Kraft Heinz Co
Item 1. Business.
General
Kraft Heinz is one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world, with sales in approximately 190 countries and territories. We manufacture and market food and beverage products, including condiments and sauces, cheese and dairy, meals, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee, and other grocery products, throughout the world, under a host of iconic brands including Heinz, Kraft, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Planters, Velveeta, Lunchables, Maxwell House, Capri Sun, and Ore-Ida. A globally recognized producer of delicious foods, we provide products for all occasions whether at home, in restaurants or on the go. As of December 31, 2016, we had assets of $120.5 billion. Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”) under the ticker symbol “KHC”.
On July 2, 2015 (the “2015 Merger Date”), through a series of transactions, we consummated the merger of Kraft Foods Group, Inc. (“Kraft”) with and into a wholly-owned subsidiary of H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation (“Heinz”) (the “2015 Merger”). At the closing of the 2015 Merger, Heinz was renamed The Kraft Heinz Company and H. J. Heinz Company changed its name to Kraft Heinz Foods Company. While Kraft Heinz was organized as a Delaware corporation in 2013 (as Heinz), both Kraft and Heinz have been pioneers in the food industry for over 100 years.
Prior to the consummation of the 2015 Merger, Heinz had been controlled by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (“Berkshire Hathaway”) and 3G Global Food Holdings LP (together, the “Sponsors”), following their acquisition of H. J. Heinz Company. On June 7, 2013, H. J. Heinz Company was acquired by Heinz (formerly known as Hawk Acquisition Holding Corporation) (the “2013 Merger”), a Delaware corporation controlled by the Sponsors, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated February 13, 2013, as amended by the Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated March 4, 2013, by and among H. J. Heinz Company, Heinz, and Hawk Acquisition Sub, Inc. (“Hawk”).
See Note 1, Background and Basis of Presentation, and Note 2, Merger and Acquisition, to the consolidated financial statements for further information on the 2015 Merger. See Note 1, Background and Basis of Presentation, to the consolidated financial statements for further information on the 2013 Merger.
Reportable Segments
We manage and report our operating results through four segments. We have three reportable segments defined by geographic region: United States, Canada, and Europe. Our remaining businesses are combined and disclosed as “Rest of World”. Rest of World is comprised of two operating segments: Latin America; and Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (“AMEA”).
In 2016, we reorganized our segments to reflect the following:
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our Russia business moved from the Rest of World segment to the Europe segment;
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management of our Global Procurement Office moved from one of our European subsidiaries to our global headquarters, which resulted in moving the related costs from the Europe segment to general corporate expenses; and
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certain historical Kraft export businesses moved from our United States segment to our Rest of World and Europe segments.
These changes are reflected in all historical periods presented and did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
See Note 18, Segment Reporting, to the consolidated financial statements for additional information on these changes and for our financial information by segment.
Net Sales by Product Category
In 2016, we reorganized the products within our product categories to reflect how we manage our business. We have reflected this change for all historical periods presented. The product categories that contributed 10% or more to consolidated net sales in any of the periods presented were:
We completed the 2015 Merger on July 2, 2015. As a result, 2016 was the first full year of combined Kraft and Heinz results, 2015 included a full year of Heinz results and post-2015 Merger results of Kraft, and 2014 included the results of Heinz only. The year-over-year fluctuations in the percentages above are primarily driven by including Kraft’s results.
Sales and Customers
Our products are sold through our own sales organizations and through independent brokers, agents and distributors to chain, wholesale, cooperative and independent grocery accounts, convenience stores, drug stores, value stores, bakeries, pharmacies, mass merchants, club stores, foodservice distributors and institutions, including hotels, restaurants, hospitals, health care facilities, and certain government agencies. Our largest customer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., represented approximately 22% of our net sales in 2016, approximately 20% of our net sales in 2015, and approximately 10% of our net sales in 2014.
Additionally, we have significant customers in different regions around the world; however, none of these customers individually are material to our consolidated business. In 2016, the five largest customers in our United States segment accounted for approximately 49% of United States segment sales, the five largest customers in our Canada segment accounted for approximately 76% of Canada segment sales, and the five largest customers in our Europe segment accounted for approximately 31% of our Europe segment sales.
Raw Materials and Packaging
We manufacture (and contract for the manufacture of) our products from a wide variety of raw food materials. We purchase and use large quantities of commodities, including dairy products, meat products, coffee beans, nuts, tomatoes, potatoes, soybean and vegetable oils, sugar and other sweeteners, corn products, wheat and other goods to manufacture our products. In addition, we purchase and use significant quantities of resins and cardboard to package our products and natural gas to operate our facilities. For commodities that we use across many of our product categories, such as corrugated paper and energy, we coordinate sourcing requirements and centralize procurement to leverage our scale. In addition, some of our product lines and brands separately source raw materials that are specific to their operations. We source these commodities from a variety of providers including large, international producers, and smaller, local, independent sellers. Where appropriate, we seek to establish preferred purchaser status and/or have developed strategic partnerships with many of our suppliers with the objective of achieving favorable pricing and dependable supply for many of our commodities. The prices of raw materials and agricultural materials that we use in our products are affected by external factors, such as global competition for resources, currency fluctuations, severe weather or global climate change, consumer, industrial or investment demand, and changes in governmental regulation and trade, alternative energy, and agricultural programs.
The most significant cost components of our cheese products are dairy commodities, including milk and cheese. We purchase our dairy raw material requirements from independent third parties, such as agricultural cooperatives and independent processors. Market supply and demand, as well as government programs, significantly influence the prices for milk and other dairy products. Significant cost components in our meat business include pork, beef, and poultry, which we primarily purchase from applicable local markets. Livestock feed costs and the global supply and demand for U.S. meats influence the prices of these meat products. The most significant cost component of our coffee products is coffee beans, which we purchase on world markets. Quality and availability of supply, currency fluctuations, and consumer demand for coffee products impact coffee bean prices. The most significant cost components in our nut products include peanuts, cashews, and almonds, which we purchase on both domestic and world markets, where global market supply and demand is the primary driver of price.
Our risk management group works with our procurement teams to monitor worldwide supply and cost trends so we can obtain ingredients and packaging needed for production at competitive prices. Although the prices of our principal raw materials can be expected to fluctuate, we believe there will be an adequate supply of the raw materials we use and that they are generally available from numerous sources. Our risk management group uses a range of hedging techniques in an effort to limit the impact of price fluctuations on many of our principal raw materials. However, we do not fully hedge against changes in commodity prices, and our hedging strategies may not protect us from increases in specific raw material costs. We actively monitor any changes to commodity costs so that we can seek to mitigate the effect through pricing and other operational measures.
Competition
We face competition in all aspects of our business. Competitors include large national and international food and beverage companies and numerous local and regional companies. We compete with both branded and generic products, in addition to retailer brands, wholesalers, and cooperatives. We compete primarily on the basis of product quality and innovation, brand recognition and loyalty, service, the ability to identify and satisfy consumer preferences, the introduction of new products and the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns and marketing programs, distribution, shelf space, merchandising support, and price. Improving our market position or introducing a new product requires substantial advertising and promotional expenditures.
Trademarks and Intellectual Property
Our trademarks are material to our business and are among our most valuable assets. Depending on the country, trademarks generally remain valid for as long as they are in use or their registration status is maintained. Trademark registrations generally are for renewable, fixed terms. Significant trademarks by segment based on net sales at December 31, 2016 were:
*Used under license
We own numerous patents worldwide. We consider our portfolio of patents, patent applications, patent licenses under patents owned by third parties, proprietary trade secrets, technology, know-how processes, and related intellectual property rights to be material to our operations. Patents, issued or applied for, cover inventions ranging from basic packaging techniques to processes relating to specific products and to the products themselves. 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.
Our issued patents extend for varying periods according to the date of the 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.
We sell some products under brands we license from third parties, including Capri Sun packaged drink pouches for sale in the United States, T.G.I. Fridays frozen snacks and appetizers in the United States and Canada, McCafe ground, whole bean and on-demand single cup coffees in the United States and Canada, Taco Bell Home Originals Mexican-style food products in U.S. grocery stores, and Weight Watchers Smart Ones frozen entrées, snacks and desserts in the United States and Canada. In our agreements with Mondelēz International, Inc. (“Mondelēz International”), we each granted the other party various licenses to use certain of our and their respective intellectual property rights in named jurisdictions for an agreed period of time following the spin-off of Kraft from Mondelēz International in 2012.
Research and Development
Our research and development focuses on achieving the following four objectives:
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growth through product improvements and renovations, new products, and line extensions,
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uncompromising product safety and quality,
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superior customer satisfaction, and
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cost reduction.
Research and development expense was approximately $120 million in 2016, $105 million in 2015, and $58 million in 2014.
Seasonality
Although crops constituting some of our raw food ingredients are harvested on a seasonal basis, most of our products are produced throughout the year.
Seasonal factors inherent in our business change the demand for products, including holidays, changes in seasons, or other annual events. These factors influence our quarterly sales, operating income and cash flows. Therefore, it is most meaningful to compare quarterly results to the same quarters of prior years.
Employees
We had approximately 41,000 employees as of December 31, 2016.
Regulation
Our business operations, including the production, storage, distribution, sale, display, advertising, marketing, labeling, quality and safety of our products, occupational safety and health practices, transportation and use of many of our products, are subject to various laws and regulations administered by federal, state and local governmental agencies in the United States, as well as laws and regulations administered by government entities and agencies outside the United States in markets in which our products are manufactured, distributed or sold.
We are required to comply with a variety of U.S. and Canadian laws and regulations, including but not limited to: the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and various state laws governing food safety; the Food Safety Modernization Act; the Safe Food for Canadians Act; the Occupational Safety and Health Act; various federal and state laws and regulations governing competition and trade practices; various federal and state laws and regulations governing our employment practices, including those related to equal employment opportunity, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Act and the National Labor Relations Act; customs and foreign trade laws and regulations; and laws regulating the sale of certain of our products in schools. We are also subject to numerous similar and other laws and regulations outside of North America, including but not limited to laws and regulations governing food safety, health and safety, anti-corruption, and data privacy. In our business dealings, we are also required to comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), the U.K. Bribery Act, the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act, and various other anti-corruption regulations in the regions in which we operate. We rely on legal and operational compliance programs, as well as in-house and outside counsel, to guide our businesses in complying with applicable laws and regulations of the countries in which we do business.
Environmental Regulation
Our activities throughout the world are highly regulated and subject to government oversight. Various laws concerning the handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials and the operation of facilities in environmentally sensitive locations may impact aspects of our operations.
In the United States, where a significant portion of our business operates, these 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. We are involved in a number of active proceedings in the United States under CERCLA (and other similar state actions and legislation) related to our current operations and certain closed, inactive, or divested operations for which we retain liability. We do not currently expect these to have a material effect on our earnings or financial condition.
As of December 31, 2016, we had accrued an amount we deemed appropriate for environmental remediation. Based on information currently available, we believe that the ultimate resolution of existing environmental remediation actions and our compliance in general with environmental laws and regulations will not have a material effect on our earnings or financial condition. However, it is difficult to predict with certainty the potential impact of future compliance efforts and environmental remedial actions and thus, future costs associated with such matters may exceed current reserves.
Foreign Operations
In 2016, we generated a significant amount of our net sales from operations outside of the United States and sold our products in approximately 190 countries and territories. For additional information about our foreign operations, see Note 18, Segment Reporting, to the consolidated financial statements. Refer to Item 2, Properties, for more information on our manufacturing and other facilities. For a discussion of risks related to our operations outside the United States, including currency risk, see Risk Factors in
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
We operate in a highly competitive industry.
The food and beverage industry is highly competitive across all of our product offerings. We compete based on product innovation, price, product quality, service, taste, convenience, brand recognition and loyalty, effectiveness of marketing and distribution, promotional activity, and the ability to identify and satisfy consumer preferences.
We may need to reduce our prices in response to competitive and customer pressures, including changing consumer preferences that may adversely impact the market for our products. These pressures may also restrict our ability to increase prices in response to commodity and other cost increases. We may also need to increase or reallocate spending on marketing, retail trade incentives, materials, advertising, and new product innovation to maintain or increase market share. These expenditures are subject to risks, including uncertainties about trade and consumer acceptance of our efforts. If we are unable to compete effectively, our profitability, financial condition, and operating results may suffer.
Maintaining, extending and expanding our reputation and brand image are essential to our business success.
We have many iconic brands with long-standing consumer recognition across the globe. Our success depends on our ability to maintain brand image for our existing products, extend our brands to new platforms, 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. Increasing negative attention on the role of food and beverage marketing could adversely affect our brand image. It could also lead to stricter regulations and greater scrutiny of marketing practices. Existing or 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 legal or regulatory action against us, our quality and safety, our environmental or social impacts, or our suppliers and, in some cases, our competitors, 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 not material 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 media environment. We increasingly rely on social media and online dissemination of advertising campaigns. The growing use of social and digital media increases the speed and extent that information, including misinformation, and opinions can be shared. Negative posts or comments about us, our brands or our products, or our suppliers and, in some cases, our competitors, on social or digital media, whether or not valid, could seriously damage our brands and reputation. In addition, we might fail to anticipate consumer preferences, invest sufficiently in maintaining, extending and expanding our brand image. If we do not maintain, extend, and expand our reputation, brand image, then our product sales, financial condition and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.
Our international operations subject us to additional risks and costs and may cause our profitability to decline.
We are a global company with sales or operations in approximately 190 countries and territories; approximately 30% of our 2016 net revenues were generated outside of the United States. As a result, we are subject to risks inherent in global operations. These risks, which can vary substantially by market, are described in many of the risk factors discussed in this section and also include:
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compliance with U.S. laws affecting operations outside of the United States, including anti-bribery laws such as the FCPA;
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changes in the mix of earnings in countries with differing statutory tax rates, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, changes in tax laws or their interpretation, or tax audit implications;
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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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currency devaluations or fluctuations in currency values;
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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 jurisdictions;
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discriminatory or conflicting fiscal policies in or across foreign jurisdictions;
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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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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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risks and costs associated with political and economic instability, corruption, anti-American sentiment and social and ethnic unrest in the countries in which we operate;
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the risks of operating in developing or emerging markets in which there are significant uncertainties regarding the interpretation, application and enforceability of laws and regulations and the enforceability of contract rights and intellectual property rights;
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risks arising from the significant and rapid fluctuations in currency exchange markets and the decisions and positions that we take to hedge such volatility;
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changing labor conditions and difficulties in staffing our operations;
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greater risk of uncollectible accounts and longer collection cycles; and
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design, implementation and use of effective control environment processes across our diverse operations and employee base.
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. Slow economic growth or high unemployment in the markets in which we operate could constrain consumer spending, and declining consumer purchasing power could adversely impact our profitability. 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.
We must leverage our brand value to compete against retailer brands and other economy brands.
In nearly all of our product categories, we compete with branded products as well as retailer and other economy brands, which are typically sold at lower prices. Our products must provide higher value and/or quality to our consumers than alternatives, particularly during periods of economic uncertainty. Consumers may not buy our products if relative differences in value and/or quality between our products and retailer or other economy brands change in favor of competitors’ products or if consumers perceive this type of change. If consumers prefer retailer or other economy brands, then we could lose market share or sales volumes or shift our product mix to lower margin offerings. A change in consumer preferences could also cause us to increase capital, marketing and other expenditures, which could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition, and operating results.
Our financial success depends on our ability to correctly predict, identify, and interpret changes in consumer preferences and demand, to offer new products to meet those changes, and to respond to competitive innovation.
Consumer preferences for food and beverage products change continually. Our success depends on our ability to predict, identify, and interpret the tastes and dietary habits of consumers and to offer products that appeal to consumer preferences, including with respect to health and wellness. If we do not offer products that appeal to consumers, our sales and market share will decrease, which could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition, and operating results.
We must distinguish between 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 preferences, our sales could decline. In addition, because of our varied consumer base, we must offer an array of products that satisfy a 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 or more profitable categories, demand for our products could decrease, which could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition, and operating results.
Prolonged negative perceptions concerning the health implications of certain food and beverage products could influence consumer preferences and acceptance of some of our products and marketing programs. We strive to respond to consumer preferences and social expectations, but we may not be successful in our efforts. Continued negative perceptions and failure to satisfy consumer preferences could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition, and operating results.
In addition, achieving growth depends on our successful development, introduction, and marketing of innovative new products and line extensions. There are inherent risks associated with new product or packaging introductions, including uncertainties about trade and consumer acceptance or impact on our existing product offerings. We may be required to increase expenditures for new product development. Successful innovation depends on our ability to correctly anticipate customer and consumer acceptance, to obtain, protect and maintain necessary intellectual property rights, and to avoid infringing upon the intellectual property rights of others. We must also be able to respond successfully to technological advances by and intellectual property rights of our competitors, and failure to do so could compromise our competitive position and impact our product sales, financial condition, and operating results.
We may be unable to drive revenue growth in our key product categories, increase our market share, or add products that are in faster growing and more profitable categories.
The food and beverage industry’s overall growth is generally linked to population growth. Our future results will depend on our ability to drive revenue growth in our key product categories and growth in the food and beverage industry in the countries in which we operate. Our future results will also depend on our ability to enhance our portfolio by adding innovative new products in faster growing and more profitable categories and our ability to increase market share in our existing product categories. Our failure to drive revenue growth, limit market share decreases in our key product categories or develop innovative products for new and existing categories could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition, and operating results.
An impairment of the carrying value of goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangible assets could negatively affect our consolidated operating results.
We test goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment at least annually in the second quarter or when a triggering event occurs. We performed our annual impairment testing in the second quarter of 2016. The first step of the goodwill impairment test compares the reporting unit’s estimated fair value with its carrying value. If the carrying value of a reporting unit’s net assets exceeds its fair value, the second step would be applied 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 would be considered impaired and would be reduced to its implied fair value. We test indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment by comparing the fair value of each intangible asset with its carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds fair value, the intangible asset would be considered impaired and would be reduced to fair value.
Fair value determinations require considerable judgment and are sensitive to changes in underlying assumptions, estimates and market factors. Estimating the fair value of individual reporting units and indefinite-lived intangible assets requires us to make assumptions and estimates regarding our future plans, as well as industry and economic conditions. These assumptions and estimates include projected revenues and income growth rates, terminal growth rates, competitive and consumer trends, market-based discount rates, and other market factors. If current expectations of future growth rates are not met or market factors outside of our control, such as discount rates, change significantly, then one or more reporting units or intangible assets might become impaired in the future. Additionally, as goodwill and intangible assets associated with recently acquired businesses are recorded on the balance sheet at their estimated acquisition date fair values, those amounts are more susceptible to an impairment risk if business operating results or macroeconomic conditions deteriorate.
An impairment of the carrying value of goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangible assets could negatively affect our operating results or net worth.
Commodity, energy, and other input prices are volatile and could negatively affect our consolidated operating results.
We purchase and use large quantities of commodities, including dairy products, meat products, coffee beans, nuts, soybean and vegetable oils, sugar and other sweeteners, corn products, tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, onions, other fruits and vegetables, spices, flour and wheat to manufacture our products. In addition, we purchase and use significant quantities of resins, cardboard, glass, plastic, metal, paper, fiberboard and other materials to package our products and we use other inputs, such as water and natural gas, to operate our facilities. We are also exposed to changes in oil prices, which influence both our packaging and transportation costs. Prices for commodities, energy, and other supplies are volatile and can fluctuate due to conditions that are difficult to predict, including global competition for resources, currency fluctuations, severe weather or global climate change, crop failures or shortages due to plant disease or insect and other pest infestation, consumer, industrial or investment demand, and changes in governmental regulation and trade, alternative energy, including increased demand for biofuels, and agricultural programs. Additionally, we may be unable to maintain favorable arrangements with respect to the costs of procuring raw materials, packaging, services, and transporting products, which could result in increased expenses and negatively affect our operations. Furthermore, the cost of raw materials and finished products may fluctuate due to movements in cross-currency transaction rates. Rising commodity, energy, and other input costs could materially and adversely affect our cost of operations, including the manufacture, transportation, and distribution of our products, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.
Although we monitor our exposure to commodity prices as an integral part of our overall risk management program, and seek to hedge against input price increases to the extent we deem appropriate, we do not fully hedge against changes in commodity prices, and our hedging strategies may not protect us from increases in specific raw materials costs. For example, hedging our costs for one of our key commodities, dairy products, is difficult because dairy futures markets are not as developed as many other commodities futures markets. Continued volatility or sustained increases in the prices of commodities and other supplies we purchase could increase the costs of our products, and our profitability could suffer. Moreover, increases in the prices of our products to cover these increased costs may result in lower sales volumes. If we are not successful in our hedging activities, or if we are unable to price our products to cover increased costs, then commodity and other input price volatility or increases could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.
We rely on our management team and other key personnel.
We depend on the skills, working relationships and continued services of key personnel, including our experienced management team. In addition, our ability to achieve our operating goals depends on our ability to identify, hire, train, and retain qualified individuals. We compete with other companies both within and outside of our industry for talented personnel, and we may lose key personnel or fail to attract, train, and retain other talented personnel. Any such loss or failure could adversely affect our product sales, financial condition, and operating results.
In particular, the success of the continued integration of Kraft and Heinz will depend in part on our ability to retain the talents and dedication of key employees. If key employees terminate their employment, or if an insufficient number of employees is retained to maintain effective operations, our business activities may be adversely affected and our management team’s attention may be diverted. In addition, we may not be able to locate suitable replacements for any key employees who leave, or offer employment to potential replacements on reasonable terms, all of which could adversely affect our product sales, financial condition, and operating results.
We may be unable to realize the anticipated benefits from streamlining actions to reduce fixed costs, simplify or improve processes, and improve our competitiveness.
We have implemented a number of cost savings initiatives, including our Integration Program (as defined below), that we believe are important to position our business for future success and growth. We have evaluated changes to our organization structure to enable us to reduce costs, simplify or improve processes, and improve our competitiveness. Our future success may depend upon our ability to realize the benefits of our cost savings initiatives. In addition, certain of our initiatives may lead to increased costs in other aspects of our business such as increased conversion, outsourcing or distribution costs. We must be efficient in executing our plans to achieve cost savings and operate efficiently in the highly competitive food and beverage industry, particularly in an environment of increased competitive activity. To capitalize on our efforts, we must carefully evaluate investments in our business, and execute on those areas with the most potential return on investment. If we are unable to realize the anticipated benefits from our efforts, we could be cost disadvantaged in the marketplace, and our competitiveness, production and profitability could decrease.
Changes in the retail landscape or the loss of key retail customers could adversely affect our financial performance.
Retail customers, such as supermarkets, warehouse clubs and food distributors in our major markets, may consolidate, resulting in fewer but larger customers for our business. Consolidation also produces larger retail customers that may seek to leverage their position to improve their profitability by demanding improved efficiency, lower pricing, more favorable terms, increased promotional programs, or specifically tailored product offerings. In addition, larger retailers have the scale to develop supply chains that permit them to operate with reduced inventories or to develop and market their own retailer brands. Retail consolidation and increasing retailer power could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition, and operating results.
Retail consolidation also increases the risk that adverse changes in our customers’ business operations or financial performance may have a corresponding material and 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, which could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition, and operating results.
In addition, technology-based systems, which give consumers the ability to shop through e-commerce websites and mobile commerce applications, are also significantly altering the retail landscape in many of our markets. If we are unable to adjust to developments in these changing landscapes, we may be disadvantaged in key channels and with certain consumers, which could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition, and operating results.
Changes in our relationships with significant customers or suppliers could adversely impact us.
We have significant sales to certain significant customers. There can be no assurance that all of our significant 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 may demand lower pricing and focus on developing their own brands. The loss of a significant customer or a material reduction in sales or a change in the mix of products we sell to a significant customer could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition, and operating results.
Disputes with significant suppliers, including disputes related to pricing or performance, could adversely affect our ability to supply products to our customers and could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition, and operating results.
In addition, the financial condition of such customers and suppliers is affected in large part by conditions and events that are beyond our control. A significant deterioration in the financial condition of significant customers and suppliers could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition, and operating results.
We may not be able to successfully execute our international expansion strategy.
We plan to drive additional growth and profitability through international distribution channels. Consumer demand, behavior, taste and purchasing trends may differ in international markets and, as a result, our sales may not be successful or meet expectations, or the margins on those sales may be less than currently anticipated. We may also face difficulties integrating foreign business operations with our current sourcing, distribution, information technology systems and other operations. Any of these challenges could hinder our success in new markets or new distribution channels. There can be no assurance that we will successfully complete any planned international expansion or that any new business will be profitable or meet our expectations.
Changes in laws and regulations could increase our costs.
Our activities throughout the world are highly regulated and subject to government oversight. Various laws and regulations govern food and beverage production, storage, distribution, sales, and marketing, as well as licensing, trade, tax, and environmental matters. Governing bodies regularly issue new regulations and changes to existing regulations. Our need to comply with new or revised regulations or their interpretation and application could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition, and operating results.
Federal, state, and local governments and administrative bodies within the U.S., which represents a majority of our operations, are considering a variety of broad tax, trade, and other regulatory reforms. For example, an increase in tariff or restrictive trade activities around the world could negatively impact our ability to succeed in certain markets; similarly, changes in tax laws, such as tax reform in the United States, or changes in tax laws resulting from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (“OECD”) multi-jurisdictional plan of action to address “base erosion and profit sharing” could impact our effective tax rate. It is not currently possible to accurately determine the potential impact of these proposed or future changes, but these changes could have a material impact on our business.
Legal claims or other regulatory enforcement actions could subject us to civil and criminal penalties.
As a large food and beverage company, we operate in a highly regulated environment with constantly evolving legal and regulatory frameworks. Consequently, we are subject to heightened risk of legal claims or other regulatory enforcement actions. Although we have implemented policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with existing laws and regulations, there can be no assurance that our employees, contractors, or agents will not violate our policies and procedures. Moreover, a failure to maintain effective control processes could lead to violations, unintentional or otherwise, of laws and regulations. Legal claims or regulatory enforcement actions arising out of our failure or alleged failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations could subject us to civil and criminal penalties that could materially and adversely affect our product sales, reputation, financial condition, and operating results. In addition, the costs and other effects of defending potential and pending litigation and administrative actions against us may be difficult to determine and could adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.
Product recalls or other product liability claims could materially and adversely affect us.
Selling products for human consumption involves inherent legal and other risks, including product contamination, spoilage, product tampering, allergens, or other adulteration. We could decide to, or be required to, recall products due to suspected or confirmed product contamination, adulteration, misbranding, tampering, or other deficiencies. Product recalls or market withdrawals could result in significant losses due to their costs, the destruction of product inventory, and lost sales due to the unavailability of the product for a period of time.
We could be adversely affected if consumers lose confidence in the safety and quality of certain food products or ingredients, or the food safety system generally. Adverse attention about these types of concerns, whether or not valid, may damage our reputation, discourage consumers from buying our products, or cause production and delivery disruptions.
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 or a related regulatory enforcement action against us, or a significant product recall, may materially and adversely affect our reputation and profitability. Moreover, even if a product liability or 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 product sales, financial condition, and operating results.
Unanticipated business disruptions could adversely affect our ability to provide our products to our customers.
We have a complex network of suppliers, owned manufacturing locations, co-manufacturing locations, distribution networks, and information systems that support our ability to consistently provide our products to our customers. Factors that are hard to predict or beyond our control, such as weather, raw material shortages, natural disasters, fire or explosion, political unrest, terrorism, generalized labor unrest, or health pandemics, could damage or disrupt our operations or our suppliers’ or co-manufacturers’ operations. These disruptions may require additional resources to restore our supply chain or distribution network. If we cannot respond to disruptions in our operations, whether by finding alternative suppliers or replacing capacity at key manufacturing or distribution locations, or if we are unable to quickly repair damage to our information, production, or supply systems, we may be late in delivering, or be unable to deliver, products to our customers and may also be unable to track orders, inventory, receivables, and payables. If that occurs, our customers’ confidence in us and long-term demand for our products could decline. Any of these events could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition, and operating results.
The failure to integrate successfully the business and operations of Kraft and Heinz in the expected time frame may adversely affect our future results.
While no material disruptions occurred during the first full year of integration, there can be no assurances that the Kraft and Heinz businesses can be integrated successfully. It is possible that the integration process could result in the the loss of customers, the disruption of ongoing businesses, unexpected integration issues, or higher than expected integration costs. It is also possible that the overall post-merger integration process will take longer than originally anticipated. Specifically, the following issues, among others, must be addressed as we continue to integrate the operations of Kraft and Heinz in order to realize the anticipated benefits of the 2015 Merger:
•
combining the companies’ operations and corporate functions;
•
combining the businesses of Kraft and Heinz and meeting the capital requirements of the combined company in a manner that permits us to achieve the cost savings anticipated to result from the 2015 Merger, the failure of which could result in the material anticipated benefits of the 2015 Merger not being realized in the time frame currently anticipated, or at all;
•
integrating the companies’ technologies;
•
integrating and unifying the offerings and services available to historical Kraft and Heinz customers;
•
identifying and eliminating redundant and underperforming functions and assets;
•
harmonizing the companies’ operating practices, employee development and compensation programs, internal controls and other policies, procedures and processes;
•
integrating the companies’ financial reporting and internal control systems, including our ability to maintain compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder by the SEC;
•
maintaining existing agreements with customers, distributors, providers and vendors and avoiding delays in entering into new agreements with prospective customers, distributors, providers and vendors;
•
addressing possible differences in business backgrounds, corporate cultures and management philosophies;
•
integrating and consolidating the companies’ administrative and information technology infrastructure and computer systems;
•
coordinating distribution and marketing efforts;
•
managing the movement of certain positions to different locations; and
•
coordinating geographically dispersed organizations.
In addition, at times the attention of certain members of our management may be focused on the integration of the businesses of Kraft and Heinz and diverted from day-to-day business operations, which may disrupt our business.
We may not successfully identify or complete strategic acquisitions, alliances, divestitures or joint ventures.
From time to time, we may evaluate acquisition candidates, alliances or joint ventures that may strategically fit our business objectives or we may consider divesting businesses that do not meet our strategic objectives or growth or profitability targets. These activities may present financial, managerial, and operational risks including, but not limited to, diversion of management’s attention from existing core businesses, difficulties integrating or separating personnel and financial and other systems, inability to effectively and immediately implement control environment processes across a diverse employee population, adverse effects on existing or acquired customer and supplier business relationships, and potential disputes with buyers, sellers or partners. Activities in such areas are regulated by numerous antitrust and competition laws in the United States, the European Union, and other jurisdictions, and we may be required to obtain the approval of acquisition and joint venture transactions by competition authorities, as well as to satisfy other legal requirements.
To the extent we undertake acquisitions, alliances or joint ventures or other developments outside our core regions or in new categories, we may face additional risks related to such developments. For example, risks related to foreign operations include compliance with U.S. laws affecting operations outside of the United States, such as the FCPA, currency rate fluctuations, compliance with foreign regulations and laws, including tax laws, and exposure to politically and economically volatile developing markets. Any of these factors could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition, and operating results.
Our performance may be adversely affected by economic and political conditions in the United States and in various other nations where we do business.
Our performance has been in the past and may continue in the future to be impacted by economic and political conditions in the United States and in other nations where we do business. Such conditions and factors include changes in applicable laws and regulations, including changes in food and drug laws, accounting standards and critical accounting estimates, taxation requirements and environmental laws. Other factors impacting our operations in the United States, Venezuela, Russia and other international locations where we do business include export and import restrictions, currency exchange rates, currency devaluation, cash repatriation restrictions, recessionary conditions, foreign ownership restrictions, nationalization, the impact of hyperinflationary environments, terrorist acts, and political unrest. Such factors in either domestic or foreign jurisdictions could materially and adversely affect our financial results. For further information on Venezuela, see Note 15, Venezuela - Foreign Currency and Inflation, to the consolidated financial statements.
Volatility of capital markets or macro-economic factors could adversely affect our business.
Changes in financial and capital markets, including market disruptions, limited liquidity and interest rate volatility, may increase the cost of financing as well as the risks of refinancing maturing debt. In addition, our borrowing costs can be affected by short and long-term ratings assigned by rating organizations. A decrease in these ratings could limit our access to capital markets and increase our borrowing costs, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.
Some of our customers and counterparties are highly leveraged. Consolidations in some of the industries in which our customers operate have created larger customers, some of which are highly leveraged and facing increased competition and continued credit market volatility. These factors have caused some customers to be less profitable and increased our exposure to credit risk. A significant adverse change in the financial and/or credit position of a customer or counterparty could require us to assume greater credit risk relating to that customer or counterparty and could limit our ability to collect receivables. This could have an adverse impact on our financial condition and liquidity.
Our results could be adversely impacted as a result of increased pension, labor, and people-related expenses.
Inflationary pressures and any shortages in the labor market could increase labor costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated operating results or financial condition. Our labor costs include the cost of providing employee benefits in the United States, Canada and other foreign jurisdictions, including pension, health and welfare, and severance benefits. Any declines in market returns could adversely impact the funding of pension plans, the assets of which are invested in a diversified portfolio of equity and fixed-income securities and other investments. Additionally, the annual costs of benefits vary with increased costs of health care and the outcome of collectively-bargained wage and benefit agreements.
Furthermore, we may be subject to increased costs or experience adverse effects to our operating results if we are unable to renew collectively bargained agreements on satisfactory terms, our financial condition and ability to meet the needs of our customers could be materially and adversely affected if strikes or work stoppages and interruptions occur as a result of delayed negotiations with union-represented employees both in and outside of the United States.
Volatility in the market value of all or a portion of the derivatives we use to manage exposures to fluctuations in commodity prices may cause volatility in our operating results and net income.
We use commodity futures and options to partially hedge the price of certain input costs, including dairy products, coffee beans, meat products, wheat, corn products, soybean oils, sugar and natural gas. Changes in the values of these derivatives are currently recorded in net income, resulting in volatility in both gross profits and net income. We report these gains and losses in cost of products sold in our consolidated statements of income to the extent we utilize the underlying input in our manufacturing process. We report these gains and losses in the unallocated corporate items line in our segment operating results until we sell the underlying products, at which time we reclassify the gains and losses to segment operating results. We may experience volatile earnings as a result of these accounting treatments.
Our net sales and net income may be exposed to exchange rate fluctuations.
We derive a substantial portion of our net sales from international operations. We hold assets and incur liabilities, earn revenue, and pay expenses in a variety of currencies other than the U.S. dollar, primarily the British pound sterling, euro, Australian dollar, Canadian dollar, New Zealand dollar, Brazilian real, Indonesian rupiah, and Chinese renminbi. Since our consolidated financial statements are denominated in U.S. dollars, fluctuations in exchange rates from period to period will have an impact on our reported results. We have implemented currency hedges intended to reduce our exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. However, these hedging strategies may not be successful and any of our unhedged foreign exchange exposures will continue to be subject to market fluctuations. In addition, in certain circumstances, we may incur costs in one currency related to services or products for which we are paid in a different currency. As a result, factors associated with international operations, including changes in foreign currency exchange rates, could significantly affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
We are significantly dependent on information technology and we may be unable to protect our information systems against service interruption, misappropriation of data or breaches of security
We rely on information technology networks and systems, including the Internet, to process, transmit, and store electronic and financial information, to manage a variety of business processes and activities, and to comply with regulatory, legal, and tax requirements. We also depend on our information technology infrastructure for digital marketing activities and for electronic communications among our locations, personnel, customers, and suppliers. These information technology systems, some of which are managed by third parties, may be susceptible to damage, invasions, disruptions, or shutdowns due to hardware failures, computer viruses, hacker attacks and other cybersecurity risks, telecommunication failures, user errors, catastrophic events or other factors. If our information technology systems suffer severe damage, disruption, or shutdown, by unintentional or malicious actions of employees and contractors or by cyber-attacks, and our business continuity plans do not effectively resolve the issues in a timely manner, we could experience business disruptions, reputational damage, transaction errors, processing inefficiencies, the leakage of confidential information, and the loss of customers and sales, causing our product sales, financial condition, and operating results to be adversely affected and the reporting of our financial results to be delayed.
In addition, if we are unable to prevent security breaches or disclosure of non-public information, we may suffer financial and reputational damage, litigation or remediation costs or penalties because of the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information belonging to us or to our partners, customers, consumers, or suppliers.
Misuse, leakage or falsification of information could result in violations of data privacy laws and regulations, damage to the reputation and credibility of the Company, loss of opportunities to acquire or divest of businesses or brands and loss of ability to commercialize products developed through research and development efforts and, therefore, could have a negative impact on net operating revenues. In addition, we may suffer financial and reputational damage because of lost or misappropriated confidential information belonging to us, our current or former employees, or to our suppliers or consumers, and may become subject to legal action and increased regulatory oversight. The Company could also be required to spend significant financial and other resources to remedy the damage caused by a security breach or to repair or replace networks and information systems.
Our intellectual property rights are valuable, and any inability 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 aspect of our business. We attempt to protect our intellectual property rights through a combination of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws, 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 trademarks, products, new features of our products, or our technology, 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 intellectual property rights of others that may cover some of our technology, brands or products. Any litigation regarding patents or other intellectual property could be costly and time-consuming and could divert the attention of our management and key personnel from our business operations. Third-party claims of intellectual property infringement might also require us to enter into costly license agreements. We also may be subject to significant damages or injunctions against development and sale of certain products.
Our results of operations could be affected by natural events in the locations in which we or our customers, suppliers or regulators operate.
We may be impacted by severe weather and other geological events, including hurricanes, earthquakes, floods or tsunamis that could disrupt our operations or the operations of our customers, suppliers and regulators. Natural disasters or other disruptions at any of our facilities or our suppliers’ facilities may impair or delay the delivery of our products. Influenza or other pandemics could disrupt production of our products, reduce demand for certain of our products, or disrupt the marketplace in the foodservice or retail environment with consequent material adverse effects on our results of operations. While we insure against certain business interruption risks, we cannot provide any assurance that such insurance will compensate us for any losses incurred as a result of natural or other disasters. To the extent we are unable to, or cannot, financially mitigate the likelihood or potential impact of such events, or effectively manage such events if they occur, particularly when a product is sourced from a single location, there could be a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations, and additional resources could be required to restore our supply chain.
Our level of indebtedness could adversely affect our business.
We have a substantial amount of indebtedness, and are permitted to incur a substantial amount of additional indebtedness, including secured debt. The existing debt together with the incurrence of additional indebtedness could have important consequences. For example, our indebtedness could:
•
limit our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, research and development, debt service requirements, acquisitions and general corporate or other purposes;
•
result in a downgrade to our credit rating;
•
restrict us from making strategic acquisitions or cause us to make non-strategic divestitures;
•
limit our ability to adjust to changing market conditions and place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors who are not as highly leveraged;
•
increase our vulnerability to general economic and industry conditions;
•
make it more difficult for us to make payments on our existing indebtedness;
•
require a substantial portion of cash flows from operations to be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness, thereby reducing our ability to use our cash flow to fund our operations, capital expenditures and future business opportunities; and
•
in the case of any additional indebtedness, exacerbate the risks associated with our substantial financial leverage.
In addition, our credit agreement and indentures governing our indebtedness contain various covenants that limit our ability to engage in specified types of transactions. These covenants will limit our ability to, among other things, incur or permit to exist certain liens or our ability to merge or consolidate with or into, another company, in each case with customary exceptions. There can be no assurance that we will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future debt or equity financings will be available to us to enable us to pay our indebtedness or to fund other needs. As a result, we may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity. There is no assurance that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness on favorable terms, or at all. Any inability to generate sufficient cash flow or to refinance our indebtedness on favorable terms could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
The creditors who hold our debt could also accelerate amounts due in the event that we default, which could potentially trigger a default or acceleration of the maturity of our other debt. If our operating performance declines, we may in the future need to obtain waivers from the required creditors under our indebtedness instruments to avoid being in default. If we breach the covenants under our indebtedness instruments and seek a waiver, we may not be able to obtain a waiver from the required creditors. If this occurs, we would be in default under our indebtedness instruments, the creditors could exercise their rights, as described above, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.
The Sponsors have substantial control over us and may have conflicts of interest with us in the future.
The Sponsors own approximately 51% of our common stock. Six of our 11 directors had been directors of Heinz prior to the closing of the 2015 Merger and remained directors of Kraft Heinz pursuant to the merger agreement. In addition, some of our executive officers, including Bernardo Hees, our Chief Executive Officer, are partners of 3G Capital, one of the Sponsors. As a result, the Sponsors have the potential to exercise influence over management and have substantial control over decisions of our Board of Directors as well as over any action requiring the approval of the holders of our common stock, including adopting any amendments to our charter, electing directors and approving mergers or sales of substantially all of our capital stock or our assets. In addition, to the extent that the Sponsors collectively hold a majority of our common stock, they together would have the power to take shareholder action by written consent to adopt amendments to our charter or take other actions, such as corporate transactions, that require the vote of holders of a majority of our outstanding common stock. The directors designated by the Sponsors may have significant authority to effect decisions affecting our capital structure, including the issuance of additional capital stock, incurrence of additional indebtedness, the implementation of stock repurchase programs and the decision of whether or not to declare dividends. Additionally, the Sponsors are in the business of making investments in companies and may from time to time acquire and hold interests in businesses that compete directly or indirectly with us. The Sponsors may also pursue acquisition opportunities that may be complementary to our business, and, as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us. So long as the Sponsors continue to own a significant amount of our equity, they will continue to be able to strongly influence or effectively control our decisions.
Future sales of our common stock in the public market could cause volatility in the price of our common stock or cause the share price to fall.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that these sales might occur, could depress the market price of our common stock, and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities.
Kraft Heinz, 3G Global Food Holdings LP and Berkshire Hathaway entered into a registration rights agreement requiring us to register for resale under the Securities Act all registrable shares held by 3G Global Food Holdings LP and Berkshire Hathaway, which represents all shares of our common stock held by the Sponsors as of the date of the closing of the 2015 Merger. As of the closing of the 2015 Merger, registrable shares represented approximately 51% of our outstanding common stock on a fully diluted basis. Although the registrable shares are subject to certain holdback and suspension periods, the registrable shares are not subject to a “lock-up” or similar restriction under the registration rights agreement. Accordingly, sales of a large number of registrable shares may be made upon registration of such shares with the SEC in accordance with the terms of the registration rights agreement. Registration and sales of our common stock effected pursuant to the registration rights agreement will increase the number of shares being sold in the public market and may increase the volatility of the price of our common stock.
Our ability to pay regular dividends to our shareholders is subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and may be limited by our debt agreements, limitations under Delaware law.
Although it is currently anticipated that we will continue to pay regular quarterly dividends, any such determination to pay dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will be dependent on then-existing conditions, including our financial condition, income, legal requirements, including limitations under Delaware law and other factors the Board of Directors deems relevant. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, change the amount or frequency of dividends or discontinue the payment of dividends entirely. For these reasons, shareholders will not be able to rely on dividends to receive a return on investment. Accordingly, realization of any gain on shares of our common stock may depend on the appreciation of the price of our common stock, which may never occur.
We may not generate U.S. earnings and profits sufficient for distributions paid to stockholders to be treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
In 2016,distributions made on our stock, including the redemption of $8.3 billion of our 9.00% cumulative compounding preferred stock, Series A (“Series A Preferred Stock”) (which we believe will be treated as a dividend distribution for U.S. federal income tax purposes), significantly exceeded our earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. tax principles) and, therefore, only a portion of our regular 2016 quarterly dividends was treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For purposes of U.S. federal income tax, insofar as our earnings and profits are not sufficient, these distributions would be treated as a return of capital to each stockholder, up to the extent of the stockholder’s tax basis. If a stockholder does not have sufficient tax basis, these distributions could result in taxable gains to the stockholder. Although it is currently anticipated that we will continue to pay regular quarterly dividends, we cannot currently anticipate whether our future earnings and profits will be sufficient for all or a portion of future year distributions to be treated as dividends (as determined under U.S. tax principles). Stockholders should consult their tax advisors for a full understanding of all of the tax consequences of the receipt of dividends, including distributions in excess of our earnings and profits.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2. Properties.
Our corporate co-headquarters are located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Chicago, Illinois. Our co-headquarters are leased and house our executive offices, certain U.S. business units, and our administrative, finance, and human resource functions. We maintain additional owned and leased offices throughout the regions in which we operate.
We manufacture our products in our network of manufacturing and processing facilities located throughout the world. As of December 31, 2016, we operated 87 manufacturing and processing facilities. We own 83 and lease four of these facilities. Our manufacturing and processing facilities count by segment as of December 31, 2016 was:
We maintain all of our manufacturing and processing facilities in good condition and believe they are suitable and are adequate for our present needs. We also enter into co-manufacturing arrangements with third parties if we determine it is advantageous to outsource the production of any of our products.
In the fourth quarter of 2016, we reorganized our segment structure to move our Russia business from the Rest of World segment to the Europe segment. We have reflected this change in the table above. See Note 18, Segment Reporting, to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Several of our current manufacturing and processing facilities are scheduled to be closed within the next year. See Note 3, Integration and Restructuring Expenses, to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
We are routinely involved in legal proceedings, claims, and governmental inquiries, inspections or investigations (“Legal Matters”) arising in the ordinary course of our business.
On April 1, 2015, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) filed a formal complaint against Mondelēz International (formerly known as Kraft Foods Inc.) and Kraft in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, related to activities involving the trading of December 2011 wheat futures contracts. The complaint alleges that Mondelēz International and Kraft (1) manipulated or attempted to manipulate the wheat markets during the fall of 2011, (2) violated position limit levels for wheat futures, and (3) engaged in non-competitive trades by trading both sides of exchange-for-physical Chicago Board of Trade wheat contracts. As previously disclosed by Kraft, these activities arose prior to the October 1, 2012 spin-off of Kraft by Mondelēz International to its shareholders and involve the business now owned and operated by Mondelēz International or its affiliates. The Separation and Distribution Agreement between Kraft and Mondelēz International, dated as of September 27, 2012, governs the allocation of liabilities between Mondelēz International and Kraft and, accordingly, Mondelēz International will predominantly bear the costs of this matter and any monetary penalties or other payments that the CFTC may impose. We do not expect this matter to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or business.
While we cannot predict with certainty the results of Legal Matters in which we are currently involved or may in the future be involved, we do not expect that the ultimate costs to resolve any of the Legal Matters that are currently pending will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
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 NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “KHC”. At February 18, 2017, there were approximately 55,000 holders of record of our common stock.
Our stock began publicly trading on July 6, 2015. Our quarterly highest and lowest market prices are:
Comparison of Cumulative Total Return
The following graph compares the cumulative total return on our common stock with the cumulative total return of the Standard & Poor's (“S&P”) 500 Index and the S&P Consumer Staples Food Products, which we consider to be our peer group. This graph covers the period from July 6, 2015 (the first day our common stock began trading on NASDAQ) through December 30, 2016 (the last trading day of our fiscal year). The graph shows total shareholder return assuming $100 was invested on July 6, 2015 and the dividends were reinvested on a daily basis.
Kraft Heinz
S&P 500
S&P Consumer Staples Food Products
July 6, 2015
$100.00
$100.00
$100.00
December 31, 2015
$102.07
$99.85
$106.15
December 30, 2016
$125.99
$111.79
$115.17
Companies included in the S&P Consumer Staples Food Products index change periodically. During 2016, Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. was removed from the index, therefore it is excluded from the table and chart above.
The above performance graph 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.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities During the Three Months Ended December 31, 2016
Our share repurchase activity for the three months ended December 31, 2016 was:
(a)
Includes the following types of share repurchase activity, when they occur: (1) shares repurchased in connection with the exercise of stock options (including periodic repurchases using accumulated option exercise proceeds), (2) shares tendered by individuals who used shares to pay the related taxes for grants of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) that vested, and (3) shares repurchased related to employee benefit programs (including our annual bonus swap program).
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
Periods Presented:
The 2013 Merger established a new accounting basis for Heinz. Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements present both Predecessor and Successor periods, which relate to the accounting periods preceding and succeeding the completion of the 2013 Merger. The Predecessor and Successor periods are separated by a vertical line to highlight the fact that the financial information for such periods has been prepared under two different historical-cost bases of accounting.
Additionally, on October 21, 2013, our Board of Directors approved a change in our fiscal year-end from the Sunday closest to April 30 to the Sunday closest to December 31. In 2013, as a result of the change in fiscal year-end, the 2013 Merger, and the creation of Hawk, there are three 2013 reporting periods as described below.
The “Successor (Heinz, renamed to The Kraft Heinz Company at the closing of the 2015 Merger) Period” includes:
•
The consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 (a 52 week period, including a full year of Kraft Heinz results);
•
The consolidated financial statements for the year ended January 3, 2016 (a 53 week period, including a full year of Heinz results and post-2015 Merger results of Kraft);
•
The consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 28, 2014 (a 52 week period, including a full year of Heinz results); and
•The period from February 8, 2013 through December 29, 2013 (the “2013 Successor Period”), reflecting:
▪
The creation of Hawk on February 8, 2013 and the activity from February 8, 2013 to June 7, 2013, which related primarily to the issuance of debt and recognition of associated issuance costs and interest expense; and
▪
All activity subsequent to the 2013 Merger. Therefore, the 2013 Successor Period includes 29 weeks of operating activity (June 8, 2013 to December 29, 2013). We indicate in the selected financial data table the weeks of operating activities in this period.
The “Predecessor (H. J. Heinz Company) Period” includes, but is not limited to:
•
The consolidated financial statements of H. J. Heinz Company prior to the 2013 Merger on June 7, 2013, which includes the period from April 29, 2013 through June 7, 2013 (the “2013 Predecessor Period”); this represents six weeks of activity from April 29, 2013 through the 2013 Merger;
•
The consolidated financial statements of H. J. Heinz Company for the fiscal year from April 30, 2012 to April 28, 2013 (“Fiscal 2013”); and
•
The consolidated financial statements of H. J. Heinz Company for the fiscal year from April 28, 2011 to April 29, 2012 (“Fiscal 2012”).
Selected Financial Data:
The following table presents selected consolidated financial data for 2016, 2015, 2014, the 2013 Successor Period, the 2013 Predecessor Period, Fiscal 2013, and Fiscal 2012.
(a)
On December 9, 2016, our Board of Directors approved a change to our fiscal year end from Sunday to Saturday. Effective December 31, 2016, we operate on a 52 or 53-week fiscal year ending on the last Saturday in December in each calendar year. In prior years, we operated on a 52 or 53-week fiscal year ending the Sunday closest to December 31. As a result, we occasionally have a 53rd week in a fiscal year. Our year ended January 3, 2016 includes a 53rd week of activity. See Note 1, Background and Basis of Presentation, to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
(b)
Amounts exclude the operating results as well as any associated impairment charges and losses on sale related to the Company's Shanghai LongFong Foods business in China and U.S. Foodservice frozen desserts business, which were divested in Fiscal 2013.
(c)
Amounts include interest rate swap hedge accounting adjustments of $123 million at April 28, 2013 and $128 million at April 29, 2012. There were no interest rate swaps requiring such hedge accounting adjustments at December 31, 2016, January 3, 2016, December 28, 2014, or December 29, 2013. Additionally, amounts exclude the current portion of long-term debt.
(d)
The increases in net sales, total assets, and long-term debt from December 28, 2014 to January 3, 2016 reflect the impact of the 2015 Merger. See Note 2, Merger and Acquisition, to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
(e)
On March 14, 2012, H. J. Heinz Company’s board of directors authorized a change in fiscal year end from the Wednesday nearest April 30 to the Sunday nearest April 30. This change resulted in a 52 1/2-week-long Fiscal 2012.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Overview
The following discussion 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, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Description of the Company:
We manufacture and market food and beverage products, including condiments and sauces, cheese and dairy, meals, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee, and other grocery products throughout the world.
We manage and report our operating results through four segments. We have three reportable segments defined by geographic region: United States, Canada, and Europe. Our remaining businesses are combined and disclosed as “Rest of World”. Rest of World is comprised of two operating segments: Latin America and AMEA.
In 2016, we reorganized our segments to reflect the following:
•
our Russia business moved from the Rest of World segment to the Europe segment;
•
management of our Global Procurement Office moved from one of our European subsidiaries to our global headquarters, which resulted in moving the related costs from the Europe segment to general corporate expenses; and
•
certain historical Kraft export businesses moved from our United States segment to our Rest of World and Europe segments.
These changes are reflected in all historical periods presented and did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
See Note 18, Segment Reporting, to the consolidated financial statements for additional information on these changes.
Items Affecting Comparability of Financial Results
The 2015 Merger:
We completed the 2015 Merger on July 2, 2015. As a result, 2016 was the first full year of combined Kraft and Heinz results, 2015 included a full year of Heinz results and post-2015 Merger results of Kraft, and 2014 included the results of Heinz only. For comparability, we disclose in this report certain unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, which presents 2015 and 2014 as if the 2015 Merger had been consummated on December 30, 2013 (the first business day of our 2014 fiscal year) and combines the historical results of Heinz and Kraft. See the Supplemental Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information section at the end of this item for additional information.
See Note 1, Background and Basis of Presentation, and Note 2, Merger and Acquisition, to the consolidated financial statements for additional information related to the 2015 Merger.
53rd Week:
On December 9, 2016, our Board of Directors approved a change to our fiscal year end from Sunday to Saturday. Effective December 31, 2016, we operate on a 52 or 53-week fiscal year ending on the last Saturday in December in each calendar year. In prior years, we operated on a 52 or 53-week fiscal year ending the Sunday closest to December 31. As a result, we occasionally have a 53rd week in a fiscal year. Our year ended January 3, 2016 includes a 53rd week of activity.
See Note 1, Background and Basis of Presentation, to the consolidated financial statements for additional information on our change in fiscal year end.
Integration and Restructuring Expenses:
We recorded expenses related to our restructuring activities, including the multi-year program announced following the 2015 Merger (the “Integration Program”), totaling $1.0 billion in 2016, $1.0 billion in 2015, and $637 million in 2014. Integration Program expenses included in these totals were $887 million in 2016 and $829 million in 2015. We expect to incur pre-tax costs of $2.0 billion related to the Integration Program. These costs primarily include severance and employee benefit costs, including cash and non-cash severance, costs to exit facilities, including non-cash costs such as accelerated depreciation, and other costs incurred as a direct result of integration activities related to the 2015 Merger.
Additionally, we anticipate capital expenditures of approximately $1.3 billion related to the Integration Program. As of December 31, 2016, we have incurred $801 million in capital expenditures since the inception of the Integration Program. The Integration Program is designed to reduce costs, integrate, and optimize our combined organization and is expected to achieve $1.7 billion of pre-tax savings by the end of 2017, primarily benefiting the United States and Canada segments. Since the inception of the Integration Program, our cumulative pre-tax savings achieved are approximately $1,175 million.
See Note 3, Integration and Restructuring Expenses, to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Series A Preferred Stock:
On June 7, 2016, we redeemed all outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock for $8.3 billion. The redemption was primarily funded through debt issuances in May 2016, including $5.0 billion and €1.8 billion aggregate principal amounts of notes, as well as other sources of liquidity, including our commercial paper program, U.S. securitization program, and cash on hand. Following the redemption, we no longer pay quarterly Series A Preferred Stock dividends.
See Equity and Dividends within this item, along with Note 11, Debt, and Note 12, Capital Stock, to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Results of Operations
Due to the size of Kraft’s business relative to the size of Heinz’s business prior to the 2015 Merger, and for purposes of comparability, the Results of Operations include certain unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information (the “pro forma financial information”) adjusted to assume that Kraft and Heinz were a combined company for the full year 2015 and for 2014. This pro forma financial information reflects combined historical results, final purchase accounting adjustments, and adjustments to align accounting policies. The pro forma adjustments impacted our consolidated results and all of our segments. There are no pro forma adjustments in 2016 as Kraft and Heinz were a combined company for the entire period. For more information see Supplemental Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.
In addition, we disclose in this report certain non-GAAP financial measures, which, for the prior year periods, are derived from the pro forma financial information. These non-GAAP financial measures assist management in comparing our performance on a consistent basis for purposes of business decision-making by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect our underlying operations. For additional information and reconciliations from our consolidated financial statements see Supplemental Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information and Non-GAAP Financial Measures.
Consolidated Results of Operations
Summary of Results:
Net Sales:
(a)
There were no pro forma adjustments in 2016, as Kraft and Heinz were a combined company for the entire period. See the Supplemental Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information at the end of this item.
(b)
Organic Net Sales is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.
Year Ended December 31, 2016 compared to the Year Ended January 3, 2016:
Net sales increased 44.4% to $26.5 billion in 2016 compared to 2015, primarily driven by the 2015 Merger.
Pro forma net sales decreased 3.5%, primarily due to the unfavorable impacts of foreign currency (2.5 pp), 53rd week of shipments in the prior period (1.2 pp), and divestitures (0.1 pp). Excluding these impacts, Organic Net Sales increased 0.3% due to higher net pricing (0.3 pp) and neutral volume/mix (0.0 pp). Net pricing was higher in Rest of World, United States, and Canada despite deflation in key commodities (which we define as dairy, meat, coffee and nuts) in the United States and Canada, primarily in dairy, coffee, and meats in the United States. These price increases were partially offset by lower net pricing in Europe. Neutral volume/mix was primarily due to declines in meats and foodservice in the United States, partially offset by growth of condiments and sauces globally, and coffee and refrigerated meal combinations in the United States.
Year Ended January 3, 2016 compared to the Year Ended December 28, 2014:
Net sales increased 67.9% to $18.3 billion in 2015 compared to 2014, primarily driven by the 2015 Merger.
Pro forma net sales decreased 5.8%, primarily due to the unfavorable impacts of foreign currency (5.2 pp) and divestitures (0.2 pp), partially offset by the favorable impact of a 53rd week of shipments (1.2 pp). Excluding these impacts, Organic Net Sales declined 1.6% as unfavorable volume/mix (2.6 pp) was partially offset by higher net pricing (1.0 pp). Unfavorable volume/mix was driven primarily by lower shipments in refreshment beverages, frozen meals, foodservice, and boxed dinners in the United States and Canada, partially offset by growth in Rest of World. Net pricing was higher in nearly all segments despite deflation in key commodities in United States and Canada.
Net Income:
(a)
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.
Year Ended December 31, 2016 compared to the Year Ended January 3, 2016:
Operating income increased 132.7% to $6.1 billion in 2016 compared to $2.6 billion in 2015. This increase was primarily driven by the 2015 Merger, as well as the following:
•
Savings from the Integration Program and other restructuring activities and favorable pricing net of key commodity costs in United States and Canada.
•
Non-cash costs of $347 million relating to the fair value adjustment of Kraft’s inventory in purchase accounting in the prior period.
The increase in operating income was partially offset by unfavorable impacts of $188 million from foreign currency and $62 million from a 53rd week of shipments in the prior period.
Net income/(loss) attributable to common shareholders increased $3.7 billion to income of $3.5 billion in 2016 compared to a loss of $266 million in 2015. The increase was due to the growth in operating income, fewer Series A Preferred Stock dividend payments, lower other expense/(income), net, lower interest expense, and a lower effective tax rate, detailed as follows:
•
Series A Preferred Stock dividend cash distributions decreased to $180 million in 2016 compared to $900 million in 2015. This decrease was primarily due to the redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock on June 7, 2016. In addition, due to the December 8, 2015 common stock dividend declaration, we were required to accelerate payment of the March 7, 2016 preferred dividend to December 8, 2015. This resulted in one Series A Preferred Stock dividend payment in the current period compared to five in the prior period.
•
Other expense/(income), net improved to income of $15 million in 2016, compared to expense of $305 million in 2015. The decrease was primarily due to a $234 million nonmonetary currency devaluation loss related to our Venezuelan subsidiary in the prior period and call premiums of $105 million related to our 2015 debt refinancing activities.
•
Interest expense decreased to $1.1 billion in 2016 compared to $1.3 billion in 2015. This decrease was primarily due to a $236 million write-off of debt issuance costs related to 2015 debt refinancing activities and a $227 million loss released from accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) due to the early termination of certain interest rate swaps in the prior period as well as lower interest rates following our debt refinancing in connection with the 2015 Merger. These were partially offset by the assumption of $8.6 billion aggregate principal amount of Kraft’s long-term debt obligations in the 2015 Merger, the issuance of new long-term debt in conjunction with the redemption of our Series A Preferred Stock, and new borrowings under our commercial paper program. See Note 11, Debt, and Note 12, Capital Stock, to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
•
The effective tax rate was 27.5% in 2016, compared to 36.2% in 2015. The change in effective tax rate was primarily driven by higher earnings repatriation charges and the nondeductible nonmonetary currency devaluation loss related to our Venezuelan subsidiary in the prior period, partially offset by lower tax benefits associated with taxes on income of foreign subsidiaries, tax exempt income, and deferred tax effects of statutory rate changes in the current period. See Note 7, Income Taxes, to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of effective tax rates.
Adjusted EBITDA increased 15.4% to $7.8 billion in 2016 compared to 2015, primarily driven by savings from the Integration Program and other restructuring activities and favorable pricing net of key commodity costs, partially offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign currency (3.4 pp) and a 53rd week of shipments in the prior period (approximately 1.5 pp). Segment Adjusted EBITDA results were as follows:
•
United States Segment Adjusted EBITDA growth was primarily driven by savings from the Integration Program and favorable pricing net of key commodity costs, partially offset by volume/mix declines and the impact of a 53rd week of shipments (approximately 1.5 pp) in the prior period.
•
Canada Segment Adjusted EBITDA growth was primarily driven by savings from the Integration Program and favorable pricing net of key commodity costs, partially offset by higher input costs in local currency, unfavorable impact of foreign currency (4.4 pp), and a 53rd week of shipments (approximately 1.5 pp) in the prior period.
•
Europe Segment Adjusted EBITDA decreased primarily due to unfavorable impact of foreign currency (6.5 pp), lower pricing, impact of a 53rd week of shipments (approximately 1.0 pp) in the prior period as well as an increase in marketing investments, partially offset by savings in manufacturing costs.
•
Rest of World Segment Adjusted EBITDA decreased due to unfavorable impact of foreign currency (17.4 pp), increased marketing investments, and a 53rd week of shipments (approximately 1.0 pp) in the prior period, partially offset by organic sales growth.
Year Ended January 3, 2016 compared to the Year Ended December 28, 2014:
Operating income increased 68.3% to $2.6 billion in 2015 compared to 2014 driven primarily by the 2015 Merger, as well as a$64 million favorable impact due to a 53rd week of shipments in 2015, which were partially offset by the following:
•
Integration Program and other restructuring expenses, merger costs, and depreciation and amortization expense that were higher in 2015 than 2014.
•
Non-cash costs of $347 million relating to the fair value adjustment of Kraft’s inventory in purchase accounting in 2015.
•
Unfavorable impact from foreign currency of $284 million.
•
Nonmonetary currency devaluation loss of $49 million related to the write-down of inventory for our Venezuelan subsidiary in 2015.
Net income/(loss) attributable to common shareholders decreased $203 million to a loss of $266 million in 2015 compared to a loss of $63 million in 2014. The decrease was due to higher interest expense, higher other expense/(income), net, more Series A Preferred Stock dividend payments, and a higher effective tax rate, which, combined, more than offset growth in operating income. These drivers are detailed as follows:
•
Interest expense increased to $1.3 billion in 2015 compared to $686 million in 2014. This increase was primarily due to a $236 million write-off of debt issuance costs related to 2015 debt refinancing activities and a $227 million loss released from accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) due to the early termination of certain interest rate swap contracts. The remaining increase was due to the assumption of $8.6 billion aggregate principal amount of Kraft’s long-term debt obligations in the 2015 Merger, partially offset by interest savings following our 2015 debt refinancing activities.
•
Other expense/(income), net increased to $305 million in 2015 compared to $79 million in 2014. This increase was primarily due to a $234 million nonmonetary currency devaluation loss related to our Venezuelan subsidiary and call premiums of $105 million related to our 2015 debt refinancing activities, compared to currency losses of $99 million in the prior year.
•
Series A Preferred Stock dividend cash distributions increased to $900 million in 2015 compared to $720 million in 2014. Due to the December 8, 2015 common stock dividend declaration, we were required to accelerate payment of the Series A Preferred Stock dividend from March 7, 2016 to December 8, 2015. Accordingly, there were two cash distributions for Series A Preferred Stock during the fourth quarter of 2015. This resulted in five Series A Preferred Stock dividend payments in 2015 compared to four payments in 2014.
•
The effective tax rate was 36.2% in 2015 compared to 16.3% in 2014, primarily driven by higher earnings repatriation charges and the nondeductible nonmonetary currency devaluation loss related to our Venezuelan subsidiary in 2015, partially offset by increased benefits from statutory tax rate changes. See Note 7, Income Taxes, to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of effective tax rates.
Adjusted EBITDA increased 3.3% to $6.7 billion in 2015 compared to 2014, driven primarily by savings from the Integration Program and other restructuring activities, favorable pricing net of key commodity costs, and the benefit of a 53rd week of shipments (approximately 1.0 pp), partially offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign currency (6.3 pp) and unfavorable volume/mix. Segment Adjusted EBITDA results were as follows:
•
United States Segment Adjusted EBITDA growth was primarily driven by favorable pricing net of key commodity costs, savings from the Integration Program and other restructuring activities, and the favorable impact of a 53rd week of shipments (approximately 1.0 pp), partially offset by unfavorable volume/mix.
•
Rest of World Segment Adjusted EBITDA growth was primarily driven by savings from restructuring activities and other ongoing productivity efforts as well as the favorable impact of a 53rd week of shipments (approximately 1.0 pp), partially offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign currency (27.6 pp) and higher local input costs.
•
Canada Segment Adjusted EBITDA decreased primarily due to the unfavorable impact of foreign currency (14.6 pp), unfavorable volume/mix, and higher input costs in local currency, partially offset by savings from the Integration Program and other restructuring activities, lower marketing spending, and the favorable impact of a 53rd week of shipments (approximately 1.0 pp).
•
Europe Segment Adjusted EBITDA decreased primarily due to unfavorable impact of foreign currency (15.0 pp) and increased marketing investments partially offset by lower input costs, savings from restructuring activities and other ongoing productivity efforts, favorable product mix and the favorable impact of a 53rd week of shipments (approximately 1.0 pp).
Diluted EPS:
(a)
Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.
Year Ended December 31, 2016 compared to the Year Ended January 3, 2016:
Diluted EPS increased to earnings of $2.81 in 2016 compared to a loss of $0.34 in 2015. The increase in diluted earnings/(loss) per share was driven primarily by the net income/(loss) attributable to common shareholders factors discussed above, partially offset by the effect of an increase in the weighted average shares of common stock outstanding compared to the prior period and a 53rd week of shipments in the prior period.
(a)
There were no pro forma adjustments in 2016, as Kraft and Heinz were a combined company for the entire period. See the Supplemental Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information at the end of this item.
(b)
Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.
Adjusted EPS increased 52.1% to $3.33 in 2016 compared to $2.19 in 2015, primarily driven by Adjusted EBITDA growth despite the unfavorable impact of foreign currency, fewer Series A Preferred Stock dividends and a lower effective tax rate, partially offset by higher interest expense, higher other expense/(income), net, and a 53rd week of shipments in the prior period.
Year Ended January 3, 2016 compared to the Year Ended December 28, 2014:
Diluted EPS decreased to a loss of $0.34 in 2015 compared to a loss of $0.17 in 2014. The decrease was driven primarily by the net income/(loss) attributable to common shareholders factors discussed above, partially offset by the effect of an increase in the weighted average shares of common stock outstanding following the 2015 Merger and a 53rd week of shipments.
(a)
There were no pro forma adjustments in 2016, as Kraft and Heinz were a combined company for the entire period. See the Supplemental Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information at the end of this item.
(b)
Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.
Adjusted EPS increased 10.6% to $2.19 in 2015 compared to $1.98 in 2014, driven primarily by higher Adjusted EBITDA despite the unfavorable impact of foreign currency, lower other expense/(income), net, lower interest expense, and a 53rd week of shipments, partially offset by a higher effective tax rate.
Results of Operations by Segment
Management evaluates segment performance based on several factors including net sales and segment adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (“Segment Adjusted EBITDA”). Management uses Segment Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources. Segment Adjusted EBITDA is a tool that can assist management and investors in comparing our performance on a consistent basis by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect our underlying operations. These items include depreciation and amortization (including amortization of postretirement benefit plans prior service credits), equity award compensation expense, integration and restructuring expenses, merger costs, unrealized gains/(losses) on commodity hedges (the unrealized gains and losses are recorded in general corporate expenses until realized; once realized, the gains and losses are recorded in the applicable segment’s operating results), impairment losses, gains/(losses) on the sale of a business, and nonmonetary currency devaluation (e.g., remeasurement gains and losses). In addition, consistent with the manner in which management evaluates segment performance and allocates resources, Segment Adjusted EBITDA includes the operating results of Kraft on a pro forma basis, as if Kraft had been acquired as of December 30, 2013.
Net Sales:
Pro Forma Net Sales:
(a)
There were no pro forma adjustments in 2016, as Kraft and Heinz were a combined company for the entire period. See the Supplemental Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information at the end of this item.
Organic Net Sales:
(a)
Organic Net Sales is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.
Drivers of the changes in pro forma net sales and Organic Net Sales were:
(a)
There were no pro forma adjustments in 2016, as Kraft and Heinz were a combined company for the entire period. See the Supplemental Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information at the end of this item.
Adjusted EBITDA:
United States:
(a)
There were no pro forma adjustments in 2016, as Kraft and Heinz were a combined company for the entire period. See the Supplemental Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information at the end of this item.
(b)
Organic Net Sales is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.
Year Ended December 31, 2016 compared to the Year Ended January 3, 2016:
Net sales increased 70.3% to $18.6 billion primarily driven by the 2015 Merger. Pro forma net sales decreased 1.5% due to a 53rd week of shipments in the prior period (1.2 pp). Organic Net Sales decreased 0.3% due to unfavorable volume/mix (0.5 pp) partially offset by higher net pricing (0.2 pp). Unfavorable volume/mix was primarily due to declines in meats, foodservice, ready-to-drink beverages, and nuts that were partially offset by gains in coffee and innovation-related gains in refrigerated meal combinations and boxed dinners. Net pricing was higher despite deflation in key commodities, primarily in dairy, coffee, and meats.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 25.0% primarily due to savings from the Integration Program and favorable pricing net of key commodity costs, partially offset by volume/mix declines across several categories and the impact of a 53rd week of shipments (approximately 1.5 pp) in the prior period.
Year Ended January 3, 2016 compared to the Year Ended December 28, 2014:
Net sales increased 202.7% to $10.9 billion primarily driven by the 2015 Merger. Pro forma net sales decreased 2.1% despite the favorable impact from a 53rd week of shipments (1.2 pp). Organic Net Sales decreased 3.3% primarily due to unfavorable volume/mix (3.3 pp). Net pricing was neutral across most categories despite deflation in key commodities. Unfavorable volume/mix was driven by lower shipments in ready-to-drink beverages, powdered beverages, and boxed dinners that reflected category trends and the volume loss associated with higher net pricing, category, and market share declines in frozen meals, and lower foodservice shipments. These declines were partially offset by favorable volume/mix primarily from innovation in refrigerated meal combinations and coffee.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 6.1% primarily driven by favorable pricing net of key commodity costs, savings from the Integration Program and other restructuring activities, and the favorable impact of a 53rd week of shipments (approximately 1.0 pp), partially offset by unfavorable volume/mix.
Canada:
(a)
There were no pro forma adjustments in 2016, as Kraft and Heinz were a combined company for the entire period. See the Supplemental Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information at the end of this item.
(b)
Organic Net Sales is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.
Year Ended December 31, 2016 compared to the Year Ended January 3, 2016:
Net sales increased 60.7% to $2.3 billion primarily driven by the 2015 Merger. Pro forma net sales decreased 3.2% due to the unfavorable impact of foreign currency (3.5 pp) and a 53rd week of shipments in the prior period (1.1 pp). Organic Net Sales increased 1.4% driven by favorable volume/mix (0.8 pp) and higher net pricing (0.6 pp). Favorable volume/mix reflected higher shipments of condiments and sauces and gains in foodservice that were partially offset by lower shipments in cheese versus the prior year. Price increases were driven by significant pricing actions taken to offset higher input costs in local currency.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 18.7% despite the unfavorable impact of foreign currency (4.4 pp). This increase was primarily driven by Integration Program savings and favorable pricing net of key commodity costs, partially offset by higher input costs in local currency and the impact of a 53rd week of shipments (approximately 1.5 pp) in the prior period.
Year Ended January 3, 2016 compared to the Year Ended December 28, 2014:
Net sales increased 127.7% to $1.4 billion primarily driven by the 2015 Merger. Pro forma net sales decreased 15.1% primarily due to the unfavorable impact of foreign currency (13.4 pp), partially offset by the favorable impact of a 53rd week of shipments (1.1 pp). Organic Net Sales decreased 2.8% primarily due to unfavorable volume/mix (5.0 pp), partially offset by higher net pricing (2.2 pp). Unfavorable volume/mix reflected lower shipments in foodservice, refreshment beverages, and infant nutrition and the volume impact of higher net pricing in on-demand coffee and boxed dinners. Higher net pricing in most categories reflected pricing actions related to higher input costs in local currency.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA decreased 12.0% primarily due to the unfavorable impact of foreign currency (14.6 pp). Excluding the currency impact, Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased primarily due to savings from the Integration Program and other restructuring activities, lower marketing spending, and the favorable impact of a 53rd week of shipments (approximately 1.0 pp), which were partially offset by unfavorable volume/mix and higher input costs in local currency.
Europe:
(a)
There were no pro forma adjustments in 2016, as Kraft and Heinz were a combined company for the entire period. See the Supplemental Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information at the end of this item.
(b)
Organic Net Sales is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.
Year Ended December 31, 2016 compared to the Year Ended January 3, 2016:
Net sales decreased 10.9% to $2.4 billion, reflecting the unfavorable impacts of foreign currency, divestitures, and a 53rd week of shipments in the prior period. Pro forma net sales decreased 11.0% partially due to the unfavorable impacts of foreign currency (5.8 pp), divestitures (1.6 pp), and a 53rd week of shipments in the prior period (1.0 pp). Organic Net Sales decreased 2.6% due to lower net pricing (2.5 pp) and unfavorable volume/mix (0.1 pp). Lower net pricing was primarily due to increased promotional activity across most categories versus the prior period. Unfavorable volume/mix was primarily due to lower shipments across most categories in the UK partially offset by growth in condiments and sauces.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA decreased 16.7% partially due to the unfavorable impact of foreign currency (6.5 pp). Excluding the currency impact, the Segment Adjusted EBITDA decline was primarily due to lower net pricing, the impact of a 53rd week of shipments (approximately 1.0 pp) in the prior period as well as an increase in marketing investments, partially offset by savings in manufacturing costs.
Year Ended January 3, 2016 compared to the Year Ended December 28, 2014:
Net sales and pro forma net sales decreased 17.8% to $2.7 billion, including the unfavorable impacts of foreign currency (13.6 pp) and divestitures (1.9 pp), partially offset by favorable impact of a 53rd week of shipments (1.0 pp). Organic Net Sales decreased 3.3% as unfavorable volume/mix (4.9 pp) was partially offset by higher net pricing (1.6 pp). Higher net pricing reflected lower promotional spending in beans and price increases in ketchup. Unfavorable volume/mix was driven primarily by the volume impact of higher net pricing in beans and ketchup, declines in infant nutrition in Italy, and increased competitive activity in soup, partially offset by growth in frozen potatoes.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA decreased 0.1% primarily due to the unfavorable impact of foreign currency (15.0 pp) and increased marketing investments, partially offset by lower input costs, savings from restructuring activities and other ongoing productivity efforts, favorable product mix, and the favorable impact of a 53rd week of shipments (approximately 1.0 pp).
Rest of World:
(a)
There were no pro forma adjustments in 2016, as Kraft and Heinz were a combined company for the entire period. See the Supplemental Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information at the end of this item.
(b)
Organic Net Sales is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.
Year Ended December 31, 2016 compared to the Year Ended January 3, 2016:
Net sales decreased 4.0% to $3.2 billion, reflecting the unfavorable impacts of foreign currency and a 53rd week of shipments in the prior period, which were partially offset by the inclusion of twelve months of the Kraft business in the current period. Pro forma net sales decreased 8.7% due to the unfavorable impacts of foreign currency (13.2 pp, including a 10.5 pp impact from the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar) and a 53rd week of shipments in the prior period (1.4 pp). Organic Net Sales increased 5.9% driven by higher net pricing (3.2 pp) and favorable volume/mix (2.7 pp). Higher net pricing was driven primarily by pricing actions to offset higher input costs in local currency, primarily in Latin America. Favorable volume/mix was primarily driven by growth in condiments and sauces across all regions, partially offset by declines in nutritional beverages in India.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA decreased 11.5% primarily due to the unfavorable impact of foreign currency (17.4 pp, including a 14.0 pp impact from the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar). Excluding the currency impact, Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased, primarily driven by organic sales growth that was partially offset by increased marketing investments and a 53rd week of shipments (approximately 1.0 pp) in the prior period.
Year Ended January 3, 2016 compared to the Year Ended December 28, 2014:
Net sales decreased 4.1% to $3.3 billion, reflecting the unfavorable impact of foreign currency, which was partially offset by the inclusion of six months of the Kraft business in 2015. Pro forma net sales decreased 7.0%, reflecting the unfavorable impact of foreign currency (19.1 pp, including 7.5 pp from the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar), partially offset by the favorable impact of a 53rd week of shipments (1.3 pp). Organic Net Sales increased 10.8%, driven by higher net pricing (5.2 pp) and favorable volume/mix (5.6 pp). Higher net pricing was driven by pricing actions taken in response to the hyper-inflationary economy in Venezuela as well as pricing actions related to higher input costs in local currencies. Favorable volume/mix was driven primarily by growth in condiments and sauces across all businesses as well as sauces in Asia, partially offset by declines in nutritional beverages in India.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 1.4%, primarily driven by savings from restructuring activities and other ongoing productivity efforts as well as the favorable impact of a 53rd week of shipments (approximately 1.0 pp), partially offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign currency (27.6 pp, including the impact of the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar) and higher local currency input costs.
Critical Accounting Policies
Note 1, Background and Basis of Presentation, to the consolidated financial statements includes a summary of the significant accounting policies we used to prepare our consolidated financial statements. The following is a review of the more significant assumptions and estimates, as well as the accounting policies we used to prepare our consolidated financial statements.
Principles of Consolidation:
The consolidated financial statements include The Kraft Heinz Company, as well as our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions are eliminated.
Revenue Recognition:
We recognize revenues when title and risk of loss pass to our customers. We record revenues net of consumer incentives and trade promotions and include all shipping and handling charges billed to customers. We also record provisions for estimated product returns and customer allowances as reductions to revenues within the same period that the revenue is recognized. We base these estimates principally on historical and current period experience factors.
Advertising, Consumer Incentives, and Trade Promotions:
We promote our products with advertising, consumer incentives, and trade promotions.
Advertising expenses are recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”). We recorded advertising expense of $708 million in 2016, $464 million in 2015, and $241 million in 2014. For interim reporting purposes, we charge advertising to operations as a percentage of estimated full year sales activity and marketing costs. We review and adjust these estimates each quarter based on actual experience and other information.
Consumer incentives and trade promotions include, but are not limited to, discounts, coupons, rebates, in-store display incentives, and volume-based incentives. Consumer incentive and trade promotion activities are recorded as a reduction to revenues based on amounts estimated as being due to customers and consumers at the end of a period. We base these estimates principally on historical utilization and redemption rates. We review and adjust these estimates each quarter based on actual experience and other information.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets:
The carrying value of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets was $97.4 billion at December 31, 2016 and $98.9 billion at January 3, 2016. These balances are largely attributable to asset valuations performed in connection with the 2013 Merger and the 2015 Merger. See Note 2, Merger and Acquisition, and Note 6, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, for additional information.
We test goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment at least annually in the second quarter or when a triggering event occurs. The first step of the goodwill impairment test compares the reporting unit’s estimated fair value with its carrying value. If the carrying value of a reporting unit’s net assets exceeds its fair value, the second step would be applied 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 would be considered impaired and would be reduced to its implied fair value. We test indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment by comparing the fair value of each intangible asset with its carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds fair value, the intangible asset would be considered impaired and would be reduced to fair value.
We performed our annual impairment testing in the second quarter of 2016. No impairment of goodwill was reported as a result of our 2016 annual goodwill impairment test; however, we noted that one reporting unit within the Europe segment had an estimated fair value in excess of its carrying value of less than 10%. The goodwill carrying value of this reporting unit was $48 million as of April 4, 2016 (our goodwill impairment testing date). In addition, there was no impairment of indefinite-lived intangibles as a result of our testing; however, we noted that seven brands each had excess fair value over its carrying value of less than 10%. These brands had an aggregate carrying value of $6.1 billion at April 4, 2016 (our indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment testing date). Of the $6.1 billion aggregate carrying value, $5.6 billion was attributable to Velveeta, Lunchables, Maxwell House, and Cracker Barrel.
Fair value determinations require considerable judgment and are sensitive to changes in underlying assumptions, estimates and market factors. Estimating the fair value of individual reporting units and indefinite-lived intangible assets requires us to make assumptions and estimates regarding our future plans, as well as industry and economic conditions. These assumptions and estimates include projected revenues and income growth rates, terminal growth rates, competitive and consumer trends, market-based discount rates, and other market factors. If current expectations of future growth rates are not met or market factors outside of our control, such as discount rates, change significantly, then one or more reporting units or intangible assets might become impaired in the future. Additionally, as goodwill and intangible assets associated with recently acquired businesses are recorded on the balance sheet at their estimated acquisition date fair values, those amounts are more susceptible to an impairment risk if business operating results or macroeconomic conditions deteriorate.
Postemployment Benefit Plans:
We maintain various retirement plans for the majority of our employees. These include pension benefits, postretirement health care benefits, and defined contribution benefits. The cost of these plans is charged to expense over the working life of the covered employees. We generally amortize net actuarial gains or losses in future periods within cost of products sold and SG&A.
For our postretirement benefit plans, our 2017 health care cost trend rate assumption will be 6.3%. We established this rate based upon our most recent experience as well as our expectation for health care trend rates going forward. We anticipate the weighted average assumed ultimate trend rate will be 4.9%. The year in which the ultimate trend rate is reached varies by plan, ranging between the years 2022 and 2027. Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the health care plans. A one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have had the following effects, increase/(decrease) in cost and obligation, as of December 31, 2016 (in millions):
Our 2017 discount rate assumption is 4.0% for service cost and 3.1% for interest cost for our postretirement plans. Our 2017 discount rate assumption is 4.3% for service cost and 3.6% for interest cost for our U.S. pension plans and 3.2% for service cost and 2.3% for interest cost for our non-U.S. pension plans. We model these discount rates using a portfolio of high quality, fixed-income debt instruments with durations that match the expected future cash flows of the plans. Changes in our discount rates were primarily the result of changes in bond yields year-over-year.
In 2016, we changed the method we use to estimate the service cost and interest cost components of net pension cost/(benefit) and net postretirement benefit plans cost resulting in a decrease to these cost components. We now use a full yield curve approach to estimate service cost and interest cost by applying the specific spot rates along the yield curve used to determine the benefit obligation to the relevant projected cash flows. Previously, we estimated service cost and interest cost using a single weighted-average discount rate derived from the yield curve used to measure the benefit obligation at the beginning of the period. We made this change to provide a more precise measurement of service cost and interest cost by improving the correlation between projected benefit cash flows and the corresponding spot yield curve rates. This change will not affect the measurement of our total benefit obligations. We accounted for this change prospectively as a change in accounting estimate.
Our 2017 expected rate of return on plan assets is 5.7% for our U.S. pension plans and 4.8% for our non-U.S. pension plans. We determine our expected rate of return on plan assets from the plan assets’ historical long-term investment performance, current and future asset allocation, and estimates of future long-term returns by asset class. We attempt to maintain our target asset allocation by re-balancing between asset classes as we make contributions and monthly benefit payments.
While we do not anticipate further changes in the 2017 assumptions for our U.S. and non-U.S. pension and postretirement benefit plans, as a sensitivity measure, a 100-basis point change in our discount rate or a 100-basis-point change in the expected rate of return on plan assets would have had the following effects, increase/(decrease) in cost, as of December 31, 2016 (in millions):
Income Taxes:
We compute our annual tax rate based on the statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities available to us in the various jurisdictions in which we earn income. Significant judgment is required in determining our annual tax rate and in evaluating the uncertainty of our tax positions. We recognize a benefit for tax positions that we believe will more likely than not be sustained upon examination. The amount of benefit recognized is the largest amount of benefit that we believe has more than a 50% probability of being realized upon settlement. We regularly monitor our tax positions and adjust the amount of recognized tax benefit based on our evaluation of information that has become available since the end of our last financial reporting period. The annual tax rate includes the impact of these changes in recognized tax benefits. When adjusting the amount of recognized tax benefits, we do not consider information that has become available after the balance sheet date, however we do disclose the effects of new information whenever those effects would be material to our financial statements. Unrecognized tax benefits represent the difference between the amount of benefit taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and the amount of benefit recognized for financial reporting. These unrecognized tax benefits are recorded primarily within other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
We record valuation allowances to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. When assessing the need for valuation allowances, we consider future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. Should a change in circumstances lead to a change in judgment about the realizability of deferred tax assets in future years, we would adjust related valuation allowances in the period that the change in circumstances occurs, along with a corresponding increase or charge to income. The resolution of tax reserves and changes in valuation allowances could be material to our results of operations for any period, but is not expected to be material to our financial position.
We have a significant amount of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries that are considered to be indefinitely reinvested. We do not recognize U.S. taxes on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries which are considered to be indefinitely reinvested or which may be remitted tax free in certain situations. We do recognize U.S. taxes on undistributed earnings in foreign subsidiaries which are currently not considered to be indefinitely reinvested.
We intend to continue to reinvest the majority of our foreign subsidiary earnings to support our priorities for growth in international markets and our current plans do not demonstrate a need to repatriate them to fund our U.S. operations. If we decided at a later date to repatriate these funds to the U.S., we would be required to provide taxes on these amounts based on the applicable U.S. tax rates net of credits for foreign taxes already paid. It is not practicable to determine the deferred tax liability associated with the indefinitely reinvested undistributed earnings. We believe it is not practicable because there is a significant amount of uncertainty with respect to the tax impact. This uncertainty results from the significant judgment required to analyze the amount of foreign tax credits attributable to the earnings, the ability to use foreign tax credits to offset the U.S. tax on the earnings, the potential timing of any distributions, as well as the local withholding tax and other indirect tax consequences that may arise due to the potential distribution of these earnings.
New Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 1, Background and Basis of Presentation, to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of new accounting pronouncements.
Contingencies
See Note 16, Commitments and Contingencies, to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of contingencies.
Commodity Trends
We purchase and use large quantities of commodities, including dairy products, meat products, coffee beans, nuts, tomatoes, potatoes, soybean and vegetable oils, sugar and other sweeteners, corn products, and wheat to manufacture our products. In addition, we purchase and use significant quantities of resins, metals, and cardboard to package our products and natural gas to operate our facilities. We continuously monitor worldwide supply and cost trends of these commodities.
Markets for our key commodities were volatile in 2016. We expect commodity cost volatility to continue in 2017. We manage commodity cost volatility primarily through pricing and risk management strategies. As a result of these risk management strategies, our commodity costs may not immediately correlate with market price trends.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We believe that cash generated from our operating activities, our Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below), our securitization programs, and our commercial paper program will provide sufficient liquidity to meet our working capital needs, expected Integration Program and restructuring expenditures, planned capital expenditures, contributions to our postemployment benefit plans, future contractual obligations, and payment of our anticipated quarterly dividends. We intend to use our cash on hand and our commercial paper program for daily funding requirements. Overall, we do not expect any negative effects on our funding sources that would have a material effect on our short-term or long-term liquidity.
Cash Flow Activity for 2016 compared to 2015:
Net Cash Provided by/Used for Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities was $5.2 billion in 2016 compared to $2.5 billion in 2015. The increase in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to an increase in operating income as a result of the 2015 Merger.
Changes in current assets and liabilities were favorable in 2016, driven primarily by favorable changes in accounts payable and receivables. Changes in accounts payable were favorable due to payment term extensions from vendor renegotiations. Changes in receivables were favorable primarily as a result of increasing our U.S. securitization program in May 2016. These favorable changes were partially offset by unfavorable changes in other current liabilities, and to a lesser degree, inventories. The change in other current liabilities was driven primarily by increased payments in 2016 related to income taxes.
Net Cash Provided by/Used for Investing Activities:
Net cash used for investing activities was $1.1 billion in 2016 compared to $9.7 billion in 2015. The decrease in cash used for investing activities was driven by payments to acquire Kraft in connection with the 2015 Merger. The decrease in cash used for investing activities was partially offset by an increase in capital expenditures to $1.2 billion in 2016, which was primarily due to integration and restructuring activities in the United States. We expect 2017 capital expenditures to be approximately $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures required for our ongoing integration and restructuring activities. Cash used for investing activities also reflected lower proceeds from cash settlements of net investment hedges in 2016 than in 2015.
Net Cash Provided by/Used for Financing Activities:
Net cash used for financing activities was $4.6 billion in 2016 compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $10.2 billion in 2015. This decrease in cash provided by financing activities was primarily driven by proceeds of $10.0 billion from our issuance of common stock to the Sponsors in connection with the 2015 Merger, the Series A Preferred Stock redemption in June 2016, and the impact of five common stock cash distributions in 2016 compared to two such cash distributions in 2015. The decrease in cash provided by financing activities was partially offset by net proceeds from our long-term debt issuances in May 2016 and net proceeds from our issuance of commercial paper, which were our primary sources of funding for the Series A Preferred Stock redemption. Additionally, in the prior year we had a benefit from proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt, which were largely offset by repayments of long-term debt. Our cash used for financing activities in 2016 also reflected the impact of one cash distribution related to our Series A Preferred Stock in 2016 compared to five such cash distributions in 2015. See Equity and Dividends within this item for further information on cash distributions related to common stock and Series A Preferred Stock.
Cash Flow Activity for 2015 compared to 2014:
Net Cash Provided by/Used for Operating Activities:
Cash provided by operating activities was $2.5 billion in 2015 compared to $2.1 billion in 2014. The increase in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to an increase in operating income in 2015 as a result of the 2015 Merger, partially offset by an increase in pension contributions and working capital improvements that were less pronounced than 2014.
Net Cash Provided by/Used for Investing Activities:
Net cash used in investing activities was $9.7 billion in 2015 compared to $349 million in 2014. The increase in cash used in investing activities was primarily driven by our payments to acquire Kraft and also included proceeds from our net investment hedges of $488 million. Capital expenditures were $648 million in 2015.
Net Cash Provided by/Used for Financing Activities:
Net cash provided by financing activities was $10.2 billion in 2015 compared to net cash used of $1.8 billion in 2014. The $10.2 billion of cash provided by financing activities was primarily driven by $10.0 billion proceeds from issuance of common stock to the Sponsors. Our cash provided by financing activities also included $14.8 billion proceeds from issuances of long-term debt partially offset by long-term debt repayments of $12.3 billion and the payment of our quarterly common stock cash dividend starting in the third quarter of 2015. Additionally, related to the Series A Preferred Stock we made cash distributions of $900 million in 2015, which reflected five dividend payments compared to cash distributions of $720 million in 2014, which reflected four dividend payments.
Cash Held by International Subsidiaries:
At December 31, 2016, approximately $1.3 billion of cash and cash equivalents were held by international subsidiaries.
We have provided for a deferred tax liability of $21 million for undistributed earnings not considered to be indefinitely reinvested.
We consider the unremitted earnings of our international subsidiaries that have not been previously taxed in the United States to be indefinitely reinvested. For those undistributed earnings considered to be indefinitely reinvested, our intent is to reinvest these earnings in our international operations, and our current plans do not demonstrate a need to repatriate the accumulated earnings to fund our United States cash requirements. If we decide at a later date to repatriate these earnings to the United States, we would be required to pay taxes on these amounts based on the applicable United States tax rates net of credits for foreign taxes already paid.
Further, certain previously taxed earnings have not yet been remitted and certain intercompany loans have not yet been repaid. As a result, in future periods, we believe that we could remit approximately $2.8 billion of cash to the United States without incurring any additional material tax expense.
Total Debt:
In 2016, together with Kraft Heinz Foods Company, we commenced a commercial paper program. As of December 31, 2016, we had $642 million of commercial paper outstanding, with a weighted average interest rate of 1.074%. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the maximum amount of commercial paper outstanding was $1.2 billion. We had no commercial paper outstanding at January 3, 2016.
We maintain our Senior Credit Facilities comprised of our $4.0 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) and a $600 million senior unsecured loan facility (the “Term Loan Facility” and, together with the Revolving Credit Facility, the “Senior Credit Facilities”). Subject to certain conditions, we may increase the amount of revolving commitments and/or add additional tranches of term loans in a combined aggregate amount of up to $1.0 billion. Our Senior Credit Facilities contain customary representations, covenants, and events of default. At December 31, 2016, $600 million aggregate principal amount of our Term Loan Facility was outstanding. No amounts were drawn on our Revolving Credit Facility at December 31, 2016, at January 3, 2016, or during the years ended December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016.
Our long-term debt, including the current portion, was $31.8 billion at December 31, 2016 and $25.2 billion at January 3, 2016. The increase during the period was driven by new issuances of long-term debt during the second quarter of 2016. We used the net proceeds from these issuances primarily to redeem all outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock for $8.3 billion. Our long-term debt contains customary representations, covenants, and events of default, and we were in compliance with all such covenants at December 31, 2016.
See Note 11, Debt, to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements:
We do not have guarantees or other off-balance sheet financing arrangements that we believe are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenue or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
See Note 13, Financing Arrangements, to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of our accounts receivable securitization and factoring programs.
Aggregate Contractual Obligations:
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations at December 31, 2016 (in millions):
(a)
Amounts represent the expected cash payments of our long-term debt, including interest on variable and fixed rate long-term debt. Interest on variable rate long-term debt is calculated based on interest rates at December 31, 2016.
(b)
Amounts represent the expected cash payments of our capital leases, including expected cash payments of interest expense.
(c)
Operating leases represent the minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating leases.
(d)
We have purchase obligations for materials, supplies, property, plant and equipment, and co-packing, storage and distribution services based on 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. A few of these obligations are long-term and are based on minimum purchase requirements. Certain purchase obligations contain variable pricing components, and, as a result, actual cash payments are expected to fluctuate based on changes in these variable components. Due to the proprietary nature of some of our materials and processes, certain supply contracts contain penalty provisions for early terminations. We do not believe that a material amount of penalties is reasonably likely to be incurred under these contracts based upon historical experience and current expectations. We exclude amounts reflected on the consolidated balance sheet as accounts payable and accrued liabilities from the table above.
(e)
Other long-term liabilities primarily consist of postretirement benefit commitments. Future benefit payments for our postretirement benefit plans through 2026 are expected to be $1.3 billion. We are unable to reliably estimate the timing of the payments beyond 2026. Certain long-term liabilities related to income taxes, insurance accruals, and other accruals included on the consolidated balance sheet are excluded from the above table as we are unable to estimate the timing of payments for these items.
During the second quarter of 2016, we redeemed all outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock, therefore we no longer pay Series A Preferred Stock dividends. See Note 12, Capital Stock, to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Pension contributions were $344 million in 2016. We estimate that 2017 pension contributions will be approximately $150 million to our U.S. plans and approximately $35 million to our non-U.S. plans. Beyond 2017, we are unable to reliably estimate the timing of contributions to our pension plans. Our contributions depend on many factors, including changes in tax, employee benefit, or other laws, tax deductibility, significant differences between expected and actual pension asset performance or interest rates, and other factors. As such, expected pension contributions for 2017 have been excluded from the above table.
At December 31, 2016, the amount of net unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions, including an accrual of related interest and penalties along with positions only impacting the timing of tax benefits, was approximately $395 million. The timing of payments will depend on the progress of examinations with tax authorities. We do not expect a significant tax payment related to these obligations within the next year. We are unable to make a reasonably reliable estimate as to if or when any significant cash settlements with taxing authorities may occur; therefore, we have excluded the amount of net unrecognized tax benefits from the above table.
Equity and Dividends
Series A Preferred Stock:
On June 7, 2016, we redeemed all outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock, therefore we no longer pay Series A Preferred Stock dividends.
Prior to the redemption, we made cash distributions of $180 million in 2016 compared to $900 million in 2015 and $720 million in 2014. Our Series A Preferred Stock entitled holders to a 9.00% annual dividend, to be paid in four dividends, in arrears on each March 7, June 7, September 7, and December 7, in cash. In 2015, there were five dividend payments because, concurrent with the declaration of our common stock dividend on December 8, 2015, we also declared and paid the Series A Preferred Stock dividend that would otherwise have been payable on March 7, 2016. Accordingly, there were no cash distributions related to our Series A Preferred Stock in the first quarter of 2016, resulting in only one dividend payment in 2016 prior to redemption.
See Note 12, Capital Stock, to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of the Series A Preferred Stock.
Common Stock Dividends:
We paid common stock dividends of $3.6 billion in 2016 and $1.3 billion in 2015. No common stock dividends were paid in 2014. Additionally, on February 15, 2017, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.60 per share of common stock, which is payable on March 17, 2017 to shareholders of record on March 3, 2017. The present annualized dividend rate is $2.40 per share of common stock.
The declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors and depends on various factors, including our net income, financial condition, cash requirements, future prospects, and other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant to its analysis and decision making.
Supplemental Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is presented to illustrate the estimated effects of the 2015 Merger, which was consummated on July 2, 2015, and the related equity investments, based on the historical results of operations of Heinz and Kraft. See Note 1, Background and Basis of Presentation, and Note 2, Merger and Acquisition, to the consolidated financial statements for additional information on the 2015 Merger.
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of income for the years ended January 3, 2016 and December 28, 2014 are based on the historical financial statements of Heinz and Kraft after giving effect to the 2015 Merger, related equity investments, and the assumptions and adjustments described in the accompanying notes to these unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of income.
The Kraft Heinz statement of income information for the year ended January 3, 2016 was derived from the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The historical Kraft statement of income includes information for the six months ended June 27, 2015 derived from Kraft’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 7, 2016 and information for the period from June 27, 2015 to July 2, 2015 derived from Kraft’s books and records.
The historical Heinz statement of income information for the year ended December 28, 2014 was derived from the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The historical Kraft statement of income information for the year ended December 28, 2014 was derived from its consolidated financial statements included in Kraft’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2014.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of income are presented as if the 2015 Merger had been consummated on December 30, 2013, the first business day of our 2014 fiscal year, and combine the historical results of Heinz and Kraft. This is consistent with internal management reporting. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of income set forth below primarily give effect to the following assumptions and adjustments:
•
Application of the acquisition method of accounting;
•
The issuance of Heinz common stock to the Sponsors in connection with the equity investments;
•
The pre-closing Heinz share conversion;
•
The exchange of one share of Kraft Heinz common stock for each share of Kraft common stock; and
•
Conformance of accounting policies.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information was prepared using the acquisition method of accounting, which requires, among other things, that assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination be recognized at their fair values as of the completion of the acquisition. We utilized estimated fair values at the 2015 Merger Date to allocate the total consideration exchanged to the net tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. This allocation was final as of July 3, 2016.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with SEC Regulation S-X Article 11 and is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that would have been realized had the transactions been completed as of the dates indicated, nor are they meant to be indicative of our anticipated combined future results. In addition, the accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of income do not reflect any additional anticipated synergies, operating efficiencies, cost savings, or any integration costs that may result from the 2015 Merger.
The historical consolidated financial information has been adjusted in the accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of income to give effect to unaudited pro forma events that are (1) directly attributable to the transaction, (2) factually supportable and (3) are expected to have a continuing impact on the results of operations of the combined company. As a result, under SEC Regulation S-X Article 11, certain expenses such as deal costs and non-cash costs related to the fair value step-up of inventory (“Inventory Step-up Costs”), if applicable, are eliminated from pro forma results in the periods presented. In contrast, under the ASC 805 presentation in Note 2, Merger and Acquisition, to the consolidated financial statements, these expenses are required to be included in prior year pro forma results.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, including the related notes, should be read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial statements and related notes of Kraft, and with our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The historical SEC filings of Kraft are available to the public at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
The Kraft Heinz Company
Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Income
(in millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
The Kraft Heinz Company
Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Income
For the Year Ended January 3, 2016
(in millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
The Kraft Heinz Company
Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Income
For the Year Ended December 28, 2014
(in millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
The Kraft Heinz Company
Summary of Pro Forma Adjustments
(in millions)
(Unaudited)
Adjustments included in the accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of income are as follows:
(a)
Represents the change to align Kraft's accounting policy to our accounting policy for postemployment benefit plans. Kraft historically elected a mark-to-market accounting policy and recognized net actuarial gains or losses and changes in the fair value of plan assets immediately in earnings upon remeasurement. Our policy is to initially record such items in other comprehensive income/(loss). Also represents the elimination of Kraft’s historical amortization of postemployment benefit plan prior service credits.
(b)
Represents the elimination of nonrecurring non-cash costs related to the fair value adjustment of Kraft’s inventory. See Note 2, Merger and Acquisition, to the consolidated financial statements for additional information on the determination of fair values.
(c)
Represents incremental amortization resulting from the fair value adjustment of Kraft’s definite-lived intangible assets in connection with the 2015 Merger. The net change in depreciation expense resulting from the fair value adjustment of property, plant, and equipment was insignificant. See Note 2, Merger and Acquisition, to the consolidated financial statements for additional information on the determination of fair values.
(d)
Represents the incremental compensation expense due to the fair value remeasurement of certain of Kraft’s equity awards in connection with the 2015 Merger. See Note 8, Employees’ Stock Incentive Plans, to the consolidated financial statements for additional information on the conversion of Kraft’s equity awards in connection with the 2015 Merger.
(e)
Represents the elimination of non-recurring deal costs incurred in connection with the 2015 Merger.
(f)
Represents the incremental change in interest expense resulting from the fair value adjustment of Kraft’s long-term debt in connection with the 2015 Merger, including the elimination of the historical amortization of deferred financing fees and amortization of original issuance discount.
We calculated the income tax effect of the pro forma adjustments using a 38.5% weighted average statutory tax rate for the periods presented.
Additionally, for 2015, we calculated the unaudited pro forma weighted average number of basic shares outstanding by adding the Kraft Heinz weighted average number of basic shares outstanding (which included the Sponsors' shares and the converted Kraft shares weighted for the period from the 2015 Merger through the year ended January 3, 2016) and the Sponsors' shares (as converted) and the converted Kraft shares (both weighted from the beginning of the year through the 2015 Merger Date). We calculated the unaudited pro forma weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding by adding the effect of dilutive securities to the unaudited pro forma weighted average number of basic shares outstanding, including dilutive securities related to Kraft Heinz. The Kraft Heinz diluted EPS calculation did not include these securities as Kraft Heinz was in a net loss position and such securities were anti-dilutive.
For 2014, we calculated the unaudited pro forma weighted average number of basic shares outstanding by adding Heinz’s historical weighted average number of basic shares outstanding, the 500 million shares issued to the Sponsors in connection with their equity investments (after giving effect to the pre-closing Heinz conversion ratio of 0.443332) and the historical weighted average number
of basic shares of Kraft, which were converted on a 1:1 basis into shares of Kraft Heinz. We calculated the unaudited pro forma weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding by adding the effect of dilutive securities to the unaudited pro forma weighted average number of basic shares outstanding, including dilutive securities related to historical Heinz. The historical Heinz diluted EPS calculation did not include these securities as historical Heinz was in a net loss position and such securities were anti-dilutive.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Our non-GAAP financial measures provided should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, results prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).
To supplement the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we have presented Organic Net Sales, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EPS, which are considered non-GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP financial measures presented may differ from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures presented by other companies, and other companies may not define these non-GAAP financial measures in the same way. These measures are not substitutes for their comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures, such as net sales, net income/(loss), diluted earnings per common share (“EPS”), or other measures prescribed by U.S. GAAP, and there are limitations to using non-GAAP financial measures.
Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to assist in comparing our performance on a consistent basis for purposes of business decision making by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect our underlying operations. Management believes that presenting our non-GAAP financial measures (i.e., Organic Net Sales, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EPS) is useful to investors because it (i) provides investors with meaningful supplemental information regarding financial performance by excluding certain items, (ii) permits investors to view performance using the same tools that management uses to budget, make operating and strategic decisions, and evaluate historical performance, and (iii) otherwise provides supplemental information that may be useful to investors in evaluating our results. We believe that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered together with the corresponding U.S. GAAP financial measures and the reconciliations to those measures, provides investors with additional understanding of the factors and trends affecting our business than could be obtained absent these disclosures.
Organic Net Sales is defined as net sales excluding, when they occur, the impact of acquisitions, currency, divestitures, and a 53rd week of shipments. We calculate the impact of currency on net sales by holding exchange rates constant at the previous year’s exchange rate, with the exception of Venezuela following our June 28, 2015 currency devaluation, for which we calculate the previous year’s results using the current year’s exchange rate. Organic Net Sales for any period prior to the 2015 Merger Date includes the operating results of Kraft on a pro forma basis, as if Kraft had been acquired as of December 30, 2013. Organic Net Sales is a tool that can assist management and investors in comparing our performance on a consistent basis by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect our underlying operations.
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income/(loss) from continuing operations before interest expense, other expense/(income), net, provision for/(benefit from) income taxes; in addition to these adjustments, we exclude, when they occur, the impacts of depreciation and amortization (excluding integration and restructuring expenses) (including amortization of postretirement benefit plans prior service credits), integration and restructuring expenses, merger costs, unrealized losses/(gains) on commodity hedges, impairment losses, losses/(gains) on the sale of a business, nonmonetary currency devaluation (e.g., remeasurement gains and losses), and equity award compensation expense (excluding integration and restructuring expenses). Adjusted EBITDA for any period prior to the 2015 Merger Date includes the operating results of Kraft on a pro forma basis, as if Kraft had been acquired as of December 30, 2013. Adjusted EBITDA is a tool that can assist management and investors in comparing our performance on a consistent basis by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect our underlying operations.
Adjusted EPS is defined as diluted earnings per share excluding, when they occur, the impacts of integration and restructuring expenses, merger costs, unrealized losses/(gains) on commodity hedges, impairment losses, losses/(gains) on the sale of a business, and nonmonetary currency devaluation (e.g., remeasurement gains and losses), and including when they occur, adjustments to reflect preferred stock dividend payments on an accrual basis. Adjusted EPS for any period prior to the 2015 Merger Date includes the operating results of Kraft on a pro forma basis, as if Kraft had been acquired as of December 30, 2013. We believe Adjusted EPS provides important comparability of underlying operating results, allowing investors and management to assess operating performance on a consistent basis.
The Kraft Heinz Company
Reconciliation of Pro Forma Net Sales to Organic Net Sales
For the Years Ended December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016
(dollars in millions)
(Unaudited)
(a)
There were no pro forma adjustments in 2016, as Kraft and Heinz were a combined company for the entire period. See the Supplemental Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information at the end of this item.
The Kraft Heinz Company
Reconciliation of Pro Forma Net Sales to Organic Net Sales
For the Years Ended January 3, 2016 and December 28, 2014
(dollars in millions)
(Unaudited)
(a)
See the Supplemental Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information within this item.
The Kraft Heinz Company
Reconciliation of Pro Forma Net Income/(Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA
(in millions)
(Unaudited)
(a)
There were no pro forma adjustments in 2016, as Kraft and Heinz were a combined company for the entire period. See the Supplemental Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information at the end of this item.
The Kraft Heinz Company
Reconciliation of Pro Forma Diluted EPS to Adjusted EPS
(Unaudited)
(a)
There were no pro forma adjustments in 2016, as Kraft and Heinz were a combined company for the entire period. See the Supplemental Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information at the end of this item.
(b)
Income tax expense associated with these items is based on applicable jurisdictional tax rates and deductibility assessment of individual items.
(c)
Integration and restructuring expenses include the following gross expenses:
•
Expenses recorded in cost of products sold were $711 million in 2016, $479 million in 2015, and $535 million in 2014;
•
Expenses recorded in SG&A were $301 million in 2016, $638 million in 2015, and $208 million in 2014; and,
•
Expenses recorded in other expense/(income), net, were $23 million in 2014 (there were no such expenses in 2016 or 2015).
(d)
Merger costs include the following gross expenses:
•
Expenses recorded in cost of products sold were $2 million in 2016 and $6 million in 2015 (there were no such expenses in 2014);
•
Expenses recorded in SG&A were $28 million in 2016, $188 million in 2015, and $68 million in 2014;
•
Expenses recorded in interest expense were $466 million in 2015 (there were no such expenses in 2016 or 2014); and,
•
Expenses recorded in other expense/(income), net, were $144 million in 2015 (there were no such expenses in 2016 or 2014).
(e)
Refer to the reconciliation of pro forma net income/(loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for the related gross expenses.
(f)
Nonmonetary currency devaluation includes the following gross expenses/(income):
•
Expenses recorded in cost of products sold of $4 million in 2016 and $57 million in 2015 (there were no such expenses in 2014) and
•
Expenses recorded in other expense/(income), net, of $24 million in 2016 and $234 million in 2015 (there were no such expenses in 2014).
(g)
For Adjusted EPS, we present the impact of the Series A Preferred Stock dividend payments on an accrual basis. Accordingly, we included adjustments to EPS to exclude $180 million of Series A Preferred Stock dividends from the fourth quarter of 2015 (to reflect the March 7, 2016 Series A Preferred Stock dividend that was paid in December 2015), to include such $180 million Series A Preferred Stock dividend payment in the first quarter of 2016, and to exclude $51 million of Series A Preferred Stock dividends from the second quarter of 2016 (to reflect that it was redeemed on June 7, 2016).
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
We are exposed to market risks from adverse changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange rates, interest rates, and production costs. 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 volatility in these markets may have on our operating results. We maintain risk management policies that principally use derivative financial instruments to reduce significant, unanticipated fluctuations in earnings and cash flows that may arise from variations in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates, and interest rates. See Note 1, Background and Basis of Presentation, and Note 14, Financial Instruments, to the consolidated financial statements for details of our market risk management policies and the financial instruments used to hedge those exposures.
By policy, we do not engage in speculative or leveraged transactions, nor do we hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes.
Effect of Hypothetical 10% Fluctuation in Market Prices:
The potential gain or loss on the fair value of our outstanding commodity contracts, foreign exchange contracts, cross-currency, and swap contracts, assuming a hypothetical 10% fluctuation in commodity prices, currency rates, and swap rates, would be (in millions):
The effect of a hypothetical 10% fluctuation in market prices on certain of our derivative contracts as of January 3, 2016 was revised to reflect a correction to the potential gain or loss on fair values, including an increase of $36 million related to cross-currency swap contracts and an increase of $9 million related to foreign currency contracts.
It should be noted that any change in the fair value of the contracts, real or hypothetical, would be significantly offset by an inverse change in the value of the underlying hedged items. In relation to foreign currency contracts, this hypothetical calculation assumes that each exchange rate would change in the same direction relative to the U.S. dollar. Our utilization of financial instruments in managing market risk exposures described above is consistent with the prior year. Changes in our portfolio of financial instruments are a function of our results of operations, debt repayment and debt issuances, market effects on debt and foreign currency, and our acquisition and divestiture activities.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of The Kraft Heinz Company
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, equity and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Kraft Heinz Company and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016, January 3, 2016, and December 28, 2014 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a) for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016, January 3, 2016, and December 28, 2014 presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, 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 and financial statement schedule, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement schedule, and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits (which was an integrated audit for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016). 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.
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 23, 2017
The Kraft Heinz Company
Consolidated Statements of Income
(in millions, except per share data)
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
The Kraft Heinz Company
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(in millions)
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
The Kraft Heinz Company
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in millions of dollars)
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
The Kraft Heinz Company
Consolidated Statement of Equity
(in millions)
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
The Kraft Heinz Company
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in millions)
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
The Kraft Heinz Company
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in millions)
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
The Kraft Heinz Company
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1. Background and Basis of Presentation
Description of the Company:
We manufacture and market food and beverage products, including condiments and sauces, cheese and dairy, meals, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee, and other grocery products throughout the world.
Organization:
On July 2, 2015 (the “2015 Merger Date”), through a series of transactions, we consummated the merger of Kraft Foods Group, Inc. (“Kraft”) with and into a wholly-owned subsidiary of H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation (“Heinz”) (the “2015 Merger”). At the closing of the 2015 Merger, Heinz was renamed The Kraft Heinz Company (“Kraft Heinz”). See Note 2, Merger and Acquisition, for additional information on the 2015 Merger.
Immediately prior to the consummation of the 2015 Merger, each share of Heinz issued and outstanding common stock was reclassified and changed into 0.443332 of a share of Kraft Heinz common stock. All share and per share amounts in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the consolidated financial statements and related notes have been retroactively adjusted for all historical periods presented prior to the 2015 Merger Date to give effect to this conversion, including reclassifying an amount equal to the change in value of common stock to additional paid-in capital. In the 2015 Merger, all outstanding shares of Kraft common stock were converted into the right to receive, on a one-for-one basis, shares of Kraft Heinz common stock. Deferred shares and restricted shares of Kraft were converted to deferred shares and restricted shares of Kraft Heinz, as applicable. In addition, upon the completion of the 2015 Merger, the Kraft shareholders of record immediately prior to the closing of the 2015 Merger received a special cash dividend of $16.50 per share.
Prior to the consummation of the 2015 Merger, Heinz had been controlled by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (“Berkshire Hathaway”) and 3G Global Food Holdings LP (together, the “Sponsors”), following their acquisition of H. J. Heinz Company. On June 7, 2013, H. J. Heinz Company was acquired by Heinz (formerly known as Hawk Acquisition Holding Corporation) (the “2013 Merger”), a Delaware corporation controlled by the Sponsors, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated February 13, 2013, as amended by the Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated March 4, 2013, by and among H. J. Heinz Company, Heinz, and Hawk Acquisition Sub, Inc. (“Hawk”).
The Sponsors initially owned 850 million shares of common stock in Heinz; Berkshire Hathaway also held a warrant to purchase 46 million additional shares of common stock, which it exercised in June 2015. Additionally, in connection with the 2013 Merger, we issued an $8.0 billion preferred stock investment in Heinz which entitled Berkshire Hathaway to a 9.00% annual dividend. Prior to, but in connection with, the 2015 Merger, the Sponsors made equity investments whereby they purchased an additional 500 million newly issued shares of Heinz common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $10.0 billion.
Subsequent Event:
On February 17, 2017, we disclosed that we approached Unilever plc / Unilever N.V. (“Unilever”) with a comprehensive proposal to combine the two companies to create a leading consumer goods company with a mission of long-term growth and sustainable living. Unilever declined the proposal. On February 19, 2017, we disclosed that we had amicably withdrawn our proposal for a combination of the two companies.
Change in Fiscal Year End:
On December 9, 2016, our Board of Directors approved a change to our fiscal year end from Sunday to Saturday. Effective December 31, 2016, we operate on a 52 or 53-week fiscal year ending on the last Saturday in December in each calendar year. In prior years, we operated on a 52 or 53-week fiscal year ending the Sunday closest to December 31. As a result, we occasionally have a 53rd week in a fiscal year. Our year ended January 3, 2016 includes a 53rd week of activity. This change to our fiscal year end aligns our financial statement reporting date with the fiscal close periods of certain of our U.S. and Canada businesses, which make up a substantial portion of our results. This change did not have a material impact on our current or any prior period financial statements.
Significant Accounting Policies:
Principles of Consolidation:
The consolidated financial statements include The Kraft Heinz Company, as well as our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions are eliminated.
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 requires us to make accounting policy elections, estimates, and assumptions that affect a number of amounts in our consolidated financial statements. 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.
Translation of Foreign Currencies:
For all significant foreign operations, the functional currency is the local currency. Assets and liabilities of these operations are translated at the exchange rate in effect at each period end. Income statement accounts are translated at the average rate of exchange prevailing during the period. Translation adjustments arising from the use of differing exchange rates from period to period are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) on the balance sheet. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in net income for the period.
Highly Inflationary Accounting:
We apply highly inflationary accounting if the cumulative inflation rate in an economy for a three-year period meets or exceeds 100 percent. Under highly inflationary accounting, the financial statements of a subsidiary are remeasured into our reporting currency (U.S. dollars) based on the legally available exchange rate at which we expect to settle the underlying transactions. Exchange gains and losses from the remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities are reflected in net income/(loss), rather than accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) on the balance sheet, until such time as the economy is no longer considered highly inflationary. Certain non-monetary assets and liabilities are recorded at the applicable historical exchange rates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents:
Cash equivalents include demand deposits with banks and all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
Inventories:
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. We value inventories primarily using the average cost method.
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost and depreciated on 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 improvements over periods up to 40 years. 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. We review long-lived assets for impairment when conditions exist that indicate the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. Such conditions include significant adverse changes in the business climate, current-period operating or cash flow losses, significant declines in forecasted operations, or a current expectation that an asset group will be disposed of before the end of its useful life. We perform undiscounted operating cash flow analyses to determine if an impairment exists. When testing for impairment of assets held for use, we group assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which cash flows are separately identifiable. If an impairment is determined to exist, the loss is calculated based on estimated fair value. Impairment losses on assets to be disposed of, if any, are based on the estimated proceeds to be received, less costs of disposal.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets:
We test goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment at least annually in the second quarter or when a triggering event occurs. The first step of the goodwill impairment test compares the reporting unit’s estimated fair value with its carrying value. If the carrying value of a reporting unit’s net assets exceeds its fair value, the second step would be applied 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 would be considered impaired and would be reduced to its implied fair value. We test indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment by comparing the fair value of each intangible asset with its carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds fair value, the intangible asset would be considered impaired and would be reduced to fair value.
Fair value determinations require considerable judgment and are sensitive to changes in underlying assumptions, estimates and market factors. Estimating the fair value of individual reporting units and indefinite-lived intangible assets requires us to make assumptions and estimates regarding our future plans, as well as industry and economic conditions. These assumptions and estimates include projected revenues and income growth rates, terminal growth rates, competitive and consumer trends, market-based discount rates, and other market factors. If current expectations of future growth rates are not met or market factors outside of our control, such as discount rates, change significantly, then one or more reporting units or intangible assets might become impaired in the future. Additionally, as goodwill and intangible assets associated with recently acquired businesses are recorded on the balance sheet at their estimated acquisition date fair values, those amounts are more susceptible to an impairment risk if business operating results or macroeconomic conditions deteriorate.
We performed our annual impairment testing in the second quarter of 2016. See Note 6, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, for additional information.
Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated periods benefited, and are reviewed when appropriate for possible impairment.
Revenue Recognition:
We recognize revenues when title and risk of loss pass to our customers. We record revenues net of consumer incentives and trade promotions and include all shipping and handling charges billed to customers. We also record provisions for estimated product returns and customer allowances as reductions to revenues within the same period that the revenue is recognized. We base these estimates principally on historical and current period experience factors.
Advertising, Consumer Incentives, and Trade Promotions:
We promote our products with advertising, consumer incentives, and trade promotions.
Advertising expenses are recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”). We recorded advertising expense of $708 million in 2016, $464 million in 2015, and $241 million in 2014. For interim reporting purposes, we charge advertising to operations as a percentage of estimated full year sales activity and marketing costs. We review and adjust these estimates each quarter based on actual experience and other information.
Consumer incentives and trade promotions include, but are not limited to, discounts, coupons, rebates, in-store display incentives, and volume-based incentives. Consumer incentive and trade promotion activities are recorded as a reduction to revenues based on amounts estimated as being due to customers and consumers at the end of a period. We base these estimates principally on historical utilization and redemption rates. We review and adjust these estimates each quarter based on actual experience and other information.
Research and Development Expense:
We expense costs as incurred for product research and development within SG&A. Research and development expense was approximately $120 million in 2016, $105 million in 2015, and $58 million in 2014.
Postemployment Benefit Plans:
We maintain various retirement plans for the majority of our employees. These include pension benefits, postretirement health care benefits, and defined contribution benefits. The cost of these plans is charged to expense over the working life of the covered employees. We generally amortize net actuarial gains or losses in future periods within cost of products sold and SG&A.
Financial Instruments:
As we source our commodities on global markets and periodically enter into financing or other arrangements abroad, we use a variety of risk management strategies and financial instruments to manage commodity price, foreign currency exchange rate, and interest rate risks. 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. One way we do this is through actively hedging our risks through the use of derivative instruments. As a matter of policy, we do not use highly leveraged derivative instruments, nor do we use financial instruments for speculative purposes.
Derivatives are recorded on our consolidated balance sheets at fair value, which fluctuates based on changing market conditions.
Certain derivatives are designated as cash flow hedges and qualify for hedge accounting treatment, while others are not designated as hedging instruments and are marked to market through earnings. The effective portion of gains and losses on cash flow hedges are deferred as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) and are recognized in earnings at the time the hedged item affects earnings, in the same line item as the underlying hedged item. We also designate certain derivatives and non-derivatives as net investment hedges to hedge the net assets of certain foreign subsidiaries which are exposed to volatility in foreign currency exchange rates. The fair value of these derivatives and remeasurements of our non-derivatives designated as net investment
hedges are calculated each period with changes reported in foreign currency translation adjustment within accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses). Such amounts will remain in accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) until the complete or substantially complete liquidation of our investment in the underlying foreign operations. The income statement classification of gains and losses related to derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments is determined based on the underlying intent of the contracts. Cash flows related to the settlement of derivative instruments designated as net investment hedges of foreign operations are classified in the consolidated statements of cash flows within investing activities. All other cash flows related to derivative instruments are generally classified within operating activities. For additional information on derivative activity within our operating results, see Note 14, Financial Instruments.
To qualify for hedge accounting, a specified level of hedging effectiveness between the hedging instrument and the item being hedged must be achieved at inception and maintained throughout the hedged period. Any hedging ineffectiveness is recognized in net earnings when the change in the value of the hedge does not offset the change in the value of the underlying hedged item. We formally document our risk management objectives, strategies for undertaking the various hedge transactions, the nature of and relationships between the hedging instruments and hedged items, and method for assessing hedge effectiveness. Additionally, for qualified hedges of forecasted transactions, we specifically identify the significant characteristics and expected terms of the forecasted transactions. If it becomes probable that a forecasted transaction will not occur, the hedge will no longer be effective and all of the derivative gains or losses would be recognized in earnings in the current period.
Unrealized gains and losses on our commodity derivatives not designated as hedging instruments are recorded in general corporate expenses until realized. Once realized, the gains and losses are recorded within the applicable segment operating results.
When we use financial instruments, we are exposed to credit risk that a counterparty might fail to fulfill its performance obligations under the terms of our agreement. We minimize our credit risk by entering into transactions with counterparties with investment grade credit ratings, limiting the amount of exposure we have 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 greater than one year be governed by an International Swaps and Derivatives Association master agreement. We are also exposed to market risk as the value of our financial instruments might be adversely affected by a change in foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices, or interest rates. We manage market risk by incorporating monitoring parameters within our risk management strategy that limit the types of derivative instruments and derivative strategies we use and the degree of market risk that we hedge with derivative instruments.
Foreign currency cash flow hedges - We use various financial instruments to mitigate our exposure to changes in exchange rates from third-party and intercompany actual and forecasted transactions. Our principal foreign currency exposures that are hedged include the British pound sterling, euro, and Canadian dollar. These instruments include forward foreign exchange contracts. Substantially all of these derivative instruments are highly effective and qualify for hedge accounting treatment. We exclude forward points from the assessment and measurement of hedge ineffectiveness and report such amounts in current period net income as interest expense.
Net investment hedges - We have numerous investments in our foreign subsidiaries, the net assets of which are exposed to volatility in foreign currency exchange rates. We manage this risk by utilizing derivative and non-derivative instruments, including cross-currency swap contracts and certain foreign denominated debt designated as net investment hedges.
Interest rate cash flow hedges - From time to time, we have used derivative instruments, including interest rate swaps, as part of our interest rate risk management strategy. We have primarily used 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 have been highly effective and have qualified for hedge accounting treatment.
Commodity derivatives - We are exposed to price risk related to forecasted purchases of certain commodities that we primarily use as raw materials. We enter into commodity purchase contracts primarily for coffee beans, meat products, sugar, wheat products, corn products, vegetable oils, cocoa products, and dairy products. These commodity purchase 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 economically hedge the price of certain commodity costs, including coffee beans, meat products, sugar, wheat products, corn products, vegetable oils, cocoa products, dairy products, diesel fuel, and packaging products. We do not designate these commodity contracts as hedging instruments. We also sell commodity futures to unprice future purchase commitments, and we occasionally use related futures to economically cross hedge a commodity exposure.
Income Taxes:
We recognize income taxes based on amounts refundable or payable for the current year and record deferred tax assets or liabilities for any difference between U.S. GAAP accounting and tax reporting. We also recognize deferred tax assets for temporary differences, operating loss carryforwards, and tax credit carryforwards. Inherent in determining our annual tax rate are judgments regarding business plans, planning opportunities, and expectations about future outcomes. Realization of certain deferred tax assets, primarily net operating loss and other carryforwards, is dependent upon generating sufficient taxable income in the appropriate jurisdiction prior to the expiration of the carryforward periods.
We apply a more-likely-than-not threshold to the recognition and derecognition of uncertain tax positions. Accordingly, we recognize the amount of tax benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being ultimately realized upon settlement. Future changes in judgment related to the expected ultimate resolution of uncertain tax positions will affect income in the quarter of such change.
We record valuation allowances to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. When assessing the need for valuation allowances, we consider future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. Should a change in circumstances lead to a change in judgment about the realizability of deferred tax assets in future years, we would adjust related valuation allowances in the period that the change in circumstances occurs, along with a corresponding increase or charge to income. The resolution of tax reserves and changes in valuation allowances could be material to our results of operations for any period, but is not expected to be material to our financial position.
Common Stock and Preferred Stock Dividends:
Dividends are recorded as a reduction to retained earnings. When we have an accumulated deficit, dividends are recorded as a reduction of additional paid-in capital.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards:
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued an accounting standards update (“ASU”) that superseded previously existing revenue recognition guidance. Under this ASU, companies will apply a principles-based five step model to recognize revenue upon the transfer of promised goods or services to customers and in an amount that reflects the consideration for which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU will be effective beginning in the first quarter of our fiscal year 2018. The ASU may be applied using a full retrospective method or a modified retrospective transition method, with a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. While we are still evaluating the impact this ASU will have on our financial statements and related disclosures, we have completed our preliminary scoping reviews and have made progress in our assessment phase. We have focused our reviews on the revenue streams in the U.S., Canada, and Europe as they are our most significant. At this time, we believe the potential impacts on our existing accounting policies may be associated with our consumer incentive and trade promotion programs. We will adopt the new standard on January 1, 2018, however, we are still evaluating our application method. Our ability to adopt using the full retrospective method is dependent on system readiness, which may include software procured from third-party providers, and finalizing our assessment of information necessary to restate prior period financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued an ASU that superseded previously existing leasing guidance. The ASU is intended to establish the principles that lessees and lessors shall apply to report useful information to users of financial statements about the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from a lease. The new guidance requires lessees to reflect most leases on their balance sheet as assets and obligations. This ASU will be effective beginning in the first quarter of our fiscal year 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The new guidance must be adopted using a modified retrospective transition, and provides for certain practical expedients. Based on our initial reviews, we expect that the adoption will increase the assets and liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. We are still evaluating the impact this ASU will have on our financial statements and related disclosures.
In March 2016, the FASB issued an ASU intended to simplify equity-based award accounting and presentation. The ASU impacts income tax accounting related to equity-based awards, the classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and the classification on the statement of cash flows. As a result of this ASU, our excess tax benefits upon the exercise of share based payments will be recognized in the tax provision rather than within equity, which we expect to generate a favorable impact on our 2017 income tax expense. In addition, the cash flows related to employee tax withholdings on restricted share vesting will be reclassified from financing activities to operating activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows. The impact of adopting this ASU at December 31, 2016 would have been a $30 million income tax benefit recorded on the consolidated statement of income and an offsetting non-cash deduction in cash flows from operating activities on the statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2016. This ASU will be effective beginning in the first quarter of our fiscal year 2017.
In August 2016, the FASB issued an ASU related to the classification of certain cash payments and cash receipts on the statement of cash flows. This ASU provides guidance on eight specific cash flow classification matters in order to reduce current and future diversity in practice. The ASU will be effective beginning in the first quarter of our fiscal year 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance related to each of the eight separate classification matters must be adopted in the same period using a retrospective transition method. While we are still evaluating the impact that this ASU will have on our financial statements and related disclosures, we currently expect one of these classification matters to impact us. Under the new guidance, cash payments for debt prepayment and debt extinguishment costs should be classified as cash outflows for financing activities. We expect that this will result in a reclassification of call premiums paid in conjunction with our debt refinancing activity in 2015 from operating activities to financing activities.
In October 2016, the FASB issued an ASU on the income tax accounting impacts of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory, such as intellectual property and property, plant and equipment. This guidance is intended to reduce the complexity and diversity in practice, particularly for intellectual property transfers. Under the new accounting guidance, current and deferred income taxes should be recognized upon transfer of the assets. Previously, recognition of current and deferred income taxes was prohibited until the asset was sold to an external third party. This ASU will be effective beginning in the first quarter of our fiscal year 2018. Early adoption is permitted but must be adopted in the first interim period of the annual period for which the ASU is adopted. The new guidance must be adopted on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the adoption period. We are currently evaluating the impact that this ASU will have on our financial statements and related disclosures.
In November 2016, the FASB issued an ASU requiring the statement of cash flows to now explain the change in restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents, in addition to cash and cash equivalents. Accordingly, restricted cash would be required to be included in the beginning and ending cash and cash equivalents balances. Additionally, this ASU provides specific guidance on restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents cash flow classification and presentation matters in order to reduce current and future diversity in practice. The ASU will be effective beginning in the first quarter of our fiscal year 2018. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The new guidance must be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. We are currently evaluating the impact that this ASU will have on our financial statements and related disclosures.
In January of 2017, the FASB issued an ASU intended to simplify how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under the new guidance, if a reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, an entity will record an impairment charge based on that difference. The impairment charge will be limited to the amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Previously, if the fair value of a reporting unit was lower than its carrying amount (Step 1), an entity was required to calculate any impairment charge by comparing the implied fair value of goodwill with its carrying amount (Step 2). Additionally, under the new standard, entities that have reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts will no longer be required to perform the qualitative assessment to determine whether to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. As a result, reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts will generally be expected to pass the simplified impairment test, however, additional disclosure will be required of those entities. This ASU will be effective in the first quarter of our fiscal year 2020. Early adoption is permitted for annual and interim goodwill impairment testing dates after January 1, 2017. The new guidance must be adopted on a prospective basis. We are currently evaluating the impact that this ASU will have on our financial statements and related disclosures.
Note 2. Merger and Acquisition
Transaction Overview:
As discussed in Note 1, Background and Basis of Presentation, Heinz merged with Kraft on July 2, 2015. The Kraft businesses manufacture and market food and beverage products, including cheese, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee, packaged dinners, refrigerated meals, snack nuts, dressings, and other grocery products, primarily in the United States and Canada. Total net sales for Kraft during its most recent pre-acquisition year ended December 27, 2014 were $18.2 billion. Following the 2015 Merger Date, the operating results of the Kraft businesses have been included in our consolidated financial statements. For the period from the 2015 Merger Date through January 3, 2016, Kraft's net sales were $8.5 billion and net income was $478 million.
The 2015 Merger was accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations and Heinz was considered to be the acquiring company. Under the acquisition method of accounting, total consideration exchanged was (in millions):
Valuation Assumptions and Purchase Price Allocation:
We utilized estimated fair values at the 2015 Merger Date to allocate the total consideration exchanged to the net tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. This allocation was final as of July 3, 2016.
We made measurement period adjustments to the preliminary purchase price allocation in the second half of 2015 and the first half of 2016. Measurement period adjustments in the second half of 2015 primarily reflected (i) an increase in indefinite-lived intangible assets of $5.4 billion, (ii) an increase in deferred tax liabilities of $2.0 billion, and (iii) a decrease in goodwill of $3.4 billion. Measurement period adjustments in the first half of 2016 primarily reflected (i) a decrease in indefinite-lived intangible assets of $2.0 billion, (ii) a decrease in deferred tax liabilities of $564 million, and (iii) an increase in goodwill of $1.4 billion.We made these measurement period adjustments to reflect facts and circumstances that existed as of the 2015 Merger Date and did not result from intervening events subsequent to such date.
The final purchase price allocation to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction was (in millions):
The 2015 Merger resulted in $30.5 billion of non tax deductible goodwill relating principally to synergies expected to be achieved from the combined operations and planned growth in new markets. Goodwill has been allocated to our segments as shown in Note 6, Goodwill and Intangible Assets.
The purchase price allocation to identifiable intangible assets acquired was:
We valued trademarks using either the excess earnings method or relief from royalty method, which are both variations of the income approach. We used the excess earnings method for our most significant trademarks due to their impact on the cash flows of the business and used the relief from royalty method for the remaining trademarks and licenses. For customer relationships, we used the distributor method, a variation of the excess earnings method that uses distributor-based inputs for margins and contributory asset charges.
Some of the more significant assumptions inherent in developing the valuations included the estimated annual net cash flows for each indefinite-lived or definite-lived intangible asset (including net sales, cost of products sold, selling and marketing costs, and working capital/contributory asset charges), the discount rate that appropriately reflects the risk inherent in each future cash flow stream, the assessment of each asset’s life cycle, and competitive trends, as well as other factors. We determined the assumptions used in the financial forecasts using historical data, supplemented by current and anticipated market conditions, estimated product category growth rates, management plans, and market comparables.
We used carrying values as of July 2, 2015 to value trade receivables and payables, as well as certain other current and non-current assets and liabilities, as we determined that they represented the fair value of those items at the 2015 Merger Date.
We valued finished goods and work-in-process inventory using a net realizable value approach, which resulted in a step-up of $347 million that was recognized in cost of products sold in the period from the 2015 Merger Date to September 27, 2015 as the related inventory was sold. Raw materials and packaging inventory was valued using the replacement cost approach.
We valued property, plant and equipment using a combination of the income approach, the market approach and the cost approach, which is based on current replacement and/or reproduction cost of the asset as new, less depreciation attributable to physical, functional, and economic factors.
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of the 2015 Merger Date represented the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and their tax bases.
Pro Forma Results:
The following table provides unaudited pro forma results, prepared in accordance with ASC 805, for 2015 and 2014, as if Kraft had been acquired as of December 30, 2013.
The unaudited pro forma results include certain purchase accounting adjustments. We have made pro forma adjustments to exclude deal costs of $166 million ($102 million net of tax) and $347 million ($213 million net of tax) of non-cash costs related to the fair value step-up of inventory (“Inventory Step-up Costs”) from 2015, because such costs are non-recurring and are directly attributable to the 2015 Merger. As required by U.S. GAAP, we have made pro forma adjustments to include the deal costs and Inventory Step-up Costs in 2014.
The unaudited pro forma results do not include any anticipated cost savings or other effects of future integration or restructuring efforts. Unaudited pro forma amounts are not necessarily indicative of results had the 2015 Merger occurred on December 30, 2013 or of future results.
Note 3. Integration and Restructuring Expenses
As part of our restructuring activities, we incur expenses that qualify as exit and disposal costs under U.S. GAAP. These include severance and employee benefit costs and other exit costs. Severance and employee benefit costs primarily relate to cash severance, non-cash severance, including accelerated equity award compensation expense, and pension and other termination benefits. Other exit costs primarily relate to lease and contract terminations. We also incur expenses that are an integral component of, and directly attributable to, our restructuring activities, which do not qualify as exit and disposal costs under U.S. GAAP. These include asset-related costs and other incremental costs. Asset-related costs primarily relate to accelerated depreciation and asset impairment charges, as well as costs to exit facilities, relocation costs, and start-up costs of new facilities. Other implementation costs primarily relate to professional fees, and other incremental third-party fees.
Employee severance and other termination benefit packages are primarily determined based on established benefit arrangements, local statutory requirements, or historical benefit practices. We recognize the contractual component of these benefits when payment is probable and estimable; additional elements of severance and termination benefits associated with non-recurring benefits are recognized ratably over each employee’s required future service period. Charges for accelerated depreciation are recognized on long-lived assets that will be taken out of service before the end of their normal service, in which case depreciation estimates are revised to reflect the use of the asset over its shortened useful life. Asset impairments establish a new fair value basis for assets held for disposal or sale and those assets are written down to expected net realizable value if carrying value exceeds fair value. All other costs are recognized as incurred.
Integration Program:
Following the 2015 Merger, we announced a multi-year program (the “Integration Program”) designed to reduce costs, streamline and simplify our operating structure as well as optimize our production and supply chain network across our businesses in the United States and Canada segments. We expect to incur pre-tax costs of $2.0 billion related to the Integration Program, with approximately 60% reflected in cost of products sold within our United States and Canada segments. These pre-tax costs are comprised of the following categories:
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Organization costs ($400 million) associated with our plans to streamline and simplify our operating structure, resulting in workforce reduction (primarily severance and employee benefit costs).
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Footprint costs ($1.2 billion) associated with our plans to optimize our production and supply chain network, resulting in workforce reduction and facility closures and consolidations (primarily asset-related costs and severance and employee benefit costs).
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Other costs ($400 million) incurred as a direct result of integration activities, including other exit costs (lease and contract terminations) and other implementation costs (professional services and other third-party fees).
Overall, as part of the Integration Program, we expect to eliminate 5,150 positions, close six factories, and consolidate our distribution network. At December 31, 2016, the total Integration Program liability related primarily to the elimination of general salaried and factory positions across the United States and Canada, 3,350 of whom have left the company by December 31, 2016.
As of December 31, 2016, we have incurred approximately $1.7 billion of cumulative costs under the Integration Program, including: $681 million of severance and employee benefit costs, $650 million of non-cash asset-related costs, $290 million of other implementation costs, and $95 million of other exit costs. We expect that approximately 60% of the Integration Program expenses will be cash expenditures.
The liability balance associated with the Integration Program, which qualifies as U.S. GAAP exit and disposal costs, was (in millions):
(a) Other exit costs primarily represent contract and lease terminations.
We expect that a substantial portion of the Integration Program liability as of December 31, 2016 will be paid in 2017.
Restructuring Activities:
Prior to the 2015 Merger, we executed a number of other restructuring activities focused primarily on workforce reduction and factory closure and consolidation, which were substantially complete as of December 31, 2016. These programs, and other programs, resulted in the elimination of 8,350 positions and cumulative $589 million severance and employee benefit costs, $360 million non-cash asset-related costs, and $413 million other exit costs through December 31, 2016. Related to these restructuring activities, we incurred expenses of $125 million in 2016, $194 million in 2015, and $637 million in 2014.
As of December 31, 2016, the liability balance associated with active restructuring projects, which qualifies as U.S. GAAP exit and disposal costs, was (in millions):
(a) Other exit costs primarily represent contract and lease terminations.
We expect that a substantial portion of the active restructuring projects liability as of December 31, 2016 will be paid in 2017.
Total Integration and Restructuring:
Total expenses related to our Integration Program and restructuring activities recorded in cost of products sold and SG&A for the years presented were (in millions):
We do not include Integration Program and restructuring expenses within Segment Adjusted EBITDA. The pre-tax impact of allocating such expenses to our segments would have been (in millions):
In the fourth quarter of 2016, we reorganized our segment structure to move our Russia business from the Rest of World segment to the Europe segment. We have reflected this change in all historical periods presented. This change did not have a material impact on our current or any prior period results. See Note 18, Segment Reporting, for additional information.
Note 4. Inventories
Inventories at December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016 were (in millions):
Note 5. Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment at December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016 was (in millions):
Note 6. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill:
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill from January 3, 2016 to December 31, 2016, by segment, were (in millions):
In connection with the 2015 Merger, we recorded $30.5 billion of goodwill in purchase accounting, representing the fair value as of the 2015 Merger Date. As of July 3, 2016, the assignment of goodwill to reporting units was final. During the first half of 2016, we made measurement period adjustments to the 2015 Merger purchase price allocation, resulting in an increase of $1.4 billion to goodwill in the United States segment. See Note 2, Merger and Acquisition, for additional information on these measurement period adjustments.
In the first quarter of 2016, we moved certain of our export businesses and their related goodwill balances from our United States segment to our Rest of World and Europe segments. We have reflected this change in all historical periods presented. Accordingly, the segment goodwill balances at January 3, 2016 reflect a decrease of $1.5 billion in the United States, an increase of $1.4 billion in Rest of World, and an increase of $30 million in Europe. These amounts represent the final allocation of goodwill associated with these export businesses.
In the fourth quarter of 2016, we reorganized our segment structure to move our Russia business from the Rest of World segment to the Europe segment. We have reflected this change in all historical periods presented. Accordingly, the segment goodwill balances at January 3, 2016 reflect an increase of $45 million in Europe and a corresponding decrease in Rest of World. This change did not have a material impact on our current or any prior period results. See Note 18, Segment Reporting, for additional information.
We test goodwill for impairment at least annually in the second quarter or when a triggering event occurs. We performed our 2016 annual impairment testing in the second quarter of 2016. There was no impairment of goodwill as a result of our testing; however we noted that one reporting unit within the Europe segment had an estimated fair value in excess of its carrying value of less than 10%. The goodwill carrying value of this reporting unit was $48 million as of April 4, 2016 (our goodwill impairment testing date).
Our goodwill balance consists of 20 reporting units and had an aggregate carrying value of $44.1 billion as of December 31, 2016. As a majority of our goodwill was recently recorded in connection with the 2013 Merger and the 2015 Merger, representing fair values as of those merger dates, there is not a significant excess of fair values over carrying values as of December 31, 2016. We have a risk of future impairment to the extent that individual reporting unit performance does not meet our projections. Additionally, if our current assumptions and estimates, including projected revenues and income growth rates, terminal growth rates, competitive and consumer trends, market-based discount rates, and other market factors, are not met, or if valuation factors outside of our control change unfavorably, the estimated fair value of our goodwill could be adversely affected, leading to a potential impairment in the future. No events occurred during the period ended December 31, 2016 that indicated it was more likely than not that our goodwill was impaired. There were no accumulated impairment losses to goodwill as of December 31, 2016.
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
In connection with the 2015 Merger, we recorded $43.1 billion of indefinite-lived intangible assets in purchase accounting, representing the fair values as of the 2015 Merger Date.
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, which primarily consisted of trademarks, were (in millions):
We test indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment at least annually in the second quarter or when a triggering event occurs. We performed our 2016 annual impairment testing in the second quarter of 2016. There was no impairment of indefinite-lived intangibles as a result of our testing; however, we noted that seven brands each had excess fair value over its carrying value of less than 10%. These brands had an aggregate carrying value of $6.1 billion at April 4, 2016 (our indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment testing date). Of the $6.1 billion aggregate carrying value, $5.6 billion was attributable to Velveeta, Lunchables, Maxwell House, and Cracker Barrel.
Our indefinite-lived intangible assets primarily consist of a large number of individual brands and had an aggregate carrying value of $53.3 billion as of December 31, 2016. As a majority of our indefinite-lived intangible assets were recently recorded in connection with the 2013 Merger and the 2015 Merger, representing fair values as of those merger dates, there is not a significant excess of fair values over carrying values as of December 31, 2016. We have a risk of future impairment to the extent individual brand performance does not meet our projections. Additionally, if our current assumptions and estimates, including projected revenues and income growth rates, terminal growth rates, competitive and consumer trends, market-based discount rates, and other market factors, are not met, or if valuation factors outside of our control change unfavorably, the estimated fair values of our indefinite-lived intangible assets could be adversely affected, leading to potential impairments in the future. No events occurred during the period ended December 31, 2016 that indicated it was more likely than not that our indefinite-lived intangible assets were impaired.
In 2015, we recognized non-cash impairment losses of $58 million in SG&A, primarily related to declines within frozen soup in the United States, frozen meals and snacks primarily in the United Kingdom, and pasta sauce in the United States and Canada.
In 2014, we recognized non-cash impairment losses of $221 million in SG&A, primarily related to our Heinz North America frozen meals and snacks business due to continued category softness and weaker than anticipated sales.
Definite-lived intangible assets:
Definite-lived intangible assets at December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016 were (in millions):
Amortization expense for definite-lived intangible assets was $268 million in 2016, $178 million in 2015, and $93 million in 2014. Aside from amortization expense, the changes in definite-lived intangible assets from January 3, 2016 to December 31, 2016 reflect the impact of foreign currency. We estimate that annual amortization expense for definite-lived intangible assets for each of the next five years will be approximately $270 million.
Note 7. Income Taxes
Income/(loss) before income taxes and the provision for income taxes, consisted of the following (in millions):
Tax benefits related to stock options and other equity instruments recorded directly to additional paid-in capital totaled $30 million in 2016 and $10 million in 2015. There were no tax benefits related to stock options and other equity instruments in 2014.
The effective tax rate on income/(loss) before income taxes differed from the U.S. federal statutory tax rate for the following reasons:
The provision for income taxes consists of provisions for federal, state and foreign income taxes. We operate in an international environment; accordingly, the consolidated effective tax rate is a composite rate reflecting the earnings in various locations and the applicable tax rates. Additionally, the calculation of the percentage point impact of domestic manufacturing deductions, tax exempt income, uncertain tax positions and other items on the effective tax rate shown in the table above are affected by income/(loss) before income taxes. Fluctuations in the amount of income generated across locations around the world could impact comparability of reconciling items between periods.
Due to the 2015 Merger, the tax provision for 2016 reflected a much greater percentage of U.S. income, which unfavorably impacted the effective tax rate compared to 2015 and 2014. The tax provisions for the 2015 and 2014 tax years benefited from a favorable jurisdictional income mix and from impairment losses recorded in the U.S.
The 2016 and 2015 tax years included a benefit related to the tax effect of statutory tax rate changes. Small movements in tax rates due to a change in tax law or a change in tax rates that causes us to revalue our deferred tax balances produces volatility in our effective tax rate. In addition:
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The 2016 tax year included a benefit related to the impact on deferred taxes of a 10 basis point reduction in the state tax rate and a 100 basis point statutory rate reduction in the United Kingdom.
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The 2015 tax year included a benefit related to the impact on deferred taxes of a 200 basis point statutory rate reduction in the United Kingdom.
The tax effects of temporary differences and carryforwards that gave rise to deferred income tax assets and liabilities consisted of the following at December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016:
Certain prior period amounts in the above table have been revised to conform to current period presentation.
The increase in our valuation allowance during 2016 of $6 million reflects the impact of recording a valuation allowance for state net operating losses that we do not anticipate being able to utilize.
At December 31, 2016, foreign operating loss carryforwards totaled $321 million. Of that amount, $61 million expire between 2017 and 2036; the other $260 million do not expire. We have recorded $85 million of deferred tax assets related to these foreign operating loss carryforwards. Additionally, we have foreign operating loss carryforwards of $941 million for which the realization of a tax benefit is considered remote and, as a result, we have recorded a full valuation allowance for the tax benefits. However, due to the remote likelihood of utilizing these losses, neither the deferred tax asset nor the offsetting valuation allowance has been presented in the table above. Deferred tax assets of $43 million have been recorded for U.S. state and local operating loss carryforwards. These losses expire between 2017 and 2036.
Deferred tax assets of $16 million have been recorded for U.S. foreign tax credit carryforwards. These credit carryforwards expire between 2020 and 2025.
At December 31, 2016, our unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions of $389 million are included in income taxes payable (current liabilities) and other liabilities (long-term). If we had recognized all of these benefits, the impact on our effective tax rate would have been $325 million. It is reasonably possible that our unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by as much as $104 million in the next 12 months primarily due to the progression of federal, state and foreign audits in process.
The changes in our unrecognized tax benefits were (in millions):
Our unrecognized tax benefits increased during 2016 as a result of evaluating tax positions taken or expected to be taken on our federal, state, and foreign income tax returns. In the third quarter of 2016, we reached an agreement with the IRS resolving all Kraft open matters related to the audits of taxable years 2012 through 2014. This settlement reduced our reserves for uncertain tax positions and resulted in a non-cash tax benefit of $42 million.
The gross unrecognized tax balance increased substantially for the year ended January 3, 2016 as a result of 2015 Merger purchase accounting.
We include interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in our tax provision. Our provision for income taxes included interest and penalties expense of $8 million in 2016 and $18 million in 2015. Our interest and penalties expense was insignificant in 2014. Accrued interest and penalties were $81 million as of December 31, 2016 and $72 million as of January 3, 2016.
In the normal course of business we are subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world, including such major jurisdictions as Australia, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. We have substantially concluded all national income tax matters for years through 2012 for the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, through 2011 for the United States, Australia, and Italy and through 2009 for Canada. We have substantially concluded all state income tax matters through 2007.
We have a tax sharing agreement with Mondelēz International, Inc. (“Mondelēz International”), which generally provides that (i) we are liable for U.S. state income taxes and Canadian federal and provincial income taxes for Kraft periods prior to October 1, 2012 and (ii) Mondelēz International is responsible for U.S. federal income taxes and substantially all non-U.S. income taxes, excluding Canadian income taxes, for Kraft periods prior to October 1, 2012.
Kraft's U.S. operations were included in Mondelēz International's U.S. federal consolidated income tax returns for tax periods through October 1, 2012. In December 2016, Mondelēz International reached a final resolution on a U.S. federal income tax audit of the 2010-2012 tax years. As noted above, we are indemnified for U.S. federal income taxes related to these periods.
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries considered to be indefinitely reinvested, and amounts which may be remitted tax free in certain situations approximated $4.7 billion at December 31, 2016. It is not practicable to determine the deferred tax liability associated with the indefinitely reinvested undistributed earnings. Additionally, we have undistributed earnings in foreign subsidiaries which are currently not considered to be indefinitely reinvested, for which we have recorded deferred taxes of $21 million as of December 31, 2016. For those undistributed earnings considered to be indefinitely reinvested, our intent is to reinvest these funds in our international operations and our current plans do not demonstrate a need to repatriate the accumulated earnings to fund our United States cash requirements. At December 31, 2016, approximately $1.3 billion of cash and cash equivalents were held by international subsidiaries.
Note 8. Employees’ Stock Incentive Plans
We issued equity-based awards from the following plans in 2016, 2015, and 2014:
2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan
In April 2016, our Board of Directors approved the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan (“2016 Omnibus Plan”), which authorized grants of options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock units (“RSUs”), deferred stock, performance awards, investment rights, other stock-based awards, and cash-based awards. This plan authorizes the issuance of up to 18 million shares of our common stock. We grant non-qualified stock options under the 2016 Omnibus Plan to select employees with a five-year cliff vesting. Such options have a maximum exercise term of 10 years.
2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan
In October 2013, our Board of Directors adopted the 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan (“2013 Omnibus Plan”), which authorized the issuance of shares of capital stock. Each Heinz stock option that was outstanding under the 2013 Omnibus Plan immediately prior to the completion of the 2015 Merger was converted into 0.443332 of a Kraft Heinz stock option. Following this conversion, the 2013 Omnibus Plan authorized the issuance of up to 17,555,947 shares of our common stock. All Heinz stock option amounts have been retrospectively adjusted for the Successor periods presented to give effect to this conversion. We grant non-qualified stock options under the 2013 Omnibus Plan to select employees with a five-year cliff vesting. Such options have a maximum exercise term of 10 years. If a participant is involuntarily terminated without cause, 20% of their options will vest, on an accelerated basis, for each full year of service after the grant date.
Kraft 2012 Performance Incentive Plan
Prior to the 2015 Merger, Kraft issued equity-based awards, including stock options and RSUs, under its 2012 Performance Incentive Plan. As a result of the 2015 Merger, each outstanding Kraft stock option was converted into an option to purchase a number of shares of our common stock based upon an option adjustment ratio, and each outstanding Kraft RSU was converted into one Kraft Heinz RSU. These Kraft Heinz stock awards will continue to vest and become exercisable in accordance with the terms and conditions that were applicable immediately prior to the completion of the 2015 Merger. These options generally become exercisable in three annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the original grant date, and have a maximum exercise term of 10 years. RSUs generally cliff vest on the third anniversary of the original grant date. In accordance with the terms of the 2012 Performance Incentive Plan, vesting generally accelerates for holders of Kraft awards who are terminated without cause within two years of the 2015 Merger Date.
In addition, prior to the 2015 Merger, Kraft issued performance based long-term incentive awards (“Performance Shares”), which vested based on varying performance, market, and service conditions. In connection with the 2015 Merger, all outstanding Performance Shares were converted into cash awards, payable in two installments: (i) a 2015 pro-rata payment based upon the portion of the Performance Share cycle completed prior to the 2015 Merger and (ii) the remaining value of the award to be paid on the earlier of the first anniversary of the closing of the 2015 Merger and a participant's termination without cause.
Stock Options:
We use the Black-Scholes model to estimate the fair value of stock option grants. We used the Hull-White II Lattice (“Lattice”) model to estimate the fair value of Kraft converted stock options. We believe the Lattice model provided an appropriate estimate of fair value of Kraft converted options as it took into account each option’s distinct in-the-money level and remaining terms. The grant date fair value of options is amortized to expense over the vesting period.
Our weighted average Black-Scholes fair value assumptions were:
The risk-free interest rate represented the constant maturity U.S. Treasury rate in effect at the grant date, with a remaining term equal to the expected life of the options. The expected life is the period over which our employees are expected to hold their options. Due to the lack of historical data for 2016, we calculated expected life using the Safe Harbor method, which uses the weighted average vesting period and the contractual term of the options. For 2015 and 2014, the weighted average expected life of options was based on consideration of historical exercise patterns adjusted for changes in the contractual term and exercise periods of the awards. For 2016, volatility was estimated using a blended approach of implied volatility and peer volatility. Peer volatility was calculated as the average of the term-matched, leverage-adjusted historical volatilities of Colgate-Palmolive Co., The Coca-Cola Company, Mondelēz International, Altria Group, Inc., Pepsico, Inc., and Unilever plc. For 2015 and 2014, volatility was estimated based on a review of the equity volatilities of publicly-traded peer companies for a period commensurate with the expected life of the options. Dividend yield was estimated over the expected life of the options based on our stated dividend policy.
Our Lattice model fair value assumptions for the Kraft converted options were:
The risk-free interest rate represented the constant maturity U.S. Treasury rate in effect at the conversion date, with a remaining term equal to the expected life of the options. The expected volatility was calculated as the average leverage-adjusted historical volatility of several peer companies, matched to the remaining term of each option. Dividend yield was estimated based on our stated dividend policy and conversion date stock price.
Our stock option activity and related information was:
The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the period was $186 million in 2016 and $21 million in 2015. No stock options were exercised in 2014.
Cash received from options exercised was $140 million in 2016 and $29 million in 2015. The tax benefit realized from stock options exercised was $68 million in 2016 and $12 million in 2015. There was no cash received and no tax benefit recognized related to stock option exercises in 2014.
Our unvested stock options and related information was:
RSUs:
We use the closing stock price on the grant date to estimate the fair value of RSUs. The grant date fair value is amortized to expense over the vesting period.
Our RSU activity and related information was:
The aggregate fair value of restricted stock and RSUs that vested during the period was $40 million in 2016 and $76 million in 2015. No restricted stock or RSUs vested in 2014.
Total Equity Awards:
The compensation cost related to equity awards was primarily recognized in general corporate expenses within SG&A. Equity award compensation cost and the related tax benefit was (in millions):
Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested equity awards was $83 million at December 31, 2016 and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of three years.
Note 9. Postemployment Benefits
We maintain various retirement plans for the majority of our employees. Current defined benefit pension plans are provided primarily for certain domestic union and foreign employees. Local statutory requirements govern many of these plans. The pension benefits of our unionized workers are in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement covering their employment. Defined contribution plans are provided for certain domestic unionized, non-union hourly, and salaried employees as well as certain employees in foreign locations.
We provide health care and other postretirement benefits to certain of our eligible retired employees and their eligible dependents. Certain of our U.S. and Canadian employees may become eligible for such benefits. We currently do not fund these benefit arrangements until claims occur and may modify plan provisions or terminate plans at our discretion. The postretirement benefits of our unionized workers are in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement covering their employment.
Prior to the 2015 Merger, Kraft provided a range of benefits to its employees and retirees, including pension benefits and postretirement health care benefits. As part of the 2015 Merger, we assumed the assets and liabilities associated with these plans.
We remeasure our postemployment benefit plans at least annually.
In the first quarter of 2016, we changed the method that we use to estimate the service cost and interest cost components of net pension cost/(benefit) and net postretirement cost/(benefit). We use a full yield curve approach to estimate service cost and interest cost by applying the specific spot rates along the yield curve used to determine the benefit obligation to the relevant projected cash flows. Previously, we estimated service cost and interest cost using a single weighted-average discount rate derived from the yield curve used to measure the benefit obligation at the beginning of the period. We made this change to provide a more precise measurement of service cost and interest cost by improving the correlation between projected benefit cash flows and the corresponding spot yield curve rates. The change resulted in a decrease in service and interest cost of approximately $80 million in 2016 compared to what our costs would have been under the previous method. This change did not affect the measurement of our total benefit obligations. We have accounted for this change prospectively as a change in accounting estimate.
Pension Plans
Obligations and Funded Status:
The projected benefit obligations, plan assets, and funded status of our pension plans at December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016 were (in millions):
The accumulated benefit obligation, which represents benefits earned to the measurement date, was $5.2 billion at December 31, 2016 and $6.0 billion at January 3, 2016 for the U.S. pension plans. The accumulated benefit obligation for the non-U.S. pension plans was $3.0 billion at December 31, 2016 and $2.7 billion at January 3, 2016.
The combined U.S. and non-U.S. pension plans resulted in a net pension asset of $160 million at December 31, 2016 and a net pension liability of $172 million at January 3, 2016. We recognized these amounts on our consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016, as follows (in millions):
For certain of our U.S. and non-U.S. plans that were underfunded based on accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets, the projected benefit obligations, accumulated benefit obligations, and the fair value of plan assets at December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016 were (in millions):
For certain of our U.S. and non-U.S. plans that were underfunded based on projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets, the projected benefit obligations, accumulated benefit obligations, and the fair value of plan assets at December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016 were (in millions):
We used the following weighted average assumptions to determine our projected benefit obligations under the pension plans at December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016:
Components of Net Pension Cost/(Benefit):
Net pension cost/(benefit) consisted of the following (in millions):
We capitalized a portion of net pension costs/(benefits) into inventory based on our production activities. These amounts are included in the table above.
In the third quarter of 2016, we approved the wind up of our Canadian salaried and Canadian hourly defined benefit pension plans effective December 31, 2016. This action resulted in an increase to our projected benefit obligations of approximately $85 million at December 31, 2016. This action had no impact on the consolidated statements of income or consolidated statements of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2016.
In 2015, we recorded net settlement losses for the U.S. and non-U.S. plans primarily related to certain plan terminations. We also recorded net curtailment gains for the U.S. and non-U.S. plans primarily related to certain plan freezes and work force reductions under our integration and restructuring activities.
We used the following weighted average assumptions to determine our net pension costs:
Discount rates for our U.S. and non-U.S. plans were developed from a model portfolio of high quality, fixed-income debt instruments with durations that match the expected future cash flows of the plans. We determine our expected rate of return on plan assets from the plan assets' historical long-term investment performance, target asset allocation, and estimates of future long-term returns by asset class.
Plan Assets:
The underlying basis of the investment strategy of our defined benefit plans is to ensure that pension funds are available to meet the plans’ benefit obligations when they are due. Our investment objectives include: investing plan assets in a high-quality, diversified manner in order to maintain the security of the funds; achieving an optimal return on plan assets within specified risk tolerances; and investing according to local regulations and requirements specific to each country in which a defined benefit plan operates. The investment strategy expects equity investments to yield a higher return over the long term than fixed-income securities, while fixed-income securities are expected to provide certain matching characteristics to the plans’ benefit payment cash flow requirements. Our investment policy specifies the type of investment vehicles appropriate for the applicable plan, asset allocation guidelines, criteria for the selection of investment managers, procedures to monitor overall investment performance as well as investment manager performance. It also provides guidelines enabling the applicable plan fiduciaries to fulfill their responsibilities.
Our weighted average asset allocations were:
Our pension asset strategy for U.S. plans is designed to align our pension assets with our projected benefit obligation to reduce volatility by targeting an investment of approximately 70% of our U.S. plan assets in fixed-income securities and approximately 30% in return-seeking assets, primarily equity securities.
For pension plans outside the U.S., our investment strategy is subject to local regulations and the asset/liability profiles of the plans in each individual country. In aggregate, the long-term asset allocation targets of our non-U.S. plans are broadly characterized as a mix of approximately 60% fixed-income securities, and approximately 40% in return-seeking assets, primarily equity securities and real estate.
The fair value of pension plan assets at December 31, 2016 was determined using the following fair value measurements (in millions):
The fair value of pension plan assets at January 3, 2016 was determined using the following fair value measurements (in millions):
The following section describes the valuation methodologies used to measure the fair value of pension plan assets, including an indication of the level in the fair value hierarchy in which each type of asset is generally classified.
Government Bonds. These securities consist of direct investments in publicly traded U.S. and non-U.S. fixed interest obligations (principally debentures). Such investments are valued using quoted prices in active markets. These securities are principally included in Level 1.
Corporate Bonds and Other Fixed-Income Securities. These securities consist of publicly traded U.S. and non-U.S. fixed interest obligations (principally corporate bonds). Such investments are valued through consultation and evaluation with brokers in the institutional market using quoted prices and other observable market data. As such, these securities are included in Level 2.
Equity Securities. These securities consist of direct investments in the stock of publicly traded companies. Such investments are valued based on the closing price reported in an active market on which the individual securities are traded. As such, the direct investments are classified as Level 1.
Real Estate. These holdings consist of real estate investments. Direct investments of real estate are valued by investment managers based on the most recent financial information available, which typically represents significant unobservable data. As such, these investments are generally classified as Level 3.
Cash and Cash Equivalents. This consists of direct cash holdings and institutional short-term investment vehicles. Direct cash holdings are valued based on cost, which approximates fair value and are classified as Level 1. Institutional short-term investment vehicles are valued daily and are classified as Level 2.
Certain Insurance Contracts. This category consists of group annuity contracts that have been purchased to cover a portion of the plan members. The fair value of non-participating annuity buy-in contracts fluctuates based on fluctuations in the obligation associated with the covered plan members. The fair value of certain participating annuity contracts are reported at contract value. These values have been classified as Level 3.
Investments Measured at Net Asset Value. This category consists of partnership/joint venture interests, pooled funds, and short-term investments.
Partnership/joint venture interests. Fair value estimates of the real estate partnership are based on their net asset values, as reported by the manager of the partnership. The fair value of these investments measured at net asset value is excluded from the fair value hierarchy. Investments in the partnership may be redeemed once per quarter subject to available cash, as determined by the trustee. A written withdrawal request is required 60 days prior to quarter end. To the extent that withdrawal requests exceed available cash, distributions are made on a pro-rata basis based on a ratio of total units held in the partnership. The investment objective of the partnership is to provide a long-term return in excess of the consumer price index plus 5% investing in a diversified portfolio of real estate investments.
Pooled funds. The fair values of participation units held in collective trusts and a Delaware trust are based on their net asset values, as reported by the managers of the collective trusts and Delaware trust and as supported by the unit prices of actual purchase and sale transactions occurring as of or close to the financial statement date. The fair value of these investments measured at net asset value is excluded from the fair value hierarchy. Investments in the collective trusts can be redeemed on each business day based upon the applicable net asset value per unit. Investments in the international large/mid cap equity collective trust can be redeemed on the last business date of each month and at least one business day during the month. Investments in the Delaware trust can be redeemed not later than seven business days after the business day on which the redemption occurs or as soon as practicable thereafter, with at least 30 business days’ written notice, based on the net asset value per unit as determined as of the end of each month.
The fair values of the property collective trust are based upon the net asset values of the real estate collective trusts in which it invests. The fair value of these investments measured at net asset value is excluded from the fair value hierarchy. Investments in Property Trust may be redeemed once per quarter subject to available cash, as determined by the trustee. A written withdrawal request is required 45 days prior to quarter end. To the extent that withdrawal requests exceed available cash, distributions are made on a pro-rata basis.
The mutual fund investments are not traded on an exchange and a majority of these funds are held in a separate account managed by a fixed income manager. The fair values of the mutual fund investments that are not traded on an exchange are based on their net asset values, as reported by the managers and as supported by the unit prices of actual purchase and sale transactions occurring as of or close to the financial statement date. The fair value of these investments measured at net asset value is excluded from the fair value hierarchy. The objective of the account is to provide superior return with reasonable risk, where performance is expected to exceed Barclays Long U.S. Credit Index. Investments in this account can be redeemed with a written notice to the investment manager.
Short-term investments: Short-term investments largely consisted of a money market fund, the fair value of which is based on the net asset value reported by the manager of the fund and supported by the unit prices of actual purchase and sale transactions. The fair value of these investments measured at net asset value is excluded from the fair value hierarchy. The money market fund is designed to provide safety of principal, daily liquidity, and a competitive yield by investing in high quality money market instruments. The investment objective of the money market fund is to provide the highest possible level of current income while still maintaining liquidity and preserving capital.
Changes in our Level 3 plan assets for the year ended December 31, 2016 included (in millions):
Changes in our Level 3 plan assets for the year ended January 3, 2016 included (in millions):
Employer Contributions:
In 2016, we contributed $311 million to our U.S. pension plans, which included contributions related to the settlement of our U.S. nonqualified pension plan that was terminated effective December 31, 2015. In 2016, we contributed $33 million to our non-U.S. pension plans. We estimate that 2017 pension contributions will be approximately $150 million to our U.S. plans and approximately $35 million to our non-U.S. plans. However, our actual contributions and plans may change due to many factors, including timing of regulatory approval for the wind up of our Canadian plans, changes in tax, employee benefit or other laws, tax deductibility, significant differences between expected and actual pension asset performance or interest rates, or other factors.
Future Benefit Payments:
The estimated future benefit payments from our pension plans at December 31, 2016 were (in millions):
Postretirement Plans
Obligations:
Our postretirement benefit plans are not funded. The changes in and the amount of the accrued benefit obligations at December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016 were (in millions):
In the third quarter of 2015, we made a number of plan amendments to certain of our postretirement health care benefit plans in the U.S., which resulted in a $1.5 billion reduction to our postretirement plan accrued benefit obligations. This $1.5 billion pre-tax benefit was deferred as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) and is being amortized to net income/(loss) as a prior service credit over the remaining working life to full eligibility of the covered employees.
We used the following weighted average assumptions to determine our postretirement benefit obligations at December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016:
Discount rates for our plans were developed from a model portfolio of high-quality, fixed-income debt instruments with durations that match the expected future cash flows of the plans. Our expected health care cost trend rate is based on historical costs.
The year that the health care cost trend rate reaches the ultimate trend rate varies by plan and ranges between 2022 and 2027 as of December 31, 2016.
Assumed health care costs trend rates have a significant impact on the amounts reported for the postretirement benefit plans. A one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects, increase/(decrease) in cost and obligation, as of December 31, 2016 (in millions):
Components of Net Postretirement Cost/(Benefit):
Net postretirement cost/(benefit) consisted of the following (in millions):
We capitalized a portion of net postretirement costs/(benefits) into inventory based on our production activities. These amounts are included in the table above.
The amortization of prior service credits in 2016 and 2015 was primarily driven by the 2015 plan amendments. Amortization of prior service credits in 2016 included 12 months of amortization related to the 2015 plan amendments, and 2015 included four months of such amortization.
We used the following weighted average assumptions to determine our net postretirement benefit plans cost:
Future Benefit Payments:
Our estimated future benefit payments for our postretirement plans at December 31, 2016 were (in millions):
Other Costs
We sponsor and contribute to employee savings plans that cover eligible salaried, non-union, and union employees. Our contributions and costs are determined by the matching of employee contributions, as defined by the plans. Amounts charged to expense for defined contribution plans totaled $74 million in 2016, $52 million in 2015, and $19 million in 2014.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Losses):
Our accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) pension and postretirement benefit plans balances, before tax, consisted of the following (in millions):
The net postemployment benefits recognized in other comprehensive income/(loss), consisted of the following (in millions):
As of December 31, 2016, we expect to amortize $312 million of postretirement benefit plans prior service credits from accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) into net postretirement benefit plans costs/(benefits) during 2017. We do not expect to amortize any other significant postemployment benefit losses/(gains) into net pension or net postretirement benefit plan costs/(benefits) during 2017.
Note 10. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Losses)
The components of, and changes in, accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) were as follows (net of tax):
Reclassification of net postemployment benefit losses/(gains) included amounts reclassified to net income and amounts reclassified into inventory (consistent with our capitalization policy).
The gross amount and related tax benefit/(expense) recorded in, and associated with, each component of other comprehensive income/(loss) for the years ended December 31, 2016, January 3, 2016, and December 28, 2014 were as follows (in millions):
In the third quarter of 2016, we determined that we had misstated the prior service credit related to the postretirement plan amendment recognized in the third quarter 2015 financial statements. This misstatement had an impact on other comprehensive income/(losses) for the year ended January 3, 2016. In the third quarter of 2016, we recorded a correction to reduce accrued postemployment costs by $107 million, reduce deferred income taxes by $41 million, and increase accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) by $66 million on the consolidated balance sheet. This correction is reflected in prior service credits/(costs) arising during the period in the table above. This misstatement was not material to our current or any prior period financial statements.
The amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) in 2016, 2015, and 2014 were as follows (in millions):
(a)
These components are included in the computation of net periodic postemployment benefit costs. See Note 9, Postemployment Benefits, for additional information.
In this note we have excluded activity and balances related to noncontrolling interest (which was primarily comprised of foreign currency translation adjustments) due to its insignificance.
Note 11. Debt
Borrowing Arrangements:
On July 6, 2015, together with Kraft Heinz Foods Company, our wholly owned operating subsidiary, we entered into a credit agreement (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”), which provides for:
•
a $4.0 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”), which matures on July 6, 2021; and
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a $600 million senior unsecured loan facility (the “Term Loan Facility” and, together with the Revolving Credit Facility, the “Senior Credit Facilities”), which matures on July 6, 2022.
The Revolving Credit Facility includes a $1.0 billion sub-limit for borrowings in alternative currencies (i.e., euro, sterling, Canadian dollars, or other lawful currencies readily available and freely transferable and convertible into U.S. dollars), as well as a letter of credit sub-facility of up to $300 million. Subject to certain conditions, we may increase the amount of revolving commitments and/or add additional tranches of term loans in a combined aggregate amount of up to $1.0 billion.
Any committed borrowings under the Senior Credit Facilities bear interest at a variable annual rate based on LIBOR/EURIBOR/CDOR loans or an alternate base rate/Canadian prime rate, in each case subject to an applicable margin based upon the long-term senior unsecured, non-credit enhanced debt rating assigned to us. The borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility have interest rates based on, at our election, base rate, LIBOR, EURIBOR, CDOR, or Canadian prime rate plus a spread ranging from 87.5-175 basis points for LIBOR, EURIBOR, and CDOR loans, and 0-75 basis points for base rate or Canadian prime rate loans.
The Senior Credit Facilities contain representations, warranties, and covenants that are typical for these types of facilities. Our Revolving Credit Facility requires us to maintain a minimum shareholders’ equity (excluding accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses)) of at least $35 billion. We were in compliance with this covenant as of December 31, 2016.
At December 31, 2016 and at January 3, 2016, $600 million aggregate principal amount of our Term Loan Facility was outstanding. No amounts were drawn on our Revolving Credit Facility at December 31, 2016, at January 3, 2016, or during the years ended December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016.
The obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by Kraft Heinz Foods Company in the case of indebtedness and other liabilities of any subsidiary borrower and by Kraft Heinz in the case of indebtedness and other liabilities of any subsidiary borrower and Kraft Heinz Foods Company.
In 2016, together with Kraft Heinz Foods Company, we commenced a commercial paper program. As of December 31, 2016, we had $642 million of commercial paper outstanding, with a weighted average interest rate of 1.074%. We had no commercial paper outstanding at January 3, 2016.
Long-Term Debt:
Our long-term debt consists of the following:
Priority of debt indicates the order which debt would be paid if all debt obligations were due on the same day. Senior secured debt takes priority over unsecured debt. Senior debt has greater seniority than subordinated debt.
Floating interest rates are stated as of December 31, 2016.
(a)
The 4.875% Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due February 15, 2025 (the “2025 Notes”) are senior in right of payment of existing and future unsecured and subordinated indebtedness.
(b)
We fully and unconditionally guarantee these notes, which were issued by Kraft Heinz Foods Company.
(c) Includes current year issuances (the “May 2016 Note Issuances”), detailed as follows:
On May 24, 2016, we completed the sale of $2.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 3.000% Senior Notes due June 1, 2026 (the “2026 Notes”) and $3.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.375% Senior Notes due June 1, 2046 (the “2046 Notes”). Interest on the 2026 Notes and 2046 Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on December 1, 2016.
On May 25, 2016, we completed the sale of €550 million aggregate principal amount of 1.500% Senior Notes due May 24, 2024 (the “2024 Notes”) and €1,250 million aggregate principal amount of 2.250% Senior Notes due May 25, 2028 (the “2028 Notes”). Interest on the 2024 Notes is payable annually in arrears on May 24 of each year, beginning on May 24, 2017. Interest on the 2028 Notes is payable annually in arrears on May 25 of each year, beginning on May 25, 2017.
We used the net proceeds from the May 2016 Note Issuances primarily to redeem all outstanding shares of our 9.00% cumulative compounding preferred stock, Series A (“Series A Preferred Stock”) for $8.3 billion. See Note 12, Capital Stock, for additional information.
(d)
Includes £125 million aggregate principal amount of 6.250% Pound Sterling Notes due February 18, 2030 (the “2030 Notes”) previously issued by H.J. Heinz Finance UK Plc and guaranteed by Kraft Heinz Foods Company, which we became guarantor of in connection with the 2015 Merger.
Our long-term debt contains customary representations, covenants, and events of default, and we were in compliance with all such covenants at December 31, 2016.
At December 31, 2016, aggregate principal maturities of our long-term debt excluding capital leases were (in millions):
Debt Issuance Costs:
Unamortized debt issuance costs are presented on the consolidated balance sheets as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of debt. In relation to our debt issuances, we incurred debt issuance costs of $53 million in 2016 and $99 million in 2015. Unamortized debt issuance costs were $124 million at December 31, 2016 and $85 million at January 3, 2016. Amortization of debt issuance costs was $14 million in 2016, $27 million in 2015, and $49 million in 2014.
Debt Premium:
Unamortized debt premiums are presented on the consolidated balance sheets as a direct addition to the carrying amount of debt. Unamortized debt premium, net was $585 million at December 31, 2016 and $699 million at January 3, 2016. Amortization of our debt premium, net was $88 million in 2016, $45 million in 2015, and $25 million in 2014.
Debt Repayments:
In 2015, we recorded a $341 million loss on extinguishment of debt, which was comprised of a write-off of debt issuance costs and unamortized debt discounts of $236 million in interest expense as well as call premiums of $105 million in other expense/(income), net.
Fair Value of Debt:
At December 31, 2016, the aggregate fair value of our total debt was $33.2 billion as compared with a carrying value of $32.4 billion. At January 3, 2016, the aggregate fair value of our total debt was $25.7 billion as compared with a carrying value of $25.2 billion. We determined the fair value of our long-term debt using Level 2 inputs. Fair values are generally estimated based on quoted market prices for identical or similar instruments.
Note 12. Capital Stock
Preferred Stock and Warrants
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 920,000 shares of preferred stock.
On June 7, 2016, we redeemed all 80,000 outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock for $8.3 billion. We funded this redemption primarily through the May 2016 Note Issuances, as well as other sources of liquidity, including our commercial paper program, U.S. securitization program, and cash on hand. In connection with the redemption, all Series A Preferred Stock was canceled and automatically retired.
The 80,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock were issued in connection with the 2013 Merger, along with warrants to purchase 46 million Heinz common shares, at an exercise price of $0.01 per common share (the “Warrants”), for an aggregate purchase price of $8.0 billion. We allocated the proceeds to the Series A Preferred Stock ($7.6 billion) and the Warrants ($367 million) on a relative fair value basis. In June 2015, Berkshire Hathaway exercised the Warrants to purchase the additional 46 million Heinz common shares, which were subsequently reclassified and changed into approximately 20 million shares of Kraft Heinz common stock.
Common Stock
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 5.0 billion shares of common stock.
Immediately prior to the consummation of the 2015 Merger, each share of Heinz issued and outstanding common stock was reclassified and changed into 0.443332 of a share of Kraft Heinz common stock. All share and per share amounts have been retroactively adjusted for all historical periods presented prior to the 2015 Merger Date to give effect to this conversion. In the 2015 Merger, all outstanding shares of Kraft common stock were converted into the right to receive, on one-for-one basis, shares of Kraft Heinz common stock.
Shares of common stock issued, in treasury, and outstanding were (in thousands of shares):
Note 13. Financing Arrangements
We routinely enter into accounts receivable securitization and factoring programs. We account for transfers of receivables pursuant to these programs as a sale and remove them from our consolidated balance sheet.
At December 31, 2016, our most significant program in place was the U.S. securitization program, which was amended in May 2016 and originally entered into in October of 2015. Under the program, we are entitled to receive cash consideration of up to $800 million (which we elected to reduce to $500 million, effective February 21, 2017) and a receivable for the remainder of the purchase price (the “Deferred Purchase Price”). This securitization program utilizes a bankruptcy-remote special-purpose entity (“SPE”). The SPE is wholly-owned by a subsidiary of Kraft Heinz and its sole business consists of the purchase or acceptance, through capital contributions of receivables and related assets, from a Kraft Heinz subsidiary and subsequent transfer of such receivables and related assets to a bank. Although the SPE is included in our consolidated financial statements, it is a separate legal entity with separate creditors who will be entitled, upon its liquidation, to be satisfied out of the SPE's assets prior to any assets or value in the SPE becoming available to Kraft Heinz or its subsidiaries. The assets of the SPE are not available to pay creditors of Kraft Heinz or its subsidiaries. This program expires in May 2017.
In addition to the U.S. securitization program, we have accounts receivable factoring programs denominated in Australian dollars, New Zealand dollars, British pound sterling, euros, and Japanese yen. Under these programs, we generally receive cash consideration up to a certain limit and a receivable for the Deferred Purchase Price. There is no Deferred Purchase Price associated with the Japanese yen contract. Related to these programs, our aggregate cash consideration limit, after applying applicable hold-backs, was $245 million U.S. dollars at December 31, 2016. Generally, each of these programs automatically renews annually until terminated by either party.
The cash consideration and carrying amount of receivables removed from the consolidated balance sheets in connection with the above programs were $904 million at December 31, 2016 and $267 million at January 3, 2016. The fair value of the Deferred Purchase Price for the programs was $129 million at December 31, 2016 and $583 million at January 3, 2016. The Deferred Purchase Price is included in sold receivables on the consolidated balance sheets and had a carrying value which approximated its fair value at December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016. The proceeds from these sales are recognized on the consolidated statements of cash flows as a component of operating activities. We act as servicer for these arrangements and have not recorded any servicing assets or liabilities for these arrangements as of December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016 because they were not material to the financial statements.
Note 14. Financial Instruments
Derivative Volume:
The notional values of our derivative instruments at December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016 were (in millions):
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments:
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair values and the levels within the fair value hierarchy of derivative instruments recorded on the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016 were (in millions):
Our derivative financial instruments are subject to master netting arrangements that allow for the offset of assets and liabilities in the event of default or early termination of the contract. We elect to record the gross assets and liabilities of our derivative financial instruments on the consolidated balance sheets. If the derivative financial instruments had been netted on the consolidated balance sheets, the asset and liability positions each would have been reduced by $67 million at December 31, 2016 and $44 million at January 3, 2016. No material amounts of collateral were received or posted on our derivative assets and liabilities at December 31, 2016.
Level 1 financial assets and liabilities consist of commodity future and options contracts and are valued using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
Level 2 financial assets and liabilities consist of commodity forwards, foreign exchange forwards, and cross-currency swaps. Commodity forwards are valued using an income approach based on the observable market commodity index prices less the contract rate multiplied by the notional amount. Foreign exchange forwards are valued using an income approach based on observable market forward rates less the contract rate multiplied by the notional amount. Cross-currency swaps are valued based on observable market spot and swap rates.
Our calculation of the fair value of financial instruments takes into consideration the risk of nonperformance, including counterparty credit risk.
There have been no transfers between Levels 1, 2, and 3 in any period presented.
The fair values of our asset derivatives are recorded within other current assets and other assets. The fair values of our liability derivatives are recorded within other current liabilities and other liabilities.
Net Investment Hedging:
In May 2016, we issued €1.8 billion aggregate principal amount of euro denominated notes (see Note 11, Debt). The principal amounts of these foreign denominated notes were designated as net investment hedges. Concurrently, we fully unwound our then-outstanding euro swap (USD notional amount of $1.1 billion). At December 31, 2016, the principal amounts of foreign denominated debt designated as net investment hedges totaled €2,550 million and £400 million.
At December 31, 2016, our cross-currency swaps designated as net investment hedges consisted of:
We also periodically enter into shorter-dated foreign currency contracts that are designated as net investment hedges. At December 31, 2016, we had a Chinese renminbi foreign currency contract with an aggregate USD notional amount of $119 million.
The component of the gains and losses on our net investment in these designated foreign operations, driven by changes in foreign exchange rates, are economically offset by movements in the fair values of our cross-currency swap contracts and remeasurement of our foreign denominated debt.
Interest Rate Hedging:
During 2015, we de-designated all of our outstanding interest rate swaps (total notional amount of $7.9 billion) from hedging relationships in connection with the repayment of the Term B-1 and Term B-2 loans. We determined that the related forecasted future cash flows were probable of not occurring, and as a result, we reclassified $227 million of deferred losses initially reported in accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) to net income/(loss) as interest expense.
Hedge Coverage:
At December 31, 2016, we had entered into contracts designated as hedging instruments, which hedge transactions for the following durations:
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foreign currency contracts for periods not exceeding the next 12 months, and
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cross-currency contracts for periods not exceeding the next three years.
At December 31, 2016, we had entered into contracts not designated as hedging instruments, which hedge economic risks for the following durations:
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commodity contracts for periods not exceeding the next 12 months,
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foreign exchange contracts for periods not exceeding the next 12 months, and
•
cross-currency contracts for periods not exceeding the next two years.
Hedge Ineffectiveness:
We record pre-tax gains or losses reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) due to ineffectiveness for foreign exchange contracts related to forecasted transactions in other expense/(income), net.
Deferred Hedging Gains and Losses:
Based on our valuation at December 31, 2016 and assuming market rates remain constant through contract maturities, we expect transfers to net income/(loss) of unrealized gains for foreign currency cash flow hedges during the next 12 months to be $14 million. Additionally, we expect transfers to net income/(loss) of unrealized losses for interest rate cash flow hedges during the next 12 months to be insignificant.
Concentration of Credit Risk:
Counterparties to our foreign exchange derivatives consist of major international financial institutions. We continually monitor our positions and the credit ratings of the counterparties involved and, by policy, limit the amount of our credit exposure to any one party. While we may be exposed to potential losses due to the credit risk of non-performance by these counterparties, losses are not anticipated. We closely monitor the credit risk associated with our counterparties and customers and to date have not experienced material losses.
Economic Hedging:
We enter into certain derivative contracts not designated as hedging instruments in accordance with our risk management strategy which have an economic impact of largely mitigating commodity price risk and foreign currency exposures. Gains and losses are recorded in net income/(loss) as a component of cost of products sold for our commodity contracts and other expense/(income), net for our cross currency and foreign exchange contracts.
Derivative Impact on the Statements of Income and Statements of Comprehensive Income:
The following tables present the pre-tax effect of derivative instruments on the consolidated statements of income and statements of comprehensive income for 2016, 2015, and 2014:
Related to our non-derivative, foreign denominated debt instruments designated as net investment hedges, we recognized a pre-tax gain in other comprehensive income/(loss) of $234 million in 2016 and $65 million in 2015.
Note 15. Venezuela - Foreign Currency and Inflation
We have a subsidiary in Venezuela that manufactures and sells a variety of products, primarily in the condiments and sauces and infant/nutrition categories. We apply highly inflationary accounting to the results of our Venezuelan subsidiary and include these results in our consolidated financial statements. Under highly inflationary accounting, the financial statements of our Venezuelan subsidiary are remeasured into our reporting currency (U.S. dollars) based on the legally available exchange rate at which we expect to settle the underlying transactions. Exchange gains and losses from the remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities are reflected in current net income/(loss), rather than accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) on the balance sheet, until the Venezuelan economy is no longer considered highly inflationary. Certain non-monetary assets and liabilities are recorded at the applicable historical exchange rates.
Our results of operations in Venezuela reflect a controlled subsidiary. We continue to have sufficient currency liquidity and pricing flexibility to run our operations. However, the continuing economic uncertainty, strict labor laws, and evolving government controls over imports, prices, currency exchange and payments present a challenging operating environment. Increased restrictions imposed by the Venezuelan government or further deterioration of the economic environment could impact our ability to control our Venezuelan operations and could lead us to deconsolidate our Venezuelan subsidiary in the future.
At December 31, 2016, there were two exchange rates legally available to us for converting Venezuelan bolivars to U.S. dollars, including:
•
the official exchange rate of BsF10 per U.S. dollar available through the Sistema de Divisa Protegida (“DIPRO”), which is available for purchases and sales of essential items, including food products, and
•
an alternative exchange rate available through the Sistema de Divisa Complementaria (“DICOM”), which is available for all transactions not covered by DIPRO and is a free-floating exchange rate format.
The DICOM rate (formerly the Marginal Currency System “SIMADI”) averaged BsF496 per U.S. dollar in 2016 and was BsF674 per U.S. dollar at December 31, 2016. We have had access to U.S. dollars at DICOM rates in 2016. As of December 31, 2016, we believe that the DICOM rate is the most appropriate legally available rate at which to translate the results of our Venezuelan subsidiary.
We have had no settlements at the current official exchange rate of BsF10 per U.S. dollar in 2016. We have had limited access to, and settlements at, the former official exchange rate of BsF6.30 per U.S. dollar in 2016 (as of March 10, 2016, the official exchange rate was devalued to BsF10 per U.S. dollar). We had outstanding requests of $26 million at December 31, 2016 for payment of invoices for the purchase of ingredients and packaging materials for the years 2012 through 2015, all of which were requested for payment at BsF6.30 per U.S. dollar.
Throughout 2016, we remeasured the net monetary assets and operating results of our Venezuelan subsidiary, resulting in a net nonmonetary currency devaluation loss of $24 million in 2016, which was recorded in other expense/(income), net, in the consolidated statement of income. During the second quarter of 2016, the DICOM rate deteriorated significantly, from BsF276 per U.S. dollar as of April 3, 2016 to BsF628 per U.S. dollar as of July 3, 2016. Accordingly, as of July 3, 2016, we assessed the nonmonetary assets of our Venezuelan subsidiary for impairment, resulting in a $53 million loss to write down property, plant and equipment, net, and prepaid spare parts, which was recorded within cost of products sold in the consolidated statements of income for that period. We continue to monitor the DICOM rate, and our nonmonetary assets being supported by the underlying operations in Venezuela, for impairment. The currency has ranged between BsF628 and BsF676 per U.S. dollar from July 3, 2016 to December 31, 2016. No triggers for impairment resulted from this movement.
In June 2015, due to the continued lack of liquidity and increasing economic uncertainty, we reevaluated the rate used to remeasure the monetary assets and liabilities of our Venezuelan subsidiary. We determined that the DICOM rate was the most appropriate legally available rate. At June 28, 2015, we remeasured the net monetary assets of our Venezuelan subsidiary at the then DICOM rate of BsF197.7 per U.S. dollar, resulting in a nonmonetary currency devaluation loss of $234 million, which was recorded in other expense/(income), net, in the consolidated statements of income for the second quarter of 2015. Additionally, we assessed the nonmonetary assets of our Venezuelan subsidiary for impairment, which resulted in a $49 million loss to write down inventory to the lower of cost or market, which was recorded in cost of products sold in the consolidated statements of income for the second quarter of 2015. Prior to June 28, 2015, we used the official exchange rate of BsF6.30 per U.S. dollar to translate the results of our Venezuelan subsidiary.
In 2014, we also had limited access to the Complimentary System of Foreign Currency Acquirement (“SICAD”) II foreign exchange mechanism, which was eliminated in 2016. SICAD II was the market through which U.S. dollars were to be obtained for the remittance of dividends. This market had significantly higher foreign exchange rates than those available through the other foreign exchange mechanisms at the time, with published weighted average daily exchange rates of approximately BsF50 per U.S. dollar. In 2014, we converted 164 million bolivars into $3 million U.S. dollars, recognizing a $23 million transactional currency loss, which was recorded in other expense/(income), net, in the consolidated statements of income.
Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings:
We are routinely involved in legal proceedings, claims, and governmental inquiries, inspections or investigations (“Legal Matters”) arising in the ordinary course of our business.
On April 1, 2015, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) filed a formal complaint against Mondelēz International (formerly known as Kraft Foods Inc.) and Kraft in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, related to activities involving the trading of December 2011 wheat futures contracts. The complaint alleges that Mondelēz International and Kraft (1) manipulated or attempted to manipulate the wheat markets during the fall of 2011, (2) violated position limit levels for wheat futures, and (3) engaged in non-competitive trades by trading both sides of exchange-for-physical Chicago Board of Trade wheat contracts. As previously disclosed by Kraft, these activities arose prior to the October 1, 2012 spin-off of Kraft by Mondelēz International to its shareholders and involve the business now owned and operated by Mondelēz International or its affiliates. The Separation and Distribution Agreement between Kraft and Mondelēz International, dated as of September 27, 2012, governs the allocation of liabilities between Mondelēz International and Kraft and, accordingly, Mondelēz International will predominantly bear the costs of this matter and any monetary penalties or other payments that the CFTC may impose. We do not expect this matter to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or business.
While we cannot predict with certainty the results of Legal Matters in which we are currently involved or may in the future be involved, we do not expect that the ultimate costs to resolve any of the Legal Matters that are currently pending will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Leases:
Rental expenses for leases of warehouse, production, and office facilities and equipment were $149 million in 2016, $160 million in 2015, and $102 million in 2014.
Minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating leases in effect at December 31, 2016 were (in millions):
Purchase Obligations:
We have purchase obligations for materials, supplies, property, plant and equipment, and co-packing, storage and distribution services based on 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. As of December 31, 2016, our take-or-pay purchase obligations were as follows (in millions):
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest:
In April 2016, the minority partner in our Brazilian subsidiary, Coniexpress S.A. Industrias Alimenticias (“Coniexpress”), exercised a put option that required us to purchase its remaining 5% equity interest in the subsidiary for $21 million. The redemption value was determined based on a specified formula within the shareholders’ agreement between our Brazilian subsidiary and the minority partner. An adjustment was made to retained earnings to record the carrying value at the maximum redemption value immediately prior to this transaction. As this exercise did not result in a change in control of Coniexpress, it was accounted for as an equity transaction. We now own 100% of Coniexpress.
Note 17. Earnings Per Share
As a result of the stock conversion prior to the 2015 Merger, all per share data, numbers of shares, and numbers of equity awards outstanding were retroactively adjusted for all historical periods presented prior to the 2015 Merger Date. See Note 1, Background and Basis of Presentation, for additional information.
Our earnings per common share (“EPS”) for 2016, 2015, and 2014 were:
We use the treasury stock method to calculate the dilutive effect of outstanding warrants and equity awards in the denominator for diluted earnings per common share. Due to the net loss attributable to common shareholders in 2015 and 2014, the dilutive effects of equity awards and warrants were excluded because their inclusion would have had an anti-dilutive effect on earnings per share. Anti-dilutive shares were 3 million in 2016, 17 million in 2015, and 29 million in 2014.
Note 18. Segment Reporting
We manufacture and market food and beverage products, including condiments and sauces, cheese and dairy, meals, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee, and other grocery products, throughout the world.
We manage and report our operating results through four segments. We have three reportable segments defined by geographic region: United States, Canada, and Europe. Our remaining businesses are combined and disclosed as “Rest of World”. Rest of World is comprised of two operating segments: Latin America; and Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (“AMEA”).
In the fourth quarter of 2016, we reorganized our segments to reflect a change in our organizational structure. As a result, the Russia business, which was included within our historical Russia, India, Middle East and Africa (“RIMEA”) operating segment, moved to our Europe reportable segment. The remaining businesses within RIMEA joined our historical Asia Pacific operating segment to form the AMEA operating segment. These changes were effective December 31, 2016. We have reflected these changes for all historical periods presented. Additionally, we have reflected this change in our Integration Program and restructuring expenses disclosed by segment in Note 3, Integration and Restructuring Expenses, and in our goodwill balances disclosed by segment in Note 6, Goodwill and Intangible Assets. This change did not have a material impact on our current or any prior period results.
Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2016, we determined that our Global Procurement Office (“GPO”), formerly managed by a subsidiary within our Europe segment, would be managed by our global headquarters. This change aligns management of this function with the global nature of the centralized procurement benefits and with our business objective to continue expanding the reach of the GPO. As a result of this change, we have restated our segment results to exclude GPO costs from the Europe segment and to include such costs within general corporate expenses. This change did not impact our Integration Program and restructuring expenses disclosed by segment in Note 3, Integration and Restructuring Expenses, or our goodwill balances disclosed by segment in Note 6, Goodwill and Intangible Assets. This change did not have a material impact on our current or any prior period results.
In the first quarter of 2016, we moved certain historical Kraft export businesses from our United States segment to our Rest of World and Europe segments to align with our long-term go-to-market strategies. We began to manage and report our results reflecting this change in the first quarter of 2016 and have reflected this change in all historical periods presented. This change did not have a material impact on our current or any prior period results. This change did not impact our Integration Program and restructuring expenses disclosed by segment in Note 3, Integration and Restructuring Expenses. See Note 6, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, for the impact on our goodwill balances disclosed by segment.
Management evaluates segment performance based on several factors including net sales and segment adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (“Segment Adjusted EBITDA”). Management uses Segment Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources. Segment Adjusted EBITDA is a tool that can assist management and investors in comparing our performance on a consistent basis by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect our underlying operations. These items include depreciation and amortization (including amortization of postretirement benefit plans prior service credits), equity award compensation expense, integration and restructuring expenses, merger costs, unrealized gains/(losses) on commodity hedges (the unrealized gains and losses are recorded in general corporate expenses until realized; once realized, the gains and losses are recorded in the applicable segment’s operating results), impairment losses, gains/(losses) on the sale of a business, and nonmonetary currency devaluation (e.g., remeasurement gains and losses). In addition, consistent with the manner in which management evaluates segment performance and allocates resources, Segment Adjusted EBITDA includes the operating results of Kraft on a pro forma basis, as if Kraft had been acquired as of December 30, 2013. There are no pro forma adjustments to any of the numbers disclosed in this note to the consolidated financial statements except for the Segment Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation.
Management does not use assets by segment to evaluate performance or allocate resources. Therefore, we do not disclose assets by segment.
Net sales by segment were (in millions):
Segment Adjusted EBITDA was (in millions):
Total depreciation and amortization expense by segment was (in millions):
Total capital expenditures by segment were (in millions):
Concentration of risk:
Our largest customer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., represented approximately 22% of our net sales in 2016, approximately 20% of our net sales in 2015, and approximately 10% of our net sales in 2014. All of our segments have sales to Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
In 2016, we reorganized the products within our product categories to reflect how we manage our business. We have reflected this change for all historical periods presented. Our net sales by product category were (in millions):
We had significant sales in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Our net sales by geography were (in millions):
We had significant long-lived assets in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. Long-lived assets include property, plant and equipment, goodwill, trademarks, and other intangibles, net of related depreciation and amortization. Our long-lived assets by geography were (in millions):
The change in long-lived assets within the United Kingdom from January 3, 2016 to December 31, 2016 is primarily driven by foreign currency exchange rates.
Note 19. Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
Our quarterly financial data for 2016 and 2015 was:
Basic and diluted EPS are computed independently for each of the periods presented. Accordingly, the sum of the quarterly EPS amounts may not equal the total for the year.
Note 20. Supplemental Financial Information
We fully and unconditionally guarantee the notes issued by our wholly owned operating subsidiary, Kraft Heinz Foods Company. See Note 11, Debt, for additional descriptions of these guarantees. None of our other subsidiaries guarantee these notes.
Set forth below are the condensed consolidating financial statements presenting the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of Kraft Heinz (as parent guarantor), Kraft Heinz Foods Company (as subsidiary issuer of the notes), and the non-guarantor subsidiaries on a combined basis and eliminations necessary to arrive at the total reported information on a consolidated basis. This condensed consolidating financial information has been prepared and presented pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-X Rule 3-10, “Financial Statements of Guarantors and Issuers of Guaranteed Securities Registered or being Registered.” This information is not intended to present the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of the individual companies or groups of companies in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Eliminations represent adjustments to eliminate investments in subsidiaries and intercompany balances and transactions between or among the parent guarantor, subsidiary issuer, and the non-guarantor subsidiaries.
The Kraft Heinz Company
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
For the Year Ended December 31, 2016
(52 weeks)
(in millions)
The Kraft Heinz Company
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
For the Year Ended January 3, 2016
(53 weeks)
(in millions)
The Kraft Heinz Company
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
For the Year Ended December 28, 2014
(52 weeks)
(in millions)
The Kraft Heinz Company
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
As of December 31, 2016
(in millions)
The Kraft Heinz Company
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
As of January 3, 2016
(in millions)
The Kraft Heinz Company
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the Year Ended December 31, 2016
(52 weeks)
(in millions)
The Kraft Heinz Company
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the Year Ended January 3, 2016
(53 weeks)
(in millions)
The Kraft Heinz Company
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the Year Ended December 28, 2014
(52 weeks)
(in millions)
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2016, the end of the period covered by this report, were effective and provided reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, with other members of management, evaluated the changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2016. We determined that there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2016, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our 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 reporting purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those written policies and procedures that:
•
pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of assets;
•
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
•
provide reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with management and director authorization; and
•
provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated 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.
Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016. Management based this assessment on criteria described in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
Based on this assessment, management determined that as of December 31, 2016, we maintained effective internal control over financial reporting.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, who audited the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has also audited the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, as stated in their report which appears herein under Item 8.
Item 9B. Other Information.
Not applicable.
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
We have a written code of conduct that 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 conduct is available free of charge on our website at www.kraftheinzcompany.com and will be provided free of charge to any shareholder submitting a written request to: Corporate Secretary, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 7600; Chicago, Illinois 60601. Any amendment to our code of conduct and any waiver applicable to our executive officers or senior financial officers will be posted on our Web site within the time period required by the SEC and applicable NASDAQ rules. 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. Additional information required by this Item 10 is included under the headings “Company Proposals - Proposal 1. Election of Directors,” “Corporate Governance and Board Matters - Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,” “Corporate Governance and Board Matters - Governance Guidelines and Codes of Conduct,” and “Board Committees and Membership - Audit Committee” in our definitive Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held on April 19, 2017 (“2017 Proxy Statement”). This information is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
Information required by this Item 11 is included under the headings “Board Committees and Membership - Compensation Committee,” “Compensation of Non-Employee Directors,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” and “Executive Compensation Tables,” in our 2017 Proxy Statement. This information is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The number of shares to be issued upon exercise or vesting of awards issued under, and the number of shares remaining available for future issuance under, our equity compensation plans at December 31, 2016, were:
Equity Compensation Plan Information
(1) Includes the vesting of RSUs.
Information related to the security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is included in our 2017 Proxy Statement under the heading “Ownership of Equity Securities” and is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Information required by this Item 13 is included under the heading “Corporate Governance and Board Matters - Independence and Related Person Transactions” in our 2017 Proxy Statement. This information is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Information required by this Item 14 is included under the heading “Board Committees and Membership - Audit Committee” in our 2017 Proxy Statement. This information is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2016, January 3, 2016, and December 28, 2014
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2016, January 3, 2016, and December 28, 2014
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2016
Consolidated Statements of Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2016, January 3, 2016, and December 28, 2014
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2016, January 3, 2016, and December 28, 2014
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Financial Statement Schedule - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
S-1
Schedules other than those listed above have been omitted either because such schedules are not required or are not applicable.
(b) The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report:
Exhibit No.
Descriptions
2.1
Separation and Distribution Agreement between Mondelēz International, Inc. (formerly known as Kraft Foods Inc.) and Kraft Foods Group, Inc., dated as of September 27, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Amendment No. 1 to Kraft Foods Group, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-184314), filed on October 26, 2012).+
2.2
Canadian Asset Transfer Agreement between Mondelēz Canada Inc. and Kraft Canada Inc., dated as of September 29, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to Amendment No. 2 to Kraft Foods Group, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-184314), filed on December 4, 2012).+
2.3
Master Ownership and License Agreement Regarding Patents, Trade Secrets and Related Intellectual Property between Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC, Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC, Kraft Foods UK Ltd. and Kraft Foods R&D Inc., dated as of October 1, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 to Amendment No. 2 to Kraft Foods Group, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-184314), filed on December 4, 2012).+
2.4
Master Ownership and License Agreement Regarding Trademarks and Related Intellectual Property between Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC and Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC., dated as of September 27, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.4 to Amendment No. 2 to Kraft Foods Group, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-184314), filed on December 4, 2012).+
2.5
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 24, 2015, by and among H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation, Kite Merger Sub Corp., Kite Merger Sub LLC and Kraft Foods Group, Inc.(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-203364), filed on April 10, 2015).+
2.6
First Amendment to the Master Ownership and License Agreement Regarding Trademarks and Related Intellectual Property, by and between Intercontinental Great Brands LLC and Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC, effective as of July 15, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to Kraft Foods Group, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 1-35491), filed on April 28, 2015).
2.7
Second Amendment to the Master Ownership and License Agreement Regarding Trademarks and Related Intellectual Property, by and between Intercontinental Great Brands LLC and Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC, effective as of October 1, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 to Kraft Foods Group, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 1-35491), filed on April 28, 2015).
3.1
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on July 2, 2015).
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of The Kraft Heinz Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on December 9, 2016).
4.1
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 2, 2015, by and among the Company, 3G Global Food Holdings LP and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on July 2, 2015).
4.2
Indenture dated as of July 1, 2015, governing debt securities by and among H. J. Heinz Company, as issuer, H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation, as guarantor, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on July 6, 2015).
4.3
First Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 1, 2015, governing the 2.000% Senior Notes due 2023, by and among H. J. Heinz Company, as issuer, H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation, as guarantor, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, and Société Générale Bank & Trust, as paying agent, security registrar, and transfer agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on July 6, 2015).
4.4
Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 1, 2015, governing the 4.125% Senior Notes due 2027, by and among H. J. Heinz Company, as issuer, H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation, as guarantor, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, and Société Générale Bank & Trust, as paying agent, security registrar, and transfer agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on July 6, 2015).
4.5
Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 2, 2015, governing the 1.60% Senior Notes due 2017, the 2.00% Senior Notes due 2018, the 2.80% Senior Notes due 2020, the 3.50% Senior Notes due 2022, the 3.95% Senior Notes due 2025, the 5.00% Senior Notes due 2035 and the 5.20% Senior Notes due 2045, by and among H. J. Heinz Company, as issuer, H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation, as guarantor, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on July 6, 2015).
4.6
Indenture dated as of July 6, 2015, governing debt securities by and among Kraft Canada Inc., as issuer, The Kraft Heinz Company and Kraft Heinz Foods Company, as guarantors, and Computershare Trust Company of Canada, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on July 6, 2015).
4.7
First Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 6, 2015, governing the Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2018, by and among Kraft Canada Inc., as issuer, The Kraft Heinz Company and Kraft Heinz Foods Company, as guarantors, and Computershare Trust Company of Canada, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on July 6, 2015).
4.8
Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 6, 2015, governing the Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2020, by and among Kraft Canada Inc., as issuer, The Kraft Heinz Company and Kraft Heinz Foods Company, as guarantors, and Computershare Trust Company of Canada, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on July 6, 2015).
4.9
Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 6, 2015, governing the 2.70% Senior Notes due 2020, by and among Kraft Canada Inc., as issuer, The Kraft Heinz Company and Kraft Heinz Foods Company, as guarantors, and Computershare Trust Company of Canada, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.14 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on July 6, 2015).
4.10
Form of the 2.70% Senior Notes due 2020 (included in Exhibit 4.16).
4.11
Guarantee Agreement dated as of July 6, 2015, by and among The Kraft Heinz Company and Kraft Heinz Foods Company, as guarantors, and Computershare Trust Company of Canada, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.16 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on July 6, 2015).
4.12
Indenture by and between Kraft Foods Group, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, dated as of June 4, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Kraft Foods Group, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 1-35491), filed on June 21, 2012).
4.13
Supplemental Indenture No. 1 by and between Kraft Foods Group, Inc., Mondelēz International, Inc. (formerly known as Kraft Foods Inc.), as guarantor, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, dated as of June 4, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Kraft Foods Group, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 1-35491), filed on June 21, 2012).
4.14
Supplemental Indenture No. 2 by and between Kraft Foods Group, Inc., Mondelēz International, Inc. (formerly known as Kraft Foods Inc.), as guarantor, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, dated as of July 18, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to Kraft Foods Group, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 1-35491), filed on August 6, 2012).
4.15
Supplemental Indenture No. 3 dated as of July 2, 2015, governing the 2.250% Notes due 2017, 6.125% Notes due 2018, 5.375% Notes due 2020, 3.500% Notes due 2022, 6.875% Notes due 2039, 6.500% Notes due 2040 and 5.000% Notes due 2042, by and among Kraft Foods Group, Inc., as issuer, H. J. Heinz Company, as successor, H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation, as parent guarantor, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.17 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on July 6, 2015).
4.16
Third Supplemental Indenture dated July 2, 2015, governing the 6.75% Debentures due 2032 and 7.125% Debentures due 2039 by and among H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation, H. J. Heinz Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor trustee to Bank One, National Association) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.18 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on July 6, 2015).
4.17
Third Supplemental Indenture dated July 2, 2015, governing the 6.375% Debentures due 2028 by and among H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation, H. J. Heinz Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor trustee to Bank One, National Association) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.19 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on July 6, 2015).
4.18
Indenture among H. J. Heinz Corporation II, H. J. Heinz Finance Company, and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor trustee) dated as of July 6, 2001 governing the 6.75% Guaranteed Notes due 2032 and the 7.125% Guaranteed Notes due 2039 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4 to H. J. Heinz Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 1, 2002 (File No. 1-3385), filed on July 30, 2002).
4.19
Indenture among H. J. Heinz Company and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (as successor trustee) dated as of July 15, 2008 governing the 2.000% Notes due 2016, the 3.125% Notes due 2021, the 1.50% Notes due 2017, and the 2.85% Notes due 2022 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(d) to H. J. Heinz Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 29, 2009 (File No. 1-3385), filed on June 17, 2009).
4.20
Supplemental Indenture No. 4, dated as of November 11, 2015, to the Indenture, by and between Kraft Foods Group, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, dated as of June 4, 2012.
4.21
Second Lien Security Agreement, dated as of June 7, 2013, by and among Hawk Acquisition Intermediate Corporation II, and certain of its subsidiaries, collectively, as the Initial Grantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Collateral Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to H. J. Heinz Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-3385), dated June 13, 2013).
4.22
Second Lien Intellectual Property Security Agreement, dated June 7, 2013 by the persons listed on the signature pages thereof in favor of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to H. J. Heinz Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-3385), dated June 13, 2013).
4.23
Indenture dated as of January 30, 2015, by and among H. J. Heinz Corporation II, the Guarantors party hereto, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Collateral Agent and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. as Trustee, relating to H. J. Heinz Corporation II’s $2,000,000,000 4.875% Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of H. J. Heinz Corporation II’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 444-194441), dated February 5, 2015).
4.24
Indenture by and between H. J. Heinz Company (as successor issuer), and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor trustee) dated as of July 15, 1992 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(a) to H. J. Heinz Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-48017), filed on March 16, 1998).
4.25
Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 24, 2016, governing the 3.000% Senior Notes due 2026 and the 4.375% Senior Notes due 2046, by and among Kraft Heinz Foods Company, as issuer, The Kraft Heinz Company, as guarantor, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on May 25, 2016).
4.26
Form of the 3.000% Senior Notes due 2026 and the 4.375% Senior Notes due 2046 included in Exhibit 4.26.
4.27
Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 25, 2016, governing the 1.500% Senior Notes due 2024 and the 2.250% Senior Notes due 2028, by and among Kraft Heinz Foods Company, as issuer, The Kraft Heinz Company, as guarantor, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, paying agent, security registrar, and transfer agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on May 25, 2016).
4.28
Form of the 1.500% Senior Notes due 2024 and the 2.250% Senior Notes due 2028 included in Exhibit 4.28.
10.1
Tax Sharing and Indemnity Agreement by and between Mondelēz International, Inc. (formerly known as Kraft Foods Inc.) and Kraft Foods Group, Inc., dated as of September 27, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Amendment No. 1 to Kraft Foods Group, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-184314), filed on October 26, 2012).
10.2
Form of (Kraft Foods Group, Inc.) Global Stock Option Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Kraft Foods Group, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 333-35491), filed on May 2, 2014).++
10.3
Form of (Kraft Foods Group, Inc.) Global Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Kraft Foods Group, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 333-35491) filed on May 2, 2014).++
10.4
H. J. Heinz Holding Corporation 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Amendment No. 4 to H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-203364), filed on May 29, 2015).++
10.5
Amendment, effective July 2, 2015 to the H. J. Heinz Holding Corporation 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2016 (File No. 1-37482), filed on March 3, 2016).++
10.6
Form of H. J. Heinz Holding Corporation 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan Non-Qualified Stock Option Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Amendment No. 4 to H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-203364), filed on May 29, 2015).++
10.7
Kraft Foods Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan For Non-Management Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Kraft Foods Group, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-183867) filed on September 12, 2012).++
10.8
Kraft Foods Group, Inc. 2012 Performance Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Kraft Foods Group, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-183868) filed on September 12, 2012). ++
10.9
Settlement Agreement, dated June 22, 2015, between Mondelēz International, Inc. and Kraft Foods Group, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Kraft Foods Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-35491), filed on June 24, 2015).
10.10
Subscription Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2015, by and among H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation, 3G Global Food Holdings LP and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on July 2, 2015).
10.11
Credit Agreement dated as of July 6, 2015, by and among Kraft Heinz Foods Company (formerly known as H. J. Heinz Company), The Kraft Heinz Company (formerly known as H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation), the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and JPMorgan Europe Limited, as London Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on July 6, 2015).
10.12
First Amendment to Credit Agreement, entered into as of May 4, 2016, to the Credit Agreement dated as of July 6, 2015, by and among The Kraft Heinz Company, Kraft Heinz Foods Company, the banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders party thereto, the issuing banks, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and J.P. Morgan Europe Limited, as London agent for the lenders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-37482), filed on May 6, 2016).
10.13
Consulting Agreement, dated as of July 9, 2015, by and between The Kraft Heinz Company and John T. Cahill (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 1-37482), filed on November 6, 2015).++
10.14
The Kraft Heinz Company 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 1-37482), filed on May 5, 2016).++
10.15
Form of The Kraft Heinz Company 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan Non-Qualified Stock Option Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 1-37482), filed on May 5, 2016).++
10.16
Form of The Kraft Heinz Company 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan Matching Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 1-37482), filed on May 5, 2016).++
10.17
Form of The Kraft Heinz Company 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan Performance Share Award
Notice.++
10.18
Employment Agreement between The Kraft Heinz Company and George Zoghbi, dated as of December 16, 2016.++
21.1
List of subsidiaries of The Kraft Heinz Company
23.1
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
24.1
Power of Attorney
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a 14(a)/15d 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a 14(a)/15d 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.1
The following materials from The Kraft Heinz Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Statements of Income, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Equity, (iv) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, and (vii) document and entity information.
+
The Company agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted attachment to the SEC on a confidential basis upon request.
++
Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary.
None.
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
The Kraft Heinz Company
Date:
February 23, 2017
By:
/s/ Paulo Basilio
Paulo Basilio
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated:
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Bernardo Hees
Chief Executive Officer
February 23, 2017
Bernardo Hees
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Paulo Basilio
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
February 23, 2017
Paulo Basilio
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Christopher R. Skinger
Global Controller
February 23, 2017
Christopher R. Skinger
(Principal Accounting Officer)
Alexandre Behring*
Chairman of the Board
John T. Cahill*
Vice Chairman of the Board
Gregory E. Abel*
Director
Warren E. Buffett*
Director
Tracy Britt Cool*
Director
Feroz Dewan*
Director
Jeanne P. Jackson*
Director
Jorge Paulo Lemann*
Director
Mackey J. McDonald*
Director
John C. Pope*
Director
Marcel Herrmann Telles*
Director
*By: /s/ Paulo Basilio
Paulo Basilio
Attorney-In-Fact
February 23, 2017
The Kraft Heinz Company
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
For the Years Ended December 31, 2016, January 3, 2016 and December 28, 2014
(in millions)
(a)
Primarily relates to acquisitions and currency translation.
S-1