise tax increases with respect to distilled spirits, regulatory
developments, the uncertainties of litigation, changes in golf equipment
regulatory standards, the impact of weather, particularly on the home products
and golf brand groups, expenses and disruptions related to shifts in
manufacturing to different locations and sources, changes in commodity costs,
the impact of weak conditions in the leisure travel industry on our golf and
spirits and wine businesses, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed
from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
This press release presents measures not derived in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, including earnings per share before
charges/gains, free cash flow and operating income before charges. Such measures
should not be considered substitutes for any measures derived in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, and may also be inconsistent with
similar measures presented by other companies. Reconciliation of these non-GAAP
measures to the most nearly comparable GAAP measures, if applicable, is
presented in the attached pages.
FORTUNE BRANDS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
(In millions, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
December 31,
---------------------------
2003 2002 % Change
---------------------------
Net Sales $1,656.5 $1,431.6 15.7
---------------------------
Cost of goods sold 890.0 750.5 18.6
Excise taxes on spirits and wine 81.6 85.9 (5.0)
Advertising, selling, general
and administrative expenses 406.9 356.1 14.3
Amortization of intangibles 4.8 4.7 2.1
Restructuring
and restructuring-related items 7.6 10.9 (30.3)
---------------------------
Operating Income 265.6 223.5 18.8
---------------------------
Interest expense 18.8 17.9 5.0
Other (income) expense, net (5.2) (8.1) 35.8
Income taxes 91.2 77.7 17.4
Minority interests 4.4 4.6 (4.3)
---------------------------
Net Income 156.4 131.4 19.0
---------------------------
Earnings Per Common Share
---------------------------
Basic 1.07 0.88 21.6
Diluted 1.03 0.86 19.8
---------------------------
Avg. Common Shares Outstanding
---------------------------
Basic 146.1 148.4 (1.5)
Diluted 151.3 152.6 (0.9)
---------------------------
Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
---------------------------
2003 2002 % Change
---------------------------
Net Sales $6,214.5 $5,677.7 9.5
---------------------------
Cost of goods sold 3,360.5 3,066.4 9.6
Excise taxes on spirits and wine 302.0 311.1 (2.9)
Advertising, selling, general
and administrative expenses 1,569.9 1,441.7 8.9
Amortization of intangibles 18.9 16.1 17.4
Write-downs of identifiable
intangibles 12.0 - -
Restructuring
and restructuring-related items 33.7 55.8 (39.6)
---------------------------
Operating Income 917.5 786.6 16.6
---------------------------
Interest expense 73.8 74.1 (0.4)
Other (income) expense, net (40.7) (43.7) 6.9
Income taxes 289.2 214.2 35.0
Minority interests 16.5 16.4 0.6
---------------------------
Net Income 578.7 525.6 10.1
---------------------------
Earnings Per Common Share
---------------------------
Basic 3.97 3.51 13.1
Diluted 3.86 3.41 13.2
---------------------------
Avg. Common Shares Outstanding
---------------------------
Basic 145.6 149.4 (2.5)
Diluted 150.1 154.0 (2.5)
---------------------------
Actual Common Shares Outstanding
---------------------------
Basic 146.3 147.0 (0.5)
Diluted 151.5 151.0 0.3
---------------------------
FORTUNE BRANDS, INC.
(In millions, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
NET SALES AND OPERATING INCOME
------------------------------
Three Months Ended
December 31,
---------------------------
2003 2002 % Change
---------------------------
Net Sales
Home and Hardware $ 835.2 $ 653.5 27.8
Spirits and Wine 316.4 296.7 6.6
Golf 192.3 170.5 12.8
Office 312.6 310.9 0.5
---------------------------
Total $1,656.5 $1,431.6 15.7
---------------------------
Operating Income
Home and Hardware $ 141.5 $ 112.0 26.3
Spirits and Wine 105.8 90.0 17.6
Golf 4.4 10.4 (57.7)
Office 35.7 22.3 60.1
Corporate expenses 21.8 11.2 94.6
---------------------------
Total $ 265.6 $ 223.5 18.8
---------------------------
Operating Income Before Charges (a)
Home and Hardware $ 141.5 $ 112.0 26.3
Spirits and Wine 105.8 90.0 17.6
Golf 6.5 10.4 (37.5)
Office 41.2 33.2 24.1
Less:
Corporate expenses 21.8 11.2 94.6
Restructuring
and restructuring-related items 7.6 10.9 (30.3)
---------------------------
Operating Income $ 265.6 $ 223.5 18.8
---------------------------
Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
---------------------------
2003 2002 % Change
---------------------------
Net Sales
Home and Hardware $2,899.9 $2,532.2 14.5
Spirits and Wine 1,091.0 1,032.5 5.7
Golf 1,121.7 1,007.6 11.3
Office 1,101.9 1,105.4 (0.3)
---------------------------
Total $6,214.5 $5,677.7 9.5
---------------------------
Operating Income
Home and Hardware $ 481.3 $ 398.5 20.8
Spirits and Wine 302.8 276.3 9.6
Golf 139.1 129.8 7.2
Office 57.6 27.4 110.2
Corporate expenses 63.3 45.4 39.4
---------------------------
Total $ 917.5 $ 786.6 16.6
---------------------------
Operating Income Before Charges (a)
Home and Hardware $ 481.3 $ 413.5 16.4
Spirits and Wine 302.8 277.0 9.3
Golf 144.9 129.8 11.6
Office 97.5 67.5 44.4
Less:
Corporate expenses 63.3 45.4 39.4
Write-downs of identifiable
intangibles 12.0 - -
Restructuring
and restructuring-related items 33.7 55.8 (39.6)
---------------------------
Operating Income $ 917.5 $ 786.6 16.6
---------------------------
(a) Operating Income Before Charges, which is a measure not derived in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP),
is Operating Income derived in accordance with GAAP excluding
restructuring and restructuring-related items as well as
write-downs of identifiable intangibles. Management uses this and
other measures to determine the returns generated by our operating
subsidiaries and to evaluate and identify cost-reduction
initiatives. Management believes this measure provides investors
with helpful supplemental information regarding the underlying
results of the Company's businesses from year to year. This
measure may also be inconsistent with similar measures presented
by other companies.
FREE CASH FLOW
--------------
Three Months Ended
December 31,
---------------------------
2003 2002 % Change
---------------------------
Free Cash Flow (b) $ 131.4 $ 123.4 6.5
Add :
Net Capital Expenditures 71.6 68.9 3.9
Dividends Paid 44.1 40.5 8.9
---------------------------
Cash Flow From Operations $ 247.1 $ 232.8 6.1
---------------------------
Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
---------------------------
2003 2002 % Change
---------------------------
Free Cash Flow (b) $ 437.4 $ 447.3 (2.2)
Add :
Net Capital Expenditures 181.8 186.3 (2.4)
Dividends Paid 166.9 153.4 8.8
---------------------------
Cash Flow From Operations $ 786.1 $ 787.0 (0.1)
---------------------------
(b) The term "free cash flow" is cash flow from operations less net
capital expenditures and dividends to stockholders. Free cash flow
is not a measure under generally accepted accounting principles
(GAAP) and should not be considered as a substitute for any
measure derived in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that
free cash flow provides investors with helpful supplemental
information about the Company's ability to fund internal growth,
make acquisitions, repay debt and repurchase common stock. This
measure may also be inconsistent with similar measures presented
by other companies.
FORTUNE BRANDS, INC.
(In millions, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
EPS BEFORE CHARGES/GAINS
------------------------
The following sets forth EPS Before Charges/Gains, which is a measure
not derived in accordance with GAAP. In 2003, EPS Before Charges/Gains
is Net Income calculated on a per share basis excluding the $7.6
million ($5.2 million after tax) and $33.7 million ($24.4 million
after tax) restructuring and restructuring-related items recorded in
the three-month and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2003. EPS
Before Charges/Gains also excludes $10.7 million ($6.9 million after
tax) in tax-related interest income, a $35 million tax reserve
reversal and $12 million ($8 million after tax) write-down of
identifiable intangibles recorded in the twelve-month period ended
December 31, 2003.
EPS Before Charges/Gains in 2002 is Net Income calculated on a per
share basis before the $10.9 million ($6.9 million after tax) and
$55.8 million ($36.2 million after tax) restructuring and
restructuring-related items recorded in the three-month and
twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2002. In addition, EPS Before
Charges/Gains for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2002
excludes a $61.7 million tax claim and $14.9 million ($9.6 million
after tax) in tax-related interest income.
Management uses this and other measures to evaluate overall
performance of the Company, and believes this measure provides
investors with helpful supplemental information regarding the
underlying results of the Company's businesses from year to year. This
measure may also be inconsistent with similar measures provided by
other companies.
Three Months Ended
December 31,
---------------------------
2003 2002 % Change
---------------------------
Net Income Before Charges/Gains $ 161.6 $ 138.3 16.8
---------------------------
Earnings Per Common Share - Basic
Net Income Before Charges/Gains 1.11 0.93 19.4
Restructuring
and restructuring-related items (0.04) (0.05) 20.0
---------------------------
Net Income 1.07 0.88 21.6
---------------------------
Earnings Per Common Share - Diluted
Net Income Before Charges/Gains 1.07 0.91 17.6
Restructuring
and restructuring-related items (0.04) (0.05) 20.0
---------------------------
Net Income 1.03 0.86 19.8
---------------------------
Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
---------------------------
2003 2002 % Change
---------------------------
Net Income Before Charges/Gains $ 569.2 $ 490.5 16.0
---------------------------
Earnings Per Common Share - Basic
Net Income Before Charges/Gains 3.90 3.28 18.9
Write-downs of identifiable
intangibles (0.05) - -
Tax-related gains 0.29 0.47 (38.3)
Restructuring
and restructuring-related items (0.17) (0.24) 29.2
---------------------------
Net Income 3.97 3.51 13.1
---------------------------
Earnings Per Common Share - Diluted
Net Income Before Charges/Gains 3.79 3.19 18.8
Write-downs of identifiable
intangibles (0.05) - -
Tax-related gains 0.28 0.46 (39.1)
Restructuring
and restructuring-related items (0.16) (0.24) 33.3
---------------------------
Net Income 3.86 3.41 13.2
---------------------------
FORTUNE BRANDS, INC.
Reconciliation of 2004 Expected vs. 2003 Diluted EPS Before
Charges/Gains Target Growth Rate to GAAP Diluted EPS Growth Rate
(Unaudited)
Growth Rate of 2004 Segment Growth Rate of
Diluted EPS Charges Diluted EPS
Before Charges/Gains (After Tax) vs. After
2003 (a) Charges/Gains
------------- -------------------- --------------- --------------
2004 net charge
is currently
First Quarter double digits expected to be double digits
comparable
to a 2003 charge
of $0.03
------------- -------------------- --------------- --------------
2004 net charge
is currently
Full Year double digits expected to be mid single to
$0.14 to $0.16
per share double digits (b)
compared to a
$0.07 net gain
in 2003 (b)
------------- -------------------- --------------- --------------
(a) Segment charges include restructuring and restructuring-related
items due to rationalization of operations. In addition, the
Company recorded write-downs of identifiable intangibles in the
Office segment, a tax reserve reversal and tax-related interest
income in the last nine months of 2003. The Company also expects
to incur restructuring and restructuring-related items in 2004. In
the first quarter of 2004, the Company is expecting to receive an
insurance settlement from a Kentucky bourbon warehouse fire.
(b) We have recently been advised that the IRS will conduct its
routine review of 1997-2001 tax returns in 2004. Favorable
resolution of the audit could result in a gain further benefiting
earnings growth in 2004.
The preceding sets forth EPS Before Charges/Gains, which is a measure
not derived in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles (GAAP).
Management uses this and other measures to evaluate the overall
performance of the Company, and believes this measure provides
investors with helpful supplemental information regarding the
underlying results of the Company's businesses from year to year. This
measure may be inconsistent with similar measures provided by other
companies.
FORTUNE BRANDS, INC.
(In millions, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
RESTRUCTURING AND RESTRUCTURING-RELATED ITEMS AND WRITE-DOWNS OF
IDENTIFIABLE INTANGIBLES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Company recorded pre-tax restructuring and restructuring-related
items of $7.6 million ($5.2 million after tax) and $33.7 million
($24.4 million after tax) in the three-month and twelve-month periods
ended December 31, 2003. The charges relate to rationalization of
operations in the Office and Golf segments. In addition, the Company
recorded write-downs of identifiable intangibles in the Office segment
of $12 million ($8 million after tax).
Three Months Ended December 31, 2003
-------------------------------------------------------------
Restructuring-Related Items
---------------------------
Cost of Sales SG & A Identifiable
Restructuring Charges Charges Intangibles Total
------------- ------------- -------- ------------ ------
Golf $ 0.1 $ 2.0 $ - $- $ 2.1
Office 2.0 2.4 1.1 - 5.5
------------- ------------- -------- ------------ ------
Total $ 2.1 $ 4.4 $ 1.1 $- $ 7.6
------------- ------------- -------- ------------ ------
Income tax
benefit 2.4
------
Net charge $ 5.2
------
Charge per
common
share
Basic $0.04
Diluted $0.04
------
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2003
-------------------------------------------------------------
Restructuring-Related Items
---------------------------
Cost of Sales SG & A Identifiable
Restructuring Charges Charges Intangibles Total
------------- ------------- -------- ------------ ------
Golf $ 2.2 $ 3.6 $ - $ - $ 5.8
Office 17.3 9.2 1.4 12.0 39.9
------------- ------------- -------- ------------ ------
Total $ 19.5 $ 12.8 $ 1.4 $12.0 $45.7
------------- ------------- -------- ------------ ------
Income tax
benefit 13.3
------
Net charge $32.4
------
Charge per
common
share
Basic $0.22
Diluted $0.21
------
FORTUNE BRANDS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
December 31, December 31,
2003 2002
------------ ------------
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 104.6 $ 15.4
Accounts receivable, net 973.4 845.1
Inventories 956.2 835.8
Other current assets 247.4 206.8
------------ ------------
Total current assets 2,281.6 1,903.1
Property, plant and equipment, net 1,358.9 1,189.6
Intangibles resulting from
business acquisitions, net 3,328.6 2,332.7
Other assets 475.8 396.8
------------ ------------
Total assets $ 7,444.9 $ 5,822.2
------------ ------------
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities
Short-term debt $ 530.4 $ 161.3
Current portion of long-term debt 200.5 132.9
Other current liabilities 1,402.6 1,220.5
------------ ------------
Total current liabilities 2,133.5 1,514.7
Long-term debt 1,242.6 841.7
Other long-term liabilities 979.8 753.7
Minority interests 370.0 398.9
------------ ------------
Total liabilities 4,725.9 3,509.0
Stockholders' equity 2,719.0 2,313.2
------------ ------------
Total liabilities and stockholders'
equity $ 7,444.9 $ 5,822.2
------------ ------------
CONTACT: Fortune Brands, Inc.
Clarkson Hine, 847-484-4415 (Media Relations)
Tony Diaz, 847-484-4410 (Investor Relations)