EX-99.2 3 q206qa.txt ConAgra Foods Q2 FY06 Question & Answer December 22, 2005 1. What were some examples of major brands in the Retail Products segment posting sales growth for the quarter? ACT II Blue Bonnet Butterball Kid Cuisine Marie Callender's Reddi-wip Ro*Tel Retail sales for Chef Boyardee and Manwich were in line with last year's amounts. 2. What were some examples of major brands in the Retail Products segment posting sales declines for the quarter? Armour Banquet Cook's DAVID Eckrich Egg Beaters Healthy Choice Hebrew National Hunt's LaChoy Orville Redenbacher PAM Parkay Peter Pan Slim Jim Snack Pack Swiss Miss Van Camp's Wesson 3. What were unit volume changes for the quarter in the Retail Products and Foodservice Products segments? Retail Products volume declined 5% in the current quarter. As a point of reference for the year-over-year comparison, Retail Products volume increased 7% in the second quarter last fiscal year. Foodservice Products volume increased 2% in the current quarter. 4. How much was total Depreciation and Amortization (all types) from continuing operations for the quarter? Approximately $89 million (versus approximately $84 million in Q2 2005). $88 million of depreciation (versus $83 million in Q2 2005) $1 million of other amortization (versus $1 million in Q2 2005) 5. How much was total Depreciation and Amortization (all types) from continuing operations for the fiscal year-to-date? Approximately $177 million (versus $172 million through Q2 2005) $176 million of depreciation (versus $171 million through Q2 2005) $1 million of other amortization (versus $1 million through Q2 2005) 6. How much were Capital Expenditures from continuing operations for the quarter? Approximately $64 million (versus approximately $149 million in Q2 2005) 7. How much were Capital Expenditures from continuing operations for the fiscal year-to-date? Approximately $135 million (versus $254 million through Q2 2005) 8. What was the net interest expense for the quarter? $62 million 9. What was the net interest expense for the fiscal year-to-date? $130 million 10. What was Corporate Expense for the quarter? Approximately $103 million (versus approximately $77 million in Q2 2005) which includes $19 million of expense related to the accelerated recognition of benefits in connection with the recent transition of certain key executives. The $103 million also includes increased professional fees, some of which relate to developing plans to reduce the company's effective tax rate in the future. 11. What was Corporate Expense for the fiscal year-to-date? Approximately $176 million (versus approximately $141 million through Q2 2005) 12. How much did the company pay in dividends during the quarter? $141 million 13. How much did the company pay in dividends fiscal year-to-date? $282 million 14. What was the weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding for the quarter? 521 million shares 15. What was the approximate effective tax rate for the quarter (rounded)? 39%, reflecting the non-deductibility of the $24 million asset impairment; without this charge the company's effect tax rate would have been approximately 36%. 16. What were the gross margins and operating margins for the quarter ($ amounts in millions, rounded)? Gross Margin = Gross Profit* divided by Net Sales Gross Margin = $807/$3,810 = 21.2% Operating Margin = Segment Operating Profit** divided by Net Sales Operating Margin = $451/$3,810 = 11.8% * Gross Profit = Net Sales - Costs of Goods Sold ($3,810 - $3,003 = $807) **See second-quarter segment operating results for a reconciliation of Operating Profit to Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity method investment earnings (loss). Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity method investment earnings (loss), divided by Net Sales = $286/$3,810 = 7.5%. 17. What was the trade working capital position at quarter end, excluding amounts for discontinued operations? Trade working capital is defined as the net position of Accounts Receivable plus Inventory less Current Operating Liabilities (Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses, and Advances on Sales). Q2 FY06 Q2 FY05 Accounts Receivable $1,363 $1,500 Inventory $2,850 $2,906 Less: Accounts Payable $1,013 $1,152 Less: Accrued Expenses $1,538 $1,586 Less: Advances on Sales $ 215 $ 132 ------- ---------- Net Position $1,447 $1,536 18. What is included in the company's net debt at the end of the quarter (in millions)? Q2 FY06 Q2 FY05 Total Debt* $4,368 $5,360 Less: Cash On Hand $ 687 $ 353 ------- -------- Total $3,681 $5,007 * Total debt = notes payable, short-term debt, long-term debt, and subordinated debt. 19. What were the significant changes to debt during the quarter? At the end of the second quarter, interest-bearing debt was $4.4 billion, compared with $5.4 billion for the same period a year ago. As part of regularly scheduled debt repayment, the company repaid approximately $100 million of debt during the quarter. Included in the current portion of long-term debt is $400 million of 7.125% senior debt due October 2026 that was reclassified because of a put option that is exercisable by the holders of the debt from Aug. 1, 2006 to Sept. 1, 2006. Based on current market conditions, the company does not anticipate the holders to exercise the put option, and therefore expects to reclassify the $400 million debt back into senior long-term debt after Sept. 1, 2006 when the put option has expired. Consistent with its most recent 8-K filing, over the next few months the company plans to redeem approximately $500 million of 6% senior debt originally due September 2006. As of the end of the second quarter, the company had more than $680 million of cash and cash equivalents on hand. 20. What is the preliminary estimate of the effective tax rate for the second half of fiscal 2006 (rounded)? Approximately 36%. 21. What are the projected Capital Expenditures for fiscal 2006? Approximately $400 million. 22. What is the expected net interest expense for fiscal 2006? Approximately $300 million. 23. As reported in the earnings release and prior releases, what are the main items in the second-quarter fiscal 2006 diluted EPS that will affect comparability with second-quarter fiscal 2005 diluted EPS? Summary of major items included in diluted EPS Second Quarter FY06 of $0.31 for the second quarter of fiscal 2006 ------------------- Impairment charges related to a joint venture $0.05 Expense related to accelerated recognition of benefits in connection with recent departure of key executives $0.02 Summary of major item included in diluted EPS of Second Quarter FY05 $0.46 for the second quarter of fiscal 2005 ------------------- Loss from discontinued operations $0.01 24. What were the operating profit contributions for the commodity trading and merchandising operations in the second-half of fiscal 2005? ($ in millions) Fourth Quarter FY05 $49 Third Quarter FY05 $51 25. Have there been any reclassifications of historical amounts? Yes, certain reclassifications totaling $7 million were made between SG&A (specifically corporate expense) and income taxes for quarters two through four of fiscal 2005. Fiscal 2005 annual totals for these items have not changed. Net earnings were not affected by the reclassifications. The performances of the Retail Products, Foodservice Products, and Food Ingredients segments were not affected by the reclassifications. Reclassified amounts are as follows: -------------------------------------------------- FY 2005 Q1 FY05 Q2 FY05 Q3 FY05 Q4 FY05 Total General corporate expense $63.6 $ 77.1 $137.9 $123.6 $402.2 Income tax expense $81.0 $151.3 $158.6 $ 79.1 $470.0