Bunge Reports First Quarter Results

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., April 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG)

• Results significantly improved from last year; operating cash flow of $760 million
• Moema acquisition completed during the quarter and integration proceeding
• Continue to expect closing of sale of fertilizer nutrients assets in the second quarter

• Financial Highlights

• Overview

Alberto Weisser, Bunge's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Bunge's first quarter improved significantly from where we were this time last year.  Agribusiness performed well, especially considering tight soybean supplies in Brazil that limited our origination activity in that country.  In fertilizer, results were weaker than expected due to lower volumes and margins.  However, our average inventory costs are now below market prices.  

"Looking ahead to the remainder of the year, agribusiness and food & ingredients should perform as expected.  However, 2010 will be a transition year for sugar & bioenergy and retail fertilizer as we work through the integration of Moema and the separation of nutrients from retail.

"With the addition of Moema to our portfolio, sugar & bioenergy has become an important segment for Bunge with attractive growth potential.  It has increased our sugarcane milling capacity to 20 million metric tons and turned a complementary value chain into a core business that fits well with our strategy and capabilities.

"We also continue to expect a second quarter closing of the sale of our Brazilian fertilizer nutrients assets to Vale.  This transaction will result in approximately $3.5 billion in after-tax proceeds.  It allows us to pursue opportunities that strengthen our positions in existing markets and expand into new geographies and businesses where we can leverage our commercial, logistics and risk management expertise.  We continue to evaluate acquisition opportunities and organic investments that fit with our business strategy.

"The growth fundamentals of our markets are attractive.  We have a strong global network of assets.  We have a talented team.  And we are in a strong financial position."

• First Quarter Results

Agribusiness

Better results in agribusiness were primarily due to solid performance in oilseed processing, which benefited from higher margins in most geographies.  Grain origination results were lower largely due to the tight soybean situation in Brazil and slow farmer selling during the early stages of the harvest.  Distribution benefited from strong soybean demand from China.  SG&A in the quarter increased primarily due to stronger local currencies in our foreign operations.  Foreign exchange losses of $41 million, primarily in our Brazilian subsidiary, from U.S. dollar-denominated financing of working capital, were offset by the positive impact of foreign exchange on valuations of commodity inventories included in gross profit.  First quarter results included $14 million of impairment and restructuring charges related to the closure of an older, less efficient oilseed processing facility in the U.S.  

Sugar & Bioenergy

The quarter was characterized by the closing of the Moema acquisition in February, including the application of related purchase accounting adjustments.  At closing, assets and liabilities of Moema were recorded on the opening balance sheet at fair value, including sugar and ethanol inventories from the 2009 harvest and forward sales that were stepped up to prevailing market prices.  This step-up represents additional costs of $19 million for the full year, most of which was recognized in the first quarter.  Results in the first quarter also included $11 million of transaction-related expenses in connection with the acquisition.  Additionally, our sugar trading & merchandising business performed well in a volatile period.

Fertilizer

Results improved significantly from the prior year as the high cost inventory that impacted the business throughout 2009 has been sold.  Retail performance, however, was weaker than expected due to lower margins and volumes, as farmers slowed purchases in the second half of the quarter and we maintained pricing.  Noncontrolling interest increased in the quarter due to higher results at Fosfertil.  First quarter results included $4 million of restructuring charges in our retail business in Brazil and approximately $23 million lower depreciation in nutrients due to the classification of these assets as held for sale.

Edible Oil Products

Results were lower than in first quarter 2009 because they no longer include results from our joint venture interest in Saipol, which we sold in the fourth quarter of that year.   On a comparable basis, performance this quarter improved due to stronger results in North America and in our Brazilian margarine business.  SG&A in the quarter increased primarily due to stronger local currencies in our foreign operations.  

Milling Products

Lower results in the quarter were primarily due to lower margins and higher operating expenses in wheat milling.  Margins were impacted by increased local competition following the large Brazilian wheat harvest.  Higher operating expenses were primarily due to the impact of the stronger Brazilian real.  First quarter results included $3 million of impairment and restructuring charges related to the closure of a corn oil extraction line that was co-located with the oilseed processing facility that is being closed in the U.S.

Financial Costs

Interest expense increased in the quarter due to higher average debt levels and a higher blended cost of borrowings resulting from debt assumed in the Moema transaction, which carried higher interest rates.  

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 was 10% compared to an income tax benefit of $34 million in the same period of last year.

Cash Flow

Cash provided by operating activities in the first quarter was $760 million compared to cash used by operations of $363 million in the same period of last year.  The increase was due to higher net earnings from operations and lower working capital requirements resulting primarily from higher trade payables in the fertilizer segment.

• Outlook

Jacqualyn Fouse, Chief Financial Officer, stated, "Looking ahead, big crops in South America should ease the tight supply situation and provide ample product for our agribusiness segment to originate, process and transport.  The USDA is forecasting global demand for soybean meal to grow by 4% and vegetable oil to grow by 5%.  However, the year will not be free of challenges as we may see some pressure on margins from increased oilseed processing capacity in North America.  The Brazil sugarcane harvest has commenced and our mills are operating.  Retail fertilizer should improve in the second half of the year as the pace of farmer purchases picks up closer to planting, but will be below our expectations.  Food & ingredients is expected to perform as planned.

"In light of this outlook, we are revising our 2010 full-year earnings guidance to $5.30 to $5.80 per share.  This guidance takes into consideration $33 million of notable items, $19 million net impact related to the purchase accounting step-up of inventories and forward sales associated with the Moema acquisition and anticipated integration costs.  It also assumes an effective tax rate of 14% to 18%, and is based on an estimated weighted average of 160 million shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis, which includes assumed dilution relating to our convertible preference shares.

"This guidance excludes the gain on the sale of fertilizer nutrients, which is expected to close in the second quarter of the year."  

Conference Call and Webcast Details

Bunge Limited's management will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. EDT on April 29, 2010 to discuss the company's results.

Additionally, a slide presentation to accompany the discussion of results will be posted in the "Investor Information" section of www.bunge.com.

To listen to the call, please dial (888) 523-1227.  If you are located outside the United States or Canada, dial (719) 457-2656.  Please dial in five to 10 minutes before the scheduled start time.  When prompted, enter confirmation code 9389401.  The call will also be webcast live at www.bunge.com.

To access the webcast, select the "Investor Information" link on the Bunge homepage, then select "Webcasts and News Alerts."  Select "Q1 2010 Bunge Limited Conference Call" and follow the prompts.  Please go to the Web site at least 15 minutes prior to the call to register and download any necessary audio software.

For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available later in the day on April 29, 2010, continuing through May 29, 2010.  To listen to it, please dial (888) 203-1112 or, if located outside the United States or Canada, dial (719) 457-0820.  When prompted, enter confirmation code 9389401.  A replay will also be available on the company's Web site.  To access it, select the "Investor Information" link on the Bunge homepage, then select "Audio Archives" and follow the prompts.

About Bunge Limited

Bunge Limited (www.bunge.com, NYSE: BG) is a leading global agribusiness and food company with approximately 37,000 employees in more than 30 countries.  Bunge buys, sells, stores and transports oilseeds and grains to serve customers worldwide; processes oilseeds to make protein meal for animal feed and edible oil products for commercial customers and consumers; produces sugar and ethanol from sugarcane; mills wheat and corn to make ingredients used by food companies; and sells fertilizer in North and South America.  Founded in 1818, the company is headquartered in White Plains, New York.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains both historical and forward-looking statements.  All statements, other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, 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.  These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather reflect our current expectations and projections about our future results, performance, prospects and opportunities.  We have tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words including "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "continue" and similar expressions.  These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements.  The following important factors, among others, could affect our business and financial performance: industry conditions, including fluctuations in supply, demand and prices for agricultural commodities and other raw materials and products used in our business; fluctuations in energy and freight costs and competitive developments in our industries; the effects of weather conditions and the outbreak of crop and animal disease on our business; global and regional agricultural, economic, financial and commodities market, political, social and health conditions; the outcome of pending regulatory and legal proceedings; our ability to complete, integrate and benefit from acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures and strategic alliances; changes in government policies, laws and regulations affecting our business, including agricultural and trade policies, tax regulations and biofuels legislation; and other factors affecting our business generally.  The forward-looking statements included in this release are made only as of the date of this release, and except as otherwise required by federal securities law, we do not have any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Additional Financial Information

The following table provides a summary of certain gains and charges that may be of interest to investors.  The table includes a description of these items and their effect on total segment EBIT, income from operations before income tax, net income attributable to Bunge and earnings per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

This earnings release contains total segment earnings before interest and tax ("EBIT"), which is "non-GAAP financial measures" as this term is defined in Regulation G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  In accordance with Regulation G, Bunge has reconciled this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures.

Total segment earnings before interest and tax

Total segment EBIT is consolidated net income (loss) attributable to Bunge excluding interest income and expense and income tax attributable to each segment.

Total segment EBIT is a non-GAAP financial measure and is not intended to replace net income (loss) attributable to Bunge, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.  Total segment EBIT is an operating performance measure used by Bunge's management to evaluate its segments' operating activities.  Bunge's management believes EBIT is a useful measure of its segments' operating profitability, since the measure reflects equity in earnings of affiliates and noncontrolling interest and excludes income tax.  Income tax is excluded as management believes income tax is not material to the operating performance of its segments.  In addition, interest income and expense have become less meaningful to the segments' operating activities.  Total segment EBIT is not a measure of consolidated operating results under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) attributable to Bunge or any other measure of consolidated operating results under U.S. GAAP.

Below is a reconciliation of total segment EBIT to net income (loss) attributable to Bunge:

SOURCE Bunge Limited