EX-99.1 2 a4787373ex99.txt EXHIBIT 99.1 PRESS RELEASE Exhibit 99.1 The Pepsi Bottling Group Announces Financial Guidance for 2005; Company Confirms 2004 Earnings Forecast Business Editors/Beverage Writers SOMERS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 20, 2004--The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. (NYSE: PBG) today announced the Company's operating and financial guidance for 2005. PBG Chairman and CEO John T. Cahill will host a conference call with financial analysts and investors at 10 a.m. (EST) today to discuss the plans in detail. The call will be webcast live and can be accessed along with presentation materials at http://www.pbg.com. The Company also confirmed its 2004 full-year earnings forecast. Worldwide volume is expected to grow two percent on a constant territory basis, with volume in the U.S. improving one to two percent for the year. Worldwide and U.S. net revenue per case both are on-track to increase three percent. PBG expects diluted earnings per share for the year to be in the range of $1.71 to $1.74, excluding the $0.02 favorable impact from certain international tax matters. Operating income is projected to improve three percent, reflecting the downward pressure from the significant cost increases of raw materials. The Company's cash flow forecast continues to be strong, with net cash from operations less capital expenditures expected to be about $530 million, an approximately 20-percent increase over 2003 results. Capital expenditures are expected to be about $700 million. Commenting on PBG's performance in 2004, Mr. Cahill said, "We will deliver solid results for our shareholders in 2004. In the U.S., successful innovation and outstanding execution in the marketplace has led to balanced topline growth. The introduction of Tropicana juice drinks and the strategic use of limited-time offers, such as Mountain Dew Pitch Black and Pepsi Holiday Spice, have fueled our volume improvement. "Our international markets have contributed to our overall performance. Europe will deliver strong growth in volume and profits despite a difficult environment. In Mexico, we have seen consistent improvement in our volume and share trends as the year progressed. Our chief challenges there came from packaging and sweetener cost increases and a difficult pricing environment, which has led to disappointing operating profit. Our management team in Mexico has made substantial progress this year in the areas of marketplace execution and capability, and we believe that improvement will continue in 2005." Mr. Cahill continued, "As we look to 2005, we have a strong slate of innovation planned in nearly all of our territories and will continue to raise the bar on executional excellence with new programs and initiatives. We are committed to driving balanced topline growth and believe we have the right plans to achieve that objective. The challenge of rising raw materials costs will continue into 2005. We expect to incur a more than $100 million increase in our packaging and sweetener costs versus 2004, which will have an impact on our profitability next year. Our plans, however, reflect the realities of the environments in which we operate and I have tremendous confidence in the capability of our people to win in the marketplace." In 2005, PBG expects to deliver solid operating and financial results. Diluted earnings per share are forecast to be $1.76 to $1.84, excluding the impact of the 53rd week in the Company's fiscal 2005. (See Editor's Note) The Company is considering reinvestment of the additional profit from the 53rd week in long-term strategic initiatives. The following table outlines PBG's operating and financial guidance for 2005. The projections for volume, operating profit, earnings per share, SD&A and interest expense exclude the impact of the 53rd week. 2005 GUIDANCE ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Worldwide Volume Growth 2 to 3%* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - US Volume Flat to 1%* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - Mexico Volume 3 to 4% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Worldwide Net Revenue per Case Growth 1 to 2% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - US Net Revenue per Case 3%+ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Cost of Goods Sold per Case Growth 4 to 5% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SD & A Growth in Dollars 2 to 3%* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Operating Profit Growth Flat to 3%* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Interest Expense, net $240 to $245 million* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Effective Tax Rate About 34.5% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 2005 Diluted Earnings Per Share $1.76 to $1.84* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Capital Expenditures $675 to $725 million ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Cash Provided by Operations less approximately $500 million Capital Expenditures ---------------------------------------------------------------------- * Excludes the impact of the 53rd week in fiscal 2005. Lower cash flow results are expected in 2005 due to certain one-time items, including the expiration of a corporate tax stimulus package in the U.S. and unfavorable incentive compensation laps. The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. is the world's largest manufacturer, seller and distributor of Pepsi-Cola beverages with operations in the U.S., Canada, Greece, Mexico, Russia, Spain and Turkey. To view Company news releases online, please visit http://www.pbg.com. Editor's Note: PBG's fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in December and, as a result, a 53rd week will be added to the fiscal year 2005. See the attached table for details regarding the 53rd week's projected impact on PBG's full-year 2005 results. Fiscal 2004 has 52 weeks. Statements made in this press release that relate to future performance or financial results of the Company are forward-looking statements which involve uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to materially differ. PBG undertakes no obligation to update any of these statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as to the date hereof. Accordingly, any forward-looking statement should be read in conjunction with the additional information about risks and uncertainties set forth in PBG's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2003. THE PEPSI BOTTLING GROUP, INC. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES Impact of 53rd Week Our U.S. and Canadian operations report on a fiscal year that consists of 52 weeks, ending on the last Saturday in December. Every five or six years a 53rd week is added. Fiscal year 2005 will consist of 53 weeks, while fiscal year 2004 consists of 52 weeks. Our other countries report on a calendar-year basis. The table below provides pro forma disclosure by excluding the projected impact of the 53rd week in 2005: Pro forma Forecasted 2005 Forecasted 2005 versus 2004 Impact of versus 2004 Growth 53rd week Growth ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Worldwide Volume 2% to 3% 1% 3% to 4% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- United States Volume Flat to 1% 1% 1% to 2% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Worldwide SD&A (in dollars) 2% to 3% 1% 3% to 4% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Worldwide Operating Profit Flat to 3% 1% 1% to 4% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pro forma Full- Full-Year Year Forecasted Impact of Forecasted 2005 2005 Results 53rd week Results ---------------------------------------------------------------------- $240 to $245 About $4 $244 to $249 Interest Expense, net million million million ---------------------------------------------------------------------- $.02 to Diluted Earnings Per Share $1.76 to $1.84 $.03 $1.78 to $1.87 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTACT: The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. Public Relations: Kelly McAndrew, 914-767-7690 or Investor Relations: Mary Winn Settino, 914-767-7216