Chiquita Brands International 10Q 2006 Q1 Quarterly report

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2006

¨	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission file number 1-1550

CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

New Jersey

04-1923360

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

250 East Fifth Street

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (513) 784-8000

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x. No ¨.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer x		Accelerated filer ¨		Non-accelerated filer ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨. No x.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. Yes x. No ¨.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. As of April 30, 2006, there were 42,094,893 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


			Page
PART I -Financial Information

	Item 1 - Financial Statements

		Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income for the quarters ended March 31, 2006 and 2005	3

		Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2006, December 31, 2005 and March 31, 2005	4

		Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow for the quarters ended March 31, 2006 and 2005	5

		Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	6

	Item 2 -Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		16

	Item 3 -Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		22

	Item 4 -Controls and Procedures		22

PART II -Other Information

	Item 6 –Exhibits		23

Signature			24

Part I - Financial Information

Item 1 - Financial Statements

CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)


	Quarter Ended March 31,
	2006			2005
Net sales	$	1,153,652		$	931,829

Operating expenses
Cost of sales		992,695			751,386
Selling, general and administrative		102,658			77,603
Depreciation		18,870			10,949
Amortization		2,409			—
Equity in earnings of investees		(2,239	)		(1,807	)

		1,114,393			838,131

Operating income		39,259			93,698

Interest income		1,776			1,895
Interest expense		(20,229	)		(7,552	)

Income before income taxes		20,806			88,041
Income taxes		(1,300	)		(1,500	)

Net income	$	19,506		$	86,541

Earnings per common share:
Basic	$	0.46		$	2.12
Diluted		0.46			1.94

Dividends declared per common share	$	0.10		$	0.10

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)

(In thousands, except share amounts)


	March 31, 2006		December 31, 2005		March 31, 2005
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and equivalents	$	72,426	$	89,020	$	161,017
Trade receivables (less allowances of $13,708, $14,557, and $12,284)		484,225		417,758		463,639
Other receivables, net		92,769		96,330		94,707
Inventories		220,035		240,496		207,015
Prepaid expenses		26,590		25,083		21,839
Other current assets		30,616		31,388		26,184

Total current assets		926,661		900,075		974,401
Property, plant and equipment, net		585,396		592,083		410,737
Investments and other assets, net		151,623		148,755		144,271
Trademarks		449,085		449,085		387,585
Goodwill		579,096		577,543		49,183
Other intangible assets, net		163,149		165,558		1,277

Total assets	$	2,855,010	$	2,833,099	$	1,967,454

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities
Notes and loans payable	$	37,742	$	10,600	$	11,165
Long-term debt of subsidiaries due within one year		20,692		20,609		22,056
Accounts payable		401,919		426,767		413,104
Accrued liabilities		146,454		142,881		101,002

Total current liabilities		606,807		600,857		547,327
Long-term debt of parent company		475,000		475,000		250,000
Long-term debt of subsidiaries		490,787		490,899		58,522
Accrued pension and other employee benefits		79,280		78,900		77,599
Net deferred tax liability		115,121		115,404		7,162
Other liabilities		78,291		78,538		74,397

Total liabilities		1,845,286		1,839,598		1,015,007

Shareholders’ equity
Common stock, $.01 par value (42,058,383, 41,930,326 and 41,601,275 shares outstanding, respectively)		421		419		416
Capital surplus		679,422		675,710		665,038
Retained earnings		292,398		277,090		244,756
Accumulated other comprehensive income		37,483		40,282		42,237

Total shareholders’ equity		1,009,724		993,501		952,447

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	2,855,010	$	2,833,099	$	1,967,454

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW (Unaudited)

(In thousands)


	Quarter Ended March 31,
	2006			2005
Cash provided (used) by:
Operations
Net income	$	19,506		$	86,541
Depreciation and amortization		21,279			10,949
Equity in earnings of investees		(2,239	)		(1,807	)
Changes in current assets and liabilities and other		(57,088	)		(69,086	)

Cash flow from operations		(18,542	)		26,597

Investing
Capital expenditures		(11,803	)		(4,449	)
Acquisition of businesses		(6,464	)		(4,885	)
Other		1,886			(682	)

Cash flow from investing		(16,381	)		(10,016	)

Financing
Repayments of long-term debt		(5,040	)		(10,887	)
Costs for CBL revolving credit facility and other fees		(151	)		(2,066	)
Increase in notes and loans payable		26,898			472
Proceeds from exercise of stock options/warrants		815			18,174
Dividends on common stock		(4,193	)		(4,048	)

Cash flow from financing		18,329			1,645

Increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents		(16,594	)		18,226
Balance at beginning of period		89,020			142,791

Balance at end of period	$	72,426		$	161,017

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

Interim results for Chiquita Brands International, Inc. (“CBII”) and subsidiaries (collectively, with CBII, the company) are subject to significant seasonal variations and are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for a full fiscal year. Historically, the company’s results during the third and fourth quarters have been generally weaker than in the first half of the year due to increased availability of competing fruits and resulting lower banana prices. However, management anticipates the seasonality of its results will lessen as a result of the Fresh Express acquisition. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair statement of the results of the interim periods shown have been made. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the company’s 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information relating to the company’s financial statements.

Note 1 - - Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per common share (“EPS”) are calculated as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):


	Quarter Ended March 31,
	2006		2005
Net income	$	19,506	$	86,541

Weighted average common shares outstanding (used to calculate basic EPS)		41,989		40,891
Warrants, stock options and other stock awards		378		3,644

Shares used to calculate diluted EPS		42,367		44,535

Basic earnings per common share	$	0.46	$	2.12
Diluted earnings per common share		0.46		1.94

The assumed conversions to common stock of the company’s outstanding warrants, stock options and other stock awards are excluded from the diluted EPS computations for periods in which these items, on an individual basis, have an anti-dilutive effect on diluted EPS.

Note 2 - Acquisitions

Acquisition of Fresh Express

On June 28, 2005, the company completed its acquisition of the Fresh Express packaged salad and fresh-cut fruit division of Performance Food Group (“PFG”). Fresh Express is the retail market leader of value-added packaged salads in the United States. The acquisition will increase Chiquita’s consolidated annual revenues by about $1 billion. The company believes that this acquisition diversifies its business, accelerates revenue growth in higher margin value-added products, and provides a more balanced mix of sales between Europe and North America, which makes the company less susceptible to risks unique to Europe, such as recent changes to the European Union banana import regime and foreign exchange risk.

The company paid PFG $855 million in consideration and incurred transaction expenses of $8 million. In addition, the company transferred $35 million to PFG ($6 million in the first quarter of 2006) primarily corresponding to the estimated amount of cash at Fresh Express and outstanding checks (issued by PFG in payment of Fresh Express obligations) in excess of deposits. Additionally, the company incurred approximately $24 million of fees related to the financing of the acquisition, which will be amortized over the effective life of the respective loans, with debt prepayments resulting in accelerated amortization. The total payments were funded with $775 million in debt and approximately $145 million in cash.

Contemporaneous with the completion of the acquisition, the company prepared a formal integration plan. Management’s plans included exiting or consolidating certain activities of Fresh Express and included costs such as lease and contract termination, severance and certain other exit costs. As one component of the integration plan, the company closed processing facilities in Manteno, Illinois and Kansas City, Missouri as part of a supply chain optimization plan. This plan is expected to eliminate redundancies in fresh-cut fruit processing capacity in the Midwestern United States, improve plant utilization and reduce costs. As a result of the closure of the pre-acquisition Chiquita plant at Manteno, the company incurred mostly non-cash charges of $6 million in the fourth quarter of 2005 and $2 million in the first quarter of 2006. Substantially all of these costs were included in cost of sales in the Consolidated Statement of Income. The closure of the pre-acquisition Fresh Express plant at Kansas City resulted in a $5 million increase to goodwill through purchase price accounting. Substantially all of this adjustment was non-cash and related to asset disposals. The company does not expect to record significant further adjustments to the purchase price allocation as a result of future exit activities.

Starting with the June 28, 2005 acquisition date, the company’s Consolidated Statement of Income includes the operations of Fresh Express, and interest expense on the acquisition financing. Set forth below is summary consolidated pro forma information for the company, giving effect to the acquisition of Fresh Express as though it had been completed on the first day of each period presented. The summary consolidated pro forma information below is based on the purchase price allocation, and does not reflect any adjustments related to integration synergies or certain expenses previously allocated to Fresh Express by PFG.


	Quarter Ended March 31,
(in millions, except per share amounts)	2006		2005
	(Actual)		(Pro Forma)
Net sales	$	1,153.7	$	1,179.1
Net income		19.5		81.5

Earnings per share - basic	$	0.46	$	1.99
Earnings per share - diluted		0.46		1.83

Other Acquisitions

In January 2005, the company acquired Darex S.A., a distributor of bananas in Poland, for approximately $5 million in cash, assumption of approximately $5 million of debt and forgiveness of certain receivables. Darex has approximately $50 million in annual sales, about 30% of which are made to other Chiquita subsidiaries.

Note 3 - Contingencies

In April 2003, the company’s management and audit committee, in consultation with the board of directors, voluntarily disclosed to the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division (the “Justice Department”), that its former banana producing subsidiary in Colombia, which was sold in June 2004, had been forced to make “protection” payments to certain groups in that country which had been designated under United States law as foreign terrorist organizations. The company’s sole reason for allowing its subsidiary to submit to these payment demands had been to protect its employees from the risks to their safety if the payments were not made. The voluntary disclosure to the Justice Department was made because the company’s management became aware that these groups had been designated as foreign terrorist organizations under a U.S. statute that makes it a crime to support such an organization. The company requested the Justice Department’s guidance. Following the voluntary disclosure, the Justice Department undertook an investigation, including consideration by a grand jury. The company has cooperated with that investigation. In March 2004, the Justice Department advised that, as part of its criminal investigation, it would be evaluating the role and conduct of the company and some of its officers in the matter. In September and October 2005, the company was advised that the investigation is continuing and that the conduct of the company and some of its officers and directors remains within the scope of the investigation. The company intends to continue its cooperation with this investigation, but it cannot predict its outcome or any possible adverse effect on the company (including the materiality thereof), which could include the imposition of fines and/or penalties.

In October 2004 and May 2005, the company’s Italian subsidiary received notices from customs authorities in Italy stating that this subsidiary is potentially liable for an aggregate of approximately €26.9 million (approximately $34 million) of additional duties and taxes on the import of certain bananas into the European Union from 1998 to 2000, plus interest currently estimated at approximately €13.8 million (approximately $17 million). The Customs authorities claim that these amounts are due because the bananas were imported with licenses that were subsequently determined to have been forged. The company is contesting these claims through appropriate proceedings, principally on the basis of its good faith belief at the time the import licenses were obtained and used that they were valid. The company’s Italian subsidiary is requesting suspension of payment, pending appeal, of the approximately €13.8 million formally assessed thus far in these cases, and intends to request suspension of payment, when appropriate, of additional assessments as they are received. The authorities may, as a condition to suspension of payment, require the Italian subsidiary to post bank guarantees for the full amounts claimed.

In June 2005, Chiquita announced that its management had recently become aware that certain of its employees had shared pricing and volume information with competitors in Europe over many years in violation of European competition laws and company policies, and may have engaged in several instances of other conduct which did not comply with European competition laws or applicable company policies. The company promptly stopped the conduct and notified the European Commission (“EC”) and other regulatory authorities of these matters; the company is cooperating with the related investigation subsequently commenced by the EC. Based on the company’s voluntary notification and cooperation with the investigation, the EC notified Chiquita that it would be granted immunity from any fines related to the conduct, subject to customary conditions, including the company’s continuing cooperation with the investigation. Accordingly, Chiquita does not expect to be subject to any fines by the EC. However, if at the conclusion of its investigation, which could continue until 2007 or later, the EC were to determine, among other things, that Chiquita did not continue to cooperate, then the company could be subject to fines, which, if imposed, could be substantial. The company does not believe that the reporting of these matters or the cessation of the conduct should have any material adverse effect on the regulatory or competitive environment in which it operates, although there can be no assurance in this regard.

The Consolidated Balance Sheet does not reflect a liability for these contingencies for any of the periods presented.

Note 4 - Inventories (in thousands)


	March 31, 2006		December 31, 2005		March 31, 2005
Bananas	$	39,831	$	41,589	$	49,311
Salads		9,646		9,954		—
Other fresh produce		20,585		12,567		26,693
Processed food products		7,983		8,511		8,740
Growing crops		81,124		100,658		75,130
Materials, supplies and other		60,866		67,217		47,141

	$	220,035	$	240,496	$	207,015

Note 5 - Debt

Long-term debt consists of the following:


(in thousands)	March 31, 2006			December 31, 2005			March 31, 2005
Parent Company
7¹/2% Senior Notes, due 2014	$	250,000		$	250,000		$	250,000
8⁷/8% Senior Notes, due 2015		225,000			225,000			—

Long-term debt of parent company	$	475,000		$	475,000		$	250,000

Subsidiaries
Loans secured by ships	$	111,915		$	111,413		$	75,038
Term Loan B		24,526			24,588			—
Term Loan C		372,187			373,125			—
Other loans		2,851			2,382			5,540
Less current maturities		(20,692	)		(20,609	)		(22,056	)

Long-term debt of subsidiaries	$	490,787		$	490,899		$	58,522

The company and Chiquita Brands L.L.C. (“CBL”), the main operating subsidiary of the company, have a secured credit facility with a syndicate of bank lenders (the “CBL Facility”) comprised of two term loans (the “Term Loan B” and the “Term Loan C”) and a $150 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). At March 31, 2006, $27 million of borrowings were outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility and $27 million of credit availability was used to support issued letters of credit, resulting in $96 million of credit availability under the Revolving Credit Facility. The company made repayments of $8 million on the revolver borrowings in April 2006.

Under the CBL facility, CBL may distribute cash to CBII for routine CBII operating expenses, interest payments on CBII’s 7¹/2% and 8⁷/8% Senior Notes and payment of certain other specified CBII liabilities. Certain covenant tests must be met prior to distributions to CBII for other purposes, such as dividend payments to Chiquita shareholders and repurchases of CBII’s common stock, warrants and senior notes; at March 31, 2006, distributions to CBII for these other purposes were limited to approximately $21 million.

Note 6 - Segment Information

Prior to the acquisition of Fresh Express in June 2005, the company reported two business segments, Bananas and Other Fresh Produce. The Banana segment included the sourcing (purchase and production), transportation, marketing and distribution of bananas. The Other Fresh Produce segment included the sourcing, marketing and distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables other than bananas. The Other Fresh Produce segment also included Chiquita’s fresh-cut fruit business. Remaining operations, which were reported in “Other,” primarily consisted of processed fruit ingredient products, which are produced in Latin America and sold in other parts of the world, and other consumer packaged goods.

In June 2005, as a result of the Fresh Express acquisition, the company determined that it has the following three reportable segments: Bananas, Fresh Select and Fresh Cut. The company’s Banana segment remains unchanged. The Fresh Select segment includes the sourcing, marketing and distribution of whole fresh fruits and vegetables other than bananas. The company’s Fresh Cut segment includes the packaged salads and fresh-cut fruit businesses. Remaining operations, reported in “Other,” continue to substantially consist of processed fruit ingredient products. The company evaluates the performance of its business segments based on operating income. Intercompany transactions between segments are eliminated.

Financial information for each segment follows (in thousands):


			Quarter Ended March 31,
			2006			2005
Net sales
Bananas			$	482,938		$	520,335
Fresh Select				364,561			396,620
Fresh Cut				290,669			2,329
Other				15,484			12,545

			$	1,153,652		$	931,829

Operating income (loss)
Bananas			$	23,222		$	86,924
Fresh Select				5,592			9,912
Fresh Cut				11,150			(2,649	)
Other				(705	)		(489	)

			$	39,259		$	93,698


	March 31, 2006		December 31, 2005			March 31, 2005
Total assets
Bananas	$	1,294,511	$	1,305,888		$	1,454,020
Fresh Select		415,339		384,204			476,900
Fresh Cut		1,112,386		1,109,868			9,070
Other		32,774		33,139			27,464

	$	2,855,010	$	2,833,099		$	1,967,454

Note 7 - Comprehensive Income (in thousands)


	Quarter Ended March 31,
	2006			2005
Net income	$	19,506		$	86,541
Other comprehensive income
Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)		1,875			(7,660	)
Change in fair value of cost investments		(487	)		784
Changes in fair value of derivatives		(3,451	)		14,037
Losses (gains) reclassified from OCI into net income		(736	)		4,397

Comprehensive income	$	16,707		$	98,099

Note 8 - Hedging

The company enters into contracts to hedge its risks associated with euro exchange rate movements, primarily to reduce the negative earnings impact that any significant decline in the value of the euro would have on the conversion of euro-based revenue into U.S. dollars. The company primarily purchases put options to hedge this risk. Purchased put options, which require an upfront premium payment, can reduce the negative earnings impact on the company of a future significant decline in the value of the euro, without limiting the benefit received from a stronger euro. The company also enters into hedge contracts for fuel oil for its shipping operations, which permit it to lock in fuel purchase prices for up to two years and thereby minimize the volatility that changes in fuel prices could have on its operating results.

Currency hedging costs charged to the Consolidated Statement of Income were $4 million for each of the quarters ended March 31, 2006 and 2005. At March 31, 2006, unrealized losses of $11 million on the company’s currency option contracts were included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income,” of which $10 million is expected to be reclassified to net income during the next 12 months. Unrealized gains of $18 million on the fuel oil forward contracts were also included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income,” of which $14 million is expected to be reclassified to net income during the next 12 months.

At March 31, 2006, the company’s hedge portfolio was comprised of the following:


Hedge Instrument	Notional Amount	Average Rate/Price		Settlement Year
Currency Hedges
Euro Put Options	€ 290 million	$	1.19 / €	2006
Euro Put Options	€ 285 million	$	1.20 / €	2007

Fuel Hedges
3.5% Rotterdam Barge
Fuel Oil Forward Contracts	85,000 metric tons (mt)	$	163 / mt	2006
Fuel Oil Forward Contracts	65,000 mt	$	243 / mt	2007
Fuel Oil Forward Contracts	15,000 mt	$	327 / mt	2008
Singapore/New York Harbor
Fuel Oil Forward Contracts	15,000 mt	$	191 / mt	2006
Fuel Oil Forward Contracts	15,000 mt	$	280 / mt	2007
Fuel Oil Forward Contracts	5,000 mt	$	366 / mt	2008

At March 31, 2006, the fair value of the foreign currency option and fuel oil forward contracts was $32 million, $23 million of which was included in “Other current assets” and $9 million in “Investments and other assets, net.” During the quarters ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, the increase in the fair value of the fuel oil forward contracts relating to hedge ineffectiveness, and included in net income, was less than $1 million and approximately $4 million, respectively.

Note 9 - Stock-Based Compensation

Effective January 1, 2003, on a prospective basis, the company began using the fair value method under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to recognize stock option expense in its results of operations for stock options granted on or after January 1, 2003. Prior to January 1, 2003, the company accounted for stock options using the intrinsic value method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.”

On January 1, 2006, the company adopted SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123R”), which is a revision of SFAS No. 123, using the modified-prospective-transition method. Under that transition method, compensation cost recognized in 2006 includes (a) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS No. 123, and (b) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted on or after January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123R. With the adoption of SFAS 123R, stock-based awards granted to retirement-eligible employees on or after January 1, 2006 will be recognized as stock-based compensation expense over the period from the grant date to the date the employee is no longer required to provide service to earn the award.

The company recognized expense in its results of operations for stock options granted on or after January 1, 2003. For grants prior to that date (the “2002 Grants”), the expense has been included in pro forma disclosures rather than the Consolidated Statement of Income. The 2002 Grants were fully vested as of January 1, 2006 and, as a result, SFAS 123R did not have an impact on pre-tax income as it relates to the 2002 Grants.

The table below illustrates the effect of stock compensation expense on the periods presented as if the company had always applied the fair value method:


	Quarter Ended March 31,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)	2006			2005
Income before stock compensation expense	$	22,896		$	88,750
Stock compensation expense included in net income⁽¹⁾		(3,390	)		(2,209	)

Net income		19,506			86,541
Pro forma stock compensation expense⁽²⁾		—			(1,513	)

Pro forma net income	$	19,506		$	85,028

Basic earnings per common share:
Income before stock compensation expense	$	0.54		$	2.17
Stock compensation expense included in net income		(0.08	)		(0.05	)

Net income		0.46			2.12
Pro forma stock compensation expense⁽²⁾		—			(0.04	)

Pro forma net income	$	0.46		$	2.08

Diluted earnings per common share:
Income before stock compensation expense	$	0.54		$	1.99
Stock compensation expense included in net income		(0.08	)		(0.05	)

Net income		0.46			1.94
Pro forma stock compensation expense⁽²⁾		—			(0.03	)

Pro forma net income	$	0.46		$	1.91

⁽¹⁾	Represents expense from stock options of $0.3 million for each of the quarters ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, and expense from restricted stock awards of $3.1 million and $1.9 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

⁽²⁾	Represents the additional amount of stock compensation expense that would have been included in net income had the company applied the fair value method under SFAS No. 123 for awards issued prior to 2003, when the company first began expensing options.

The company may issue up to an aggregate of 5.9 million shares of Common Stock as stock options, stock awards (including restricted stock awards), performance awards and stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) under its stock plan; at March 31, 2006, 174,000 shares were available for future grants. The options may be granted to directors, officers, other key employees and consultants to purchase shares of Common Stock at fair market value at the date of the grant. The company issues new shares when options are exercised under the stock plan. At the 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the shareholders will vote on an amendment to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan to increase by 3,500,000 the number of shares authorized for issuance under the stock plan.

Stock Options

Approximately 2 million options were outstanding at March 31, 2006 under the plan. These options generally vest over four years and are exercisable for a period not in excess of 10 years. In addition to the options granted under the plan, the table below also includes an inducement stock option grant for 325,000 shares made to the company’s chief executive officer in January 2004.

A summary of the activity for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 and related information for the company’s stock options follows:


(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Shares		Weighted average exercise price
Under option at January 1, 2006	2,418		$	17.48
Options granted	—			—
Options exercised	(49	)		16.58
Options forfeited or expired	(7	)		15.05

Under option at March 31, 2006	2,362		$	17.51

Options exercisable at March 31, 2006	2,127		$	17.15

Options outstanding as of March 31, 2006 had a weighted average remaining contractual life of 6 years and had exercise prices ranging from $11.73 to $23.43. At March 31, 2006, there was approximately $2 million of total unrecognized pre-tax compensation cost related to non-vested stock options. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 2 years.

Approximately 49,000 options were exercised during the first quarter of 2006, resulting in a cash inflow of approximately $1 million. During the first quarter of 2005, approximately 1,075,000 options were exercised, resulting in a cash inflow of $18 million.

Restricted Stock

Since 2004, the company’s share-based awards have primarily consisted of restricted stock awards. These awards generally vest over 1-4 years, and the fair value of the awards at the grant date is expensed over the vesting periods.

A summary of the activity for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 and related information for the company’s restricted stock awards follows:


(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Shares		Weighted average grant date price
Unvested shares at January 1, 2006	654		$	23.84
Shares granted	432			17.68
Shares vested	(62	)		22.21
Shares forfeited or expired	(5	)		23.41

Unvested shares at March 31, 2006	1,019		$	21.33

At March 31, 2006, there was $11 million of total unrecognized pre-tax compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock awards. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 3 years.

Note 10 - Pension and Severance Benefits

Net pension expense from the company’s defined benefit and severance plans, primarily comprised of the company’s severance plans covering Central American employees, consists of the following (in thousands):


	Quarter Ended March 31,
	2006			2005
Defined benefit and severance plans:
Service cost	$	1,274		$	1,255
Interest on projected benefit obligation		1,510			1,617
Expected return on plan assets		(553	)		(537	)
Recognized actuarial loss		39			139
Amortization of prior service cost		220			167

		2,490			2,641
Settlement loss		460			—

	$	2,950		$	2,641

During the 2006 first quarter, the company recognized a settlement loss related to the Central American benefit plans, under which it made severance payments to a significant number of employees terminated in late 2005 as a result of significant flooding of the company’s farms in Honduras.

Note 11 – Income Taxes

The company’s effective tax rate is affected by the level and mix of income among various domestic and foreign jurisdictions in which the company operates.

Item 2

CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

The company’s first quarter 2006 operating results declined compared to the year-ago quarter primarily due to higher fuel and other industry costs, higher costs to arrange for replacement fruit (which totaled 2 million boxes in the first quarter) and related transportation expenses due to the continuing impact of supply shortages caused by Hurricane Stan and Tropical Storm Gamma, and increased European banana tariffs.

The acquisition of Fresh Express in late June 2005 resulted in significant increases to the company’s sales, cost of sales and selling, general and administrative costs in the first quarter of 2006 compared to 2005. In addition, the company’s interest expense increased significantly due to the Fresh Express acquisition financing. The company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 reflects the Fresh Express purchase price allocation.

While management anticipates the seasonality of its results will lessen as a result of the Fresh Express acquisition, interim results for the company remain subject to significant seasonal variations and are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for a full fiscal year. The company’s results during the third and fourth quarters are generally weaker than in the first half of the year due to increased availability of competing fruits and resulting lower banana prices.

Many of the challenges facing the company are discussed below. For a further description of these challenges and risks, see the Overview section of “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and “Part I – Item 1A – Risk Factors,” in the company’s 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Operations

Net sales

Net sales for the first quarter of 2006 were $1.2 billion, up 24% from $932 million in last year’s first quarter. The increase was due to the acquisition of Fresh Express, partly offset by lower banana volume in Europe and North America and unfavorable European exchange rates.

Operating income

Operating income for the first quarter of 2006 was $39 million, compared to $94 million in the first quarter of 2005. The decline was primarily due to higher fuel and other industry costs, higher costs to arrange for replacement fruit and related transportation expenses because of the continuing impact of supply shortages caused by Hurricane Stan and Tropical Storm Gamma, and increased European banana tariffs.

Banana Segment. In the company’s Banana segment, operating income was $23 million, compared to $87 million last year.

Banana segment operating results were adversely affected by:

•

$18 million of industry cost increases due to higher rates for fuel, ship charters and normal fruit purchases.

•

$16 million of higher sourcing and logistics costs as well as other impacts due to banana volume shortfalls caused by Hurricane Stan and Tropical Storm Gamma, which occurred in the fourth quarter of 2005. In an attempt to meet customer needs, the company incurred significantly higher costs for replacement fruit and transportation from Ecuador, where bananas were purchased at record high prices during the quarter.

•

$16 million of net incremental costs associated with higher banana tariffs in the European Union. Approximately $27 million of incremental tariff costs, reflecting the duty increase to €176 from €75 per metric ton effective January 1, 2006, were offset by approximately $11 million of expenses incurred in the first quarter of 2005 to purchase banana import licenses that are no longer required.

•

$11 million decrease from the impact of European currency, consisting of a $24 million decrease in revenue, partially offset by a $7 million favorable impact of balance sheet translation and $6 million of decreased European costs due to the stronger dollar.

•

$8 million from lower volume in Europe, as the company sold less lower-margin second-label fruit.

•

$5 million in professional fees related to previously reported legal proceedings, including the U.S. Department of Justice investigation related to the company’s former Colombian subsidiary, which began in 2003, the EU competition law investigation and U.S. anti-trust litigation.

These adverse items were offset in part by:

•

$8 million of higher costs in 2005 related to flooding in Costa Rica and Panama.

•

$5 million benefit from improved local European banana pricing.

The following table shows the company’s banana prices (percentage change first quarter 2006 compared to 2005):


North America	0	%
European Core Markets¹
U.S. Dollar basis²	(6	)%
Local Currency	2	%
Trading Markets³
U.S. Dollar basis	27	%
Asia Pacific and the Middle East⁴
U.S. Dollar basis	(7	)%

The company’s banana sales volumes of 40-pound boxes were as follows:


(In millions, except percentages)	Q1 2006	Q1 2005	% Change
European Core Markets¹	14.0	15.3	(8.5	)%
Trading Markets³	1.0	0.4	150.0	%
North America	13.7	14.6	(6.2	)%
Asia Pacific and the Middle East⁴	5.3	4.0	32.5	%

Total	34.0	34.3	(0.9	)%

¹	The 25 countries of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.

²	Prices on a U.S. dollar basis do not include the impact of hedging.

³	Other European and Mediterranean countries not listed above.

⁴	The company primarily operates through joint ventures in this region.

The average spot and hedged euro exchange rates were as follows:


(dollars per euro)	Q1 2006		Q1 2005		% Change
Euro average exchange rate, spot	$	1.20	$	1.31	(8.4	)%
Euro average exchange rate, hedged		1.17		1.28	(8.6	)%

The company has entered into put option contracts to hedge its risks associated with euro exchange rate movements. Put options require an upfront premium payment. These put options can reduce the negative earnings impact on the company of a significant future decline in the value of the euro, without limiting the benefit the company would receive from a stronger euro. Foreign currency hedging costs charged to the Consolidated Statement of Income were $4 million in each of the first quarters of 2006 and 2005. These costs relate primarily to hedging the company’s net cash flow exposure to fluctuations in the U.S. dollar value of its euro-denominated sales. At March 31, 2006, unrealized losses of $11 million on the company’s currency option contracts were included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income,” of which $10 million is expected to be reclassified to net income during the next 12 months.

The company also enters into swap contracts for fuel oil for its shipping operations, to minimize the volatility that changes in fuel prices could have on its operating results. Unrealized gains of $18 million on the fuel oil forward contracts were also included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” at March 31, 2006, of which $14 million is expected to be reclassified to net income during the next 12 months.

Fresh Select Segment. For the Fresh Select segment, operating income in the 2006 first quarter was $6 million, compared to $10 million in the 2005 first quarter. Improvements in the company’s North American operations were more than offset by the adverse impact of lower volume and pricing at Atlanta AG as well as currency declines and weather-related supply delays at the company’s Chilean operations.

Fresh Cut Segment. In the company’s Fresh Cut segment, operating income in the 2006 first quarter was $11 million, compared to an operating loss of $3 million in the 2005 first quarter. Fresh Cut segment results were favorably affected by the acquisition of Fresh Express, which was accretive to earnings in the first quarter, partially offset by $2 million of charges related to the shut-down of a fresh-cut fruit facility as part of a previously announced supply chain optimization plan.

On a pro forma basis as if the company had completed the acquisition of Fresh Express on December 31, 2004, there was an $8 million improvement in Fresh Cut segment operating income before plant shut-down costs compared to the first quarter 2005. The improvement in pro forma results was driven by a 10 percent increase in volume and a 6 percent increase in net revenue per case in retail value-added salads, continuing improvements in foodservice and fresh-cut fruit operations, and the achievement of acquisition synergies, partially offset by higher industry costs, in particular for fuel. The pro forma segment results do not purport to be indicative of what the actual results would have been had the acquisition been completed on the date assumed or the results that may be achieved in the future.

The Fresh Cut segment operating income for the 2006 first quarter reflects approximately $9 million of depreciation and $2 million of amortization for Fresh Express, which explains the increase in consolidated depreciation and amortization expense from the prior year first quarter.

Interest and Taxes

Interest income in the 2006 first quarter was $2 million, flat compared to the year-ago quarter. Interest expense in the 2006 first quarter was $20 million, compared to $8 million in the year-ago quarter. Interest expense increased due to the Fresh Express acquisition financing.

The company’s effective tax rate is affected by the level and mix of income among various domestic and foreign jurisdictions in which the company operates. Income tax expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 was $1 million, flat compared to the year-ago quarter.

Acquisitions

See Note 2 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for information on the company’s acquisitions occurring during 2005.

Financial Condition – Liquidity and Capital Resources

The company’s cash balance was $72 million at March 31, 2006, compared to $89 million at December 31, 2005 and $161 million at March 31, 2005.

Operating cash flow was a deficit of $19 million for the first quarter of 2006, compared to an inflow of $27 million for the same period in 2005. The decrease was primarily due to the significant decline in operating results. The company invested $57 million in working capital during the first quarter, seasonally the highest quarter for working capital requirements.

Capital expenditures were $12 million during the first quarter of 2006 and $4 million in the first quarter of 2005. The 2006 first quarter capital expenditures include $6 million related to Fresh Express.

In each of the first quarters of 2006 and 2005, Chiquita paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share on the company’s outstanding shares of common stock. All dividends are reviewed quarterly and require approval by the board of directors.

The company and Chiquita Brands L.L.C. (“CBL”), the main operating subsidiary of the company, have a secured credit facility with a syndicate of bank lenders (the “CBL Facility”) which includes a $150 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). At March 31, 2006, $27 million of borrowings were outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility and $27 million of credit availability was used to support issued letters of credit, resulting in $96 million of credit availability under the Revolving Credit Facility. The company made repayments of $8 million on the revolver borrowings in April 2006.

The company’s 2006 operating plan allows it to remain in compliance with its existing financial covenants. However, if the company’s financial performance declines below its operating plan, the company could be required to seek covenant relief from lenders to its CBL facility. In light of the uncertainties inherent in the business as described in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2005, the company has decided that it is prudent to seek amendments to these financial covenants at this time, in order to provide additional flexibility to operate the business. The company would expect to incur customary costs in seeking these amendments. The CBL Facility currently includes approximately $400 million in outstanding term loans and the $150 million Revolving Credit Facility.

A subsidiary of the company has a €25 million uncommitted credit line for bank guarantees and a €17 million committed credit line for bank guarantees to be used primarily to guarantee the company’s payments for licenses used to import bananas into European Union countries. At March 31, 2006, the bank counterparties had provided €18 million of guarantees under these lines. The company expects this amount will decline with the reduction in license requirements as a result of the new banana import regime in the European Union in 2006.

As more fully described in Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the company may be required to pay, or post bank guarantees for, up to approximately $50 million in connection with its appeal of certain claims of Italian customs authorities. The company recently increased the letter of credit sublimit under its Revolving Credit Facility from $50 million to $100 million in anticipation of such a contingency.

The company currently believes that its cash level, cash flow generated by operating subsidiaries and borrowing capacity will provide sufficient cash reserves and liquidity to fund the company’s working capital needs, capital expenditures and debt service requirements.

New Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 9 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for information on the company’s adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment.”

Risks of International Operations

The company conducts operations in many foreign countries. The company’s foreign operations are subject to a variety of risks inherent in doing business abroad.

In January 2006, the European Commission (“EC”) implemented a new regime for the importation of bananas into the European Union (“EU”). It eliminates the quota that was previously applicable and imposes a higher tariff on bananas imported from Latin America, while imports from certain African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) sources are assessed zero tariff on 775,000 metric tons. The new tariff, which increased to €176 from €75 per metric ton, equates to an increase in cost of approximately €1.84 per box for bananas imported by the company into the European Union from Latin America, Chiquita’s primary source of bananas. Based on its 2005 volumes, the company will incur incremental tariff costs of approximately $110 million. However, the company will no longer incur costs, which totaled approximately $40 million in 2005, to purchase licenses to import bananas into the European Union.

Average banana prices in the company’s core European markets, which primarily consist of the 25 member countries of the EU, rose 5% on a local currency basis in the first two months of 2006, compared to the same period a year ago, mitigating a portion of the increased tariff and other industry costs. However, in March 2006, local banana prices fell 1% compared to March 2005 in these markets, and this negative pricing trend continued into April. It is still too early to determine the long-term impact of this new regime on pricing, but the overall negative impact of the new regime on the company is expected to be substantial, despite the company’s ability to maintain its price premium in the European market.

Certain Latin American producing countries have taken steps to challenge this regime as noncompliant with the EU’s World Trade Organization obligations not to discriminate among supplying countries. There can be no assurance that any challenges will result in changes to the EC’s regime.

The company has international operations in many foreign countries, including those in Central and South America, the Philippines and the Ivory Coast. The company’s activities are subject to risks inherent in operating in these countries, including government regulation, currency restrictions and other restraints, burdensome taxes, risks of expropriation, threats to employees, political instability, terrorist activities, including extortion, and risks of U.S. and foreign governmental action in relation to the company. Should such circumstances occur, the company might need to curtail, cease or alter its activities in a particular region or country. Chiquita’s ability to deal with these issues may be affected by applicable U.S. laws and, in particular, potential conflicts between the requirements of U.S. law and the need to protect the company’s employees and assets.

* * * * *

This quarterly report contains certain statements that are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Chiquita, including: the impact of the 2006 conversion to a tariff-only banana import regime in the European Union; the company’s ability to continue to successfully operate Fresh Express; unusual weather conditions; industry and competitive conditions; financing; the customary risks experienced by global food companies, such as the impact of product and commodity prices, currency exchange rate fluctuations, government regulations, labor relations, taxes, crop risks, political instability and terrorism; and the outcome of pending governmental investigations and claims involving the company.

The forward-looking statements speak as of the date made and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results or developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, and the company undertakes no obligation to update any such statements.

Item 3 - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Reference is made to the discussion under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Market Risk Management” in the company’s 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K. As of March 31, 2006, there were no material changes to the information presented, with the following exception. At December 31, 2005, the potential reduction in the fair value of the company’s foreign currency hedging instruments from a hypothetical 10% increase in euro currency rates would have been approximately $15 million. At March 31, 2006, a hypothetical 10% increase in euro currency rates would have resulted in a fair value reduction of approximately $9 million. However, the company expects that any loss on these contracts would tend to be more than offset by an increase in the dollar realization of the underlying sales denominated in foreign currencies.

Item 4 - Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures

Chiquita maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its periodic filings with the SEC is (a) accumulated and communicated to the company’s management in a timely manner and (b) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. As of March 31, 2006, an evaluation was carried out by Chiquita’s management, with the participation of the company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e). Based upon that evaluation, the company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of that date.

Changes in internal control over financial reporting

Chiquita also maintains a system of internal accounting controls, which includes internal control over financial reporting, that is designed to provide reasonable assurance that the company’s financial records can be relied on for preparation of its financial statements and that its assets are safeguarded against loss from unauthorized use or disposition. During the quarter ended March 31, 2006, there were no changes in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Part II - Other Information

Item 6 – Exhibits

Exhibit 4.1 – Acceptance of Appointment as successor Warrant Agent by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, and Amendment No. 2, dated as of March 27, 2006, between Chiquita Brands International, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, to Warrant Agreement dated as of March 19, 2002 (as previously amended).

Exhibit 10.1 – Executive Officer Severance Pay Plan (previously described in Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 6, 2005 and filed April 12, 2005).

Exhibit 31.1 - Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 31.2 - Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 32 - Section 1350 Certifications

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

By:		/s/ Brian W. Kocher
		Brian W. Kocher
		Vice President and Controller
		(Chief Accounting Officer)

May 5, 2006

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Chiquita Brands International (CQB) Inactive 10-Q2006 Q1 Quarterly report

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