Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. : Announces First Quarter 2012 Financial Results

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. (NYSE: FDP) today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 30, 2012. For the first quarter of 2012, the Company reported earnings per diluted share of $1.08, compared with earnings per diluted share of $0.93 in the first quarter of 2011, or excluding asset impairment and other charges, earnings per diluted share of $0.96 in the first quarter of 2011.

"We made good strategic progress during the first quarter of 2012, while achieving solid earnings results for our shareholders," said Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Our business was favorably impacted by our long term initiative of assuming control of the sales and marketing function for Southern Europe, and by improvements in our logistics structure. Additionally, we saw continued growth in our fresh-cut produce business, and continued expansion of our operations internationally to bring our products closer to end customers. Despite these advances, our decisions to protect our margins resulted in lower net sales in our tomato and melon product lines and in our banana business in Northern Europe. However, with our emphasis on focused process and efficiency improvement and a strong balance sheet, we are confident we are on the right track to build long-term value."

Net sales for the first quarter of 2012 were $897.9 million, compared with $974.0 million in the prior year period. The decrease in net sales for the quarter was the result of lower net sales across all of the Company's business segments, primarily due to lower sales volume in the Company's other fresh produce business and lower sales volume of bananas in the Company's Middle East and Asia regions.

Gross profit for the first quarter of 2012 was $112.4 million, compared with $122.8 million in the first quarter of 2011. The decrease in gross profit for the quarter was primarily the result of lower sales. The decrease was partially offset by higher gross profit in the Company's other fresh produce business segment, primarily due to improvements in the Company's melon and gold pineapple product line.

Operating income for the first quarter of 2012 was $65.5 million, compared with $74.9 million in the prior year period. The decrease in operating income for the quarter was primarily attributable to lower gross profit.

Net income for the first quarter of 2012 was $62.5 million, compared with $55.2 million in the first quarter of 2011. Excluding asset impairment and other charges, the Company reported net income of $62.6 million in the first quarter of 2012, compared with net income of $57.1 million in the first quarter of 2011. The increase in net income for the quarter was primarily the result of lower tax and interest expense.

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(U.S. dollars in millions, except share and per share data) - (Unaudited)
		Quarter ended
Income Statement:		March 30,				April 1,
		2012				2011
Net sales		$	897.9			$	974.0
Cost of products sold		785.5				851.2
Gross profit		112.4				122.8
Selling, general and administrative expenses		45.4				46.1
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment		1.4				(0.1		)
Asset impairment and other charges, net (1)		0.1				1.9
Operating income		65.5				74.9
Interest expense, net		1.1				2.0
Other (income) expense, net		(0.5		)		3.0
Income before income taxes		64.9				69.9
Provision for income taxes		2.1				13.9
Net income		$	62.8			$	56.0
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		0.3				0.8
Net income attributable to Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc.		$	62.5			$	55.2
Net income per ordinary share attributable to Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. - Basic		$	1.08			$	0.94
Net income per ordinary share attributable to Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. - Diluted		$	1.08			$	0.93
Dividends declared per ordinary share		$	0.10			$	0.05
Weighted average number of ordinary shares:
Basic		57,807,103				58,843,527
Diluted		57,900,781				59,270,570
Selected Income Statement Data:
Depreciation and amortization		$	17.8			$	18.9
Non-GAAP Measures:
Reported net income per share - Diluted		$	1.08			$	0.93
Asset impairment and other charges, net (1)		$	--			$	0.03
Adjusted net income per share - Diluted (2)		$	1.08			$	0.96

(1) Asset impairment and other charges, net recorded during the first quarter of 2012 related principally to an under-utilized facility in the United Kingdom and the sale of assets previously impaired in 2011 as a result of our melon program rationalization in Central America. Asset impairment and other charges, net recorded during the first quarter of 2011 related principally to our decision to abandon an isolated area of our banana operation in the Philippines due to crop disease.

(2) Management reviews adjusted net income, adjusted net income per share and adjusted gross profit and considers these measures relevant to investors because management believes they better represent the underlying business trends and performance of the Company.

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. and Subsidiaries
Business Segment Data
(U.S. dollars in millions) - (Unaudited)
		Quarter ended
		March 30, 2012														April 1, 2011
Segment Data:
		Net Sales							Gross Profit							Net Sales							Gross Profit
Banana		$	397.5			44	%		$	38.8			34	%		$	427.5			44	%		$	51.5			42	%
Other Fresh Produce		421.1				47	%		60.3				54	%		452.6				46	%		55.1				45	%
Prepared Food		79.3				9	%		13.3				12	%		93.9				10	%		16.2				13	%
		$	897.9			100	%		$	112.4			100	%		$	974.0			100	%		$	122.8			100	%
		Quarter ended
Net Sales by Geographic Region:		March 30, 2012							April 1, 2011
North America		$	489.0			54	%		$	516.7			53	%
Europe		205.1				23	%		234.1				24	%
Asia		103.4				12	%		109.2				11	%
Middle East		81.1				9	%		94.7				10	%
Other		19.3				2	%		19.3				2	%
		$	897.9			100	%		$	974.0			100	%

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(U.S. dollars in millions) - (Unaudited)
		March 30,				December 30,
		2012				2011
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	27.5			$	46.9
Trade accounts receivable, net		353.9				290.7
Other accounts receivable, net		54.0				63.9
Inventories		444.7				428.9
Other current assets		53.4				61.6
Total current assets		933.5				892.0
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated companies		1.9				2.3
Property, plant and equipment, net		1,015.8				1,022.9
Goodwill		404.8				402.3
Other noncurrent assets		185.7				184.5
Total assets		$	2,541.7			$	2,504.0
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		$	344.5			$	343.2
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations		168.5				2.2
Other current liabilities		35.5				24.4
Total current liabilities		548.5				369.8
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations		2.1				213.3
Other noncurrent liabilities		206.3				205.8
Total liabilities		756.9				788.9
Total Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. shareholders' equity		1,758.4				1,689.4
Noncontrolling interests		26.4				25.7
Total shareholders' equity		1,784.8				1,715.1
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		$	2,541.7			$	2,504.0
Selected Balance Sheet Data:
Working capital		$	385.0			$	522.2
Total debt		$	170.6			$	215.5

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(U.S. dollars in millions) - (Unaudited)
		Quarter ended
		March 30,				April 1,
		2012				2011
Operating activities:
Net income		$	62.8			$	56.0
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		17.8				18.9
Amortization of debt issuance costs		0.4				0.6
Asset impairment charges		1.8				0.2
Gain on sales of property, plant and equipment		(0.4		)		(0.1		)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		1.9				1.7
Other changes		(6.4		)		6.8
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables		(52.7		)		(51.1		)
Inventories		(14.7		)		3.4
Other current assets		5.2				0.2
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		17.8				30.5
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities		3.6				1.1
Net cash provided by operating activities		37.1				68.2
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(12.8		)		(21.2		)
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment		2.9				0.4
Net cash used in investing activities		(9.9		)		(20.8		)
Financing activities:
Net payments on long-term debt		(44.9		)		(70.9		)
Contributions from (distributions to) noncontrolling interests		3.5				(1.1		)
Proceeds from stock options exercised		0.8				7.0
Dividends paid		(5.8		)		--
Net cash used in financing activities		(46.4		)		(65.0		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		(0.2		)		3.7
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(19.4		)		(13.9		)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning		46.9				49.1
Cash and cash equivalents, ending		$	27.5			$	35.2

First Quarter 2012 Business Segment Performance

(As reported in business segment data)

Bananas

Net sales for the quarter decreased 7% to $397.5 million, compared with $427.5 million in the first quarter of 2011, primarily due to lower sales volume in the Middle East and Asia, and lower selling prices in the Company's North America region. Worldwide pricing decreased $0.20, or 1%, to $15.08 per unit, compared with $15.28 per unit in the first quarter of 2011. Volume was 6% lower. Gross profit for the quarter was $38.8 million, compared with gross profit of $51.5 million in the first quarter of 2011. Unit costs were 1% higher than the prior year period.

Other Fresh Produce

Net sales for the quarter decreased 7% to $421.1 million, compared with $452.6 million in the first quarter of 2011. The decline in net sales was primarily the result of planned restructuring in the Company's tomato and melon product lines, and lower supply of fruit in the Company's non-tropical product line, due to less favorable growing conditions in Chile. The decrease in net sales in the first quarter of 2012 was partially offset by higher volume and selling prices in the Company's fresh-cut product line and higher selling prices in the Company's gold pineapple product line. Gross profit for the quarter was $60.3 million, compared with gross profit of $55.1 million in the first quarter of 2011.

Gold pineapple - Net sales decreased 3% to $118.4 million. Volume decreased 9%. Pricing increased 7%. Unit cost was 2% higher.

Fresh-cut - Net sales increased 17% to $91.9 million. Volume increased 10%. Pricing increased 6%. Unit cost was 5% higher.

Melon - Net sales decreased 8% to $47.9 million. Volume decreased 24%. Pricing increased 21%. Unit cost was 10% higher.

Non-tropical - Net sales decreased 8% to $110.5 million. Volume decreased 11%. Pricing increased 4%. Unit cost was 5% higher.

Tomato - Net sales decreased 53% to $18.7 million. Volume decreased 30%. Pricing decreased 34%. Unit cost was 31% lower.

Prepared Food

Net sales decreased 16% to $79.3 million for the quarter, compared with $93.9 million in the prior year's first quarter. The decrease in net sales was due to lower sales volume of canned pineapple, and lower selling prices of processed products to industrial customers. Gross profit for the quarter was $13.3 million, compared with $16.2 million in the first quarter of 2011.

Cash Flows

Net cash provided by operating activities for the first three months of 2012 was $37.1 million, compared with $68.2 million in the same period of 2011.

Total Debt

Total debt decreased from $215.5 million at the end of 2011 to $170.6 million at the end of the first quarter of 2012.

Conference Call and Web Cast Data

Fresh Del Monte will host a conference call and simultaneous Web cast at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time today to discuss the first quarter 2012 financial results and to review the Company's progress and outlook. The Web cast can be accessed on the Company's Investor Relations home page at http://ir.freshdelmonte.com. The call will be available for re-broadcast on the Company's Web site approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call.

About Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc.

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is one of the world's leading vertically integrated producers, marketers and distributors of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, as well as a leading producer and distributor of prepared food in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the countries formerly part of the Soviet Union. Fresh Del Monte markets its products worldwide under the Del Monte^® brand, a symbol of product innovation, quality, freshness and reliability for more than 100 years.

Forward-looking Information

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements regarding the intent, beliefs or current expectations of the Company or its officers with respect to the Company's plans and future performance. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company assumes no obligation to update these statements. It is important to note that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. In this press release, these statements appear in a number of places and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company or its officers (including statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates" or similar expressions). The Company's plans and performance may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including (i) the uncertain global economic environment and the timing and strength of a recovery in the markets the Company serves, and the extent to which adverse economic conditions continue to affect its sales volume and results, including the Company's ability to command premium prices for certain of its principal products, or increase competitive pressures within the industry, (ii) the impact of governmental initiatives in the United States and abroad to spur economic activity, including the effects of significant government monetary or other market interventions on inflation, price controls and foreign exchange rates, (iii) the impact of governmental trade restrictions, including adverse governmental regulation that may impact the Company's ability to access certain markets, (iv) the Company's anticipated cash needs in light of its liquidity, (v) the continued ability of the Company's distributors and suppliers to have access to sufficient liquidity to fund their operations, (vi) trends and other factors affecting the Company's financial condition or results of operations from period to period, including changes in product mix or consumer demand for branded products such as its, particularly as consumers remain price-conscious in the current economic environment; anticipated price and expense levels; the impact of crop disease, severe weather conditions, such as flooding, or natural disasters, such as earthquakes, on crop quality and yields and on its ability to grow, procure or export its products; the impact of prices for petroleum-based products and packaging materials; and the availability of sufficient labor during peak growing and harvesting seasons, (vii) the impact of pricing and other actions by the Company's competitors, particularly during periods of low consumer confidence and spending levels, (viii) the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, (ix) the Company's plans for expansion of its business (including through acquisitions) and cost savings, (x) the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquisitions into its operations, (xi) the impact of impairment or other charges associated with exit activities, crop or facility damage or otherwise, (xii) the timing and cost of resolution of pending legal and environmental proceedings, (xiii) the impact of changes in tax accounting or tax laws (or interpretations thereof), and the impact of settlements of adjustments proposed by the Internal Revenue Service or other taxing authorities in connection with the Company's tax audits, and (xiv) the cost and other implications of changes in regulations applicable to its business, including potential legislative or regulatory initiatives in the United States or elsewhere directed at mitigating the effects of climate change. All forward-looking statements in this report are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. The Company's plans and performance may also be affected by the factors described in Item 1A. - "Risk Factors" in Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2011 along with other reports that the Company has on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc.
Christine Cannella, 305-520-8433
Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations

Partner Area