ConAgra Foods
Q4 FY04 Question & Answer
July 1, 2004
1. What were some examples of consumer brands, on a comparable basis, posting
sales growth for the quarter?
Banquet
Blue Bonnet
Chef Boyardee
DAVID
Egg Beaters
Hebrew National
Hunt's
Kid Cuisine
La Choy
Manwich
Marie Callender's
PAM
Peter Pan
Reddi-wip
Slim Jim
Snack Pack
Wesson
2. What were some examples of consumer brands, on a comparable basis, posting
sales declines for the quarter?
ACT II
Armour
Butterball
Cook's
Eckrich
Healthy Choice
Orville Redenbacher
Parkay
Swiss Miss
3. How much was total Depreciation and Amortization (all types) from continuing
operations for the quarter?
Approximately $93 million (vs. $93 million in Q4 2003).
$92 million of depreciation (vs. $92 million in Q4 2003)
$1 million of other amort. (vs. $1 million in Q4 2003)
4. How much was total Depreciation and Amortization (all types) from continuing
operations for the fiscal year?
Approximately $352 million (vs. $375 million for fiscal 2003).
$348 million of depreciation (vs. $368 million for fiscal 2003)
$4 million of other amort. (vs. $7 million for fiscal 2003)
5. How much were Capital Expenditures from continuing operations for the
quarter?
Approximately $106 million (vs. $120 million in Q4 2003).
6. How much were Capital Expenditures from continuing operations for the fiscal
year?
Approximately $352 million (vs. $376 million last year).
7. What was the net interest expense for the quarter?
$80 million.
8. What was the net interest expense for the fiscal year?
$275 million.
9. What is included in the company's net debt at the end of the quarter (in
millions)?
Q4 FY04 Q4 FY03
------- -------
Total Debt* $5,694 $6,080
Less: Cash On Hand $ 589 $ 629
------- -------
Total $5,105 $5,451
* Total debt = short-term debt, long-term debt, and subordinated debt
10. What was Corporate Expense for the quarter?
Approximately $95 million (vs. approximately $133 million in Q4 2003).
Included in corporate expense is a gain on the sale of the company's
minority interest in a joint venture; the gain is classified as a $21
million reduction of corporate expense.
11. What was Corporate Expense for the fiscal year?
Approximately $342 million (vs. approximately $407 million last year).
12. How much did you pay in dividends during the quarter?
$137 million.
13. How much did you pay in dividends for the fiscal year?
$537 million.
14. What was the weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding for the
quarter?
527 million shares.
15. What was the approximate effective tax rate for the fourth quarter
(rounded)?
35%.
16. What were the gross margins and operating margins this quarter ($ amounts in
millions, rounded)?
Gross Margin = Gross Profit* divided by Net Sales
Gross Margin = $818/$3,962 = 20.7%
Operating Margin = Segment Operating Profit** divided by Net Sales
Operating Margin = $465/$3,962 = 11.7%
* Gross Profit equals Net Sales - Costs of Goods Sold ($3,962 - $3,144
= $818)
**See fourth quarter segment operating results for a reconciliation of
operating profit to income from continuing operations. Income from
Continuing Operations divided by Net Sales = $305/$3,962 = 7.7%.
17. Why are accounts receivable higher than last year?
Last year the company sold through securitization programs
approximately $500 million of accounts receivable. With the company's
strong cash position, the company has elected not to draw from its
asset securitization program, and as a result the accounts receivable
balance is higher at fiscal 2004 year-end.
18. What was the trade working capital position at quarter end, excluding
amounts for discontinued operations?
Trade working capital is defined as the net position of Accounts
Receivable plus Inventory less Current Operating Liabilities (Accounts
Payable, Accrued Expenses, and Advances on Sales).
Q4 FY04 Q4 FY03
------- -------
Accounts Receivable* $ 1,324 $ 801
Inventory $ 2,626 $ 2,456
Less: Accounts Payable $ 941 $ 788
Less: Accrued Expenses $ 1,349 $ 1,397
Less: Advances on Sales $ 178 $ 112
------- -------
Net Position $ 1,482 $ 960
* Please note question 17 regarding higher accounts receivable balance.
19. What is the preliminary estimate of the effective tax rate for fiscal 2005?
Approximately 38%.
20. What are projected Capital Expenditures for fiscal 2005?
Approximately $475 million, reflecting increased investment in
information systems and the logistics network.
21. What is the expected net interest expense for fiscal 2005?
Approximately $315 million.
22. The company stated that fiscal 2004 reflected $0.07 per share of
expense related to implementing cost savings initiatives, including a
reduction in headcount and facilities. Fiscal 2005 EPS is expected to
include $0.03 per share of expense as these initiatives continue that
year. Does the company have any additional comments on the initiatives?
o As part of efforts to improve the company's cost structure,
margins, and competitive position, the company is currently
implementing a series of initiatives that will better align
and utilize the company's collective resources.
o The initiatives were started in the second quarter of
fiscal 2004, and are expected to continue into fiscal
2005. These initiatives include:
>> Elimination of duplicative costs and
overhead;
>> Consolidation of selected plants and support
functions;
>> Efforts to streamline and improve our ability
to do business with our customers, distributors and
brokers; and
>> Realignment of business organizations.
o These initiatives are expected to be more than offset
by cost savings in the future.
23. As reported in this release and prior releases, what are the main items
in fiscal 2004 EPS that will affect comparability with fiscal 2005 EPS?
<table>
<s> <c> <c> <c> <c>
Summary of major items in
fiscal 2004 EPS that
will affect comparability First Second Third Fourth
with fiscal 2005 EPS Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter
-------- -------- -------- --------
Contribution from discontinued operations $0.07 $0.06 $0.02 $0.03
Benefit of lower tax rate $0.12 $0.02
Litigation expense -$0.03 -$0.05
Accounting change (SFAS 143 Adopted) -$0.02
Costs to implement efficiency initiatives -$0.01 -$0.03 -$0.03
Liquidation of minority interest investment $0.02
Estimated benefit of extra week in fiscal 2004 $0.03
</table>
24. What are the revisions to historical segment results as a result of the
classification change that took place this quarter?
Please see the following tables - one shows segment information, the
other shows the entire P/L information.
<table>
CONAGRA FOODS, INC.
Income Statement for FY04, FY03 - To Be Reported at the end of Q4 FY04
($USD, in millions)
<s> <c> <c> <c> <c> <c> <c> <c> <c>
----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
FY 2003 FY 2004
----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Q1 FY03 Q2 FY03 Q3 FY03 Q4 FY03 Total FY 03 Q1 FY04 Q2 FY04 Q3 FY04
------- ------- ------- ------- ----------- ------- ------- -------
Net sales $5,381.3 $4,384.8 $3,547.7 $3,625.3 $16,939.1 $3,229.4 $3,804.8 $3,525.5
----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Costs and expenses
Costs of goods sold 4,548.7 3,473.2 2,716.1 2,831.9 13,569.9 2,545.2 2,908.5 2,728.4
SG&A expenses 463.4 528.4 477.2 440.0 1,909.0 464.0 477.7 423.1
Interest expenses, net 82.8 69.8 63.4 58.7 274.7 65.4 68.2 61.8
----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
5,094.9 4,071.4 3,256.7 3,330.6 15,753.6 3,074.6 3,454.4 3,213.3
Equity method investment
earnings 7.9 7.4 11.8 10.0 37.1 11.2 16.3 1.9
----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Income from continuing
operations before
income taxes and
cumulative effect of
changes in accounting 294.3 320.8 302.8 304.7 1,222.6 166.0 366.7 314.1
Income tax expense (benefit) 107.7 114.8 104.2 88.9 415.6 (1.3) 128.8 122.3
----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Income from continuing
operations before 186.6 206.0 198.6 215.8 807.0 167.3 237.9 191.8
cumulative effect of
changes in accounting
Income (loss) from
discontinued operations 37.1 29.8 (37.6) (65.4) (36.1) 39.3 32.2 12.9
Income before cumulative
effect of changes
in accounting 223.7 235.8 161.0 150.4 770.9 206.6 270.1 204.7
Cumulative effect of
changes in accounting 3.9 - - - 3.9 (11.7) - (1.4)
---------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Net income $227.6 $235.8 $161.0 $150.4 $774.8 $194.9 $270.1 $203.3
====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ======
</table>
ConAgra Foods, Inc.
Segment Operating Results: Q4 FY04
($USD, in Millions)
<table>
<s> <c> <c> <c> <c> <c> <c> <c> <c>
---------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
FY 2003 FY 2004
---------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
Q1 FY03 Q2 FY03 Q3 FY03 Q4 FY03 Total Q1 FY04 Q2 FY04 Q3 FY04
------- ------- ------- ------- ----- ------- ------- -------
Segment Sales
Retail Products $1,994.0 $ 2,364.4 $ 2,152.5 $ 2,157.2 $ 8,668.1 $ 1,841.0 $ 2,271.6 $2,091.4
Foodservice Products 895.0 930.5 856.8 915.6 3,597.9 880.3 956.2 876.1
Food Ingredients 530.0 583.5 538.4 552.5 2,204.4 508.1 577.0 558.0
Meat Processing 1,962.3 506.4 - - 2,468.7 - - -
Agricultural Products - - - - - - - -
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------- --------
Total 5,381.3 4,384.8 3,547.7 3,625.3 16,939.1 3,229.4 3,804.8 3,525.5
Segment Operating Profit
Retail Products 263.3 357.4 337.5 339.8 1,298.0 208.0 357.8 326.4
Foodservice Products 89.9 98.6 78.0 78.0 344.5 76.0 85.8 69.8
Food Ingredients 36.4 43.0 27.0 18.7 125.1 27.9 54.1 54.2
Meat Processing 46.1 2.9 0.7 49.7 99.4 - - -
Agricultural Products - - - - - - - -
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------- --------
Total 435.7 501.9 443.2 486.2 1,867.0 311.9 497.7 450.4
Reconciliation of total
operating profit to
income from continuing
operations before income
tax and cumulative effect
of changes in accounting
Items excluded from segment
operating profit:
General and corporate
expense 66.5 118.7 88.8 132.8 406.8 91.7 79.1 76.4
Interest expense, net 82.8 69.8 63.4 58.7 274.7 65.4 68.2 61.8
Equity method investment
earnings 7.9 7.4 11.8 10.0 37.1 11.2 16.3 1.9
Goodwill Amortization - - - - - - - -
-------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------- --------
Income from continuing
operations before income
tax and cumulative
effect of changes in
accounting $ 294.3 $ 320.8 $ 302.8 $ 304.7 $ 1,222.6 $ 166.0 $ 366.7 $ 314.1
======== ========= ========= ========= ========= ======== ======== ========
Segment operating profit excludes general corporate expense, equity method investment earnings, goodwill and net interest
expense. Management believes such expenses are not directly associated with segment performance results for the period.
Management believes the presentation of total operating profit for segments facilitates period-to-period comparison of results of
segment operations.
</table>