Bunge Reports First Quarter 2020 Results

ST. LOUIS, May 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG) today reported first quarter 2020 results.

• Q1 GAAP EPS of $(1.46) vs. $0.26 in the prior year; $(1.34) vs. $0.36 on an adjusted basis
• Agribusiness executed well; results impacted by approximately $385 million of temporary mark-to-market losses on forward hedges
• Strong quarter in Edible Oils; results impacted by timing differences
• Progress on portfolio optimization with the announcement to sell 35 US grain elevators
• Implemented additional safety measures in response to COVID-19
• Maintaining strong liquidity position and durable balance sheet

• Overview

Greg Heckman, Bunge's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "I am incredibly proud and grateful for our team's commitment and performance during this highly challenging period. Bunge is a critical part of the global food infrastructure, and our team remains dedicated to ensuring that key feed and food ingredients are getting from farmers to consumers as we navigate this global crisis together.

"Our underlying business performed well during the quarter, and the mark-to-market adjustments we incurred are expected to reverse in the coming quarters. The work we have done to improve our operations, streamline our portfolio, and refine our approach to risk management has allowed us to remain nimble and adapt to evolving business and operational demands. We did not experience significant disruptions to our business from COVID-19 in the first quarter, although we did start to see the impact of changing consumer behavior in parts of our Edible Oils business in March.

"Without question this will continue to be a challenging year, but we have a strong platform, a resilient team, and a remarkable base of customers on both ends of the supply chain that will allow us to continue to perform our critical role in the global food infrastructure and drive value along the way."

• Financial Highlights

• First Quarter Results

Agribusiness

In Oilseeds, average soy processing margins were lower in all regions compared to a strong prior year, with the exception of China, which benefited from tight soymeal supplies and reduced bean availability. Average softseed processing margins were higher in all regions. As COVID-19 began to spread globally, concerns about soymeal availability caused global oilseed processing margins to spike toward the end of the quarter. As a result of these increasing processing margins, we incurred approximately $100 million of mark-to-market losses related to forward oilseed crushing contracts. In addition, as vegetable oil values declined during the quarter, we recorded a mark-to-market loss of $195 million on forward hedges related to our oil pipeline that serves our downstream Edible Oils customers. We expect the majority of these timing losses to reverse during the course of the year.

Results in Grains were primarily driven by origination in Brazil as the pace of farmer commercialization accelerated in response to an increase in local prices caused by the devaluation of the Brazilian real. Ocean Freight also had a strong quarter, benefiting from excellent execution; however, results were impacted by approximately $90 million of mark-to-market losses, primarily related to forward bunker fuel hedges, driven by the decline in global energy prices. We expect the majority of these timing losses to reverse during the course of the year.

Edible Oil Products

Higher results in North America, Europe and Argentina were more than offset by lower results in Brazil and Asia. Excluding approximately $20 million of net unfavorable timing differences, $6 million of which are expected to reverse in future periods, results were higher than prior year. The impact of COVID-19 was relatively limited as lock-downs and restrictions varied by region. However, toward the latter part of the quarter, we started to see reduced demand from foodservice and biofuel channels.

Milling

Improved performance in Brazil, which benefited from higher volumes from food processors, was more than offset by lower results in North America due to a decline in margins from lower yields.

Sugar & Bioenergy

Segment results for this quarter reflect our share of the earnings of our 50/50 joint venture with BP.  By contrast, first quarter 2019 results reflected our 100 percent ownership of the Brazilian sugar and bioenergy operations that we contributed to the joint venture in December 2019. Additionally, results of the joint venture are reported on a one-month lag.

The loss in the quarter reflects the seasonally slow intercrop period, as well as approximately $25 million in foreign exchange translation losses on U.S. dollar denominated debt of the joint venture due to depreciation of the Brazilian real.

Fertilizer

Higher segment results reflect improved performance in our Argentine operation which benefited from higher margins, which more than offset lower volume.

Cash Flow

Cash used by operations in the quarter ended March 31, 2020 was $439 million compared to cash used of $402 million in the same period last year. Adjusting for the beneficial interest in securitized trade receivables, cash used by operating activities was $9 million compared with cash used by operating activities of $158 million in the prior year. This increase was primarily driven by improved working capital management.

Income Taxes

For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, the Company recognized an income tax benefit of $55 million.

• COVID-19 Update

Bunge continues to take proactive steps to protect the health and safety of its employees, their families and the communities in which it operates. Through an internal task force, the Company closely monitors developments related to the pandemic and provides guidance to its facilities worldwide. Each of Bunge's facilities around the globe is taking steps to respond to COVID-19 based on the nature of its operations and the actions being taken by local governments. The Company has restricted travel, upgraded the cleaning practices at its facilities and offices, implemented remote work arrangements for teammates wherever possible, reduced staffing in its production facilities and instituted social distancing measures.

Numerous countries around the globe, including places where Bunge operates production facilities or maintains offices, have implemented shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders. In these locations, Bunge has been deemed an essential or life-sustaining operation. To date, the Company has not seen a significant disruption in its supply chain, has been able to mitigate logistics and distribution issues that have arisen, and substantially all of its facilities around the world have continued to operate at or near normal levels. Bunge continues to monitor governmental actions that could limit or restrict the movement of agricultural commodities or products or otherwise disrupt physical product flows.

The Company's strong balance sheet and access to committed capital will continue to be important in allowing it to reliably serve customers and remain an employer of choice for its global workforce. At the end of the first quarter of 2020, Bunge had $193 million in cash and short-term investments on hand and all of the $4.3 billion of its committed credit lines were unused and available. It also continues to have access to the capital markets at a competitive cost of funds.

• Outlook

While there is little visibility into the second half of the year, the current market environment and forward curves indicate that our full-year 2020 EPS will be lower than our original expectation.

In Agribusiness, based on the strong start to the year, as well as the soy crush capacity we have hedged for the second and third quarters, our full-year outlook has not meaningfully changed from our original guidance.

Results in Edible Oils, which will face reduced demand from the foodservice and biofuels channels due to the impacts of COVID-19 that are only partially offset by improvement at retail, are expected to be lower than our original outlook. Expected results in Milling continue to be in line with last year.

The outlook of our sugar and bioenergy joint venture has materially changed due to the steep drop in Brazilian ethanol prices and the impact of continued foreign exchange volatility, particularly in the second quarter.

Additionally, the Company expects the following for 2020: an adjusted annual effective tax rate in the upper end of the range of 19% to 23%; net interest expense of approximately $230 million; capital expenditures toward the low end of the range of $400 to $450 million; and depreciation and amortization of approximately $430 million.

• Conference Call and Webcast Details

Bunge Limited's management will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. Eastern (7:00 a.m. Central) on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 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 (844) 735-3666. If you are located outside the United States or Canada, dial (412) 317-5706. Please dial in five to 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. The call will also be webcast live at www.bunge.com.

To access the webcast, go to "Webcasts and presentations" in the "Investors" section of the company's website. Select "Q1 2020 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.

A replay of the call will be available later in the day on May 6, 2020, continuing through June 6, 2020. To listen to it, please dial (877) 344-7529 in the United States, (855) 669-9658 in Canada, or +1 (412) 317-0088 in other locations. When prompted, enter confirmation code 10142737. A replay will also be available in "Past events" at "Webcasts and presentations" in the "Investors" section of the company's website.

• About Bunge Limited

Bunge (www.bunge.com, NYSE: BG) is a world leader in sourcing, processing and supplying oilseed and grain products and ingredients. Founded in 1818, Bunge's expansive network feeds and fuels a growing world, creating sustainable products and opportunities for more than 70,000 farmers and the consumers they serve across the globe. The company is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri and has almost 25,000 employees worldwide who stand behind more than 350 port terminals, oilseed processing plants, grain silos, and food and ingredient production and packaging facilities around the world.

• Website Information

We routinely post important information for investors on our website, www.bunge.com, in the "Investors" section. We may use this website as a means of disclosing material, non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor the Investors section of our website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.

• 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 cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements: the outcome and effects of portfolio rationalization initiatives; our ability to attract and retain executive management and key personnel;  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 impacts of pandemic outbreaks, including COVID-19; 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 tables provide a summary of certain gains and charges that may be of interest to investors, including a description of these items and their effect on net income (loss) attributable to Bunge, earnings per share diluted and total segment EBIT for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.