Cott Corporation (NYSE: COT) (TSX: BCB), the
world's largest retailer brand soft drink provider, provided a list of
items considered in arriving at management's adjusted operating profit
target for 2008.
CALCULATION OF ADJUSTED OPERATING PROFIT TARGET
During Cott's second quarter earnings conference call this morning, there
were questions regarding management's calculation of adjusted operating
profit. The attached table is provided to further assist with the
understanding of management's calculation.
"As we have previously communicated, we expect adjusted operating profit to
increase 50% to 70% in 2008 over the baseline of $36.3 million in 2007,"
commented Juan Figuereo, Cott's CFO. "The attached table incorporates
adjustments made by management in setting its 2008 targets."
COTT CORPORATION
Calculation of Management's 2008 Adjusted Operating Profit
(in millions of US dollars)
Unaudited
For the six months ended
------------------------
June 28, June 30,
2008 2007
========== ==========
Operating income (loss) $ (6.9) $ 21.8
Reconciling Items:
------------------
Restructuring 6.7 9.4
Asset Impairments 0.4 0.0
---------- ----------
Adjusted operating income (loss) $ 0.2 $ 31.2
========== ==========
Addbacks for management's 2008 adjusted operating
profit
Executive severance and transition costs 6.8 -
Interim CEO compensation in respect of share price 1.5 -
Accelerated amortization associated with trademark
write-offs 2.4 -
Accelerated amortization associated with software 1.9 -
Accelerated depreciation and inventory write-off
for vending operations 1.8 -
========== ==========
Management's 2008 adjusted operating profit 14.6 31.2
========== ==========
About Cott Corporation
Cott Corporation is one of the world's largest non-alcoholic beverage
companies and the world's largest retailer brand soft drink company. The
Company commercializes its business in over 60 countries worldwide, with
its principal markets being the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom
and Mexico. Cott markets or supplies over 200 retailer and licensed
brands, and Company-owned brands including Cott, RC, Vintage, Vess and So
Clear. Its products include carbonated soft drinks, sparkling and flavored
waters, energy drinks, sports drinks, juices, juice drinks and smoothies,
ready-to-drink teas, and other non-carbonated beverages. The Company's
website is www.cott.com. The brand names and trademarks referenced in this
press release are trademarks of Cott Corporation, its affiliated companies,
customers, or other third parties.
Non-GAAP Measures
Cott supplements its reporting of operating income (loss) determined in
accordance with GAAP by using adjusted operating income (loss) and adjusted
operating profit. Management believes that certain charges are not
pertinent to day-to-day operational decision making in the business.
Therefore, Cott excludes these items from adjusted operating income (loss)
and adjusted operating profit, in determining adjusted operating income
(loss) and adjusted operating profit. The term adjusted operating income
(loss) excludes restructuring, asset impairment and other charges. Cott
excludes these items in order to more clearly focus on the factors it
believes are pertinent to the daily management of the Company's operations,
and management uses these results to evaluate the impact of operational
business decisions. The term adjusted operating profit excludes
restructuring, asset impairment, executive severance and transition costs,
interim CEO stock related compensation, accelerated amortization associated
with trademark write-offs, estimated accelerated amortization associated
with software and accelerated depreciation and inventory write-offs
associated with Walmart vending operations. Cott excludes these items in
order to more clearly focus on the factors it believes are pertinent to the
daily management of the Company's operations, and management uses these
results to evaluate the impact of operational business decisions.
Since Cott uses these financial results in the management of its business,
the Company believes this supplemental information is useful to investors
for their independent evaluation and understanding of the performance of
the Company's management and its core business performance. Cott's adjusted
operating income (loss) and adjusted operating profit should be considered
in addition to, and not as a substitute for, operating income (loss), net
income (loss) or any other amount determined in accordance with GAAP.
Cott's adjusted operating income (loss) and adjusted operating profit
reflect management's judgment of particular items, and may not be
comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
Safe Harbor Statements
This press release contains or refers to forward-looking statements that
are subject to the safe harbor provisions created by the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or
projected in the forward-looking statements reflecting management's current
expectations regarding future results of operations, economic performance,
financial condition and achievements of the Company. The forward-looking
statements are based on assumptions that volume and revenue will be
consistent with historical trends, that interest rates will remain constant
and debt levels will decline, and, in certain cases, on management's
current plans and estimates. Management believes these assumptions to be
reasonable but there is no assurance that they will prove to be accurate.
These risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the
Company's filings with the appropriate securities commissions, and include,
without limitation, the stability of procurement costs of raw packaged
materials, the changing nature of the North American business; our ability
to successfully implement our cost reduction program, restore plant
efficiencies and lower logistics and other costs; our ability to grow our
business outside of North America, including new geographic areas; our
ability to expand our business to new channels and products; our ability to
recruit, retain, and integrate new management and a new management
structure; loss of or reduction in sales to key customers, particularly
Wal-Mart, and the commitment of our customers to their own Cott-supplied
beverage programs; increases in competitor consolidations and other
marketplace competition, particularly among manufacturers of branded
beverage products; our ability to identify acquisition and alliance
candidates and to integrate into our operations the businesses and product
lines that we acquire or become allied with; our ability to secure
additional production capacity either through acquisitions, or third party
manufacturing arrangements; increase in interest rates; fluctuations in the
cost and availability of beverage ingredients and packaging supplies, and
our ability to maintain favorable arrangements and relationships with our
suppliers; our ability to pass on increased costs to our customers and the
impact those increased prices could have on our volumes; unseasonably cold
or wet weather, which could reduce demand for our beverages; our ability to
protect the intellectual property inherent in new and existing products;
failure to remediate material weaknesses in our internal controls; adverse
rulings, judgments or settlements in our existing litigation and regulatory
reviews, and the possibility that additional litigation or regulatory
reviews will be brought against us; product recalls or changes in or
increased enforcement of the laws and regulations that affect our business;
currency fluctuations that adversely affect the exchange between the U.S.
dollar on the one hand and the pound sterling, the Canadian dollar, the
Mexican peso and other currencies on the other hand; changes in tax laws
and interpretations of tax laws; changes in consumer tastes and preferences
and market demand for new and existing products and our ability to develop
new products that appeal to changing consumer tastes; interruption in
transportation systems, labor strikes, work stoppages and other
interruptions or difficulties in the employment of labor or transportation
in our markets; and changes in general economic and business conditions.
The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The Company undertakes no
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures,
including but not limited to risk factors, contained in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2007 and its
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other periodic reports filed
with the securities commissions.
CONTACTS:
Edmund O'Keeffe
Tel: (905) 672-1900 x 19216
Kimball Chapman
Tel: (813) 313-1840
Website: www.cott.com