International Segment
Fourth-quarter net sales for the International segment were down 21 percent to $750 million, including a 25-point headwind from the divestitures of the European yogurt and dough businesses and 2 points of unfavorable foreign currency exchange. Organic net sales were up 6 percent. Segment operating profit of $76 million was up 36 percent as reported and up 40 percent in constant currency, driven primarily by favorable net price realization and mix and lower SG&A expenses, partially offset by lower volume, including the impact of the European yogurt and dough divestitures, and higher input costs.
For the full year, International net sales declined 9 percent to $3.3 billion, including a 12-point headwind from the divestitures of the European yogurt and dough businesses and 1 point of favorable foreign currency exchange. Organic net sales were up 2 percent, driven by favorable organic net price realization and mix. Segment operating profit of $232 million was down 2 percent as reported and down 4 percent in constant currency, driven primarily by higher input costs and lower volume, including the impact of the European yogurt and dough divestitures, partially offset by favorable net price realization and mix and lower SG&A expenses.
Joint Venture Summary
Fourth-quarter net sales for Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW) essentially matched year-ago results in constant currency, driven by positive net price realization and mix, offset by lower volume. Constant-currency net sales increased 6 percent for Häagen-Dazs Japan (HDJ) in the quarter, driven by strong core performance and improved distribution. Combined after-tax earnings from joint ventures in the quarter were $20 million compared to $28 million a year ago, driven primarily by lower profit at CPW. For the full year, after-tax earnings from joint ventures decreased 5 percent to $112 million. On a 3-year compound growth basis, relative to pre-pandemic levels, after-tax earnings from joint ventures were up 16 percent.
Other Income Statement Items
Full-year unallocated corporate items totaled $403 million net expense compared to $212 million net expense a year ago. Excluding mark-to-market valuation effects and other items affecting comparability, unallocated corporate items totaled $445 million net expense this year compared to $428 million net expense last year.
The company recorded a net $194 million pre-tax gain on divestitures in fiscal 2022 compared to a $54 million loss a year ago (please see Note 2 below for more information on these items). Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs totaled a $26 million net recovery this year compared to a $170 million expense a year ago (please see Note 3 below for more information on these charges).
Net interest expense in fiscal 2022 totaled $380 million compared to $420 million a year ago, driven primarily by lower average debt balances. The effective tax rate for fiscal 2022 was 18.3 percent compared to 22.0 percent last year (please see Note 6 below for more information on our effective tax rate). The adjusted effective tax rate was 20.9 percent compared to 21.1 percent a year ago.
Net earnings attributable to redeemable and non-controlling interests totaled $28 million in fiscal 2022 compared to $6 million a year ago, driven primarily by the loss on the sale of the Laticínios Carolina yogurt business in Brazil in fiscal 2021, partially offset by the sale of the company’s interests in Yoplait SAS, Yoplait Marques SNC, and Liberté Marques Sàrl in fiscal 2022.
Cash Flow Generation and Cash Returns
Fiscal 2022 cash provided by operating activities increased 11 percent to $3.3 billion, driven primarily by higher net earnings. Capital investments of $569 million were up 7 percent from a year ago. Full-year operating cash flow conversion was 121 percent of after-tax earnings and free cash flow conversion was 113 percent of adjusted after-tax earnings. Dividends paid essentially matched year-ago levels at $1.2 billion. General Mills repurchased approximately 14 million shares of common stock in fiscal 2022 for a total of $877 million compared to $301 million in share repurchases a year ago. Average diluted shares outstanding decreased 1 percent to 613 million.