Mondelēz International Reports Q4 and FY 2023 Results

Full Year Highlights

• Net revenues for the full year increased +14.4% driven by Organic Net Revenue¹ growth of +14.7% with underlying Volume/Mix of +1.3%. For the fourth quarter, Net revenues increased +7.1% driven by Organic Net Revenue¹ growth of +9.8% with underlying Volume/Mix of -0.4%
• Diluted EPS was $3.62, up +84.7%; Adjusted EPS¹ was $3.19, up +19.0% on a constant currency basis
• Year-to-date cash provided by operating activities was $4.7 billion; Free Cash Flow¹ was $3.6 billion, up +$0.6 billion vs prior year
• Return of capital to shareholders was $3.7 billion; increased dividend per share by 10%
• Closed the divestiture of our developed market gum business for $1.4 billion
• Expecting for 2024 an on-algorithm year for Organic Net Revenue, Adjusted EPS and Free Cash Flow, with revenue growth at upper end of 3-5% range

CHICAGO, Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) today reported its fourth quarter 2023 results.

“Our 2023 results underscore the strength of our execution, the importance of our investments and the resiliency of our portfolio, footprint, categories, and brands. We delivered double-digit top-line and earnings growth for the year, leading to strong cash flow generation and capital return to shareholders. Our growth was balanced across developed and emerging markets, with robust performance in all regions," said Dirk Van de Put, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “As we enter 2024, we continue focusing on strong execution, supported by a significant increase in investments behind our brands, capabilities, and talent. We remain confident that we are well positioned for sustainable top- and bottom-line growth in the years ahead.”

Net Revenue

Operating Income and Diluted EPS

Full Year Commentary

• Net revenues increased 14.4 percent driven by Organic Net Revenue growth of 14.7 percent, incremental sales from the company's 2022 acquisitions of Clif Bar and Ricolino and incremental sales from a short-term distributor agreement, partially offset by unfavorable currency and the impact of a divestiture. Organic Net Revenue growth was driven by both pricing and favorable volume/mix.
  
  
• Gross profit increased $2,452 million, and gross profit margin increased 230 basis points to 38.2 percent primarily driven by favorable year-over-year change in mark-to-market impacts from derivatives, an increase in Adjusted Gross Profit¹ margin, lower acquisition-related costs, lapping prior-year inventory step-up charges and lapping prior-year incremental costs due to the war in Ukraine. Adjusted Gross Profit increased $2,171 million at constant currency, and Adjusted Gross Profit margin increased 30 basis points to 37.5 percent due to pricing, lower manufacturing costs driven by productivity and favorable product mix, partially offset by higher raw material and transportation costs.
  
  
• Operating income increased $1,968 million and operating income margin was 15.3 percent, up 410 basis points primarily due to favorable year-over-year change in mark-to-market gains/(losses) from currency and commodity hedging activities, lapping prior-year acquisition-related costs, lower impact from the European Commission legal matter, lower incremental costs due to the war in Ukraine, gain on divestiture, lower intangible asset impairment charges, higher Adjusted Operating Income margin and lapping prior-year inventory step-up charges. These favorable items were partially offset by higher acquisition integration costs and contingent consideration adjustments, higher divestiture-related costs and higher remeasurement loss of net monetary position. Adjusted Operating Income increased $939 million at constant currency while Adjusted Operating Income margin increased 10 basis points to 15.9 percent, driven primarily by higher net pricing, lower manufacturing cost driven by productivity, SG&A leverage and favorable product mix, partially offset by input cost inflation and higher advertising and consumer promotion costs.
  
  
• Diluted EPS was $3.62, up 84.7 percent, primarily due to an increase in Adjusted EPS, a gain on marketable securities, favorable year-over-year change in mark-to-market impacts from currency and commodity derivatives, higher net gain on equity method investment transactions, lower impact from the European Commission legal matter, lapping prior year acquisition-related costs, lapping prior year incremental costs due to the war in Ukraine, a gain on divestiture, lapping prior year loss on debt extinguishment, lower intangible asset impairment charges and lapping prior year inventory step-up charges. These favorable items were partially offset by higher acquisition integration costs and contingent consideration adjustments, higher equity method investee items, higher negative initial impacts from enacted tax law changes, higher remeasurement loss of net monetary position, lower operating results from divestitures, higher divestiture-related costs, lapping prior year 2017 malware incident net recoveries and higher Simplify to Grow program costs.
  
  
• Adjusted EPS was $3.19, up 19.0 percent on a constant currency basis driven by strong operating gains, lower interest expense, fewer shares outstanding and dividend income from marketable securities, partially offset by higher taxes and lower benefit plan non-service income.
  
  
• Capital Return: The company returned $3.7 billion to shareholders in cash dividends and share repurchases.
  

Fourth Quarter Commentary

• Net revenues increased 7.1 percent driven by Organic Net Revenue growth of 9.8 percent, incremental sales from the company's 2022 acquisition of Ricolino and incremental sales from a short-term distributor agreement, partially offset by unfavorable currency and the impact of a divestiture. Organic Net Revenue growth was driven by pricing, marginally offset by unfavorable volume/mix.
  
  
• Gross profit increased $395 million, and gross profit margin increased 190 basis points to 37.3 percent primarily driven by an increase in Adjusted Gross Profit¹ margin, favorable year-over-year change in mark-to-market impacts from derivatives, lapping prior year inventory step-up charges and lower divestiture-related costs, partially offset by the impact of a divestiture and lapping prior-year 2017 malware net recoveries. Adjusted Gross Profit increased $531 million at constant currency, and Adjusted Gross Profit margin increased 230 basis points to 38.0 percent due to pricing and lower manufacturing costs driven by productivity, partially offset by higher raw material and transportation costs.
  
  
• Operating income increased $359 million and operating income margin was 12.8 percent, up 320 basis points primarily due to lower impact from the European Commission legal matter, gain on divestiture, higher Adjusted Operating Income margin, favorable year-over-year change in mark-to-market gains/(losses) from currency and commodity hedging activities and lapping prior-year acquisition-related costs. These favorable items were partially offset by higher acquisition integration costs and contingent consideration adjustments, the impact of a divestiture, lapping prior-year 2017 malware net recoveries and higher remeasurement loss of net monetary position. Adjusted Operating Income increased $153 million at constant currency while Adjusted Operating Income margin increased 40 basis points to 15.1 percent, driven primarily by higher net pricing and lower manufacturing cost driven by productivity, partially offset by input cost inflation, higher SG&A and higher advertising and consumer promotion costs.
  
  
• Diluted EPS was $0.70, up 66.7 percent, primarily due to lower impact from the European Commission legal matter, an increase in Adjusted EPS, a gain on divestiture and favorable year-over-year change in mark-to-market impacts from currency and commodity derivatives. These favorable items were partially offset by initial impacts from enacted tax law changes, lapping prior-year operating results from divestitures, higher acquisition integration costs and contingent consideration adjustments, higher remeasurement loss of net monetary position, lapping prior-year 2017 malware incident net recoveries, higher divestiture-related costs, higher Simplify to Grow Program costs and higher equity method investee items.
  
  
• Adjusted EPS was $0.84, up 23.5 percent on a constant currency basis driven by strong operating gains, lower taxes, lower interest expense and fewer shares outstanding, partially offset by lower benefit plan non-service income.
  
  
• Capital Return: The company returned $1.5 billion to shareholders in cash dividends and share repurchases.
  

2024 Outlook

Mondelēz International provides its outlook on a non-GAAP basis, as the company cannot predict some elements that are included in reported GAAP results, including the impact of foreign exchange. Refer to the Outlook section in the discussion of non-GAAP financial measures below for more details.

For 2024, the company expects Organic Net Revenue growth of 3 to 5 percent, high single-digit Adjusted EPS growth on a constant currency basis based on 2023 Adjusted EPS incl. developed market gum¹. The company expects for 2024 Free Cash Flow of $3.5+ billion. The company estimates currency translation would decrease 2024 net revenue growth by approximately 0.5 percent³ with a negative $0.03 impact to Adjusted EPS³.

Outlook is provided in the context of greater than usual volatility as a result of geopolitical uncertainty.

Conference Call

Mondelēz International will host a conference call for investors with accompanying slides to review its results at 5 p.m. ET today. A listen-only webcast will be provided at www.mondelezinternational.com. An archive of the webcast will be available on the company’s web site.

About Mondelēz International

Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world. With 2023 net revenues of approximately $36 billion, MDLZ is leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as Oreo, Ritz, LU, Clif Bar and Tate's Bake Shop biscuits and baked snacks, as well as Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor’s 500, Nasdaq 100 and Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

Visit www.mondelezinternational.com or follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDLZ.

End Notes

1. Organic Net Revenue, Adjusted Gross Profit (and Adjusted Gross Profit margin), Adjusted Operating Income (and Adjusted Operating Income margin), Adjusted EPS, Adjusted EPS incl. developed market gum, Free Cash Flow and presentation of amounts in constant currency are non-GAAP financial measures. Please see discussion of non-GAAP financial measures at the end of this press release for more information.
2. Earnings attributable to Mondelēz International.
3. Currency estimate is based on published rates from XE.com on January 24, 2024.
   

Additional Definitions

Emerging markets consist of the Latin America region in its entirety; the Asia, Middle East and Africa region excluding Australia, New Zealand and Japan; and the following countries from the Europe region: Russia, Ukraine, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, the Baltics and the East Adriatic countries.

Developed markets include the entire North America region, the Europe region excluding the countries included in the emerging markets definition, and Australia, New Zealand and Japan from the Asia, Middle East and Africa region.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “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. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including any projections of earnings, revenue or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management, including for future operations, capital expenditures or share repurchases; any statements concerning proposed new products, services, or developments; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief or expectation; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing or other future events. Forward-looking statements may include, among others, the words, and variations of words, “will,” “may,” “expect,” “would,” “could,” “might,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “likely,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “objective,” “predict,” “project,” “drive,” “seek,” “aim,” “target,” “potential,” “commitment,” “outlook,” “continue” or any other similar words.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in any of our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results or outcomes could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. Our future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and to inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Important factors that could cause our actual results or performance to differ materially from those contained in or implied by our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:

• weakness in macroeconomic conditions in our markets, including as a result of inflation (and related monetary policy actions by governments in response to inflation), instability of certain financial institutions, volatility of commodity and other input costs and availability of commodities;
• geopolitical uncertainty, including the impact of ongoing or new developments in Ukraine and the Middle East, related current and future sanctions imposed by governments and other authorities and related impacts, including on our business operations, employees, reputation, brands, financial condition and results of operations;
• competition and our response to channel shifts and pricing and other competitive pressures;
• pricing actions and customer and consumer responses to such actions;
• promotion and protection of our reputation and brand image;
• weakness in consumer spending and/or changes in consumer preferences and demand and our ability to predict, identify, interpret and meet these changes;
• risks from operating globally, including in emerging markets, such as political, economic and regulatory risks;
• the outcome and effects on us of legal and tax proceedings and government investigations, including the European Commission legal matter;
• use of information technology and third party service providers;
• unanticipated disruptions to our business, such as malware incidents, cyberattacks or other security breaches, and supply, commodity, labor and transportation constraints;
• our ability to identify, complete, manage and realize the full extent of the benefits, cost savings or synergies presented by strategic transactions, including our recently completed acquisitions of Ricolino, Clif Bar, Chipita, Gourmet Food, Grenade and Hu;
• our investments and our ownership interests in those investments, including JDE Peet's;
• the restructuring program and our other transformation initiatives not yielding the anticipated benefits;
• changes in the assumptions on which the restructuring program is based;
• the impact of climate change on our supply chain and operations;
• global or regional health pandemics or epidemics;
• consolidation of retail customers and competition with retailer and other economy brands;
• changes in our relationships with customers, suppliers or distributors;
• management of our workforce and shifts in labor availability or labor costs;
• compliance with legal, regulatory, tax and benefit laws and related changes, claims or actions;
• perceived or actual product quality issues or product recalls;
• failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting or disclosure controls and procedures;
• our ability to protect our intellectual property and intangible assets;
• tax matters including changes in tax laws and rates, disagreements with taxing authorities and imposition of new taxes;
• changes in currency exchange rates, controls and restrictions;
• volatility of and access to capital or other markets, rising interest rates, the effectiveness of our cash management programs and our liquidity;
• pension costs;
• significant changes in valuation factors that may adversely affect our impairment testing of goodwill and intangible assets; and
• the risks and uncertainties, as they may be amended from time to time, set forth in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
  

There may be other factors not presently known to us or which we currently consider to be immaterial that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements we make. We disclaim and do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this press release except as required by applicable law or regulation. In addition, historical, current and forward-looking sustainability-related statements may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve, and assumptions that are subject to change in the future.

Mondelēz International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(Unaudited)

The company reports its financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). However, management believes that also presenting certain non-GAAP financial measures provides additional information to facilitate the comparison of the company’s historical operating results and trends in its underlying operating results, and provides additional transparency on how the company evaluates its business. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating and planning decisions and in evaluating the company’s performance. The company also believes that presenting these measures allows investors to view its performance using the same measures that the company uses in evaluating its financial and business performance and trends.

The company considers quantitative and qualitative factors in assessing whether to adjust for the impact of items that may be significant or that could affect an understanding of its ongoing financial and business performance and trends. The adjustments generally fall within the following categories: acquisition & divestiture activities, gains and losses on intangible asset sales and non-cash impairments, major program restructuring activities, constant currency and related adjustments, major program financing and hedging activities and other major items affecting comparability of operating results. See below for a description of adjustments to the company’s U.S. GAAP financial measures included herein.

Non-GAAP information should be considered as supplemental in nature and is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In addition, the company’s non-GAAP financial measures may not be the same as or comparable to similar non-GAAP measures presented by other companies.

DEFINITIONS OF THE COMPANY’S NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

The company’s non-GAAP financial measures and corresponding metrics reflect how the company evaluates its operating results currently and provide improved comparability of operating results. As new events or circumstances arise, these definitions could change. When these definitions change, the company provides the updated definitions and presents the related non-GAAP historical results on a comparable basis. When items no longer impact the company’s current or future presentation of non-GAAP operating results, the company removes these items from its non-GAAP definitions. In the first quarter of 2023, the company added to the non-GAAP definition for divestitures the inclusion of changes from equity method investment accounting to accounting for equity interests with readily determinable fair values (“marketable securities”). In addition, the company added to the non-GAAP definitions the exclusion of gains or losses associated with marketable securities. In the fourth quarter of 2023, the company added to the non-GAAP definitions the exclusion of the operating results from short-term distributor agreements related to the sale of a business. In addition, the company added to the non-GAAP definitions the exclusion of realized gains and losses from derivatives that mitigate the foreign currency volatility related to the remeasurement of the respective net monetary assets or liabilities during the periods presented associated with applying highly inflationary accounting.

• “Organic Net Revenue” is defined as net revenues (the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure) excluding the impacts of acquisitions, divestitures, short-term distributor agreements related to the sale of a business and currency rate fluctuations. The company also evaluates Organic Net Revenue growth from emerging markets and developed markets.
• “Adjusted Gross Profit” is defined as gross profit (the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure) excluding the impacts of the Simplify to Grow Program; acquisition integration costs; the operating results of divestitures; operating results from short-term distributor agreements related to the sale of a business; mark-to-market impacts from commodity, forecasted currency and equity method investment transaction derivative contracts; inventory step-up charges; 2017 malware incident net recoveries; and incremental costs due to the war in Ukraine. The company also presents “Adjusted Gross Profit margin,” which is subject to the same adjustments as Adjusted Gross Profit. The company also evaluates growth in the company’s Adjusted Gross Profit on a constant currency basis.
• “Adjusted Operating Income” and “Adjusted Segment Operating Income” are defined as operating income (the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures) or segment operating income excluding the impacts of the items listed in the Adjusted Gross Profit definition as well as gains or losses (including non-cash impairment charges) on goodwill and intangible assets; divestiture or acquisition gains or losses, divestiture-related costs, acquisition-related costs, and acquisition integration costs and contingent consideration adjustments; remeasurement of net monetary position; impacts from resolution of tax matters; the European commission legal matter; impact from pension participation changes; and costs associated with the JDE Peet's transaction. The company also presents “Adjusted Operating Income margin” and “Adjusted Segment Operating Income margin,” which are subject to the same adjustments as Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Segment Operating Income. The company also evaluates growth in the company’s Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Segment Operating Income on a constant currency basis.
• “Adjusted EPS” is defined as diluted EPS attributable to Mondelēz International from continuing operations (the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure) excluding the impacts of the items listed in the Adjusted Operating Income definition, as well as losses on debt extinguishment and related expenses; gains or losses on interest rate swaps no longer designated as accounting cash flow hedges due to changed financing and hedging plans; mark-to-market unrealized gains or losses and realized gains or losses from marketable securities; initial impacts from enacted tax law changes; and gains or losses on equity method investment transactions. Similarly, within Adjusted EPS, the company’s equity method investment net earnings exclude its proportionate share of its investee's significant operating and non-operating items. The tax impact of each of the items excluded from the company’s U.S GAAP results was computed based on the facts and tax assumptions associated with each item, and such impacts have also been excluded from Adjusted EPS. The company also evaluates growth in the company’s Adjusted EPS on a constant currency basis.
• "Adjusted EPS including the developed market gum business" is defined as the sum of (1) Adjusted EPS as described above within the non-GAAP financial measures definitions, and (2) the net earnings contribution from the developed market gum business divested on October 1, 2023, that has been removed from Adjusted EPS results for the periods prior to completion of this divestiture. Please see the 8-K issued on January 30, 2024 for additional details. As the developed market gum business was divested towards the end of the year, the company determined to include its net earnings for the partial year through October 1, 2023 in this additional non-GAAP EPS financial measure to facilitate comparison of the company's results to its 2023 outlook, as this previously disclosed outlook included the divested business.
• “Free Cash Flow” is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures (the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure). Free Cash Flow is the company’s primary measure used to monitor its cash flow performance.

See the attached schedules for supplemental financial data and corresponding reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures referred to above to the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. See Items Impacting Comparability of Operating Results below for more information about the items referenced in these definitions that specifically impacted the company’s results.

SEGMENT OPERATING INCOME

The company uses segment operating income to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources. The company believes it is appropriate to disclose this measure to help investors analyze segment performance and trends. Segment operating income excludes unrealized gains and losses on hedging activities (which are a component of cost of sales), general corporate expenses (which are a component of selling, general and administrative expenses), amortization of intangibles, gains and losses on divestitures and acquisition-related costs (which are a component of selling, general and administrative expenses) in all periods presented. The company excludes these items from segment operating income in order to provide better transparency of its segment operating results. Furthermore, the company centrally manages benefit plan non-service income and interest and other expense, net. Accordingly, the company does not present these items by segment because they are excluded from the segment profitability measure that management reviews.

ITEMS IMPACTING COMPARABILITY OF OPERATING RESULTS

The following information is provided to give qualitative and quantitative information related to items impacting comparability of operating results. The company identifies these based on how management views the company’s business; makes financial, operating and planning decisions; and evaluates the company’s ongoing performance. In addition, the company discloses the impact of changes in currency exchange rates on the company’s financial results in order to reflect results on a constant currency basis.

Divestitures, Divestiture-related costs and Gains/(losses) on divestitures

Divestitures include completed sales of businesses, exits of major product lines upon completion of a sale or licensing agreement. the partial or full sale of an equity method investment and changes from equity method investment accounting to accounting for marketable securities. As the company records its share of JDE Peet’s ongoing earnings on a one-quarter lag basis, any JDE Peet’s ownership reductions are reflected as divestitures within the company's non-GAAP results the following quarter. Divestiture-related costs, which includes costs incurred in relation to the preparation and completion (including one-time costs such as severance related to elimination of stranded costs) for the company's divestitures as defined above, also includes costs incurred associated with the company's publicly announced processes to sell businesses.

• On October 1, 2023, the company completed the sale of its developed market gum business in the United States, Canada, and Europe to Perfetti Van Melle Group, excluding the Portugal business which the company retained pending regulatory approval. After obtaining the regulatory approval, the company completed the sale of the Portugal business to Perfetti Van Melle Group on October 23, 2023. The company received cash proceeds of $1.4 billion and recorded a pre-tax gain of $108 million on the sale. The divestitures of these businesses resulted in a year-over-year reduction in net revenues of $129 million in the three months and $14 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2023. The company incurred divestiture-related costs of $17 million in the three months and $83 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, and $6 million in the three months and $15 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.
• The company's 2023 divestitures also included the company's sales of JDE Peet's shares during the three months ended September 30, 2023, the April 3, 2023 sale of JDE Peet's shares and the March 2, 2023 sale of KDP shares and the change from equity method investment accounting to accounting for marketable securities for the company's remaining equity interest in KDP. See the section on gains/losses on equity method investment transactions and marketable securities below for more information.
• On July 7, 2022, the company completed the sale of a business in Argentina including several local gum and candy brands and a manufacturing facility. In addition, the company's Kraft Heinz Company license agreement to produce and sell Kraft mayonnaise in Latin America countries, predominately Mexico, expired on September 1, 2022. The divestitures of these businesses resulted in a year-over-year reduction in net revenues of $22 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2023. In addition, the company incurred divestiture-related costs of $3 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.
  

Operating results from short-term distributor agreements

In the fourth quarter of 2023, the company began to exclude the operating results from short-term distributor agreements that have been executed in conjunction with the sale of a business. The company excludes this item to better facilitate comparisons of underlying performance across periods.

As part of the sale of the company's developed market gum business on October 1, 2023, the company entered into a short-term distribution agreement with the buyer, Perfetti Van Melle Group, to distribute gum products in certain European markets for up to six months. The company recorded net revenues of $22 million and operating income of $3 million in the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023.

Acquisitions, Acquisition-related costs and Acquisition integration costs and contingent consideration adjustments

Acquisition-related costs, which includes transaction costs such as third party advisor, investment banking and legal fees, also includes one-time compensation expense related to the buyout of non-vested employee stock ownership plan shares and realized gains or losses from hedging activities associated with acquisition funds. Acquisition integration costs and contingent consideration adjustments include one-time costs related to the integration of acquisitions as well as any adjustments made to the fair market value of contingent compensation liabilities that have been previously booked for earn-outs related to acquisitions that do not relate to employee compensation expense. The company excludes these items to better facilitate comparisons of its underlying operating performance across periods.

On November 1, 2022, the company acquired 100% of the equity of Grupo Bimbo's confectionery business, Ricolino, located primarily in Mexico. The acquisition of Ricolino builds on our continued prioritization of fast-growing snacking segments in key geographies. The acquisition added incremental net revenues of $66 million during the three months and $572 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and operating income of $5 million during the three months and $36 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023. The company incurred acquisition integration costs of $20 million in the three months and $50 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, and $4 million in the three months and $11 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. The company also incurred an inventory step-up charge of $5 million in the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022. In addition, the company incurred acquisition-related costs of $11 million in the three months and $12 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.

On August 1, 2022, the company acquired 100% of the equity of Clif Bar & Company (“Clif Bar”), a leading U.S. maker of nutritious energy bars with organic ingredients. The acquisition expands our global snacks bar business and complements our refrigerated snacking and performance nutrition bar portfolios. The acquisition added incremental net revenues of $529 million and operating income of $81 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023. The company incurred acquisition integration costs and contingent consideration adjustments of $72 million in the three months and $164 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, and $14 million in the three months and $30 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. These acquisition integration costs include an increase to the contingent consideration liability due to changes to underlying assumptions. An inventory step-up charge of $20 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. In addition, the company incurred acquisition-related costs of $296 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. These acquisition-related costs were primarily related to the buyout of the non-vested employee stock ownership plan shares.

On January 3, 2022, the company acquired 100% of the equity of Chipita Global S.A. (“Chipita”), a leading croissants and baked snacks company in the Central and Eastern European markets. The acquisition of Chipita offers a strategic complement to the company's existing portfolio and advances its strategy to become the global leader in broader snacking. The company incurred acquisition integration costs of $2 million in the three months and $17 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, and $5 million in the three months and $90 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. In addition, the company incurred acquisition-related costs of $1 million in the three months and $22 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.

On April 1, 2021, the company acquired Gourmet Food Holdings Pty Ltd, a leading Australian food company in the premium biscuit and cracker category. The company incurred acquisition integration costs of $3 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, and $1 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.

On January 4, 2021, the company acquired the remaining 93% of equity of Hu Master Holdings, a category leader in premium chocolate in the United States, which provides a strategic complement to the company's snacking portfolio in North America through growth opportunities in chocolate and other offerings in the well-being segment. The initial cash consideration paid was $229 million, net of cash received, and the company may be required to pay additional contingent consideration. The estimated fair value of the contingent consideration obligation at the acquisition date was $132 million and was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation based on forecasted future results. During the third quarter of 2021, the company recorded a $70 million reduction to the liability due to changes in the expected pace of growth. During the third quarter of 2022, the company recorded an additional $7 million reduction to the liability due to further changes to forecasted future results. During 2023, we recorded an additional $8 million reduction to the liability due to the final settlement and payment of the contingent consideration.

On April 1, 2020, the company acquired a majority interest in Give & Go, a North American leader in fully-finished sweet baked goods and owner of the famous two-bite^® brand of brownies and the Create-A-Treat^® brand, known for cookie and gingerbread house decorating kits. The acquisition of Give & Go provides access to the in-store bakery channel and expands the company's position in broader snacking. The company incurred acquisition integration costs and contingent consideration adjustments of $9 million in the three months and $20 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, and $25 million in the three months and $26 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. These acquisition integration costs include an increase to the contingent consideration liability due to changes to underlying assumptions.

Simplify to Grow Program

The primary objective of the Simplify to Grow Program is to reduce the company’s operating cost structure in both its supply chain and overhead costs. The program covers severance as well as asset disposals and other manufacturing and procurement-related one-time costs.

Restructuring costs

The company recorded restructuring charges of $58 million in the three months and $106 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, and $28 million in the three months and $36 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. This activity was recorded within asset impairment and exit costs and benefit plan non-service income. These charges were for severance and related costs, non-cash asset write-downs (including accelerated depreciation and asset impairments) and other adjustments, including any gains on sale of restructuring program assets.

Implementation costs

Implementation costs primarily relate to reorganizing the company’s operations and facilities in connection with its supply chain reinvention program and other identified productivity and cost saving initiatives. The costs include incremental expenses related to the closure of facilities, costs to terminate certain contracts and the simplification of the company’s information systems. The company recorded implementation costs of $12 million in the three months and $25 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, and $25 million in the three months and $87 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.

Intangible asset impairment charges

During the company's 2023 annual testing of indefinite-life intangible assets, the company recorded intangible asset impairment charges of $26 million in the third quarter of 2023 related to a chocolate brand in the North America segment and a biscuit brand in the Europe segment. The impairments were driven by changes in projections as a result of current and expected operating environment.

During the company's 2022 annual testing of indefinite-life intangible assets, the company recorded a $23 million intangible asset impairment charge in the third quarter of 2022 related to one brand. The impairment arose due to lower than expected growth and profitability in a local biscuit brand in AMEA.

During the first quarter of 2022, the company recorded a $78 million intangible asset impairment charge in AMEA related to one local biscuit brand sold in select markets in AMEA and Europe.

Mark-to-market impacts from commodity and currency derivative contracts

The company excludes unrealized gains and losses (mark-to-market impacts) from outstanding commodity and forecasted currency and equity method investment transaction derivative contracts from its non-GAAP earnings measures. The mark-to-market impacts of commodity and forecasted currency transaction derivatives are excluded until such time that the related exposures impact the company's operating results. Since the company purchases commodity and forecasted currency transaction contracts to mitigate price volatility primarily for inventory requirements in future periods, the company makes this adjustment to remove the volatility of these future inventory purchases on current operating results to facilitate comparisons of its underlying operating performance across periods. The company excludes equity method investment derivative contract settlements as they represent protection of value for future divestitures. The company recorded commodity, forecasted currency and equity method transaction derivatives net unrealized losses of $51 million in the three months and net unrealized gains of $185 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, and recorded net unrealized losses of $98 million in the three months and $318 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.

Remeasurement of net monetary position

The company translates the results of operations of its subsidiaries from multiple currencies using average exchange rates during each period and translate balance sheet accounts using exchange rates at the end of each period. The company records currency translation adjustments as a component of equity (except for highly inflationary currencies) and realized exchange gains and losses on transactions in earnings.

Highly inflationary accounting is triggered when a country’s three-year cumulative inflation rate exceeds 100%. It requires the remeasurement of financial statements of subsidiaries in the country, from the functional currency of the subsidiary to our U.S. dollar reporting currency, with currency remeasurement gains or losses recorded in earnings. At this time, within the company's consolidated entities, Argentina and Türkiye are accounted for as highly inflationary economies. For Argentina, the company recorded remeasurement losses of $38 million in the three months and $79 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, and $12 million in the three months and $39 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 related to the revaluation of the Argentinean peso denominated net monetary position over these periods. For Türkiye, the company recorded remeasurement loss of $19 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, and a loss of $2 million in the three months and $1 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 related to the revaluation of the Turkish lira denominated net monetary position over these periods. The company recorded these charges for Argentina and Türkiye within selling, general and administrative expenses.

Impact from pension participation changes

The impact from pension participation changes represent the charges incurred when employee groups are withdrawn from multiemployer pension plans and other changes in employee group pension plan participation. The company excludes these charges from its non-GAAP results because those amounts do not reflect the company’s ongoing pension obligations.

On July 11, 2019, the company received an undiscounted withdrawal liability assessment related to the company's complete withdrawal from the Bakery and Confectionery Union and Industry International Pension Fund totaling $491 million and requiring pro-rata monthly payments over 20 years. The company began making monthly payments during the third quarter of 2019. In connection with the discounted long-term liability, the company recorded accreted interest of $2 million in the three months and $10 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, and $3 million in the three months and $11 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 within interest and other expense, net. As of December 31, 2023, the remaining discounted withdrawal liability was $328 million, with $15 million recorded in other current liabilities and $313 million recorded in long-term other liabilities.

Incremental costs due to the war in Ukraine

In February 2022, Russia began a military invasion of Ukraine and the company closed its operations and facilities in Ukraine. In March 2022, the company's two Ukrainian manufacturing facilities in Trostyanets and Vyshhorod were significantly damaged. During the first quarter of 2022, the company evaluated and impaired these and other assets. The company recorded $143 million of total expenses ($145 million after-tax) incurred as a direct result of the war. The company reversed $22 million during the remainder of 2022 and $1 million during the twelve months of 2023 of previously recorded charges primarily as a result of higher than expected collection of trade receivables and inventory recoveries. The company continues to make targeted repairs on both our plants and have partially reopened and restarted limited production in both plants.

European Commission legal matter

In November 2019, the European Commission informed the company that it initiated an investigation into the company's alleged infringement of European Union competition law through certain practices allegedly restricting cross-border trade within the European Economic Area. On January 28, 2021, the European Commission announced it had taken the next procedural step in its investigation and opened formal proceedings. As previously disclosed, the company has been cooperating with the investigation in an effort to reach a negotiated resolution in this matter. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the company had accrued (in accordance with U.S. GAAP) a liability of €300 million ($321 million) within other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet and selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of earnings as an estimate of the possible cost to resolve this matter. During the fourth quarter of 2023, the company determined that it is likely to achieve a resolution with the European Commission that is expected to result in a liability of approximately €340 million ($375 million) in total. The company has adjusted its accrual accordingly. The company does not anticipate any modification of its business practices and agreements that would have a material impact on its ongoing business operations within the European Union.

Loss on debt extinguishment and related expenses

On March 18, 2022, the company completed a tender offer and redeemed long-term U.S. dollar denominated notes totaling $987 million. The company recorded a $129 million loss on debt extinguishment and related expenses within interest and other expense, net, consisting of $38 million paid in excess of carrying value of the debt and from recognizing unamortized discounts and deferred financing costs in earnings and $91 million in unamortized forward starting swap losses in earnings at the time of the debt extinguishment.

Initial impacts from enacted tax law changes

The company excludes initial impacts from enacted tax law changes from its non-GAAP financial measures as they do not reflect its ongoing tax obligations under the enacted tax law changes. Initial impacts include items such as the remeasurement of deferred tax balances and the transition tax from the 2017 U.S. tax reform.

The company recorded net tax expense from the increase of its deferred tax liabilities resulting from enacted tax legislation of $63 million in the three months and $78 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2023. The company recorded a net tax benefit from the decrease of its deferred tax liabilities resulting from enacted tax legislation of $5 million in the three months and a net tax expense from the increase of its deferred tax liabilities of $17 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.

Gains and losses on marketable securities and equity method investment transactions

Keurig Dr Pepper transactions

Our reduction in ownership in Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (Nasdaq: "KDP") during the first quarter of 2023, to below 5% of the outstanding shares, resulted in a change of accounting for our KDP investment, from equity method investment accounting to accounting for equity interests with readily determinable fair values ("marketable securities") as the company no longer has significant influence. These marketable securities are measured at fair value based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1). Due to the change in accounting for the company's KDP investment, from equity method investment accounting to accounting as marketable securities, the company has treated the historical equity method earnings from KDP as a divestiture under the definitions of our non-GAAP financial measures. Therefore, the company has removed the equity method investment net earnings for KDP from its non-GAAP financial results for all historical periods presented to facilitate comparison of results.

On July 13, 2023, the company sold 23 million shares, the remainder of its shares of KDP. The company received proceeds of approximately $704 million.

On June 8, 2023, the company sold 23 million shares of KDP, which reduced our ownership by 1.6%, from 3.2% to 1.6% of the total outstanding shares. The company received proceeds of approximately $708 million.

On March 2, 2023, the company sold 30 million shares of KDP, which reduced the company's ownership interest by 2.1%, from 5.3% to 3.2% of the total outstanding shares. The company received proceeds of approximately $1.0 billion and recorded a pre-tax gain of $493 million (or $366 million after tax) during the first quarter of 2023.

In addition, the company has recorded a total gain on marketable securities of $593 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023. In addition, the company recorded dividend income of $13 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2023.

JDEP transactions

On March 30, 2023, the company issued options to sell shares of JDEP in tranches equivalent to approximately 7.7 million shares. These options were exercisable at their maturities which were between July 3, 2023 and September 29, 2023, with strike prices ranging from €26.10 to €28.71 per share. During the three months ended September 30, 2023, options were exercised on 2.2 million shares, which reduced the company's ownership by 0.4%, from 18.1% to 17.7% of the total outstanding shares. The company received cash proceeds of €57 million ($62 million) and recorded a loss of €3 million ($4 million) for these sales during the three months ended September 30, 2023.

On April 3, 2023, the company sold approximately 7.7 million shares of JDEP, which reduced the company's ownership interest by 1.6%, from 19.7% to 18.1% of the total outstanding shares. The company received €198 million ($217 million) of proceeds and recorded a loss of €18 million ($19 million) on this sale during the second quarter of 2023.

On May 8, 2022, the company sold approximately 18.6 million of our JDE Peet’s shares back to JDE Peet’s, which reduced the company's ownership interest by approximately 3% to 19.8%. The company received €500 million ($529 million) of proceeds and recorded a loss of €8 million ($8 million) on this sale during the second quarter of 2022.

The company considers these ownership reductions partial divestitures of its equity method investment in KDP. Therefore, the company has removed the equity method investment net earnings related to the divested portion from its non-GAAP financial results for Adjusted EPS for all historical periods presented to facilitate comparison of results. The company's U.S. GAAP results, which include its equity method investment net earnings from JDE Peet's, did not change from what was previously reported.

Equity method investee items

Within Adjusted EPS, the company’s equity method investment net earnings exclude its proportionate share of its equity method investee's significant operating and non-operating items, such as acquisition and divestiture-related costs, restructuring program costs and initial impacts from enacted tax law changes.

Constant currency

Management evaluates the operating performance of the company and its international subsidiaries on a constant currency basis. The company determines its constant currency operating results by dividing or multiplying, as appropriate, the current period local currency operating results by the currency exchange rates used to translate the company’s financial statements in the comparable prior-year period to determine what the current-period U.S. dollar operating results would have been if the currency exchange rate had not changed from the comparable prior-year period.

OUTLOOK

The company’s outlook for 2024 Organic Net Revenue growth, Adjusted EPS growth on a constant currency basis and Free Cash Flow are non-GAAP financial measures that exclude or otherwise adjust for items impacting comparability of financial results such as the impact of changes in currency exchange rates, restructuring activities, acquisitions and divestitures. The company is not able to reconcile its projected Organic Net Revenue growth to its projected reported net revenue growth for the full-year 2024 because the company is unable to predict during this period the impact from potential acquisitions or divestitures, as well as the impact of currency translation due to the unpredictability of future changes in currency exchange rates, which could be material as a significant portion of the company’s operations are outside the U.S. The company is not able to reconcile its projected Adjusted EPS growth on a constant currency basis to its projected reported diluted EPS growth for the full-year 2024 because the company is unable to predict during this period the timing of its restructuring program costs, mark-to-market impacts from commodity and forecasted currency transaction derivative contracts and impacts from potential acquisitions or divestitures as well as the impact of currency translation due to the unpredictability of future changes in currency exchange rates, which could be material as a significant portion of the company’s operations are outside the U.S. The company is not able to reconcile its projected Free Cash Flow to its projected net cash from operating activities for the full-year 2024 because the company is unable to predict during this period the timing and amount of capital expenditures impacting cash flow. Therefore, because of the uncertainty and variability of the nature and amount of future adjustments, which could be significant, the company is unable to provide a reconciliation of these measures without unreasonable effort.