Kellogg Split Into Three
June 21, 2022
Kellogg has approved a plan to separate its North American cereal and
plant-based foods businesses, via tax-free spin-offs, resulting in three
independent public companies, each better positioned to unlock their
full standalone potential.
The three companies, whose names will be determined later, would be
the following:
"Global Snacking Co.", with about $11.4 billion* in net sales, will
be a leading company in global snacking, international cereal and
noodles, and North America frozen breakfast, with iconic, world-class
brands and strong underlying growth momentum and profitability;
"North America Cereal Co.", with about $2.4 billion* in net sales, will
be a leading cereal company in the U.S., Canada, and Caribbean, with a
portfolio of iconic, world-class brands and compelling opportunities for
investment and profit growth; and
"Plant Co.", with about $340 million* in net sales, will be a
leading, profitable, pure-play plant-based foods company, anchored by
the MorningStar Farms brand, with a significant opportunity to
capitalize on strong long-term category prospects by investing further
in North America penetration and future international expansion.
"Kellogg has been on a successful journey of transformation to enhance
performance and increase long-term shareowner value. This has included
re-shaping our portfolio, and today's announcement is the next step in
that transformation," said Steve Cahillane, Kellogg Company's Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer. "These businesses all have significant
standalone potential, and an enhanced focus will enable them to better
direct their resources toward their distinct strategic priorities. In
turn, each business is expected to create more value for all
stakeholders, and each is well positioned to build a new era of
innovation and growth."
Strategic
Rationale
In recent
years, the Company has transformed its portfolio into one
that has expanded geographically and shifted toward growing
businesses, particularly in snacking categories. To achieve
this, it has directed resources and investments toward
growth categories and markets around the world, made several
acquisitions and partnerships in emerging markets, and
strengthened its snacks business through acquisitions,
divestitures, and the freeing up of resources by exiting
from direct-store delivery. The successful execution of
these actions has expanded Kellogg's portfolio, resulting in
a scaled global snacking business and significant emerging
markets presence, complemented by strong and profitable
breakfast and plant-based foods businesses. The outcome of
these strategic actions has been improved growth in recent
years, with momentum sustained into 2022.
After several
years of transformation and improving results, the Company
believes it is the right time to separate these businesses
so they may pursue their particular strategic priorities.
As
independent companies, all three businesses will be better
positioned to:
- Focus on
their distinct strategic priorities, with financial
targets that best fit their own markets and
opportunities;
- Execute
with increased agility and operational flexibility,
enabling more focused allocation of capital and
resources in a manner consistent with those strategic
priorities;
- Realize
improved outlooks for profitable growth; and
- Shape
distinctive corporate cultures, rooted in Kellogg
Company's strong values, and rewarding career paths for
employees of each company.
The three
companies, discussed under temporary names, will be:
Global
Snacking Co.
The planned separations will result in a Global
Snacking Co. that is expected to enhance its leadership
position in the global snacking, international cereal and
noodles, and North America
frozen breakfast categories, by focusing investments and
capital toward building upon its strong growth momentum and
profitability.
Kellogg
Company's three international regions –
Europe,
Latin America, and
Asia Pacific,
Middle East, and
Africa ("AMEA") – will
remain almost entirely intact within Global Snacking Co.
Steve Cahillane will remain
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Global Snacking Co.
Overview
- Global
Snacking Co. had estimated 2021 net sales of
$11.4 billion* and
estimated EBITDA of approximately
$2.0 billion* on an adjusted basis, based on
preliminary allocation assumptions.
- Nearly
60% of its net sales come from global snacks,
participating in growing categories and led by iconic,
world-class brands including Pringles, Cheez-It,
Pop-Tarts, Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats, Nutri-Grain,
and RXBAR, among others.
- Less
than a quarter of its net sales come from cereal in
international markets, featuring world-class brands such
as Kellogg's, Frosties / Zucaritas, Special K, Tresor
/ Krave, Coco-Pops, and Crunchy Nut, among others.
By remaining with Global Snacking Co., this
international cereal business provides scale,
continuity, and growth for the company's
Europe,
Latin America, and AMEA
Regions.
- About
10% of its net sales come from noodles in
Africa, a rapidly
expanding business.
- The
remainder, less than 10% of its net sales, comes from
frozen breakfast and the world-class Eggo brand.
-
Geographically, North America
will represent just under half of net sales, emerging
markets about 30% of net sales, and developed
international markets more than 20% of net sales.
Outlook
- This
business is expected to be a higher-growth company than
today's Kellogg Company, featuring a more
growth-oriented portfolio and aided by more focused
resources and attention to brand building, innovation,
and international expansion of world-class brands, and
to building scale in emerging markets.
- This
business is expected to expand profit margins through
operating leverage, revenue growth management,
productivity, and increasing emerging-markets scale.
North
America Cereal Co.
The Company plans to separate North America Cereal
Co. as an independent business through a tax-free spin-off.
North America Cereal Co. is a leader in cereal in the U.S.,
Canada, and
Caribbean, with beloved
brands, a heritage of innovation, and more than a century of
operational success. As a standalone company, North America
Cereal Co. will have greater strategic focus and operational
flexibility, and will direct capital and resources toward
unlocking growth, regaining category share, and restoring
and expanding profit margins.
The proposed
management team for North America Cereal Co. will be
announced at a later date.
Overview
- North
America Cereal Co. had estimated 2021 net sales of
$2.4 billion* and
estimated EBITDA of approximately
$250 million* on an adjusted-basis, based on
preliminary allocation assumptions.
- The
business is focused on ready-to-eat cereal in the U.S.,
Canada, and
Caribbean.
- North
America Cereal Co.'s portfolio is comprised of iconic,
world-class brands such as Kellogg's, Frosted
Flakes, Froot Loops, Mini-Wheats, Special K, Raisin
Bran, Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, Kashi and Bear
Naked.
Outlook
- Near
term, North America Cereal Co. will be focused on the
restoration of inventory, profit margins, and share
position following 2021 supply disruptions.
- Longer
term, it will focus resources and strengthen the
business through enhancing its portfolio, operating
capabilities, and productivity.
- This
business is expected to generate stable net sales over
time, with improving profit margins that will drive
profit growth, higher cash flow, and increased return on
invested capital.
Plant
Co.
The Company intends to separate Plant Co. as an
independent business through a tax-free spin-off, while also
exploring other strategic alternatives, including a possible
sale.
Anchored by
the leading MorningStar Farms brand, Plant Co. will
be a profitable, pure-play, plant-based foods company. This
business offers a full portfolio of plant-based offerings
across multiple product segments and eating occasions.
Kellogg has grown MorningStar Farms steadily since
its acquisition over 20 years ago, and the brand now has the
highest share and household penetration in the frozen
vegetarian/vegan category.
The proposed
management team for Plant Co. will be announced at a later
date.
Overview
- Plant
Co. had estimated 2021 net sales of
$340 million and estimated
EBITDA of approximately $50
million* on an adjusted-basis, based on
preliminary allocation assumptions.
- The
business is currently focused on the U.S.,
Canada, and
Caribbean.
Outlook
- As an
independent business, Plant Co. will have the
opportunity to build on its strong base of growth and
profitability, focusing its resources and investments
towards capitalizing on strong category prospects, by
building awareness and penetration in
North America, and
expanding internationally in the future.
- The
business is expected to accelerate net sales growth over
time, from previously disclosed portfolio-segment
assumptions.
* All net
sales and adjusted-basis EBITDA figures are based on the
Company's 2021 unaudited results derived from internal
management reporting, further adjusted for splits by brands
and markets, as well as preliminary cost and expense
allocations, including corporate expenses; these figures
will be refined prior to the transactions. Please refer to
the reconciliations of adjusted-basis EBITDA, a non-GAAP
financial measure, to reported operating profit in this
press release.
Headquarters
Locations
North America
Cereal Co. and Plant Co. will both remain headquartered in
Battle Creek, Michigan.
Global Snacking Co. will maintain dual campuses in
Battle Creek and
Chicago, Illinois, with its
corporate headquarters located in Chicago. Kellogg
Company's three international regions' headquarters in
Europe,
Latin America, and AMEA
will remain in their current locations.
Transaction
Details, Timing, and Future Updates
The proposed
spin-offs are intended to result in tax-free distributions
of North America Cereal Co. and Plant Co. shares to Kellogg
Company shareowners. Shareowners would receive shares in
the two spin-off entities on a pro-rata basis relative to
their Kellogg holdings at the record date for each spin-off.
We
expect the North America Cereal Co. spin-off may precede
that of Plant Co., with both currently targeted to be
completed by the end of 2023. The transactions will follow
the satisfaction of customary conditions, including reviews
and final approval by Kellogg's Board of Directors, receipt
of an Internal Revenue Service ruling and relevant tax
opinions with respect to the tax-free nature of the
transactions, effectiveness of appropriate filings with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and the completion
of audited financials of the independent companies.
Capital
structures, dividends, governance, and other matters for
each business will be announced at a later date. Management
is committed to maintaining an investment-grade credit
rating for Global Snacking Co. after the separations. In
addition, the Company expects to maintain a strong aggregate
dividend and return-on-capital profile across the three
businesses. The independent dividend and capital structure
policies for each business are expected to be competitive
relative to their relevant peer sets.
The Company
will begin incurring pretax expenses related to executing
the transactions and setting up the companies. To ensure
visibility into the ongoing results of the businesses, the
Company will disclose these up-front costs and exclude them
from its adjusted-basis results in its external reporting.
Goldman Sachs
is serving as lead financial advisor, along with Morgan
Stanley & Co. LLC, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP is acting as
legal advisor.
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