Unilever : Final Results

Final Results

Released : 31/01/2019 07:00

RNS Number : 6051O Unilever PLC

31 January 2019

2018 FULL YEAR RESULTS

CONTINUED PROFITABLE GROWTH IN VOLATILE MARKETS

Performance highlights (unaudited)

Underlying performance			GAAP measures
vs 2017	vs 2017
Full Year Underlying sales growth (USG)(a) USG excluding spreads(a) Underlying operating margin Underlying earnings per share Free cash flow	18.4% €2.36 €5.0bn	2.9% 3.1% 90bps 5.2% €(0.4)bn	Turnover(b) Turnover excluding spreads(b) Operating margin Diluted earnings per share Net profit	€51.0bn €49.6bn 24.6% €3.48 €9.8bn	(5.1)% (2.3)% 810bps 62.0% 51.2%
Fourth Quarter USG(a)	2.9%	Turnover(b)	€12.2bn	(5.3)%
Quarterly dividend payable in March 2019 €0.3872 per share

These amounts do not include price growth in Venezuela for the whole of 2018 and in Argentina from 1 July 2018. See pages 6 - 7 for further details.

(a) (b)

IAS29 'Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies' has been adopted in Argentina and accordingly 2018 turnover previously reported has been restated (see note 1).

Full year highlights

• · Underlying sales growth excluding spreads was 3.1% with 2.1% volume and 1.0% price

• · Price growth in Argentina is excluded from underlying sales growth from July due to hyperinflationary status. Reported growth would otherwise have been 3.4% (3.6% excluding spreads)

• · Underlying operating margin increased 90bps with 50bps from gross margin

• · Underlying EPS increased 5.2%; constant underlying EPS was up 12.8%

• · Turnover was impacted by an adverse currency impact of 6.7% and the disposal of spreads

• · Operating margin up 810bps and diluted EPS up by 62%, driven by a €4.3 billion profit on the disposal of spreads

Alan Jope: Chief Executive Officer statement

"2018 was a solid year for Unilever, with good volume growth and high-quality margin progression.

Looking forward, accelerating growth will be our number one priority. With so many of our brands enjoying leadership positions, we have significant opportunities to develop our markets, as well as to benefit from our deep global reach and purpose-led brands.

We will capitalise on our strengthened organisation and portfolio, and our digital transformation programme, to bring higher levels of speed and agility. Strong delivery from our savings programmes will improve productivity and fund our growth ambitions.

In 2019 we expect market conditions to remain challenging. We anticipate underlying sales growth will be in the lower half of our multi-year 3-5% range, with continued improvement in underlying operating margin and another year of strong free cash flow. We remain on track for our 2020 goals."

31 January 2019

Underlying sales growth (USG), underlying volume growth (UVG), underlying price growth (UPG), underlying operating profit (UOP), underlying operating margin (UOM), underlying earnings per share (underlying EPS), constant underlying EPS, underlying effective tax rate, free cash flow (FCF), net debt, return on invested capital (ROIC) and underlying earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (UEBITDA) are non-GAAP measures (see pages 6 to 10)

FULL YEAR OPERATIONAL REVIEW: DIVISIONS

Fourth Quarter 2018

Full Year 2018

TurnoverUSG*UVGUPG*TurnoverUSG*UVGUPG*Change in underlying operating margin

(unaudited)

€bn	%	%	%	€bn	%	%	%	bps
Unilever	12.2	2.9	0.8	2.1	51.0	2.9	1.9	0.9	90
Beauty & Personal Care Foods & Refreshment Home Care	5.4 4.2 2.6	3.0 1.3 5.3	1.3 (0.1) 1.2	1.7 1.4 4.1	20.7 20.2 10.1	3.1 2.0 4.2	2.5 1.3 2.3	0.6 0.7 1.9	80 80 80

* Wherever referenced in this announcement, USG and UPG do not include price growth in Venezuela for the whole of 2018 and in Argentina from 1 July 2018. See pages 6 - 7 for further details.

As previously announced the disposals of our spreads businesses were completed on 2 July 2018. The table below provides information on 2018 performance excluding sales related to spreads.

(unaudited)	Turnover	USG	UVG	UPG
€bn	%	%	%
Unilever excluding spreads	49.6	3.1	2.1	1.0
Foods & Refreshment excluding spreads	18.8	2.3	1.6	0.8

Full Year 2018

Our markets: Market conditions have been challenging throughout the year, particularly in the second half where currency devaluations and rising commodity costs put pressure on consumer demand. The economic crisis in Argentina led to the economy being classified as hyperinflationary.

Unilever overall performance: In 2018 we again delivered profitable growth with another year of strong gross margin progression and double digit growth of constant underlying earnings per share. Underlying sales excluding spreads grew 3.1% with 2.1% from volume. Price growth in Argentina which was excluded from USG from 1 July 2018 would have contributed 50bps. The deterioration in the conditions for consumers in Argentina resulted in a full year underlying volume decline of -10% which had a -30bps impact on Unilever volume growth. Emerging markets grew by 4.6% with 2.8% from volume driven by another year of strong growth in Asia AMET RUB. Sales in developed markets grew modestly, helped by a stand out year for ice cream in Europe as well as the continued transformation of our portfolio towards faster growing segments. Turnover decreased 5.1% which included an adverse currency impact of 6.7% and the disposal of spreads which was completed on 2 July 2018.

Underlying operating margin improved by 90bps to 18.4%. The improvement was high-quality with gross margins up 50bps driven by margin-accretive innovation and continued strong delivery from our '5-S' savings programmes. Brand and marketing investment was 10bps lower, whilst absolute spend in local currencies increased by €60 million, even after productivity gains from zero based budgeting. Overheads were down 30bps. Constant underlying earnings per share increased 13% and underlying earnings per share increased 5.2% after an adverse impact of 7.6% from currencies. Over €10 billion was returned to shareholders through share buy-backs and dividends.

Beauty & Personal Care

Underlying sales grew 3.1% with 2.5% from volume. Our biggest brand Dove delivered another year of broad-based growth. Skin care grew strongly helped by innovations including a new Vaseline range with clinical strength moisturisation, as well as new brands such as Love, Beauty & Planet which is helping us to address the fast growing naturals trend. Growth in skin cleansing was helped by innovations on the core such as the relaunch of Lifebuoy with active silver, new premium formats including Dove exfoliating body polishes as well as our new cleansing brands such as Korea Glow which launched in the fourth quarter. Deodorants delivered good volume growth helped by strong performance on Dove but pricing in deodorants was muted. The newly acquired Schmidt's grew strongly. Sales in oral care were flat due to ongoing competitive pressures. Prestige performed well with double digit growth on Hourglass, Ren, Living Proof and Kate Sommerville as well as improved momentum on Dermalogica and Murad. Dollar Shave Club grew double digits and continued to build scale in the US.

Underlying operating margin increased 80bps mainly reflecting brand and marketing efficiencies as a result of our zero based budgeting programme.

Foods & Refreshment

Underlying sales excluding spreads grew 2.3% with 1.6% from volume. Ice cream had another strong year helped by innovations on our premium brands which included a new Magnum praline variant and a non-dairy range of Ben & Jerrys. The launch of Kinder® ice cream and good weather helped to deliver strong ice cream growth in Europe. Sales in tea grew modestly: our emerging markets growth was driven by good performance on our core brands like Brooke Bond in India whilst in developed markets challenges in black tea offset good growth from Pukka and our new organic Lipton range. In savoury, Knorr was helped by good performance of cooking products in emerging markets and more organic and natural innovations such as a new 'soup in glass' range. In dressings campaigns centred around Hellmann's purpose to fight food waste helped to increase brand equity, but sales were held back by promotional intensity particularly in the US. Our actions to transform the portfolio are working: strong innovations including Knorr rice and pasta pots as well as our new brands Red Red, PrepCo and Mãe Terra helped us build scale in the fast growing snacking segment and we annouced an agreement to buy Horlicks in India, Bangladesh and 20 other markets.

Underlying operating margin increased 80bps as a result of strong gross margin improvement and lower overheads despite an adverse impact from the spreads disposal.

Home Care

Underlying sales grew 4.2% with 2.3% from volume. Home and hygiene grew strongly led by Sunlight which was helped by a new communication focussed on building functional awareness as well as the continued success of Domestos toilet blocks. In fabric sensations, Comfort was helped by market development in India and China as well as the launch into Germany. Fabric solutions also grew strongly helped by our strategy to encourage consumers in emerging markets to uptrade to premium formulations like Surf Excel Matics in India and innovations such as Omo eco active with recycled packaging, plant extracts and naturally derived fragrances. Seventh Generation grew well.

Underlying operating margin increased by 80bps driven by lower overheads and also helped by zero based budgeting driven brand and marketing efficiencies.

FULL YEAR OPERATIONAL REVIEW: GEOGRAPHICAL AREA

The Americas Europe

4.0 2.6

- 0.8

(1.1) (0.5)

1.1 1.3

16.0 12.1

- 0.7

(0.5) 0.7

0.5 (0.1)

(70) 200

(unaudited)

Emerging markets

Developed markets

North AmericaLatin America

The table below provides information on 2018 performance excluding sales related to spreads.

Full Year 2018

(unaudited)

Developed markets excluding spreads

Europe excluding spreads

North America excluding spreads

Asia/AMET/RUB

Underlying sales grew 6.2% with 4.3% from volume. India had another strong year with good momentum across all divisions translating into double digit growth and we also saw continued good growth in Pakistan and Bangladesh. South East Asia grew modestly with performance in Indonesia improving throughout the year helped by a stronger innovation plan and improving market conditions. Our business in China benefited from premium innovations and strong e-commerce growth but this was partly offset by challenges on Blueair due to improved air quality. Sales in Turkey were up double-digit with positive volumes despite a challenging fourth quarter, demonstrating our ability to manage through significant currency volatility.

Underlying operating margin improved by 130bps with a significant improvement in gross margin as well as lower brand and marketing spend.

The Americas

Underlying sales in North America grew 0.9%. Strong performances in deodorants, skin cleansing and home care were offset by continued competitive pressures in dressings and tea. Underlying sales in Latin America declined by

-1.0%. Brazil grew modestly with strong growth in the second half as we recovered from the truckers' strike that impacted sales in the second quarter. Mexico was strong, with broad-based growth across categories and good performance on Quala. These results were more than offset by volume decline in Argentina of -10% for the year with no offsetting price growth included in underlying sales growth from July onwards.

Underlying operating margin reduced by 70bps primarily reflecting lower gross margins in Latin America due to currency driven commodity inflation and an adverse impact from applying hyperinflationary accounting.

Europe

Underlying sales grew 0.7%, all from volume. Sales were helped by strong growth in ice cream which benefited from a strong innovation plan as well as good weather. Central and Eastern Europe continued to perform well and the UK sustained its return to growth. In Germany, good ice cream growth was mostly offset by a decline in savoury and dressings. Market conditions in France were extremely challenging and sales declined across all categories except ice cream.

Underlying operating margin improved by 200bps driven by a significant improvement in gross margin and lower overheads.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - FULL YEAR

Finance costs and tax

Net finance costs were €481 million in 2018 compared €877 million in 2017 which included a one-off cost of €382 million for the buyback of the Unilever NV preference shares. Cost of financing net borrowings was €57 million higher than 2017. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in debt which was partially offset by lower interest and no longer having the benefit in finance income from a one-off in Brazil relating to the interest element of an indirect tax amnesty programme. The average interest rate on net debt reduced to 2.2% from 2.7% in 2017. The pensions financing charge was €25 million, down from €96 million in 2017 reflecting a lower pension deficit at the beginning of 2018.

The underlying effective tax rate was 25.7% a small reduction versus 26.0% in the prior year. The effective tax rate was 21.1% due to a benefit from the disposals of our spreads businesses.

Joint ventures, associates and other income from non-current investments

Net profit from joint ventures and associates contributed €185 million compared with €155 million in 2017, mainly due to the Portugal portion of profit on disposal of spreads and growth in profits from the Pepsi Lipton joint venture. Other income from non-current investments was €22 million versus €18 million in the prior year.

Earnings per share

Underlying earnings per share increased by 5.2% to €2.36, after a negative currency impact of 7.6%. Constant rate underlying earnings per share increased by 12.8% primarily driven by underlying sales growth, improved underlying operating margin and our share buyback programmes. These underlying measures exclude the post-tax impact of business disposals, acquisition and disposal-related costs, restructuring costs, impairments, one-off items within operating profit and any other significant unusual items within net profit but not operating profit.

Diluted earnings per share were up 62.0% at €3.48. In addition to the underlying improvement, this increase was mainly driven by a €4.3 billion gain on disposal for the spreads business.

Free cash flow

Free cash flow of €5.0 billion was impacted by currency devaluation and higher working capital including a €0.4 billion increase relating to the disposal of spreads. This was offset by an increase in the proceeds on disposal in net cash flow from investing activities.

Net debt

Closing net debt was €20.8 billion compared with €20.3 billion as at 31 December 2017 mainly reflecting the cost of acquisitions whilst the proceeds from the spreads disposals were returned to shareholders through a share buyback programme of €6 billion.

Pensions

Pension liability net of assets increased to €0.9 billion at year-end from €0.6 billion as at 31 December 2017. The increase in the net pension liability arose in the fourth quarter driven by the impact of adverse equity markets on pension assets.

Return on invested capital

Return on invested capital of 18.8% is a reduction of 40bps versus the prior year due to increased goodwill and an adverse impact from hyperinflationary accounting inArgentina.

Finance and liquidity

In 2018, we announced the issuance of the following bonds:

• · 5 February 2018: Triple-tranche €2.0 billion bond, comprising of fixed rate notes of €500 million at 0.5% due August 2023, €700 million at 1.125% due February 2027 and €800 million at 1.625% due February 2033

• · 19 March 2018: Quadruple-tranche $2.1 billion bond, comprising of fixed rate notes of $400 million at 2.75% due March 2021, $550 million at 3.125% due March 2023, $350 million at 3.375% due March 2025 and $800 million at 3.5% due March 2028

• · 31 August 2018: Two-tranche €1.3 billion bond, equally split between 0.5% fixed rate notes due January 2025 and 1.375% fixed rate notes due September 2030

• · 4 September 2018: Triple-tranche $1.5 billion bond, comprising of fixed rate notes of $500 million at 3.0% due March 2022, $500 million at 3.25% due March 2024, and $500 million at 3.5% due March 2028. The $500 million 3.5% fixed rate notes due March 2028 have the same terms (other than the price to public and issue date) as the $800 million 3.5% fixed rate notes issued in March 2018

In June 2018 €750 million floating rate notes matured and were repaid. In December 2018, £250 million 2% fixed rate notes matured and were repaid.

COMPETITION INVESTIGATIONS

As previously disclosed, along with other consumer products companies and retail customers, Unilever is involved in a number of ongoing investigations by national competition authorities, including those within Italy, Greece and South Africa. These proceedings and investigations are at various stages and concern a variety of product markets. Where appropriate, provisions are made and contingent liabilities disclosed in relation to such matters. During the second half of 2018 Unilever has recognised a charge of €50 million in relation to these cases.

Ongoing compliance with competition laws is of key importance to Unilever. It is Unilever's policy to co-operate fully with competition authorities whenever questions or issues arise. In addition the Group continues to reinforce and enhance its internal competition law training and compliance programme on an ongoing basis.

NON-GAAP MEASURES

Certain discussions and analyses set out in this announcement include measures which are not defined by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) such as IFRS. We believe this information, along with comparable GAAP measurements, is useful to investors because it provides a basis for measuring our operating performance, ability to retire debt and invest in new business opportunities. Our management uses these financial measures, along with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, in evaluating our operating performance and value creation. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information presented in compliance with GAAP. Wherever appropriate and practical, we provide reconciliations to relevant GAAP measures.

Unilever uses 'constant rate', and 'underlying' measures primarily for internal performance analysis and targeting purposes. We present certain items, percentages and movements, using constant exchange rates, which exclude the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. We calculate constant currency values by translating both the current and the prior period local currency amounts using the prior period average exchange rates into euro, except for countries where the impact of consumer price inflation rates has escalated to extreme levels. In these countries, the local currency amounts before the application of IAS 29 are translated into euros using the period closing exchange rate. The table below shows exchange rate movements in our key markets.

Annual Average	Annual Average
rate in 2018	rate in 2017
Brazilian Real (€1 = BRL)	4.282	3.573
Chinese Yuan (€1 = CNY)	7.807	7.608
Indian Rupee (€1 = INR)	80.730	73.258
Indonesia Rupiah (€1 = IDR)	16831	15011
Philippine Peso (€1 = PHP)	62.379	56.596
UK Pound Sterling (€1 = GBP)	0.884	0.876
US Dollar (€1 = US $)	1.185	1.123
(continued)
Underlying sales growth (USG)

Underlying Sales Growth (USG) refers to the increase in turnover for the period, excluding any change in turnover resulting from acquisitions, disposals and changes in currency. We believe this measure provides valuable additional information on the underlying sales performance of the business and is a key measure used internally. The impact of acquisitions and disposals is excluded from USG for a period of 12 calendar months from the applicable closing date. Turnover from acquired brands that are launched in countries where they were not previously sold is included in USG as such turnover is more attributable to our existing sales and distribution network than the acquisition itself. Also excluded is the impact of price growth from countries where the impact of consumer price inflation (CPI) rates has escalated to extreme levels.

There are two countries where we have determined extreme levels of CPI exist. The first is Venezuela where in Q4 2017 inflation rates exceeded 1,000% and management considered that the situation would persist for some time. Consequently, price growth in Venezuela has been excluded from USG since Q4 2017. The second is Argentina, which from Q3 2018 has been accounted for in accordance with IAS 29, and thus from Q3 2018 Argentina price growth is excluded from USG. The adjustment made at Group level as a result of these two exclusions was a reduction in price growth of 111.8% for the fourth quarter and 32.4% for the year. This treatment for both countries will be kept under regular review.

The reconciliation of changes in the GAAP measure turnover to USG is provided in notes 3 and 4.

Underlying volume growth (UVG)

Underlying volume growth (UVG) is part of USG and means, for the applicable period, the increase in turnover in such period calculated as the sum of (i) the increase in turnover attributable to the volume of products sold; and (ii) the increase in turnover attributable to the composition of products sold during such period. UVG therefore excludes any impact on USG due to changes in prices. The measures and the related turnover GAAP measure are set out in notes 3 and 4.

Underlying price growth (UPG)

Underlying price growth (UPG) is part of USG and means, for the applicable period, the increase in turnover attributable to changes in prices during the period. UPG therefore excludes the impact to USG due to (i) the volume of products sold; and (ii) the composition of products sold during the period. In determining changes in price we exclude the impact of price growth in Argentina and Venezuela as explained in USG above. The measures and the related turnover GAAP measure are set out in notes 3 and 4.

Free cash flow (FCF)

Within the Unilever Group, free cash flow (FCF) is defined as cash flow from operating activities, less income taxes paid, net capital expenditures and net interest payments and preference dividends paid. It does not represent residual cash flows entirely available for discretionary purposes; for example, the repayment of principal amounts borrowed is not deducted from FCF. FCF reflects an additional way of viewing our liquidity that we believe is useful to investors because it represents cash flows that could be used for distribution of dividends, repayment of debt or to fund our strategic initiatives, including acquisitions, if any.

The reconciliation of net profit to FCF is as follows:

(unaudited)
	2018
Net profit	9,808	6,486
Taxation	2,575	1,667
Share of net profit of joint ventures/associates and other income from non-current
investments	(207)	(173)
Net monetary gain arising from hyperinflationary economies	(122)	-
Net finance costs	481	877
Operating profit	12,535	8,857
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment	1,747	1,538
Changes in working capital	(793)	(68)
Pensions and similar obligations less payments	(128)	(904)
Provisions less payments	55	200
Elimination of (profits)/losses on disposals	(4,299)	(298)
Non-cash charge for share-based compensation	196	284
Other adjustments	(266)	(153)
Cash flow from operating activities	9,047	9,456
Income tax paid	(2,294)	(2,164)
Net capital expenditure	(1,424)	(1,621)
Net interest and preference dividends paid	(367)	(316)
Free cash flow	4,962	5,355
Net cash flow (used in)/from investing activities	4,644	(5,879)
Net cash flow (used in)/from financing activities	(11,548)	(1,433)
Non-underlying items

Several non-GAAP measures are adjusted to exclude items defined as non-underlying due to their nature and/or frequency of occurrence.

• · Non-underlying items within operating profit are: gains or losses on business disposals, acquisition and disposal related costs, restructuring costs, impairments and other significant one-off items within operating profit

• · Non-underlying items not in operating profit but within net profit are: significant and unusual items in net finance cost, monetary gain/(loss) arising from hyperinflationary economies, share of profit/(loss) of joint ventures and associates and taxation

• · Non-underlying items are both non-underlying items within operating profit and those non-underlying items not in operating profit but within net profit

Underlying operating profit (UOP) and underlying operating margin (UOM)

Underlying operating profit and underlying operating margin mean operating profit and operating margin before the impact of non-underlying items within operating profit. Underlying operating profit represents our measure of segment profit or loss as it is the primary measure used for making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance of the segments. The reconciliation of operating profit to underlying operating profit is as follows:

€ million

(unaudited)

Operating profit

Non-underlying items within operating profit (see note 2)

Underlying operating profit

Turnover

Operating margin (%)Underlying operating margin (%)

24.6%

16.5%

Underlying earnings per share (EPS)

Underlying earnings per share (underlying EPS) is calculated as underlying profit attributable to shareholders' equity divided by the diluted combined average number of share units. In calculating underlying profit attributable to shareholders' equity, net profit attributable to shareholders' equity is adjusted to eliminate the post-tax impact of non-underlying items. This measure reflects the underlying earnings for each share unit of the Group. Refer to note 6 on page 20 for reconciliation of net profit attributable to shareholders' equity to underlying profit attributable to shareholders equity.

Underlying earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (UEBITDA)

Underlying earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation means operating profit before the impact of depreciation, amortisation and impairment and non-underlying items within operating profit. We use UEBITDA in assessing our leverage level, which is expressed as net debt / UEBITDA. The reconciliation of operating profit to UEBITDA is as follows:

€ million

(unaudited)

Operating profit

Depreciation, amortisation and impairmentNon-underlying items within operating profit(a)

Underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (UEBITDA)

12,5351,747(3,384)

8,8571,538543