Mexico City, October 25, 2018, Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: KOFL, NYSE: KOF) (“Coca-Cola FEMSA,” “KOF” or the “Company”), the largest Coca-Cola franchise bottler in the world by sales volume, announces results for the third quarter of 2018.
Relevant Reporting Information
- Volumes and financial results of the recently acquired territories in Guatemala and Uruguay were consolidated as of May 1, 2018 and as of July 1, 2018, respectively. Coca-Cola FEMSA de Venezuela was deconsolidated as of December 31, 2017.
- On August 16, 2018, KOF announced the exercise of the put option to sell its 51% stake in Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines, Inc. Therefore, the Philippines is now presented as a discontinued operation as of January 1, 2018, and the consolidated income statements presented herein are re-presented as if the Philippines had been discontinued from February 2017, date of the consolidation of said operation. As a result, the Asia Division is no longer reported.
- As of July 1, 2018, Argentina is reported as a hyperinflationary subsidiary.
Operational and Financial Highlights
- Volumes increased in Brazil, Central America, Colombia, and Mexico; transactions outperformed volumes in Argentina and Brazil.
- Revenues decreased 0.7%, as pricing aligned with or ahead of inflation in the Mexico & Central America division and in Argentina, combined with the consolidation of recent acquisitions were offset by unfavorable currency translation effects from the Brazilian Real, hyperinflationary accounting in Argentina and the deconsolidation of Venezuela.
- Comparable revenues grew 6.5% for the quarter driven by growth in Brazil, Central America, Colombia, and Mexico.
- Operating income grew 8.2%, while comparable operating income increased 5.5% for the quarter, driven mainly by lower sweetener costs, a favorable currency hedging position in South America, and operating expense efficiencies, partially offset by higher PET prices.
- Operating cash flow declined 1.2%, while comparable operating cash flow grew 6.2%.
Results Summary
(1) 2017 financial information is re-presented as if the Philippines had been discontinued from February 2017, date of the consolidation of said operation.
(2) Comparability definition
(3) Operating cash flow = operating income + depreciation + amortization & other operating non-cash charges.
(4) Quarterly earnings / outstanding shares as of the end of the period. Outstanding shares were 2,100.8 million
Message from the Chief Executive Officer
“Our third-quarter results reflect very encouraging positive trends in many of our markets. In Mexico, our revenue management platform’s analytics are enabling us to deliver solid top-line growth, backed by positive volume performance. In Central America, organic volumes are showing encouraging trends, coupled with the ongoing integration of very promising territories in Guatemala. Importantly, in South America, we continue to gain share in gradually recovering consumer environments as we offer affordability and focus relentlessly on point-of-sale execution: Colombia is gaining traction; Brazil continues to deliver top-and-bottom-line growth, while Argentina is better than ever prepared to face the challenging macro environment. Finally, this quarter, we welcome Uruguay as the newest territory to our diversified footprint. As we approach the end of the year, we look forward to continue capitalizing on our capabilities to capture the marketplace’s many opportunities, while obsessively focusing on serving our customers and consumers.” said John Santa Maria Otazua, Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
(2)Comparability
In an effort to provide our readers with a more useful representation of our company`s underlying financial and operating performance, we are including the term “Comparable.” This means, with respect to a year-over-year comparison, the change of a given measure excluding the effects of: (i) mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures: acquisitions made in Guatemala and Uruguay as of May and July 2018, respectively; (ii) translation effects resulting from exchange rate movements; and (iii) the results of hyperinflationary subsidiaries in both periods: Venezuela’s results from 2017 and Argentina’s results from 2018 and 2017. In preparing this measure, management has used its best judgment, estimates, and assumptions in order to maintain comparability.
Conference Call Information
Our third quarter 2018 conference call will be held on October 25, 2018, at 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time (11:00 A.M. Mexico City Time). To participate in the conference call, please dial: Domestic U.S.: 800-289-0438 or International: +1 323-794-2423. Participant code: 7189300. We invite investors to listen to the live audio cast of the conference call on the Company’s website, www.coca-colafemsa.com. If you are unable to participate live, the conference call audio will be available at www.coca-colafemsa.com
About the Company
Stock listing information: Mexican Stock Exchange, Ticker: KOFL | NYSE (ADR), Ticker: KOF | Ratio of KOF L to KOF = 10:1
Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V. is the largest franchise bottler in the world by sales volume. The Company produces and distributes trademark beverages of The Coca-Cola Company, offering a wide portfolio of 169 brands to more than 396 million consumers daily. With over 100 thousand employees, the Company markets and sells approximately 4 billion unit cases through 2.8 million points of sale a year. Operating 67 manufacturing plants and 344 distribution centers, Coca-Cola FEMSA is committed to generating economic, social, and environmental value for all of its stakeholders across the value chain. The Company is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Emerging Markets Index, Dow Jones Sustainability MILA Pacific Alliance Index, FTSE4Good Emerging Index, and the Mexican Stock Exchange’s IPC and Social Responsibility and Sustainability Indices, among others. Its operations encompass franchise territories in Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Brazil, and Argentina, and, nationwide, in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Uruguay, Venezuela and the Philippines. For further information, please visit www.coca-colafemsa.com