| PRESS RELEASE |  |
| * | 97 cents diluted EPS (8% growth) | |
| * | 4% volume growth | |
| * | 3% sales growth |
Key Segment
Results
Following is a summary
of key second-quarter results from continuing operations by reportable segment.
All comparisons are with the second quarter of fiscal 2014, unless otherwise
stated.
Cleaning
(Laundry, Home Care,
Professional Products)
Volume growth in the segment was driven by double-digit gains in Professional Products, reflecting increases in its cleaning and health care businesses, which were driven, in part, by Ebola and Enterovirus concerns. Volume for Home Care and Laundry was essentially flat. Home Care volume results reflected the distribution loss of Clorox® disinfecting wipes at a major club customer in calendar year 2014, offset by double-digit Clorox® disinfecting wipes gains at other retailers and volume growth across multiple Home Care brands. Laundry volume results reflected continued bleach category softness. Home Care and Laundry grew market share in total, with gains across multiple brands. Pretax earnings growth reflected higher sales, as well as the benefits of cost savings and price increases, partially offset by incremental demand-building investments and higher commodity costs.
Household
(Bags and Wraps, Charcoal, Cat
Litter)
Segment volume growth was driven primarily by gains in Bags and Wraps behind innovation and increased distribution of Glad® OdorShield® trash bags. Cat Litter also grew volume behind new Fresh Step® extreme light weight cat litter. The variance between volume and sales results was due primarily to the benefit of price increases in Bags and Wraps. Pretax earnings growth reflected higher sales and the benefit of cost savings, partially offset by higher commodity costs and incremental demand-building investments.
Lifestyle
(Dressings and Sauces, Water
Filtration, Natural Personal Care)
Volume results in the segment were driven by strong double-digit gains in Natural Personal Care, largely due to innovation in Burt’s Bees® lip and face-care products, including continued growth in towelettes. Incremental demand-building programs, including the first-ever television campaign for the Burt’s Bees® brand, also contributed to Natural Personal Care’s strong sales results. Dressings and Sauces also grew volume primarily from increased merchandising of Hidden Valley® dry mixes and salad dressings. These results were partially offset by lower shipments in Water Filtration due to increased merchandising of private-label filter products. Volume growth outpaced sales growth primarily due to unfavorable mix. Pretax earnings growth reflected higher sales, lower commodity costs and the benefit of cost savings. These factors were partially offset by higher manufacturing costs and higher advertising spending.
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International
(All countries outside of the
U.S.)
The segment’s volume growth reflected gains primarily in Mexico, Canada, Europe and Argentina. Segment sales reflected the impact of unfavorable foreign currency exchange rates across most countries, partially offset by the benefit of price increases. On a currency-neutral basis, segment sales grew 11 percent. Pretax earnings declined $9 million primarily due to the impact of unfavorable foreign currency exchange rates and higher selling and administrative expenses, as well as increased manufacturing and logistics costs and higher commodity costs, largely driven by continued high inflation. These factors were partially offset by higher volume and the benefits of price increases and cost savings.
Clorox Updates Outlook for Fiscal Year 2015
The company now anticipates fiscal-year 2015 sales to grow about 1 percent, reflecting first-half sales results, product innovation and the benefit of price increases. The fiscal-year sales outlook also now anticipates a greater impact from unfavorable foreign exchange rates in the range of 2 percent to 3 percent. Other moderating factors include slowing economies in international markets and an increase in full-year trade-promotion spending to drive the company’s core business and trial of new products in a highly competitive environment.
Clorox continues to anticipate moderate gross margin expansion in fiscal year 2015, reflecting the benefits of cost savings and price increases. The company now anticipates commodity costs to be about flat, due to energy cost declines, which are expected to be partially offset by higher logistics costs, as well as the aforementioned increase in full-year trade-promotion spending.
Clorox continues to anticipate EBIT margin to be about flat for fiscal year 2015, reflecting moderate gross margin expansion, offset by higher demand-building investments.
Clorox continues to anticipate its effective fiscal year 2015 tax rate to be about 34 percent.
Net of all these factors, Clorox now anticipates fiscal 2015 diluted EPS from continuing operations in the range of $4.40 to $4.55.
For More Detailed Financial Information
Visit the Investors: Financial Reporting: Financial Results section of the company’s website at TheCloroxCompany.com for the following:
| * | Combined financial tables that include the schedules below | |
| * | Supplemental unaudited condensed volume and sales growth information | |
| * | Supplemental unaudited condensed gross margin driver information | |
| * | Supplemental unaudited reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial information, including earnings from continuing operations before interest and taxes (EBIT) and earnings from continuing operations before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) | |
| * | Supplemental balance sheet and cash flow information and free cash flow reconciliation (unaudited) | |
| * | Supplemental price-change information |
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Note: Percentage and basis-point changes noted in this press release are calculated based on rounded numbers. Supplemental materials are available in the Investors: Financial Reporting: Financial Results section of the company’s website at TheCloroxCompany.com.
The Clorox Company
The Clorox Company is a leading multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products with about 7,700 employees worldwide and fiscal year 2014 sales of $5.5 billion. Clorox markets some of the most trusted and recognized consumer brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products; Pine-Sol® cleaners; Liquid Plumr® clog removers; Poett® home care products; Fresh Step® cat litter; Glad® bags, wraps and containers; Kingsford® charcoal; Hidden Valley® and KC Masterpiece® dressings and sauces; Brita® water-filtration products and Burt’s Bees® natural personal care products. The company also markets brands for professional services, including Clorox Healthcare®, HealthLink®, Aplicare® and Dispatch® infection control products for the healthcare industry. More than 80 percent of the company's brands hold the No. 1 or No. 2 market share positions in their categories. Clorox's commitment to corporate responsibility includes making a positive difference in its communities. In fiscal year 2014, The Clorox Company and The Clorox Company Foundation contributed more than $16 million in combined cash grants, product donations, cause marketing and employee volunteerism. For more information, visit TheCloroxCompany.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Except for historical information, matters discussed above, including statements about future volume, sales, costs, cost savings, earnings, cash flows, plans, objectives, expectations, growth, or profitability, are forward-looking statements based on management's estimates, assumptions and projections. Words such as "could," "may," "expects," "anticipates," "targets," "goals," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," and variations on such words, and similar expressions, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are only predictions, subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those discussed above. Important factors that could affect performance and cause results to differ materially from management's expectations are described in the sections entitled "Risk Factors" in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014, and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Exhibit 99.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 4, 2014, as updated from time to time in the company's SEC filings. These factors include, but are not limited to: risks related to international operations, including political instability; government-imposed price controls or other regulations; foreign currency exchange rate controls, including periodic changes in such controls, fluctuations and devaluations; labor unrest and inflationary pressures, particularly in Argentina and other challenging markets; risks related to the possibility of nationalization, expropriation of assets, or other government action in foreign jurisdictions; risks related to the Company’s discontinuation of operations in Venezuela; intense competition in the company's markets; changes in the company’s leadership; worldwide, regional and local economic conditions and financial market volatility; volatility and increases in commodity costs such as resin, sodium hypochlorite and agricultural commodities and increases in energy, transportation or other costs; the ability of the company to drive sales growth, increase price and market share, grow its product categories and achieve favorable product and geographic mix; dependence on key customers and risks related to customer consolidation and ordering patterns; costs resulting from government regulations; the ability of the company to successfully manage global political, legal, tax and regulatory risks, including changes in regulatory or administrative activity; supply disruptions and other risks inherent in reliance on a limited base of suppliers; the ability of the company to implement and generate anticipated cost savings and efficiencies; the success of the company's business strategies; the impact of product liability claims, labor claims and other legal proceedings, including in foreign jurisdictions and the company's litigation related to its discontinued operations in Brazil; the ability of the company to develop and introduce commercially successful products; risks relating to acquisitions, new ventures and divestitures and associated costs, including the potential for asset impairment charges, related to, among others, intangible assets and goodwill; risks related to reliance on information technology systems, including potential security breaches, cyber attacks or privacy breaches that result in the unauthorized disclosure of consumer, customer, employee or company information, or service interruptions; the company's ability to attract and retain key personnel; the company's ability to maintain its business reputation and the reputation of its brands; environmental matters including costs associated with the remediation of past contamination and the handling and/or transportation of hazardous substances; the impact of natural disasters, terrorism and other events beyond the company's control; the company's ability to maximize, assert and defend its intellectual property rights; any infringement or claimed infringement by the company of third-party intellectual property rights; the effect of the company's indebtedness and credit rating on its operations and financial results; the company's ability to maintain an effective system of internal controls; uncertainties relating to tax positions, tax disputes and changes in the company's tax rate; the accuracy of the company's estimates and assumptions on which its financial statement projections are based; the company's ability to pay and declare dividends or repurchase its stock in the future; and the impacts of potential stockholder activism.
Page 4 of 9
The company's forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's current views and assumptions regarding future events and speak only as of their dates. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by the federal securities laws.
Non-GAAP Financial Information
This press release contains non-GAAP financial information relating to sales growth, diluted EPS, the debt to EBITDA ratio and EBIT margin. The company has included reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. See the end of this press release for these reconciliations.
The company disclosed these non-GAAP financial measures to supplement its consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures exclude certain items that are included in the company’s results reported in accordance with GAAP, including income taxes, interest income, interest expense and foreign exchange impact. The exclusion of foreign exchange impact is also referred to as currency-neutral. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful additional information to investors about trends in the company’s operations and are useful for period-over-period comparisons. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the comparable GAAP measures. In addition, these non-GAAP measures may not be the same as similar measures provided by other companies due to potential differences in methods of calculation and items being excluded. They should be read in connection with the company’s consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP.
Media
Relations
Aileen Zerrudo (510)
271-3075, aileen.zerrudo@clorox.com
Kathryn Caulfield (510) 271-7209,
kathryn.caulfield@clorox.com
Investor
Relations
Landon Dunn (510)
271-7256, landon.dunn@clorox.com
Steve Austenfeld (510) 271-2270,
steve.austenfeld@clorox.com
For recent presentations made by company management and other investor materials, visit Investor Events on the company’s website.
Page 5 of 9
Condensed Consolidated
Statements of Earnings (Unaudited)
Dollars in millions, except
per share amounts
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
| 12/31/2014 | 12/31/2013 | 12/31/2014 | 12/31/2013 | |||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 1,345 | $ | 1,308 | $ | 2,697 | $ | 2,651 | ||||||||
| Cost of products sold | 773 | 753 | 1,547 | 1,512 | ||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 572 | 555 | 1,150 | 1,139 | ||||||||||||
| Selling and administrative expenses | 191 | 196 | 371 | 390 | ||||||||||||
| Advertising costs | 127 | 122 | 248 | 242 | ||||||||||||
| Research and development costs | 33 | 31 | 63 | 62 | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 26 | 26 | 52 | 52 | ||||||||||||
| Other (income) expense, net | (2 | ) | (4 | ) | 1 | (2 | ) | |||||||||
| Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes | 197 | 184 | 415 | 395 | ||||||||||||
| Income taxes on continuing operations | 69 | 66 | 142 | 138 | ||||||||||||
| Earnings from continuing operations | 128 | 118 | 273 | 257 | ||||||||||||
| Losses from discontinued operations, net of tax | (3 | ) | (3 | ) | (58 | ) | (6 | ) | ||||||||
| Net earnings | $ | 125 | $ | 115 | $ | 215 | $ | 251 | ||||||||
| Net earnings (losses) per share | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | ||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | 0.98 | $ | 0.91 | $ | 2.10 | $ | 1.99 | ||||||||
| Discontinued operations | (0.02 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.44 | ) | (0.06 | ) | ||||||||
| Basic net earnings per share | $ | 0.96 | $ | 0.89 | $ | 1.66 | $ | 1.93 | ||||||||
| Diluted | ||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | 0.97 | $ | 0.90 | $ | 2.07 | $ | 1.95 | ||||||||
| Discontinued operations | (0.02 | ) | (0.03 | ) | (0.44 | ) | (0.05 | ) | ||||||||
| Diluted net earnings per share | $ | 0.95 | $ | 0.87 | $ | 1.63 | $ | 1.90 | ||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 130,555 | 129,836 | 129,933 | 129,955 | ||||||||||||
| Diluted | 132,819 | 132,278 | 132,203 | 132,276 | ||||||||||||
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Reportable Segment
Information
(Unaudited)
Dollars in millions
| Second Quarter | Net Sales | Earnings (Losses) from Continuing
Operations Before Income Taxes | |||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12/31/14 | 12/31/13 (1) | % Change (2) | 12/31/14 | 12/31/13 (1) | % Change (2) | ||||||||||||||
| Cleaning Segment | $ | 447 | $ | 432 | 3 | % | $ | 107 | $ | 101 | 6% | ||||||||
| Household Segment | 371 | 352 | 5 | % | 51 | 41 | 24% | ||||||||||||
| Lifestyle Segment | 246 | 237 | 4 | % | 73 | 69 | 6% | ||||||||||||
| International Segment | 281 | 287 | -2 | % | 24 | 33 | -27% | ||||||||||||
| Corporate | - | - | - | (58 | ) | (60 | ) | -3% | |||||||||||
| Total Company | $ | 1,345 | $ | 1,308 | 3 | % | $ | 197 | $ | 184 | 7% | ||||||||
| Year-to-Date | Net Sales | Earnings (Losses) from Continuing
Operations Before Income Taxes | |||||||||||||||||
| Six Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12/31/14 | 12/31/13 (1) | % Change (2) | 12/31/14 | 12/31/13 (1) | % Change (2) | ||||||||||||||
| Cleaning Segment | $ | 917 | $ | 911 | 1 | % | $ | 231 | $ | 232 | 0% | ||||||||
| Household Segment | 763 | 724 | 5 | % | 103 | 93 | 11% | ||||||||||||
| Lifestyle Segment | 462 | 455 | 2 | % | 129 | 122 | 6% | ||||||||||||
| International Segment | 555 | 561 | -1 | % | 50 | 64 | -22% | ||||||||||||
| Corporate | - | - | - | (98 | ) | (116 | ) | -16% | |||||||||||
| Total Company | $ | 2,697 | $ | 2,651 | 2 | % | $ | 415 | $ | 395 | 5% | ||||||||
(1) As a result of
Clorox Venezuela results being included in discontinued operations beginning in
the first fiscal quarter of the current fiscal year, the prior comparative
period has been reclassified to conform with current quarter
presentation.
(2)
Percentages based on rounded numbers.
Page 7 of 9
Condensed Consolidated
Balance Sheets
Dollars in
millions
| 12/31/2014 | 6/30/2014 | 12/31/2013 | ||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | |||||||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||||||
| Current assets | ||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 819 | $ | 329 | $ | 341 | ||||||
| Receivables, net | 473 | 546 | 499 | |||||||||
| Inventories, net | 446 | 386 | 466 | |||||||||
| Other current assets | 167 | 134 | 194 | |||||||||
| Total current assets | 1,905 | 1,395 | 1,500 | |||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 933 | 977 | 992 | |||||||||
| Goodwill | 1,080 | 1,101 | 1,100 | |||||||||
| Trademarks, net | 537 | 547 | 552 | |||||||||
| Other intangible assets, net | 55 | 64 | 67 | |||||||||
| Other assets | 164 | 174 | 177 | |||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 4,674 | $ | 4,258 | $ | 4,388 | ||||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||||||
| Current liabilities | ||||||||||||
| Notes and loans payable | $ | 2 | $ | 143 | $ | 342 | ||||||
| Current maturities of long-term debt | 875 | 575 | - | |||||||||
| Accounts payable | 375 | 440 | 359 | |||||||||
| Accrued liabilities | 492 | 472 | 480 | |||||||||
| Income taxes payable | - | 8 | - | |||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 1,744 | 1,638 | 1,181 | |||||||||
| Long-term debt | 1,795 | 1,595 | 2,170 | |||||||||
| Other liabilities | 773 | 768 | 765 | |||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 81 | 103 | 116 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities | 4,393 | 4,104 | 4,232 | |||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity | ||||||||||||
| Common stock | 159 | 159 | 159 | |||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 726 | 709 | 693 | |||||||||
| Retained earnings | 1,757 | 1,739 | 1,623 | |||||||||
| Treasury shares | (1,908 | ) | (2,036 | ) | (1,932 | ) | ||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive net losses | (453 | ) | (417 | ) | (387 | ) | ||||||
| Stockholders’ equity | 281 | 154 | 156 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 4,674 | $ | 4,258 | $ | 4,388 | ||||||
Page 8 of 9
The tables below present the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP and other supplemental information. See “Non-GAAP Financial Information” above for further information regarding the company’s use of non-GAAP financial measures.
The reconciliations below are on a continuing operations basis
Second-Quarter and Fiscal Year-to-Date Sales Growth Reconciliation
| Q2 | Q2 | Q2 YTD | Q2 YTD | |||||
| Fiscal | Fiscal | Fiscal | Fiscal | |||||
| 2015 | 2014 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||
| Total Sales Growth – GAAP | 2.9% | 0.5% | 1.7% | 1.4% | ||||
| Less: Foreign exchange | -2.8 | -1.7 | -2.4 | -1.6 | ||||
| Currency Neutral Sales Growth - Non-GAAP | 5.7% | 2.2% | 4.1% | 3.0% | ||||
The reconciliations below for fiscal year 2014 are provided as a reference point for the fiscal year 2015 outlook, and reflect the reclassification of Clorox Venezuela to discontinued operations in Q1FY15.
Fiscal Year EBIT Margin(1) Reconciliation
| FY | |||
| Fiscal | |||
| 2014 | |||
| Earnings from continuing operations | $ | 884 | |
| before income taxes – GAAP | |||
| Interest Income | -3 | ||
| Interest Expense | 103 | ||
| EBIT (1) – non-GAAP | $ | 984 | |
| Net Sales | $ | 5,514 | |
| EBIT margin(1) – non-GAAP | 17.80% | ||
(1) EBIT represents earnings from continuing operations before interest and taxes. EBIT margin is the ratio of EBIT to net sales.
For Gross Margin Drivers, please refer to the Supplemental Information: Gross Margin Driver page in the Financial Results section of the company’s website TheCloroxCompany.com.
Page 9 of 9
