Bunge Reports Second Quarter Results

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., July 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG)

• Total segment EBIT of $403 million, including gains on transactions of $121 million
• Agribusiness produced strong results
• Sugar & Bioenergy results lower than expected as rains delayed harvest
• Food & Ingredients impacted by lower margins; Fertilizer results as expected

 Financial Highlights

(a)  Total segment earnings before interest and tax ("EBIT") and earnings per common share-diluted (excl. certain gains and charges) are non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures are included in the tables attached to this press release and the accompanying slide presentation posted on Bunge's website, respectively.

  Overview

Alberto Weisser, Bunge's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Bunge's Agribusiness operations performed well in a volatile environment, but Sugar & Bioenergy, which was impacted by adverse weather conditions, and Food & Ingredients delivered lower than expected earnings.  Looking ahead, we expect a strong second half of 2012.

"Weather is always an important variable in the agribusiness and food industries, but this year it is particularly significant.  Global stocks of corn and soybeans are already tight, and a severe drought in the U.S. has lowered expectations for a replenished supply this fall and driven commodity futures prices to record levels.  As the world adjusts to these developments we are likely to see a tempering of near-term demand among commercial customers, the emergence of non-traditional trade flows both within regions and globally, as well as massive planting by farmers in the Southern Hemisphere.  Large crops next spring from farmers in South America will help provide relief to a stressed market.

"We expect Bunge will have a strong second half of the year, not only because we are confident in our businesses and our approach, but also because we are confident that the role we play as a company is both meaningful and valued.  In times of tight commodity stocks and price volatility, farmers depend on a trusted outlet for their crops, commercial customers rely on a responsive supplier, and the world requires flexible trade that can move products smoothly and safely from where they are to where they need to be.  Bunge's strong balance sheet, efficient operations, diverse product portfolio and global asset network enable us to provide these services in the most challenging of times.

"Of course, record commodity prices spark concern for the food security of vulnerable communities.  However, while corn and soybean stocks are low, global stocks of other key staples, including wheat and rice, are at more comfortable levels.  The availability of these crops, combined with rational approaches by governments to domestic food, agriculture and trade policies, fast response from aid agencies and cooperation from industry, should help the world respond quickly and effectively to potential issues."

  Second Quarter Results

Agribusiness
Results in the quarter were primarily driven by strong performances in oilseed processing and grain merchandising in our South American operations.  Results in our European merchandising business, which benefited from the addition of our new Ukrainian port terminal, also improved and contributed to the higher volume in the quarter.  The addition of grain facilities in the U.S. related to our new grain export terminal in the Pacific Northwest and oilseed processing capacity expansions in Asia that came on-stream last year also contributed to the increase in volume.  Results in the quarter included an $85 million gain on sale of our minority stake in Solae.  Results in the second quarter of 2011 included a $37 million gain related to the sale of our interest in a European oilseed processing facility joint venture.

Sugar & Bioenergy
Rainy weather in the center south of Brazil interrupted milling operations and reduced the sugar content of harvested sugarcane. This led to lower than expected industrial volumes and higher unit costs, which contributed to the loss in the quarter.  These impacts exacerbated what is normally a seasonally weak period.  Results in 2011 benefited from unusually high ethanol prices resulting from the tight supply situation in Brazil.  Lower volumes in the quarter were primarily related to our merchandising business. 

Edible Oil Products
Performance was weaker in most regions, primarily due to lower margins in packaged oil resulting from volatile raw material prices.  The quarter included an impairment charge of approximately $5 million related to the closing of a European margarine plant as part of a facilities consolidation program to improve efficiency.   

Milling Products
Lower results in the quarter were primarily due to the combination of lower margins in wheat milling and continuing challenges related to the completed implementation of a new SAP system in Brazil that impacted volumes and margins.  Results in the quarter included a gain of $36 million arising from the acquisition of the remaining interest in a Mexican wheat milling business in which we previously held a minority investment.

Fertilizer
Results in Fertilizer showed considerable improvement from the first quarter, but trailed last year as higher volume was more than offset by lower margins. While margins were lower, they improved throughout the quarter as the business worked through its high cost inventory following the decrease in international prices earlier in the year.  Results in the second quarter of 2011 were adversely impacted by approximately $17 million of net charges primarily related to inventory adjustments and bad debt in our Brazilian business.

Financial Costs
Interest expense increased in the quarter primarily due to higher average borrowings, mostly resulting from the higher prices of agricultural commodity inventories which drove higher average working capital levels.

Income Taxes
The effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was 19% compared to 11% for the same period last year.  The higher effective tax rate primarily reflects earnings mix and the gain on sale of our minority stake in Solae.

Outlook

Drew Burke, Chief Financial Officer, stated, "We expect continued overall strong performance in Agribusiness in the second half of the year, though demand could slow with the higher prices.  Due to tight soybean supplies in South America, oilseed processing in the U.S. should benefit from strong export demand when harvest commences.  Our European sunseed and Canadian canola processing operations should benefit from the combination of large crop production and increased oil and meal demand due to tightness in the global soybean and European rapeseed supply.  We expect rapeseed processing margins to remain under pressure.  While processing in China will likely remain challenging, we expect margins to improve later in the year as the market works through excess inventory in the country.  Considering the smaller U.S. corn harvest, global grain demand will be met by a variety of products from different geographies.  With our global network of ports and elevators, our grain merchandising operations should perform well in this environment, meeting our customers' supply needs.

"In Sugar & Bioenergy, we expect significantly improved results as we have entered the seasonally stronger period and weather conditions in Brazil have improved.  We expect to crush between 17 and 18 million metric tons of sugarcane this year, and we are on track to reach this year's planting target of approximately 70 thousand hectares of sugarcane.  While the heavy rainfall negatively impacted our results this past quarter, it benefits the development of the sugarcane, and we feel increasingly more confident in our ability to mill at capacity in 2013.

"Food & Ingredients should show considerable improvement as pricing comes in line with raw material costs, though margins may remain under some pressure.  

"In Fertilizer, farm economics are strong and South America is entering its high-volume period with approximately 60% of the expected volume to be sold between July and December.   

"Lastly, we are increasing our full year effective tax rate expectation to a range of 17-20% to reflect our expected mix of earnings and the transaction gain in the second quarter."

Conference Call and Webcast Details

Bunge Limited's management will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. EDT on July 26, 2012 to discuss the company's results.

Additionally, a slide presentation to accompany the discussion of results will be posted on www.bunge.com.

To listen to the call, please dial (888) 895-5479.  If you are located outside the United States or Canada, dial (847) 619-6250.  Please dial in five to 10 minutes before the scheduled start time.  When prompted, enter confirmation code 32862743.  The call will also be webcast live at www.bunge.com.

To access the webcast, go to the "Webcasts and Events" page of the "Investors" section of the company's website.  Select "Q2 2012 Bunge Limited Conference Call" and follow the prompts.  Please go to the website 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 July 26, 2012, continuing through August 26, 2012.  To listen to it, please dial (888) 843-7419 or, if located outside the United States or Canada, dial (630) 652-3042.  When prompted, enter confirmation code 32862743.  A replay will also be available on the "Audio Archives" page of the "Investors" section of the company's website.

About Bunge Limited

Bunge Limited (www.bunge.com, NYSE: BG) is a leading global agribusiness and food company operating in approximately 40 countries with over 35,000 employees.  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; our ability to achieve the efficiencies, savings and other benefits anticipated from our cost reduction, margin improvement and other business optimization initiatives; 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, net income attributable to Bunge and earnings per share for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

This earnings release contains certain "non-GAAP financial measures" as defined in Regulation G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Bunge has reconciled these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures below.  These measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Total segment EBIT
Total segment EBIT is consolidated net income attributable to Bunge excluding interest income, interest 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 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 total segment EBIT is a useful measure of its segments' operating profitability, since the measure allows for an evaluation of the performance of its segments without regard to its financing methods or capital structure.  In addition, EBIT is a financial measure that is widely used by analysts and investors in Bunge's industries.  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 or any other measure of consolidated operating results under U.S. GAAP.

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

Earnings per common share-diluted (excluding certain gains & charges)

Below is a reconciliation to earnings per common share-diluted (excluding certain gains and charges) to earnings per common share-diluted. Earnings per common share-diluted (excluding certain gains and charges) is a non-GAAP financial measure and is not a measure of earnings per common share–diluted, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. It should not be considered as an alternative to earnings per share-diluted or any other measure of consolidated operating results under U.S. GAAP.

SOURCE Bunge Limited