FREE - Whole Earth Brands Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results

Third Consecutive Quarter of Margin Improvement
Flavors & Ingredients Achieves Another Quarter of Record Sales

CHICAGO, Nov. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Whole Earth Brands, Inc. (the “Company” or “we” or “our”) (Nasdaq: FREE), a global food company enabling healthier lifestyles through premium plant-based sweeteners, flavor enhancers and other foods, today announced its financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2023 and revised its outlook for the full year 2023.

Third Quarter 2023 Highlights

• Consolidated revenue of $134.4 million, a decrease of 0.6% on a reported basis and a decrease of 1.5% on a constant currency basis compared to the prior year period.
• Branded CPG revenue declined 2.0% on a reported basis and 2.9% on a constant currency basis compared to 2022 as pricing growth was more than offset by volume declines; excluding the planned decrease in Wholesome bulk sugar sales, segment constant currency revenue was essentially flat.
• Flavors & Ingredients revenue grew 4.2% on a reported basis and 3.6% on a constant currency basis compared to the prior year period, to a record $31.2 million, driven by strong pricing that contributed to improved profitability of the segment.
• Operating income of $6.7 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $21.0 million.

Irwin D. Simon, Executive Chairman, said, “We are pleased to deliver a year-over-year increase in adjusted gross profit margin in the third quarter, which represents an improvement of 270 basis points over the prior three consecutive quarters this year. This performance reflects the focus of our entire organization on stabilizing, streamlining, and evolving our operations to drive enhanced productivity and sustainable margin improvement. The outcomes from those efforts are also key to driving improved cash flow to support our growth initiatives and reduce leverage. We remain active in our evaluation of potential strategic alternatives with a goal of maximizing value for all our shareholders.”

Jeff Robinson, Co-CEO, commented, “Our Flavors & Ingredients business continued to drive growth in the third quarter despite a strong double-digit increase in the prior year period. This resulted in another quarterly sales record for our business and demonstrates our ongoing efforts to identify and penetrate new markets for our products.”

Rajnish Ohri, Co-CEO, stated, “Within our Branded CPG business, our focus remains squarely on improving our cash generation through enhancing our margin profile. In the third quarter, we delivered strong results due in part to our strategy to optimize our supply chain and our ongoing efforts to streamline our organization.”

THIRD QUARTER 2023 RESULTS

• Consolidated product revenues were $134.4 million, a decrease of 0.6% on a reported basis and a decrease of 1.5% on a constant currency basis due to a weaker US dollar, as compared to the prior year third quarter.
• Reported gross profit was $37.5 million, compared to $35.0 million in the prior year third quarter. The increase was largely driven by an improved sales mix resulting from the strategic decision to reduce bulk sugar sales to avoid incremental tariffs, pricing, lower freight costs and a decline in costs associated with the supply chain reinvention project. Adjusted gross profit was $42.5 million, compared to $41.7 million in the prior year third quarter.
• Reported gross profit margin increased to 27.9% in the third quarter of 2023, compared to 25.9% in the prior year period. Adjusted gross profit margin expanded to 31.6%, compared to 30.8% in the prior year third quarter. Adjusted gross profit margin has improved approximately 270 basis points year-to-date, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2022.
• Consolidated operating income was $6.7 million compared to operating income of $6.8 million in the prior year third quarter primarily due to higher bonus expense and strategic review costs, largely offset by lower import duties, freight, and supply chain reinvention costs.
• Consolidated net loss was $5.4 million in the third quarter of 2023 compared to a net loss of $2.5 million in the prior year period primarily as a result of higher interest expense due to higher interest rates.
• Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA was $21.0 million compared to $21.5 million in the prior year quarter, declining 2.3%.

SEGMENT RESULTS

Branded CPG Segment
Branded CPG segment product revenues were $103.3 million for the third quarter of 2023, compared to $105.4 million for the same period in the prior year, a decrease of $2.1 million, or 2.0%.   On a constant currency basis, segment product revenues were down 2.9% compared to the prior year as 4.7% growth from pricing actions was more than offset by a 7.6% decline due to lower volumes. The decline from volumes was driven in part by the decrease in Wholesome bulk sugar sales to avoid incremental tariffs. Excluding the decrease in Wholesome bulk sugar sales, volume declined 4.6% and segment constant currency revenue was essentially flat.

Operating income was $7.2 million in the third quarter of 2023 compared to operating income of $5.5 million for the same period in the prior year. The increase in operating income was primarily due to a decline in costs associated with the supply chain reinvention project and lower sugar import tariffs, partially offset by higher bonus expense and a right-of-use asset impairment associated with a leased Decatur, Alabama facility no longer in use.

Flavors & Ingredients Segment
Flavors & Ingredients segment product revenues increased 4.2% to $31.2 million for the third quarter of 2023, compared to $29.9 million for the same period in the prior year. On a constant currency basis, segment product revenues increased 3.6%.

Operating income was $8.4 million in the third quarter of 2023 compared to operating income of $7.3 million for the same period in the prior year.

Corporate
Corporate expenses for the third quarter of 2023 were $9.0 million, compared to $6.0 million of expenses in the prior year period. The increase is primarily attributed to higher bonus expense, costs associated with the Company’s strategic review and other professional fees.

YEAR-TO-DATE 2023 HIGHLIGHTS

• Consolidated product revenues were $399.7 million, essentially flat on a reported basis, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. On a constant currency basis, product revenues increased 0.4% compared to the prior year period.
• Consolidated operating income was $12.7 million compared to $21.6 million in the prior year period.
• Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA decreased $3.2 million, or 5.4%, to $55.8 million.
  

BALANCE SHEET

As of September 30, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $24.2 million and $424.5 million of long-term debt, net of unamortized debt issuance costs. There was $70 million drawn on its $125 million revolving credit facility.

Cash provided by operating activities was $10.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Free cash flow, defined as operating cash flow minus capital expenditures, was $6.5 million for the first nine months of 2023.

OUTLOOK

The Company has revised its outlook for the full year 2023 as follows:

• Net Product Revenues: The Company now anticipates achieving revenues in the range of $540 million to $550 million (previously $550 million to $565 million)
• Adjusted EBITDA: $77 million to $79 million (previously $76 million to $78 million)
• Capital Expenditures: The Company now anticipates approximately $8 million (down from $9 million previously)
  

The outlook is provided in the context of greater than usual volatility as a result of current geo-political events, the current inflationary environment and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS

The Company will host a conference call and webcast to review its third quarter results today, November 9, 2023, at 8:30 am ET. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (800) 274-8461 or for international callers by dialing (203) 518-9814. A replay of the call will be available until November 23, 2023, by dialing (844) 512-2921 or for international callers by dialing (412) 317-6671; the passcode is 111154015.

The live audio webcast of the conference call will be accessible in the News & Events section on the Company's Investor Relations website at investor.wholeearthbrands.com. An archived replay of the webcast will also be available shortly after the live event has concluded.

About Whole Earth Brands

Whole Earth Brands is a global food company enabling healthier lifestyles and providing access to high quality plant-based sweeteners, flavor enhancers and other foods through our diverse portfolio of trusted brands and delicious products, including Whole Earth®, Pure Via®, Wholesome®, Swerve®, Canderel® and Equal®. With food playing a central role in people’s health and wellness, Whole Earth Brands’ innovative product pipeline addresses the growing consumer demand for more dietary options, baking ingredients and taste profiles. Our world-class global distribution network is the largest provider of plant-based sweeteners in more than 100 countries with a vision to expand our portfolio to responsibly meet local preferences. We are committed to helping people enjoy life’s everyday moments and the celebrations that bring us together. For more information on how we “Open a World of Goodness®,” please visit www.WholeEarthBrands.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning Whole Earth Brands, Inc. and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management.

Forward-looking statements may be accompanied by words such as “achieve,” “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “drive,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “guidance,” “grow,” “improve,” “increase,” “intend,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” or similar words, phrases or expressions. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the statements made by Messrs. Simon, Robinson and Ohri, and our 2023 outlook. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and related economic disruptions and new governmental regulations on our business, including but not limited to the potential impact on our sales, operations and supply chain; adverse changes in the global or regional general business, political and economic conditions, including the impact of continuing uncertainty and instability in certain countries, that could materially affect our global markets and the potential adverse economic impact and related uncertainty caused by these items; the extent of the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and any recurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic, local, regional, national, and international economic conditions that have deteriorated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the risks of a global recession or a recession in one or more of the Company’s key markets, and the impact they may have on the Company and its customers and management’s assessment of that impact; extensive and evolving government regulations that impact the way the Company operates; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s suppliers, including disruptions and inefficiencies in the supply chain; and the Company’s ability to offset rising costs through pricing and productivity effectively.

These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of the Company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to the risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the documents the Company files (or furnishes) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which are based only on information currently available to the Company and speak only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no commitment to publicly update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether written or oral that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contacts:

Investor Relations Contact:
Whole Earth Brands
312-840-5001
investor@wholeearthbrands.com

ICR
Jeff Sonnek
646-277-1263
jeff.sonnek@icrinc.com

Whole Earth Brands, Inc.
Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(Unaudited)

The Company reports its financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). However, management believes that also presenting certain non-GAAP financial measures provides additional information to facilitate the comparison of the Company’s historical operating results and trends in its underlying operating results, and provides additional transparency on how the Company evaluates its business. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating and planning decisions and in evaluating the Company’s performance. The Company also believes that presenting these measures allows investors to view its performance using the same measures that the Company uses in evaluating its financial and business performance and trends. The Company considers quantitative and qualitative factors in assessing whether to adjust for the impact of items that may be significant or that could affect an understanding of its ongoing financial and business performance and trends. The adjustments generally fall within the following categories: constant currency adjustments, intangible asset non-cash impairments, purchase accounting charges, transaction-related costs, long-term incentive expense, non-cash pension expenses, severance and related expenses associated with productivity initiatives, public company readiness, M&A transaction expenses, supply chain reinvention costs and other one-time items affecting comparability of operating results. See below for a description of adjustments to the Company’s U.S. GAAP financial measures included herein. Non-GAAP information should be considered as supplemental in nature and is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In addition, the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures may not be the same as or comparable to similar non-GAAP measures presented by other companies.

DEFINITIONS OF THE COMPANY’S NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures and corresponding metrics reflect how the Company evaluates its operating results currently and provide improved comparability of operating results. As new events or circumstances arise, these definitions could change. When these definitions change, the Company provides the updated definitions and presents the related non-GAAP historical results on a comparable basis. When items no longer impact the Company’s current or future presentation of non-GAAP operating results, the Company removes these items from its non-GAAP definitions.

The following is a list of non-GAAP financial measures which the Company has discussed or expects to discuss in the future:

• Constant Currency Presentation : We evaluate our product revenue results on both a reported and a constant currency basis. The constant currency presentation, which is a non-GAAP measure, excludes the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. We believe providing constant currency information provides valuable supplemental information regarding our product revenue results, thereby facilitating period-to-period comparisons of our business performance and is consistent with how management evaluates the Company’s performance. We calculate constant currency percentages by converting our current period local currency product revenue results using the prior period exchange rates and comparing these adjusted amounts to our prior period reported product revenues.
• Adjusted EBITDA : We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss from our consolidated statements of operations before interest income and expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, as well as certain other items that arise outside of the ordinary course of our continuing operations specifically described below:
  • Asset impairment charges : We exclude the impact of charges related to the impairment of goodwill and other long-lived intangible assets. We believe that the exclusion of these impairments, which are non-cash, allows for more meaningful comparisons of operating results to peer companies. We believe that this increases period-to-period comparability and is useful to evaluate the performance of the company.
  • Purchase accounting adjustments : We exclude the impact of purchase accounting adjustments, including the revaluation of inventory at the time of the business combination. These adjustments are non-cash and we believe that the adjustments of these items allows for more meaningful comparability of our operating results.
  • Long-term incentive plan : We exclude the impact of costs relating to the long-term incentive plan. We believe that the adjustments of these items allow for more meaningful comparability of our operating results.
  • Non-cash pension expenses : We exclude non-cash pension expenses/credits related to closed, defined pension programs of the Company. We believe that the adjustments of these items allow for more meaningful comparability of our operating results.
  • Severance and related expenses : We exclude employee severance and associated expenses related to roles that have been eliminated or reduced in scope as a productivity measure taken by the Company. We believe that the adjustments of these items allow for more meaningful comparability of our operating results.
  • M&A transaction/strategic review : We exclude expenses directly related to the acquisition of businesses and the Company’s strategic review. We believe that the adjustments of these items allow for more meaningful comparability of our operating results.
  • Supply chain reinvention : To measure operating performance, we exclude certain one-time and other costs associated with reorganizing our North America Branded CPG operations and facilities in connection with our supply chain reinvention program, which will drive long-term productivity and cost savings. These costs include incremental expenses such as hiring, training, startup, exit and other temporary costs. We believe that the adjustments of these items allow for more meaningful comparability of our operating results.
  • Other items : To measure operating performance, we exclude certain expenses and include certain gains that we believe are not operational in nature. We believe the exclusion or inclusion of such amounts allows management and the users of the financial statements to better understand our financial results.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a presentation made in accordance with GAAP, and our use of the term Adjusted EBITDA may vary from the use of similarly titled measures by others in our industry due to the potential inconsistencies in the method of calculation and differences due to items subject to interpretation. Adjusted EBITDA margin is Adjusted EBITDA for a particular period expressed as a percentage of product revenues for that period.

We use Adjusted EBITDA to measure our performance from period to period both at the consolidated level as well as within our operating segments, to evaluate and fund incentive compensation programs and to compare our results to those of our competitors. In addition to Adjusted EBITDA being a significant measure of performance for management purposes, we also believe that this presentation provides useful information to investors regarding financial and business trends related to our results of operations and that when non-GAAP financial information is viewed with GAAP financial information, investors are provided with a more meaningful understanding of our ongoing operating performance.

Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income or loss, operating income, cash flows from operating activities or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP as measures of operating performance or cash flows as measures of liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA has important limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP.

The Company cannot reconcile its expected Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income under “Outlook” without unreasonable effort because certain items that impact net income and other reconciling metrics are out of the Company’s control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted. These items include, but are not limited to, stock-based compensation expense and acquisition-related charges. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and could have a material impact on GAAP reported results for the guidance period.

Adjusted Gross Profit Margin : We define Adjusted Gross Profit Margin as Gross Profit excluding all cash and non-cash adjustments impacting Cost of Goods Sold, included in the Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation, as a percentage of Product Revenues, net. Such adjustments include: depreciation, purchase accounting adjustments, long-term incentives and other items adjusted by management to better understand our financial results.