The Kraft Heinz Company Announces Plan to Separate into Two Scaled, Focused Companies to Accelerate Profitable Growth and Unlock Shareholder Value
- Transaction creates two scaled public companies with portfolios of iconic brands, leading capabilities, attractive financial profiles and unique value creation models
- Both companies will have greater strategic and operational focus to serve customers, delight consumers and accelerate performance
- In aggregate, the current dividend level is expected to be maintained
- Management is targeting capital structures to maintain investment-grade ratings for both companies
-
Miguel Patricio , current Chair of the Board, to serve as Executive Chair of the Board -
Separation Committee established to oversee pending separation led by
John Cahill , Vice Chair of the Board
The two resulting companies, whose names will be determined at a later date, will be:
-
“Global Taste Elevation Co.” – a global leader in Taste Elevation and shelf-stable meals with approximately
$15.4 billion in 2024 net sales(1) and approximately$4.0 billion in 2024 Adjusted EBITDA(1). This company will include a roster of iconic brands and local jewels, withthree billion-dollar brands – Heinz,Philadelphia and Kraft Mac & Cheese – with approximately 75% of net sales coming from sauces, spreads and seasonings. Approximately 20% of 2024 net sales are inEmerging Markets and approximately 20% are in Away From Home. This company will be well positioned to drive industry-leading growth across attractive categories and geographies, leveraging a proven go-to-market model and the Brand Growth System to deliver scale and performance.
-
“North American Grocery Co.” – a scaled portfolio of
North America staples with approximately$10.4 billion in 2024 net sales(1) and approximately$2.3 billion in 2024 Adjusted EBITDA(1). This company, which will be led byCarlos Abrams-Rivera , will include a portfolio of beloved brands, includingthree billion-dollar brands –Oscar Mayer , Kraft Singlesand Lunchables. Approximately 75% of net sales come from brands that are #1 or #2 in their respective categories. This company is expected to generate reliable free cash flow through operational efficiency across stable growth categories and through the pursuit of growth opportunities for its brands in existing categories, adjacencies and Away From Home.
“Kraft Heinz’s brands are iconic and beloved, but the complexity of our current structure makes it challenging to allocate capital effectively, prioritize initiatives and drive scale in our most promising areas,” said
Strategic Rationale
The separation will provide both companies with more strategic and operational focus, enabling them to:
- Dedicate the right level of attention and resources to all areas of the business, allowing each respective brand portfolio to reach its full potential.
- Reduce operational complexity, driving further efficiencies and industry-leading margins.
- Customize capital allocation based on the strategic ambition of each company, accelerating performance and retaining financial flexibility.
The companies are expected to have ample discretionary cash flow to invest in organic growth, return capital to shareholders and consider strategic transactions. In aggregate, the current dividend level is expected to be maintained. Management is targeting capital structures to maintain investment-grade ratings for both companies.
Strategic Review
In
- Deliver long-term sustainable value creation
- Preserve financial discipline that is part of the Company’s DNA
- Maintain relevant scale while minimizing complexity and dis-synergies
- Maximize the value of the Company’s iconic brand portfolio
- Maintain attractive capital returns while preserving balance sheet flexibility
Following a thorough evaluation of potential strategic transactions,
“The Board’s unanimous decision to separate into two independent companies came after careful consideration and a comprehensive evaluation of our options. We strongly believe that increased focus will translate into better performance and value creation for shareholders,” said
Leadership & Headquarters
Appointment of Executive Chair and Formation of Separation Committee
In connection with the strategic review and the Board’s unanimous decision to separate
The Board has also formed a Separation Committee, led by
Transaction Details, Timing & Future Updates
The proposed separation is intended to be tax-free for
Capital structure, and certain other matters for each business, such as board composition, company name and brand allocation, will be announced at a later date.
Conference Call
Advisors
End Notes
(1) |
All net sales and Adjusted EBITDA figures represent 2024 unaudited results derived from internal management reporting, adjusted for splits by products and markets, as well as preliminary cost and expense allocations, including corporate expenses. These figures will be refined prior to the transaction. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure.
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Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains a number of forward-looking statements as defined under
Non-GAAP Financial Measure
The non-GAAP financial measure provided in this press release should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, results prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in
To supplement the financial information provided, the Company has presented Adjusted EBITDA, which is considered a non-GAAP financial measure. This non-GAAP financial measure 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. This measure is not a substitute for its comparable GAAP financial measure or other measures prescribed by GAAP, and there are limitations to using non-GAAP financial measures.
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income/(loss) from continuing operations before interest expense, other expense/(income), provision for/(benefit from) income taxes, and depreciation and amortization (excluding restructuring activities); in addition to these adjustments, the Company excludes, when they occur, the impacts of divestiture-related license income, restructuring activities, deal costs, unrealized losses/(gains) on commodity hedges, impairment losses, certain non-ordinary course legal and regulatory matters, and equity award compensation expense (excluding restructuring activities).
Management uses this non-GAAP financial measure to assist in comparing the Company’s 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 the Company’s underlying operations. The Company believes Adjusted EBITDA provides important comparability of underlying operating results, allowing investors and management to assess the Company’s operating performance on a consistent basis.
Management believes that presenting this non-GAAP financial measure 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 the Company’s results. The Company believes that the presentation of this non-GAAP financial measure, when considered together with the corresponding GAAP financial measure and the reconciliation to that measure, provides investors with additional understanding of the factors and trends affecting the Company’s business than could be obtained absent these disclosures.
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Reconciliation of Net Income/(Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA |
||
(dollars in millions) |
||
(Unaudited) |
||
|
For the Twelve
|
|
|
|
|
Net income/(loss) |
$ |
2,746 |
Interest expense |
|
912 |
Other expense/(income) |
|
(85) |
Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes |
|
(1,890) |
Operating income/(loss) |
|
1,683 |
Depreciation and amortization (excluding restructuring activities) |
|
948 |
Divestiture-related license income |
|
(54) |
Restructuring activities |
|
27 |
Unrealized losses/(gains) on commodity hedges |
|
(19) |
Impairment losses |
|
3,669 |
Equity award compensation expense |
|
109 |
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ |
6,363 |
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Media Contact:
media@kraftheinz.com
KraftHeinz@brunswickgroup.com
Investor Contact:
ir@kraftheinz.com
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