IFF Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE: IFF) reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020.

Management Commentary

"I'm pleased to say that we ended 2020 and started 2021 with positive momentum amid the continued challenges of the pandemic," said IFF Chairman and CEO Andreas Fibig. "This performance is a direct testament to the diversity of our portfolio, the essential nature of our products, and the resiliency of our global teams. Our return to comparable currency neutral sales growth this quarter gives us confidence that we can generate strong value creation for our shareholders going forward."

IFF Executive Vice President and CFO, Rustom Jilla commented, “The resiliency of our business was apparent in our robust cash flow for the year, which allowed us to continue to reduce our net debt while also increasing our dividend. Our guidance for 2021 reflects the strength of our enhanced platform, our expectation that the pandemic will subside in the second half, and our rigorous focus on execution. As such, we expect to deliver 2021 results that are meaningfully better than 2020 - with broad-based top and bottom-line improvements.”

Mr. Fibig continued, "I'm proud that we have completed our transformational combination to become a new industry leader. Now the work to create shareholder value by executing IFF’s core business objectives and realizing our synergy plans truly begins. I'm excited for the potential of our company as our future is bright and we are well-positioned to seize the opportunities ahead to deliver profitable growth for years to come."

Fourth Quarter2020 Consolidated Financial Results

• Reported net sales for the fourth quarter totaled $1.27 billion, a decrease of 1% from $1.28 billion in 2019. Currency neutral sales decreased 2%, including an approximately 4 percentage point negative impact associated with an additional week of sales, or a 53rd week, in the fourth quarter of 2019. Excluding this impact, currency neutral sales grew 2%.
• Reported operating profit for the fourth quarter was $100.6 million versus $116.8 million reported in 2019. Excluding those items that affect comparability, adjusted operating profit ex amortization for the fourth quarter was $203.5 million versus $222.7 million in the year-ago period.
• Reported earnings per share (EPS) for the fourth quarter was $0.57 per diluted share versus $0.70 per diluted share reported in 2019. Excluding those items that affect comparability, adjusted EPS ex amortization was $1.32 per diluted share in 2020 versus $1.46 in the year-ago period.

Fourth Quarter 2020 Segment Summary: Growth vs. Prior Year

Scent Business Unit

• On a reported basis, sales increased 5% to $504.2 million, or 3% on a currency neutral basis, with growth in nearly all regions and most categories. Excluding the impact of the 53rd week, Scent increased high-single digits both on a reported and currency neutral basis. Performance was strongest in Consumer Fragrance driven by strong growth in Home Care & Personal Wash. Fine Fragrance returned to growth led by new wins in North America and Europe. Fragrance Ingredients was solid driven by double-digit growth in Cosmetic Actives.
• Scent segment profit increased 4% on a reported basis and was flat on a currency neutral basis as benefits of volume growth, productivity initiatives and disciplined cost management were offset by higher incentive compensation expense and the absence of the Brazil Tax Recovery that was recorded in the year-ago period.

Taste Business Unit

• On a reported basis, sales decreased 4% to $765.9 million, or 5% on a currency neutral basis. Excluding the impact of the 53rd week, Taste declined low-single digits as Food Service continued to experience pressure, declining double-digits on a reported and currency neutral basis. The rest of the portfolio, excluding Food Service, was solid excluding the impact of the 53rd week, growing low single-digits on a reported and currency neutral basis. From a geographic perspective, North America continued to outperform, while EAME, Latin America and Greater Asia continued to be impacted by COVID-19.
• Taste segment profit decreased 9% on a reported basis and decreased 10% on a currency neutral basis as acquisition-related savings and productivity were more than offset primarily by volume declines.

Full Year 2020 Consolidated Financial Results

• Reported net sales for the full year totaled $5.08 billion, a decrease of 1% from $5.14 billion in 2019. Currency neutral sales remained constant, or increased 1% excluding the impact of the 53rd week in 2019, led by low-single digit growth in Scent.
• Reported operating profit for the full year was $566.5 million versus $665.3 million reported in 2019. Excluding those items that affect comparability, adjusted operating profit ex amortization for the full year was $922.3 million versus $986.2 million in the year-ago period.
• Reported earnings per share (EPS) for the full year was $3.21 per diluted share versus $4.00 per diluted share reported in 2019. Excluding those items that affect comparability, adjusted EPS ex amortization was $5.70 per diluted share in 2020 versus $6.17 in the year-ago period.

Full Year 2020 Segment Summary: Growth vs. Prior Year

Scent Business Unit

• On a reported basis, sales increased 2%, or $34.9 million, to $2.0 billion. Currency neutral sales increased 3%, or 4% excluding the impact of the 53rd week, with Consumer Fragrance increasing high single-digits on both a reported and currency neutral basis. Fine Fragrance declined mid-teens on a reported and currency neutral basis due to the temporary disruptions of consumer access to retail markets related to COVID-19. Fragrance Ingredients improved low single-digits on a reported basis and was flat on a currency neutral basis as a double-digit performance in Cosmetic Actives was offset by the internal prioritization of ingredients to support Fragrance Compounds in light of COVID-19.
• Scent segment profit increased 2% on a reported basis and increased 3% on a currency neutral basis led primarily by the benefits of volume growth and productivity initiatives.

Taste Business Unit

• On a reported basis, sales decreased 3%, or $90.7 million, to $3.1 billion. Currency neutral sales decreased approximately 2%, or 1% excluding the impact of the 53rd week, as Food Service declined double-digits on a reported and currency neutral basis due to COVID-19. The rest of the portfolio excluding Food Service was solid, growing low single-digits on a currency neutral basis and flat on a reported basis. From a geographic perspective, North America was strong, while EAME, Latin America and Greater Asia were pressured by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Taste segment profit decreased 10% on a reported basis and 8% on a currency neutral basis as productivity and integration-related synergies were more than offset primarily by a sales volume decline.

2021 Financial Guidance

The Company provides guidance on a non-GAAP basis as it cannot predict certain elements which are included in reported GAAP results.

For the full year 2021, the Company expects:

• Pro-forma (giving effect to the N&B transaction) sales to be approximately $11.5 billion, including approximately $507 million in sales for N&B in January 2021
• Pro-forma (giving effect to the N&B transaction) adjusted EBITDA margin to be approximately 23.2%

2020 Pro-Forma Results

On a combined basis, full year 2020 pro-forma (giving effect to the N&B transaction) sales were approximately $11,143 million, with a full year 2020 pro-forma adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 22.1%.

A copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K will be available on its website at www.iff.com or at www.sec.gov by March 2, 2021.

Audio Webcast

A live webcast to discuss the Company’s fourth quarter and full year 2020 financial results will be held on February 11, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. ET. The webcast and accompanying slide presentation may be accessed on the Company's IR website at ir.iff.com. For those unable to listen to the live webcast, a recorded version will be made available on the Company's website approximately one hour after the event and will remain available on IFF’s website for one year.

Cautionary Statement Under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” under the Federal Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the expected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s near term results, expectations regarding sales and profit for the fourth quarter of 2020, the volatility of the economic environment and uncertainty about the duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; revenue from its categories with retail channel exposure, such as Fine Fragrance and Food Service; the expected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy; the Company’s ability to manage through the COVID-19 pandemic and to mitigate the near-term impact; the Company’s expectations regarding growth in the Taste segment in the medium-term; and the Company’s expectations regarding the combination with N&B. These forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by cautionary statements and risk factor disclosures contained in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 3, 2020, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 11, 2020, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 10, 2020 and subsequent filings with the SEC. The Company wishes to caution readers that certain important factors may have affected and could in the future affect the Company’s actual results and could cause the Company’s actual results for subsequent periods to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. With respect to the Company’s expectations regarding these statements, such factors include, but are not limited to: (1) the effect of economic conditions in the industries and markets in which IFF operates in the U.S. and globally and any changes therein, including financial market conditions, fluctuations in commodity prices, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, levels of end market demand, the impact of weather conditions, natural disasters, public health issues, epidemics and pandemics, including the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), or the fear of such events, and the financial condition of IFF’s customers and suppliers; (2) the risks to the Company’s business from the COVID-19 pandemic, including operational risks, supply chain risks, and customer related-risks; (3) risks related to the integration of the Frutarom business and/or the combination with N&B, including whether the Company will realize the benefits anticipated from the acquisitions in the expected time frame; (4) unanticipated costs, liabilities, charges or expenses resulting from the Frutarom acquisition and/or the combination with N&B; (5) the integration of IFF and its Frutarom business and/or N&B being more difficult, time consuming or costly than expected; (6) customer loss and business disruption being greater than expected following the combination with N&B; (7) potential litigation relating to the combination with N&B that could be instituted against DuPont, IFF or their respective directors, (8) risks associated with third party contracts containing consent and/or other provisions that may be triggered by the combination with N&B; (9) the impact of the outcome of legal claims, regulatory investigations and litigation; (10) the risk that N&B and IFF incurred significant indebtedness in connection with the combination, and the degree to which IFF is leveraged following completion of the combination may materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations; (11) the increase in the Company’s leverage resulting from the additional debt incurred to pay a portion of the consideration for Frutarom and its impact on the Company’s liquidity and ability to return capital to its shareholders; (12) the Company’s ability to successfully market to its expanded and decentralized Taste and Frutarom customer base; (13) the Company’s ability to effectively compete in its market and develop and introduce new products that meet customers’ needs; (14) the Company’s ability to successfully develop innovative and cost-effective products that allow customers to achieve their own profitability expectations; (15) the impact of a disruption in the Company’s manufacturing operations; (16) the impact of a disruption in the Company’s supply chain, including the inability to obtain ingredients and raw materials from third parties; (17) volatility and increases in the price of raw materials, energy and transportation; (18) the Company’s ability to comply with, and the costs associated with compliance with, regulatory requirements and industry standards, including regarding product safety, quality, efficacy and environmental impact; (19) the impact of any failure or interruption of the Company’s key information technology systems or a breach of information security; (20) the Company’s ability to react in a timely and cost-effective manner to changes in consumer preferences and demands; (21) the Company’s ability to establish and manage collaborations, joint ventures or partnership that lead to development or commercialization of products; (22) the Company’s ability to benefit from its investments and expansion in emerging markets; (23) the impact of currency fluctuations or devaluations in the principal foreign markets in which it operates; (24) economic, regulatory and political risks associated with the Company’s international operations; (25) the impact of global economic uncertainty on demand for consumer products; (26) the inability to retain key personnel; (27) the Company’s ability to comply with, and the costs associated with compliance with, U.S. and foreign environmental protection laws; (28) the Company’s ability to realize the benefits of its cost and productivity initiatives; (29) the Company’s ability to successfully manage its working capital and inventory balances; (30) the impact of the failure to comply with U.S. or foreign anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws and regulations, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; (31) the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; (32) the impact of the outcome of legal claims, regulatory investigations and litigation; (33) changes in market conditions or governmental regulations relating to the Company’s pension and postretirement obligations; (34) the impact of future impairment of the Company’s tangible or intangible long-lived assets; (35) the impact of changes in federal, state, local and international tax legislation or policies, including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, with respect to transfer pricing and state aid, and adverse results of tax audits, assessments, or disputes; (36) the effect of potential government regulation on certain product development initiatives, and restrictions or costs that may be imposed on the Company or its operations as a result; and (37) the impact of the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union. New risks emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors or to assess the impact of such risks on the Company’s business. Accordingly, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We provide in this press release non-GAAP financial measures, including: (i) currency neutral sales; (ii) adjusted operating profit; (iii) adjusted operating profit ex amortization; (iv) adjusted EPS; and (v) adjusted EPS ex. amortization. Our non-GAAP financial measures are defined below.

Currency Neutral metrics eliminate the effects that result from translating international currency to U.S. dollars. We calculate currency neutral numbers by comparing current year results to the prior year results restated at exchange rates in effect for the current year based on the currency of the underlying transaction.

Adjusted Operating Profit excludes the impact of operational improvement initiatives, Frutarom integration related costs, restructuring and other charges, net, losses (gains) on sale of assets, employee separation costs, FDA mandated product recall, Frutarom acquisition related costs, compliance review & legal defense costs, N&B transaction related costs and N&B integration related costs ("Operating Profit Items Impacting Comparability").

Adjusted Operating Profit ex. Amortizationexcludes the impact of Items Impacting Comparability and the amortization of acquisition related intangible assets.

Adjusted EPS excludes the impact of operational improvement initiatives, acquisition related costs, Frutarom integration related costs, restructuring and other charges, net, losses (gains) on sale of assets, employee separation costs, FDA mandated product recall, pension settlement, Frutarom acquisition related costs, compliance review & legal defense costs, N&B transaction related costs, N&B integration related costs and redemption value adjustment to EPS (often referred to as “Items Impacting Comparability”).

Adjusted EPS ex. Amortizationexcludes the impact of Items Impacting Comparability and the amortization of acquisition related intangible assets.

These non-GAAP measures are intended to provide additional information regarding our underlying operating results and comparable year-over-year performance. Such information is supplemental to information presented in accordance with GAAP and is not intended to represent a presentation in accordance with GAAP. In discussing our historical and expected future results and financial condition, we believe it is meaningful for investors to be made aware of and to be assisted in a better understanding of, on a period-to-period comparable basis, financial amounts both including and excluding these identified items, as well as the impact of exchange rate fluctuations. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of the Company’s results under GAAP and may not be comparable to other companies’ calculation of such metrics. In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018, we began including Adjusted EPS ex. Amortization as a key non-GAAP financial measure of our business. Full amortization expense of intangible assets acquired in connection with acquisitions will be excluded from Adjusted EPS ex. Amortization calculation. The exclusion of amortization expense allows comparison of operating results that are consistent over time for newly and long-held businesses and with both acquisitive and non-acquisitive peer companies. We believe this calculation will provide a more accurate presentation in this and in future periods in the event of additional acquisitions. Further, this allows the investors to evaluate and understand operating trends excluding the impact on operating income and earnings per diluted share. In addition, the Frutarom acquisition related costs and N&B transaction related costs have been separated from costs related to prior acquisitions. The Frutarom acquisition related costs and N&B transaction related costs represent a significant balance and we believe this amount should be shown separately to provide an accurate presentation of the acquisition related costs. Our GAAP results and GAAP metrics do not change, and this change has no effect on day to day business operations, or how we manage our business.

Welcome to IFF

At IFF (NYSE: IFF), an industry leader in food, beverage, health, biosciences and sensorial experiences, science and creativity meet to create essential solutions for a better world – from global icons to unexpected innovations and experiences. With the beauty of art and the precision of science, we are an international collective of thinkers who partners with customers to bring scents, tastes, experiences, ingredients and solutions for products the world craves. Together, we will do more good for people and planet. Learn more at iff.com, Twitter , Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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Contact information

Michael DeVeau
Chief Investor Relations and Communications Officer
212.708.7164
Michael.DeVeau@iff.com